Many products don’t provide long-term protection

By Beth Leermakers

As my dogs kept me awake, scratching at fleas and occasionally kicking me, I wondered why this was happening. Both dogs take a monthly oral heartworm preventative that also controls fleas. A few days later, the groomer who bathed my foster dog said: “Beth, we have a problem. I found 60 live fleas on Beauty!” I had applied a topical flea treatment only a few days earlier. Years ago, my veterinarian told me that fleas have developed an immunity to some flea medications. Is my home ground zero for a new strain of super fleas? As I did the research for this article, I discovered a potential explanation. 

Test your knowledge about flea prevention in cats and dogs. 

1. What are the signs your cat or dog has fleas?

A. Increased scratching

B. Biting or chewing the  skin

C. Hot spots 

D. Hair loss

E. All of the above 

2. What health problems do fleas cause?

A. Itching and irritation

B. Tapeworms

C. Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD)

D. Flea anemia

E. None of the above

F. All of the above

3. What flea control product works best?

A. Flea collar

B. Chewable pills

C. Topical (applied directly on the skin) 

D. Flea shampoo

E. Depends on your pet  4. True or False: It’s safe to use the same flea preventative for your cat and dog. 

5. When is it OK to skip flea meds?

A. When your cat never goes outside

B. In the winter, after the first frost

C. When your kitten or puppy is less than six months old 

D. All of the above

E. Never

6. What’s the best way to prevent flea infestations?

A. Treat your cat or dog only when you see fleas

B. Give flea prevention consistently year-round

C. Bathe your pet every week

D. Use flea shampoo once each summer

7. After you administer a preventative, when do the fleas die? 

A. It depends on the medication

B. When the flea bites your dog or cat

C. When the flea contacts your pet’s skin 

D. Within a few hours of administering the preventative 

8. True or False: Treating your cat or dog alone is enough to eliminate a flea infestation.

If you’re looking for a better flea preventative for your pets (I certainly am!), check out this PetMD article (sponsored by Chewy): https://www.petmd.com/dog/vet-verified/best-flea-tick-medications-for-dogs. 

Answers: 

1.E. All of the above. When dogs and cats scratch, bite or chew their itchy skin, they can get hot spots (skin infections that are red, sometimes raised areas on the skin) and hair loss. Hot spots and hair loss are symptoms of a flea allergy.  

2. F. All of the above. In addition to causing skin irritation and itching, fleas can cause significant health risks. When your pet accidentally ingests a flea infected with tapeworm larvae, you may see tapeworms (look like rice grains) in her stool. FAD is a hypersensitivity reaction to proteins found in flea saliva. Just one flea bite can trigger an intense allergic response in sensitive animals. Fleas feed on blood, and many fleas can consume enough blood to significantly decrease the red blood cell count, causing anemia. Puppies, kittens and senior pets are at higher risk for flea anemia, which is a medical emergency. 

3. E. It depends on your pet. Oral medications and topical products are often the most effective because they target adult fleas. However, pills aren’t good for picky pets who won’t take pills even if they’re hidden in a pound of cheese. Water reduces the effectiveness of topical treatments, so they won’t work well for dogs who swim or get baths regularly. If you have other pets or young children, you must be sure the topical solution dries before someone touches their skin (and then puts their coated fingers in their mouth). Flea collars are convenient and provide long-lasting protection by slowly releasing active ingredients over several months. Flea shampoos or flea dips eliminate parasites quickly if your pet already has fleas, but many of these products don’t provide long-term protection. 

4. False. Never give your cat a flea and tick product formulated for a dog. Preventatives formulated for dogs can be extremely toxic to cats. Instead, opt for a flea and tick preventative formulated for cats. Likewise, don’t give your dog a flea medication made for cats. 

5. E. Never skip flea prevention. Fleas can enter your house on your clothing or another pet, so even indoor cats are vulnerable. Fleas can survive indoors all year, and mild winters allow fleas to remain active in Texas. Most flea/tick preventatives can be used on kittens or puppies that are eight weeks or older but check the package to be safe. 

6. B. Administer flea prevention consistently, year-round. Skipping even a single dose leaves your pet unprotected, giving fleas an opportunity to infest her.

7. A. It depends on the type of medication. Oral flea/tick preventatives work systemically, meaning the parasite must bite your pet for the medication to kill them. Perhaps the fleas bothering my dogs never bit them. Topical preventatives either kill fleas and ticks on contact or when they bite your pet, depending on the formula. Capstar and flea shampoos kill fleas quickly — within 4-6 hours for Capstar. 

8. False. In addition to treating your pet, you must eliminate fleas in your home. Wash people and pet bedding in hot water and vacuum your carpets and furniture often.