Traditional Medicine: Comparison of 3 Popular Flea and Tick Preventatives

Traditional Flea and Tick Prevention have many products to choose from.  Here is a comparison of three of the most popular.

Frontline Plus:

Is very effective for flea and ticks.  Some people are beginning to see a resistance to it; therefore it is recommended to use Frontline Plus instead of Top Spot as Plus has an added chemical called (S)-methoprene that prevents flea reproduction as a back up for those that are not killed by the Frontline itself.

How does it work?:

• Monthly topical application.

• Frontline Plus spreads throughout the dog’s body through translocation.  When applied, the product disperses by the dog’s natural oils and it is wicked throughout the hair within the next 30 days.  Translocation takes up to 24 hours.

• Fleas and ticks do not need to bite the dog for Frontline to work; the flea will die within 12 hours of contact and ticks die within 48 hours.

• Active ingredients: Fipronil and (s)-methoprene.

Is it waterproof?:
Frontline is effective even if the dog is bathed or goes swimming.  Keep the dog from getting wet for 24 hours or until the product appears dry.

Side effects?:
Side effects are rare but dog’s may experience temporary irritation of the site of application.

Comfortis:

Is an effective flea medication that is systemic (monthly tablet) rather than topical; therefore family members do not need to worry about children touching a pesticide on the dog’s fur.

How does it work?:

• Comfortis is a beef flavored tablet administered monthly.  It contains Spinosad which attacks the nervous system of insects causing rapid death of adult fleas.  Kills fleas within 30 minutes and kills 100% of the fleas within 4 hours.

• “It circulates in the bloodstream and kills fleas when they bite.”

Is it waterproof?:
Comfortis is given orally; therefore cannot be washed off like some topical flea preventatives.

Side effects?:
Some dogs experience vomiting after taking Comfortis.  “Additional adverse reactions observed in the clinical studies were itching, decreased activity, diarrhea, inflammation of the skin, redness of the skin, decreased appetite and redness of the ear. All reactions were regarded as mild.”

Vectra 3D:

Vectra 3D is a topical flea and tick preventative that is applied to the skin once a month.  It works better than Frontline for fleas and ticks. It repels and kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other biting parasites.

How does it work?:

• Monthly topical application.

• “Spreads naturally over the dog’s body to provide full body protection against fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, sand flies and mites.”

• Fleas and ticks do not need to bite to die and it kills fleas within six hours.

• Active ingredients: Dinotefuran, Pyriproxyfen and Permethrin.

Is it waterproof?:
“Remains effective after bathing and swimming.”

Side effects?:
Redness at the site of application.  Do not give to a dog who lives with a cat.

As with all drugs, speak to a veterinarian before use and thoroughly research any products that you administer to your dog.

Do you like these products, do you think they are safe?

*Johanna*