Fleas can use your pet as both a
home and a source of sustenance. Find out how flea pills for dogs and cats work, and
the pill treatment options that are available if prevention
doesn't work.
Keep safety in mind: Always follow the directions when using
medications, make sure to check the dosage for your pet's age
and weight, and only give dog treatments to dogs and cat
treatments to cats. To get the best results, treat all infested
pets in the household so that fleas donโt get passed back and
forth.
Because orals generally treat either adults or eggs but not
both, medications are often combined. Check with your
veterinarian before combining
medications.
Capstar comes in tablet form and can be given to cats or dogs
to eliminate fleas. Give the medicine to your pet directly, or
hide it within your pet's food.
(Check to make sure that your pet has swallowed the pill.)
Before giving the tablet, weigh your cat or dog to determine
the correct dosage, since it varies by weight. While kittens
and puppies can also take Capstar, note that pets must be at
least four weeks old, and weigh at least two pounds in order to
take the drug. One dose of Capstar should kill all the adult
fleas on your pet's body. If you still spot fleas, or if a
re-infestation occurs, you can give your pet another dose. A
separate medication is necessary to prevent eggs from hatching.
Capstar Summary
This treatment works on dogs and cats to kill adult fleas but
does not kill eggs or fleas in other life stages.
Comfortis is both a treatment and a preventative for fleas on
dogs over 14 weeks. Comfortis is not available for cats. Give
Comfortis to dogs on its own as a treat, or within foodโnote
that vomiting is a known side effect. As a treatment, Comfortis
destroys adult fleas before they can lay eggs. Comfortis can
also be used as a preventative, administered on a monthly
basis.
Comfortis Summary
Comfortis treats and prevents fleas, but is only available for
dogs. Comfortis requires a prescription.
Program Tablets
Suitable for both cats and dogs over four weeks old, Program
attacks the flea's eggs and larva, but does not kill adult
fleas. A separate medication is required to eradicate the adult
population.
The program should be given to pets with their foodโcheck to
make sure your cat or dog has totally ingested the entire
tablet. Give Program on a monthly basis, and check your pet's
weight before administering, since dosage varies by weight.
Program Summary
This treatment can be given to both cats and dogs and prevents
eggs from hatching.
Sentinel
A preventative medicine, Sentinel stops flea eggs from
hatching, as well as guarding against heartworm. A different treatment is
necessary to eradicate adult fleas. Sentinel is given on a
monthly basis and is only suitable for dogs older than four
weeks, and weighing more than two pounds. Sentinel can be given
on a monthly basis and is a chewable tablet.
Sentinel Summary
This preventative treatment goes after flea eggs but does not
kill adult fleas. It also prevents heartworm. Sentinel can only
be used on dogs and requires a prescription.
Oral Flea Protection: Flea Pills for Dogs and Cats
What is oral flea Protection?
Dealing with fleas on
dogs can be a real ordeal. Oral flea protection refers
to flea pills for dogs and cats you give to them to prevent
fleas from harming them. While some topical flea and tick treatments, such
as Frontline for
cats and dogs or Revolution for dogs, could leave areas
of your pet unprotected from harmful flea infestation, oral medications
like Comfortis and Nexgard provide protection for
your petโs entire body. Some oral flea protection treatments
begin working within thirty minutes, rendering all fleas dead
within four hours. Because a female flea can produce as many as
fifty eggs a day and five hundred eggs over a lifetime, it's
critical to defend your furry friends against the aggressive
reproduction of this harmful parasite.
Why use oral flea Protection treatments?
How do I know my pet needs flea treatment?
Signs of flea activity can be found in the fur of your pet. You
may see flea dirt, which
looks like small particles of soil but is actually waste
generated by a meal of your pet's blood.
If your pet seems anxious or stops playing to scratch and bite,
fleas may be the cause. If when examining the skin of your pet
you find flea dirt or see live
fleas, unfortunately, the situation won't improve without
your action.
Many veterinarians recommend the use of oral flea protection
medications in response to a sudden flea infestation. Oral flea
protection treatments can provide visible results in less than
an hour.
Fleas can transfer from pet to owner within ten minutes,
causing itching and soreness. Hard, compact bodies make these
dreadful parasites difficult to crush. If you find a live flea,
the best way to dispatch the parasite is by drowning them in
soapy water.
What are the differences between oral flea protection
treatments?
Comfortis, which is available
with a pet
prescription from your veterinarian, comes in a
chewable tablet and starts working in half an hour. If you
have pesticide-sensitive
pets or you just want to avoid topical treatments,
this option may be for you. The best part is that you and your
little buddy can battle fleas without a break in playtime.
- The typical dosage is 13.5 mg per pound
- Your pet should have a full stomach for maximum effect
- One tablet prevents infestations for up to one month
Capstar is clean and easy.
It comes in pill form, so you can feed it directly to your pet
or mix it into food. This treatment is safe for pregnant pets
and breeding animals, and safe for kittens more than four weeks
old and over two pounds. Pet owners who choose this treatment
report that they can see dead fleas falling off of their
animals. Make note that this product is an immediate treatment
for existing adult fleas and not a preventative.
- Lasts up to 24 hours
- Safe for younger animals
- Kills all fleas within 4 hours
If your pet suffers from fleas, just getting rid of the current
generation is not enough.
Program Flea Killer for Cats is a preventative medication that
interrupts the life cycle of fleas at every stage of growth,
halting progress and ensuring death. Administer this medication as soon
as flea season begins where you live to stop flea infestations
before they begin. The dosage of this treatment is dependent
upon your pet's weight and is administered just once a month.
- Available in flavored tablets or in a liquid suspension
- Administer on a full stomach
- Comes in a six-month supply
Which oral Flea Protection is right for my pet?
-
Comfortis works
instantly for pets 14 weeks and older and requires a
prescription
- Program Flea Killer is available in a six month supply
-
Capstar is safe for
daily use with ongoing flea infestations
There are many different oral flea protection treatment options
for pet owners. It's important to remember that medication
engineered for dogs could be harmful to cats, and vice versa.
The dosage levels in these products are important, so know the
weight of your pet and consult your veterinarian before
administering.
If an infestation is left untreated, pets could experience a
lack of red blood cells or anemia. Animals may also
contract tapeworms if
they digest fleas carrying tapeworm larvae. Oral flea
medication destroys fleas in every stage of life, leaving you
and your pet free to enjoy one another's company without the
pain and stress of crawling, biting pests.
What about pills for ticks?
Currently, there are no pills or oral medications available to
prevent or treat ticks. The Preventic collar is, however, a
nice add-on to a flea pill regimen for complete flea AND tick
protection.
How PetPlus Can Help
If you are looking to protect your cat from fleas with oral
medication, the PetPlus plan
is the best way to get your cat's medication. Everything
from Comfortis to Capstar can be purchased
through PetPlus for an
average saving of 33% off the retail price.
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This information is for informational purposes only and
is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or
diagnosis, or treatment by your veterinarian. Always seek the
advice of your veterinarian or other qualified professionals
with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Never disregard or delay seeking professional advice due to
what you may have read on our website.
