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Donna's Dog Training
FLEA & TICK PREVENTION
Veterinarians Face Rising Worry Over Fleas
Over the past few years, anecdotal reports from dog and cat owners around the country suggest that the bloodsucking parasites are getting more difficult to control, despite the use of once-revolutionary topical flea treatments. Unfortunately, fleas today are being bred with an immunity to these topical flea treatments that worked great for years (e.g. Advantage, Advantix, Frontline, etc...). Therefore, they are no longer effective!
In Southern California, flea season is all year round, but it is particularly bad in June, July, August & September!
DONNA'S RECOMMENDATIONS (Based on personal use & client feedback):
#1 COMFORTIS (For dogs 14 weeks of age and older) - Comfortis is the first FDA-approved, chewable, beef-flavored tablet that kills fleas and prevents flea infestations on dogs and cats for a full month. Comfortis for Dogs & Cats requires a prescription from your veterinarian. Comfortis is a chewable, synthetic beef flavored tablet (derived from ork protein and hydrolyzed soy) that is given to a dog or cat to kill fleas and prevent flea infestations for one month. Comfortis chewable tablets are for monthly use in dogs and puppies or cats and kittens 14 weeks of age and older. Give Comfortis chewable tablets with food. Give Comfortis chewable tablets once a month. Comfortis chewable tablets may be chewed, offered in food, or administered like other tablet medications. Talk to your veterinarian before giving any prescription or over the counter medications.
#2 REVOLUTION (For dogs 6 weeks of age and older, and no weight requirement) - Revolution is a safe and simple monthly topical medication used to protect your pet from heartworms, fleas, and ear mites. It also protects dogs from ticks and sarcoptic mange and cats from roundworms and hookworms. Revolution for Dogs and Cats requires a prescription from your veterinarian. Revolution is a topical parasiticide applied once a month for the prevention of heartworm disease in dogs and cats. Revolution is also used on dogs for the treatment or prevention of fleas, the American Dog Tick, ear mites, and canine sarcoptic mange. Revolution works by penetrating the skin and entering your pet's bloodstream. Concentrations of selamectin, the active ingredient, in the tissue and bloodstream prevent heartworm disease. Selamectin also redistributes into the skin from the bloodstream and kills adult fleas, American dog ticks, and ear mites, and prevents flea eggs from hatching. It is also an anthelmintic, which means it fights to expel parasitic worms. Parasites ingest the drug when they feed on the animal's blood. Revolution is safe for pregnant and lactating pets. Do not apply Revolution to your pet if already giving an alternate heartworm medication. When switching from another heartworm medication, begin Revolution when the next dose of the heartworm medication is due.
Donna recommends starting with Revolution at 6 weeks old (always check with your veterinarian first). Then at 14 weeks, switch to Comfortis!
Some veterinarians will use both products alternating months.