We use Comfortis. It's taken internally on a monthly basis, and allows us to bathe the dogs as needed. Also doesn't leave that greasy stripe, which I've always hated.
Very effective. That is, if I'm overdue on the monthly dose by even a few days, I'll inevitably find fleas on Bowpi the Basenji (whose shorter fur makes it easier to spot them). We're pretty active and they have lots of opportunities to pick up fleas, apparently. But when they're on Comfortis, there are NO problems whatsoever.
We've had no side effects with it, but I don't give them the full pill for their weight range (20-40 pounds). Actually, the Basenji would be considered borderline now since she just dipped under 20 pounds at last weigh-in. I've seen lots of reported problems with it, especially at those borderline weights, so I'm kind of hypervigilant about this -- but I insist on keeping both on flea prevention to keep Bowdu's allergies under control.
I don't use topical/medical preventives. I brush them once a week with a fine-toothed metal flea comb and after every hike to get burrs and ticks, which I do find a few of, but I have yet to find any fleas that were not picked up from another dog, I've found a few under those circumstances. We vacuum at least once a week and I put diatomaceous earth outside in the areas the dogs frequent. So far, that works just fine.
We use Comfortis. Bella has reactions to some topicals (Advantage and Advantix) and Frontline no longer works on Fleas here.
I also do not give the full pill to my girls (the 20-40 range), but usually give them half and it works just fine. We have not had any flea issues since we have been using Comfortis.
I think if your dogs haven't reacted to it (particularly at 35 pounds), and you've been giving it regularly, I wouldn't freak out... The main thing is the dosage jumps quite a bit between the 1-20 pound and 20-40 pound pills. I wrote a little about it on the Shiba side: http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/comment/165643#Comment_165643
I don't know why the drugmakers did that. Several of the dogs that I have heard of reacting to this were in the lower 20'ish pounds. Maybe coincidence, maybe not.
I also insist on giving Comfortis separately from their heartworm meds, even though my vet tries to sell me Trifexis every time I get a refill (Trifexis does it all, but not ticks).
Hmmm...I have been trying to give Bea and Kaiju some Advantix recently and Bea is itching like crazy and with Kaiju, it's ok but he smells so bad after I put it on. I don't want to put any on Kilbe though, with the puppies feeding and all. Plus, the pups are starting to crawl all over her!
We used Frontline but found Advantix works a lot better. However, we now trying Trifexis (used to do Comfortis) so we'll see how that goes. One of our dogs has had demodex and sensitive skin issues so the medication works better for us since we like to bathe him every week.
It wasnt that bad but all Of a sudden, i see the dogs scratching themselves more lately. I tried advantix but bea seems to be even more itchy and she tries to get at the spot where i placed it so i need to try another med.
When we had a foster dog that we couldn't flea-medicate, we gave them a bath with regular dog shampoo. Start with the head/neck and go down. (I have memories of giving a flea-ridden cat a bath and fleas were escaping into her ears and nostrils.) Really get the dog sudsy and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then rinse off.
Has anyone used Vectra 3D? It was recommended to me by a vet tech friend of mine.
We just moved from an area with no fleas to one with tons. I think they were in the carpets when we moved in. I'm going to pick up some DE to sprinkle around.
DE actually really helps, I sprinkle a copious amount around the house. We didn't have a flea issue until this month. However, we did have a HUGE issue with trail ants so if anyone has idea how to get rid of them, I'd be happy to hear it. They crawl everywhere, even on the dogs!
I use DE, and advantix, but on the NKs I use about half the recommended amount and that stops the oily spot and skin irritation.
Ike had some anorexia on Comfortis, but Beebe was fine with it. Then we started having dogs with spider and mosquito bites, so I went back to advantix.
The product in it, Borax, is an alternative non-toxic insect killer to DE.
We also take some preventative measures such as clearing debri from the breathing space at the bottom of the stucco and spraying Ortho Home Defense around the outside perimeter twice a year.
@lindsayt--it does work on ant trails, just when the ants start climbing walls (to avoid the DE? maybe I am giving them too much credit, but somehow they are getting into the house) and go through holes into the house it doesn't work.
When I tried to give Comfortis for Eevee, my vet required an examination first. We currently have her on Trifexis until she is due for her shots. We have A LOT of fleas in our area.
I try to avoid the topicals if I can. This year the fleas were pretty bad, but I still ended up using the Cedar Oil spray, but had to spray them about 1 per day during the height of the flea season. I also put Borax on my carpets and let sit overnight, then vacuumed. That seemed to help kill the fleas.
I used the 20 Mule Team Borax trick for my sister's place since she was pregnant and flea bombs were not appealing. It seems to have worked on the fleas.
@Zinja that's because it's illegal for a veterinarian to give a prescription medication without having an exam on file
My 2 cents, having worked as a vet tech for several years: Don't use over the counter stuff, it's either worthless "holistic" blends that end up being scented oil or it contains dangerous chemicals that can really harm pets, or even if it does work then you'll end up having to apply it daily/weekly. If that's groovy then go for it. Better to just use something proven and medically regulated imo.
I use Comfortis, can't be licked off or washed off, and it doesn't permanently screw up clothing like the topicals do (thankfully was just scrubs that I got it on). For people using less than the full tablet just be aware that the medication is distributed unevenly throughout the tablets, so half a tablet doesn't mean half a dose, it very well could have 75% of the medication in one half of the tablet. If fleas start getting picked up with partial tablets then that's most likely why. Thought about Trifexis, but I prefer the safety of ProHeart + Comfortis, since the ProHeart is an injection with time release capsules, 6 month duration.
From client reports, flea spraying in the house and yard usually doesn't work. Good thing is that fleas will only procreate and feed on pets, I've been bit before but it's been from carrying/holding a flea pet and it jumped ship from cold scrubs to the nearest warm body lol. Just keep on time with the meds and it'll break the cycle!
@cezieg, Are you sure that the medication is not spread evenly through the tablet? My vet did not consider it a problem with this particular medication.
I guess I could call the manufacturers and confirm...
@curlytails If you want to call and confirm then by all means go for it. The medical director at my previous employment mentioned it and then when the pharmaceutical rep came to discuss medications she also mentioned it. Then again, it could have been marketing fuzz since the hospital would benefit with higher sales :P
Actually, the fleas were biting my sister's kids when they were asleep in their room and so couldn't wait for the fleas to re-bite the treated dog and break the cycle.
Fleas have bitten me as well as my Mom. Several years ago when the neighborhood mangy tom cat came into our house to fight with our cats, he infected the place with them, and the fleas bit Mom up like crazy. We bombed the house since there were so many of them it was insane. Conker had fleas when I first got him, and they bit me up too. So I do not like them at all and do not tolerate them in the least bit. What I'm currently doing works quite well and is way cheaper than stuff I could get from the vet. Not tryin to start an argument, just stating my experience with the nasty things.
Comments
Very effective. That is, if I'm overdue on the monthly dose by even a few days, I'll inevitably find fleas on Bowpi the Basenji (whose shorter fur makes it easier to spot them). We're pretty active and they have lots of opportunities to pick up fleas, apparently. But when they're on Comfortis, there are NO problems whatsoever.
We've had no side effects with it, but I don't give them the full pill for their weight range (20-40 pounds). Actually, the Basenji would be considered borderline now since she just dipped under 20 pounds at last weigh-in. I've seen lots of reported problems with it, especially at those borderline weights, so I'm kind of hypervigilant about this -- but I insist on keeping both on flea prevention to keep Bowdu's allergies under control.
I also do not give the full pill to my girls (the 20-40 range), but usually give them half and it works just fine. We have not had any flea issues since we have been using Comfortis.
Jesse
The main thing is the dosage jumps quite a bit between the 1-20 pound and 20-40 pound pills. I wrote a little about it on the Shiba side:
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/comment/165643#Comment_165643
I don't know why the drugmakers did that.
Several of the dogs that I have heard of reacting to this were in the lower 20'ish pounds. Maybe coincidence, maybe not.
I also insist on giving Comfortis separately from their heartworm meds, even though my vet tries to sell me Trifexis every time I get a refill (Trifexis does it all, but not ticks).
Of a sudden, i see the dogs scratching themselves more lately. I tried advantix but bea seems to be even more itchy and she tries to get at the spot where i placed it so i need to try another med.
We just moved from an area with no fleas to one with tons. I think they were in the carpets when we moved in. I'm going to pick up some DE to sprinkle around.
Never use Hartz kind I seen burns from the hartz ones.. well on the internet never seen it in person.
Bella does fine with frontline plus..
Saya had issue with advantix 2 she lost tiny bit of her outer coat where it was.. I don't give her the stuff anymore now.
I use DE, and advantix, but on the NKs I use about half the recommended amount and that stops the oily spot and skin irritation.
Ike had some anorexia on Comfortis, but Beebe was fine with it. Then we started having dogs with spider and mosquito bites, so I went back to advantix.
http://www.terro.com/products.php?product=liquid_ant_killer
The product in it, Borax, is an alternative non-toxic insect killer to DE.
We also take some preventative measures such as clearing debri from the breathing space at the bottom of the stucco and spraying Ortho Home Defense around the outside perimeter twice a year.
When I tried to give Comfortis for Eevee, my vet required an examination first. We currently have her on Trifexis until she is due for her shots. We have A LOT of fleas in our area.
My 2 cents, having worked as a vet tech for several years: Don't use over the counter stuff, it's either worthless "holistic" blends that end up being scented oil or it contains dangerous chemicals that can really harm pets, or even if it does work then you'll end up having to apply it daily/weekly. If that's groovy then go for it. Better to just use something proven and medically regulated imo.
I use Comfortis, can't be licked off or washed off, and it doesn't permanently screw up clothing like the topicals do (thankfully was just scrubs that I got it on). For people using less than the full tablet just be aware that the medication is distributed unevenly throughout the tablets, so half a tablet doesn't mean half a dose, it very well could have 75% of the medication in one half of the tablet. If fleas start getting picked up with partial tablets then that's most likely why. Thought about Trifexis, but I prefer the safety of ProHeart + Comfortis, since the ProHeart is an injection with time release capsules, 6 month duration.
From client reports, flea spraying in the house and yard usually doesn't work. Good thing is that fleas will only procreate and feed on pets, I've been bit before but it's been from carrying/holding a flea pet and it jumped ship from cold scrubs to the nearest warm body lol. Just keep on time with the meds and it'll break the cycle!
I guess I could call the manufacturers and confirm...
Conker had fleas when I first got him, and they bit me up too. So I do not like them at all and do not tolerate them in the least bit. What I'm currently doing works quite well and is way cheaper than stuff I could get from the vet.
Not tryin to start an argument, just stating my experience with the nasty things.