7 Questions That Will Assist You In Selecting The Best Flea & Tick Preventive Treatment for Dogs & Cats

By | July 5, 2017
Questions That will Assist You in Selecting the Best Flea & Tick Preventive Treatment for Dogs & Cats

In the recent past, there have been lots of new flea and tick preventative products for dogs and cats. Hence, as a pet owner, it becomes a difficult proposition to make a purchasing decision, while selecting the right product for your fur baby. Furthermore, advertisers and their makers are making the ordeal even more intricate by making it more confusing for the pet owners, by showing off their flea and tick preventative product as the safest, the most convenient, the quickest kill and the most effective.

To make the task of pet owners easier, we have highlighted some questions that will help you make an informed decision on selecting the best flea & tick preventive treatment for your pet. But, please note that no single treatment can be recommended for all the pets; since there are certain risks that the pet encounters with each treatment.

Let us look at these questions:

Questions Before Selecting Flea And Tick Treatment

Q 1: Can My Pet Be Affected By Ticks?

A 1: Yes, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, ticks are prevalent in each and every state of USA. The other problem is that ticks carry diseases like Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Q 2: Is The Risk Faced By My Pet To Ticks High Or Low?

A 2: Even in urban settings, you can find ticks. Remember, ticks reside on the ground, irrespective of whether it is on a city lawn or in a forest. They are prone to crawl up to the blade of grass and wait for a warm-blooded animal to pass by. Then they drop onto their host to suck their blood as their meal. Hence, it is extremely critical to determine the risk of your pet’s exposure to ticks.

Various products that contain active ingredients including Amitraz, Pyrethroids, Fipronil and Salamectin are highly effective in controlling ticks. If there is negligible exposure of ticks to your pet, then the tick efficacy products are not significant for you. If that is the case, select a product that protects the pet from fleas. In case, your pet roams in wooded, dense areas; then tick exposure is high and tick control efficacy is a very important thing while selecting the insecticide.

Q 3: Does The Pet Go To Daycare, Grooming Parlors Or Parks? Or Does The Pet Stay in Its Own Backyard?

A 3: If you have social pet, there is a high probability for him to get exposed to fleas. If you think that if your fur baby stays in the backyard, he will have negligible exposure to fleas then you are in for a shock. It has been observed that wildlife like raccoons, stray cats and opossums roam in the yard that carry fleas. Hence, it is extremely important to get an excellent flea control product for your pet.

Q 4: Does Your Pet Swim Or Get Bathed At Least Once Every Two Weeks?

A 4: If the answer is yes; it is important to select a flea and tick preventive product that can remain effective even after the pet gets exposed to water. If you are administering a topical treatment that is labeled waterproof, wait for a minimum of a day before or after administering the treatment for the pet to swim or bath. Most of the topical flea and tick preventive treatments take time to get absorbed in the skin to remain effective. But, if your pet does not swim, then you can also select a product that is not waterproof.

Q 5: Do You Own A Kitty?

A 5: It has been observed that administering treatments with active ingredients comprising of permethrin, phenothrin, Deltamethrin, Amitraz or cyphenothrin that have been specifically developed for dogs, can be poisonous for cats. Also, if you live in a multiple pet household, never allow the cat to come near a treated dog because the active ingredient can be life-threatening for the feline. If you are selecting a flea and tick preventive treatment for cats, ensure that you purchase a product that has been specifically developed for cats. It is also recommended not to buckle flea collars on the neck of the feline, as when they roam outside their collar can get caught on branches and fences, which can strangle her.

Q 6: How Old Is Your Pet?

A 6: There are certain products that are not recommended to be administered before the pet becomes eight weeks of age. While there are certain products that are not safe to be administered on ill or pregnant pets. Hence, always read the product label for age and health restrictions before selecting and administering them on the pet.

Q 7: Does The Product Equally Effective Against Adult Fleas & Eggs?

A 7: There are certain flea and tick preventive products that only prevent flea eggs from hatching or larvae from completing its life cycle. If it does not remain effective against adult fleas, then it misses the mark. Lufenuron is an active ingredient that prevents eggs from completing their metamorphosis. While pyriproxyfen and methoprene are the active ingredients that are insect growth regulators. But even if the product only kills adult fleas, then also it will not serve the purpose. This can create a situation where the eggs in the environment can hatch, jump on the pet and bite them.

Remember, a female flea can lay 20-40 eggs on a single day!!! Hence, you need to opt for a product that not only is effective against adult fleas, but also against its entire life cycle. One such product is Frontline Plus, which contains Fipronil and (S)-Methoprene. Fipronil is effective against adult fleas and ticks, while (S)-Methoprene is an insect growth regulator that kills the entire flea life cycle.

Never fall for a marketing gimmick by the manufacturer. Select the best product based on your pet’s concern and the advice of your veterinarian. Then administer the treatment as per the directions on the product label. If you are proactive in your approach, it is possible to keep your furry pal free from these pesky parasites and enjoy a wonderful time with you!!!