Complete Flea & Tick Buyer’s Guide

The common belief is that all you need is a topical to treat your pet for fleas, but in actuality that is only treating part of the problem. The best defense against flea infestation is both ongoing treatment and prevention. By using pest control products it will get rid of and prevent fleas, flea eggs, larvae, ticks and other insects. Many flea products are made to work instantly. You can get results from flea products within hour of effective dosage. If one pet in the household has fleas, assume that all pets in the household have fleas. With number of flea and tick products on the market it's very difficult to choose the right one for your pet.

There are many different options to protect your pets from fleas and ticks. Flea control and prevention medication for pets come in different forms.

Topical ointment comes in a form that you put on your pet's skin. There are number of flea and tick topical treatments to choose from such as Advantage II, K9 Advantix II, Frontline Plus, Frontline Top- Spot, Pet Armor, Fiproguard and more. These topical treatments are distributed on pet's body and work to kill adult fleas. Fleas can cause flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), tapeworms, hair loss, skin irritations and anemia - due to blood loss. Ticks transmit Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. You can prevent all of these problems by simply using topical to eliminate fleas and ticks. A single topical ointment application keeps working for one month. Experts recommend monthly application to keep your pet protected year-round.

Oral flea prevention treatment comes in the form of a pill/tablet. A product such as CAPSTAR® (nitenpyram) starts working in just 30 mins. The pill/tablet releases a chemical into the pet's bloodstream that breaks the flea life cycle by inhibiting egg development. The pill/tablet kills adult fleas on the pet as well. Most of the oral flea treatments can be used together with other flea products, as well as with shampoos, heartworm preventives, deworming medications, and more.

Flea collars serve one main function - getting rid of unwanted pests! Flea and tick collars such as Seresto, Virbac Preventic Tick Collar, Sentry PRO, Zodiac, and others can be effective, but must be applied properly. To get the right degree of snugness, you should just be able to get two fingers between the collar and your pet's neck. Be sure to cut off any excess portion of the collar after you have properly applied it.

With sprays, you can repel fleas and ticks while leaving your pet smelling fresh and clean. It is great for controlling emergency flea and tick infestations from your pet at the moment. Some of the topical sprays such as Frontline, Adams Plus, and Pet Armor are designed to wipe out the life cycle of four major flea and tick species: American dog tick, blacklegged tick, long star ticks, and roundhog tick. Be sure to check and see if the formula is waterproof. Most major topical sprays are waterproof based formula. After the time, you can have your pet swim or give a bath and it will not lessen the effectiveness of the flea and tick protection.

With the number of dog shampoos on the market it's very difficult to choose the right one for your pet. Selecting the right dog shampoo shouldn't be as difficult as most pet owners make it. The most important thing is to know why your dog needs the shampoo. You want to make sure you choose the right shampoo for your dog. Most flea and tick shampoos not only kill fleas and ticks but also keep your pet from having a dry and irritated skin.

Keep in mind, your home is a breeding ground for pesky parasites such as fleas and ticks. Inside and outside of your home, fleas and ticks are persistent. So, preventing along with early treatment can be your best defense. The great outdoors is a haven for fleas since this is where most fleas come from. You can't kill all the fleas your pet comes in contact with, but at least your home will be flea-free zone. We have recommended some outdoor and yard protection products for you. These flea sprays do the job with minimal effort.

Keep in mind that until all of the fleas in your home have died, you will probably still see some fleas, even on a treated pet, since some immature forms may continue to develop. This is especially true if you had a big flea problem to start with. Persistence is the key here. It is essential to keep following an effective flea control program for a long enough time to get rid of all of the fleas, in all life stages. This may take several weeks to 6 months or more, depending on your particular situation. Make sure to follow all directions carefully for quicker and more effective results. Consult a veterinarian if you feel your pet's condition worsens or does not improve. For more information on fleas and ticks see: Got Fleas? and Flea Home Invasion. Also, see Flea Medicine.