The Best Cat and Dog Flea Medicine

To avoid an infestation, it is important to apply a cat or dog flea medicine as soon as fleas are noticed. In fact, it is a good idea to use a parasiticide as a preventative so fleas and ticks do not have the opportunity to become a problem. Flea remedy products are available in small, single dose applicators to multi-pet spray bottles. While some are available only through veterinarians, others can be purchased at pet supply stores.

If you already have a flea infestation, treating your pets is the first thing you should do. Then be sure to read our page on Getting Rid of Fleas in the House and Lawn. If you do not treat your pets, the infestation will continue. After that, thorough cleaning of the house and property will go a long way to getting rid of fleas for good. The link above will offer helpful tips.

Below are a few examples of some of the best flea medicines:

• Revolution
• Frontline Products
• Advantage
• K9 Advantix

The products above are not a complete list of cat and dog flea medicines and is not intented to exclude other good products.

Disclaimer: Product information and treatment claims below are from the the individual manufacturers. The Revolution treatment observations at the bottom of the page are my own.

Revolution Cat and Dog Flea Medicine

Revolution (selamectin): Revolution flea medicine is sold through veterinarians only. One product for both dogs and cats. Separate the hair and apply it to the skin between the shoulder blades on dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. Puppies must be at least 6 weeks old.

• Kills adult fleas and prevents flea eggs from hatching for one month.
• Prevents and controls flea (Ctenocephalides felis) infestations.
• Prevents heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis.
• Treats and controls ear mites (otodectes cynotis) infestations.
• Treats and controls sarcoptic mange due to Sarcoptes scabiei.

• Kills one type of tick, the common dog tick.
• Pet can be bathed two hours after application without reducing effectiveness
.

Frontline Cat and Dog Flea Medicine

Frontline Plus (Fipronil): Sold by veterinarians and by pet supply stores. Frontline flea medicine can be purchased in prescription and non-prescription formulations. Frontline for dogs and cats come in single and multi-dose packages as well as spray treatments.

• Kills Fleas, flea eggs and four types of ticks on dogs and cats.
• Frontline Plus is approved for dogs and puppies up to 22 pounds.
• Frontline Top Spot is approved for puppies and kittens 8 weeks and older.
• Frontline Plus, Frontline Top Spot, and Frontline Spray provides treatment and control of chewing lice in dogs, puppies, kittens, and cats.
• Frontline Plus, Frontline Top Spot, and Frontline Spray aid in the control of sarcoptic mange infestations in dogs.
• Frontline Plus and Frontline Top Spot can be used on breeding, pregnant and lactating bitches and queens.

Personal Note: I have found that using the spray mist alone is not as effective as the single dose applicator. However, some people use both products together. Mist your dog to help repel parasites before taking your pet on outdoor excursions. Check with your vet to make sure the products you choose can be used together.

Advantage Cat and Dog Flea Medicine

Advantage (Imidacloprid) : Sold in “Advantage for Dogs” and “Advantage for Cats”. Sold through veterinarians.

• Applied to the back of your pet 7 weeks or older.
• Stops biting fleas within five minutes.
• Kills adult fleas within 12 hours and all reinfesting fleas within 2 hours.
• Kills chewing lice within one week.
• Waterproof

K9 Advantix Dog Flea Medicine

K9 Advantix (Imidacloprid and Permethrin): K9 Advantix Flea Medicine is for dogs only and not to be used on cats. Kills fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Sold by veterinarians.

• Used on dogs 7 weeks or older.
• Repels and kills fleas within 5-8 minutes.
• Repels and kills ticks.
• Repels and kills mosquitoes.
• Kills chewing lice.
• Repels biting flies.

Personal Observations using Revolution

Cat and Dog Flea Medicine

Here are the facts surrounding a family that was experiencing a flea infestation. I was able to observe this family’s progress in eliminating their flea problem on their pets and in their house.

• A family of four with three house dogs. The family had not had a flea problem in previous years.
• Problems begain when the children began feeding several cats that lived in the area. (Definitely not recommended unless you really want cats) These cats were believed to be the original source of the flea infestation that soon followed.
• The house dogs were friendly with the cats and quickly picked up the fleas. Within a couple months the family was being bitten by fleas that started breeding in the house.
• After recommending Revolution (ticks were not part of the problem) the product was applied to all of the dogs and cats the day it was purchased.

Revolution began working quickly and before evening the dogs were resting much better. Most of the fleas were killed within the first twelve hours. Since there were still a lot of fleas outside and many inside, a few fleas were always on the dogs for the first week. However, those fleas appeared to be killed within a few hours. After a couple of weeks the dogs stopped rubbing their ears as well. Revolution appeared to work better against ear mites than the medication they had purchased at the pet supply store. After a couple weeks there was only a flea or two that could be found on the dogs at any given time. The end of the first month signaled the end of the flea infestation.

An added note for accuracy: In conjunction with the first application of Revolution, the family cleaned the inside and outside of the house thoroughly. This included the pet’s indoor sleeping and play areas and outside where the cats frequented. This helped significantly to reduce the indoor larva and egg population.

Following sound steps should also help you to quickly bring any flea problems under control.