Best Place To Buy Flea Meds
For this guide, I spoke with six professionals, from veterinarians to pesticide experts, about how to select the best flea and tick treatment for your pet. I spoke with Jennifer Gervais, a pesticide specialist at the National Pesticide Information Center, and Ken Labbe, a spokesperson for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about pesticide regulation. I consulted Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, about how to select the appropriate medication for your pet. I asked Dr. Tierra Price, a spay-neuter surgeon and founder of the BlackDVM Network, and Dr. Jennifer Welser, chief medical officer at Mars Veterinary Health, about their favorite flea and tick medications. And I discussed product safety with Dr. Tina Wismer, senior director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
best place to buy flea meds
To ensure the best outcome for flea and tick treatments, never buy medication without first consulting your veterinarian. Avoid counterfeits by buying products from your vet or a reputable retailer (we like Chewy). Follow the application instructions. Never split doses among pets. If you use a topical, keep pets separated until it dries, to avoid ingestion. And never use dog products on cats because the dosage levels can be dangerous.
We spoke with veterinarians about preventing and treating fleas and ticks in puppies and adult dogs and researched products using the Companion Animal Parasite Council's quick product reference guide. We also recommend talking to your veterinarian about what type of product might be best depending on your dog's temperament and lifestyle and what parasites are most common in your location.
Our pick for the best oral flea medicine for dogs is Simparica TRIO. This chewable tablet is fast-acting and kills more parasites than any other oral product. It starts to work within four hours and kills 100% of adult fleas on dogs within eight hours.
Our top pick for best flea shampoo for dogs is Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo with Oatmeal for Dogs and Puppies. In addition to killing fleas, ticks, and flea eggs and larvae for up to 10 days, this shampoo soothes skin that has become dry and irritated from flea bites and constant scratching.
Number of parasites treated: Using a product that protects against more than just fleas is convenient. While your veterinarian can advise you on which product is best for your dog, we generally favor products that cover more parasites.
Types of flea and tick medications: There are several types of treatments, including topical, oral, collars, shampoos, and sprays. Cost, convenience, ease of use, and effectiveness vary among these products. Your vet can help you determine the best type for your dog. We advise against flea sprays because topical spot-ons and oral products are more effective. Remember that some dogs with sensitive skin may not tolerate topical products. Crumley says that frequent bathing or swimming may also reduce the effectiveness of a topical product that remains on the skin's surface.
Natural vs. synthetic: Our experts do not recommend using natural products instead of veterinarian-recommended topical and oral flea control. While natural treatments can deter fleas and ticks, they won't eliminate an infestation. "If you use them, be prepared to apply them at least daily before your pet goes outside for the best chance of keeping the hitchhikers from latching on," says Crumley. If you also have kitties at home, avoid natural flea control products containing essential oils because some can be toxic to cats.
Other pets in your home: Any product labeled for use in only dogs should never be given to a cat. Some ingredients can be toxic to cats. While any dog-only flea product can harm felines, cats are especially sensitive to pyrethrins. If you're looking for a safe product for your cat, check out our guide to the best cat flea treatments.
Anyone who has had to tackle a flea infestation or pull ticks off of their dog knows how important it is to use a quality flea and tick prevention product. So how do you choose which is the best flea and tick pill for your dog?
If you have a pet that spends time outdoors, it is important to make the environment unwelcoming for pests. The best way to control fleas and ticks is to keep them from contacting your pet or entering your home or areas surrounding your home in the first place. You can do this by removing elements that they need to survive.
Yes, a number of heartworm preventives used today also are effective against certain intestinal parasites. Depending on the product, these may include hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Some products are even effective in treating external parasites such as fleas, ticks, ear mites, and the mite that causes scabies. However, it is important to realize that no single product will eliminate all species of internal and external parasites, and you should consult your veterinarian to determine the best product for your pet.
Now that you know about the riskier products, here are some safe, natural ways to prevent fleas and ticks on your dog. Using natural solutions is the best choice if you want to use flea medicine that does not cause seizures or other harmful effects.
Tapeworm larvae and the larvae of other parasites sometimes infect fleas. Infected fleas can spread parasites to animals and humans. Animals and humans must swallow an infected flea to acquire a parasite. Animals may swallow an infected flea while grooming. Humans rarely acquire parasites from infected fleas. Most cases involve children, who spend more time on the ground around places where fleas hide. Symptoms of parasites include: 041b061a72