by Dr Bruce Carstens
Willow Rock Pet Hospital
In the past two years, several new flea-control products have become available to give you the edge in the war against fleas. Are they safe? Are they effective? Are they easy?
The two most well-knownproducts are Program and Advantage. Program is a once-a-month pill you give your dog (liquid for the cats) which controls fleas by keeping their eggs from hatching. Any fleas which jump on your pet lay 1,000-2,000 eggs all over your pet, your house and yard. When your pet takes Program, none of these eggs hatch, so the flea dies without reproducing (it's like birth control for fleas!). Once your existing flea population goes through its life cycle in 1-2 months, you have no more fleas, unless your pet is re-infested by flea "hitchhikers" coming in from somewhere.
Program is very safe - in fact, it was approved by the FDA with no contraindications. It is effective if every animal in the household is on it, and it is very easy if you can give the pill with a meal.
Advantage is a monthly spot-on treatment which kills fleas immediately. It comes in a small squeeze tube and is applied to a patch of skin on the back of the neck. Within 24 hours it has spread over the skin by capillary attraction. If new fleas jump on, they are killed within 2 hours. The advantage this medicine has over flea-dips is that it is on the skin, not the hair, so it can't be rubbed or licked off. If your pet gets wet or rolls in the dirt, no problem, as long as you don't use a detergent shampoo.
Advantage is safe because it doesn't soak into the skin, and the chemical only affects insects, not mammals. It is very effective within a short period of time. My clients report that if applied in the afternoon, the dog stops scratching by bedtime. It is very easy if your pet will hold still for a few seconds so you can apply the treatment.
The most exciting new product available is Sentinel - which combines Program and Interceptor (a heartworm preventative) into one monthly pill. If your dog takes a monthly heartworm preventative, and you need flea control, you can now get one box instead of two. Sentinel is made by the same company which makes Program and Interceptor, so now they have simply put the two together in one pill to control internal and external parasites Older flea treatments, such as sprays and collars and dips still have their place in special situations, but the chemicals inside can be more toxic if not used properly, or on the wrong animal. Be sure to read instructions carefully, since some products made for dogs are toxic if put on cats, and many products are not safe for pets under 4 months of age.
Ask your veterinarian if one of the new products is right for you, since they are safe, effective, and best of all, easy. Next month I will answer my most frequently asked question - How do I choose a puppy? It's harder than you think. Send in your Pet-Care Questions: Each month Dr. Carstens will answer your questions about pet care on this page. Dr. Carstens can be reached at 630-9234, or mail your questions to Willow Rock Pet Hospital, 6661-M Stanford Ranch Road, Rocklin, CA 95677.
About the Author: Dr. Bruce Carstens graduated from the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. He and his wife have been residents of Stanford Ranch since 1992 and have two children at Breen Elementary. Dr. Carstens served the Stanford Ranch area for the past three years, and opened the Willow Rock Pet Hospital in the Food Source Plaza in June, 1997.