Flea and Tick: FAQs About Flea Treatments

Only one of my dogs has fleas. Why did the vet tell me to treat all my pets, even the cats?

Treating all pets (and the environment) ensures the removal of smoldering flea reservoirs. You may have noticed your pet has a flea problem because pets with flea allergies scratch incessantly. Other pets can have fleas but if they are not allergic to them, they won't scratch obsessively. It's easy to assume that pets who aren't scratching don't have fleas, but that's not always so.

To remove the fleas from asymptomatic pets, treat all pets whether they are scratching or not.

Can I put flea products for dogs on my cat?

No. Cats are not small dogs. Only use flea treatments intended for cats on cats. Cats are much more sensitive to flea products than dogs are, and some flea treatments can be very harmful to them. Because the surface area of the cat is proportionately different than that of a dog—a cat requires a different level of preventative. Flea treatments are formulated based on size and physiology so cat treatments are the best and safest products to use for cats. The single biggest cause of all non-medicinal poisoning is using the wrong products on cats.

If you treat your dog with a permethrin-containing product, allow the solution to dry before reuniting the dog and cat.

Why is my topical flea treatment not working?

If your pet is on a monthly flea preventative but you are still finding fleas, read our detailed guide on why your pet's flea medication may not be working. To summarize, there are 3 reasons a topical doesn't appear to work: application procedure, the pet's skin, the flea reservoir (environment and untreated pets).

1. Application: Be sure the applicator touches the skin and the product is not spread through the hair where it cannot be absorbed. Do not rub in the product. Keep your fingers away from the applicator tip so that the pet, and not you, receives the full dose. Squeeze the tube entirely empty. For cats, apply the solution to the base of the skull rather than between shoulder blades where some flexible cats can lick off the solution.
2. Skin health: Be sure the skin is soft, flexible, and healthy. If it is dry, thick, and unhealthy, the solution will not be carried through the skin as it should. If necessary supplement your pet with Omega 3 fatty acids to improve skin and coat health.
3. Flea reservoir: Remove fleas from the house and yard. Treat all pets in the household, even those that are not scratching because fleas don't cause all pets to scratch. Limit your pet's exposure to wildlife and stray pets. Great efforts bring great rewards.

Why are there so many products to kill fleas and ticks?

From the number of categories of products, you can tell how serious the flea and tick problem is. For most pet parents, topical or oral treatments used monthly are the most convenient. Excellent products include Frontline Plus, Advantage II, Revolution, Program, and Sentinel.

When flea prevention efforts haven't been sufficient, powders, foggers, sprays can be used for in-home treatment. These products kill adult fleas immediately. You can also kill fleas on your pet by using shampoos and dips.

Flea combs and shampoos are excellent products to use on geriatric pets and those that have lost enough blood to fleas to be anemic. Combs and shampoos are also useful for young puppies and kittens with immature nervous systems. Or, prevent puppies and kittens from ever having fleas by treating the mother and the whelping area before they arrive.

Can I use two flea treatments at the same time?

Generally, it is unwise to combine two flea treatments because pets are healthier with limited chemical exposure. When it is necessary to use more than one product on a pet, it's because there is a problem with environmental control measures inside and outside the home.

Do not use two topical treatments at the same time, such as Frontline Plus and Advantage II. However, it is possible to use an oral insect growth regulator (IGR) with a topical flea treatment. For example, with a cat, give oral Program Oral Suspension and apply Advantage II or Frontline Plus topically. For a dog, you can give Sentinel and apply Frontline Plus or Advantage II topically.