Treat Your Pet for Fleas

It is important to treat all household pets that can carry fleas. Dogs and cats must be treated! When treating cats, always check labels to make sure the product is appropriate for use on cats!!

Recommendations

Puppies less than 8 weeks

  • Use flea comb multiple times daily
  • Apply citrus-derivative insecticide according to label instructions
  • Apply methoprene (IGR) topically
  • Change bedding / clean housing daily
  • If nursing, treat bitch in similar manner

Puppies greater than 8 weeks

  • Use flea comb multiple times daily
  • Apply product containing fipronil (Frontline®)
  • Control home environment as described above (eg, vacuuming, application of IGRs)
  • Initiate long term administration of oral IGR (eg, lufenuron) or topical application (pyriproxyfen @ 16 weeks)

Adult dogs

  • Use flea comb regularly
  • Shampoo with pyrethrin/pyrethroid to remove fleas
  • Apply topical insecticide (fipronil, imidocloprid, or permethrin combined with pyriproxyfen)
  • For maximum long tern control, administer an IGR (oral lufenuron or topical pyriproxyfen) regularly
  • Treat home (indoors and outdoor) environment as described below

Kittens less than 8 weeks

  • As for puppies less than 8 weeks (see above)

Kittens greater than 8 weeks (less than 16 weeks)

  • Use flea comb daily
  • Apply citrus derivative insecticide according to label or apply fipronil topically as directed
  • Begin oral lufenuron for long term prevention

Adult cats

  • Use a flea comb as permitted by cat
  • Apply fipronil or imidocloprid insecticide once monthly according to label instructions
  • Consider use of oral lufenuron for long term prevention
  • Treat environment as described below
Barn (or feral) cats

  • Apply fipronil or imidocloprid topically once monthly
  • Treat environment with insecticide and IGR (eg, Knockout®, Virbac)
  • Use lufenuron if finances permit (depends on cooperation of the cats since the product is given orally or on food)

Dogs (Alternative Option A):

  • 1. Shampoo the dog weekly using a shampoo with good knockdown properties. Pyrethrins are the most common active ingredient in shampoos.

  • 2. Apply flea sprays containing pyrethrins or pyrethroids (e.g., permethrin) twice weekly or according to label instructions. OR apply flea powders twice weekly following label instructions.

  • 3. Use a flea comb at regular intervals (every day or other day). Pay special attention to the back area, base of the tail, rear aspects of the hind legs and abdomen.

  • 4. Administer an insect growth regulator on a regular basis. These may be given orally (e.g., lufeneron (Program®, CIBA) or as a topical spray (e.g, methoprene [Ovitrol Plus®, Vet Kem] applied two - three times weekly or pyriproxyfen [Knockout®,Virbac] [EctoKyl®,DVM], applied monthly.

Dogs (Alternative Option B):

  • 1. Apply rinses or dips at weekly to biweekly intervals. ALWAYS follow label instructions regarding treatment intervals! .... OR
  • 2. Apply pour-on products (e.g., DefendTM,Coopers) at recommended intervals, and use flea combs every day to every other day.
    ...AND
  • 3. Administer an insect growth regulator (such as lufeneron orally or apply pyriproxifen topically ) at regular intervals!

Cats (Alternative)

  • 1. Use a flea comb daily. Pay special attention to the head and abdomen.

  • 2. Apply flea foams every 5-7 days (follow label recommendations). OR.. apply flea sprays approved for cats every 3-7 days.

  • 3. Administer lufenuron orally once monthly for long term control. Note: Once the fleas have been eliminated from the environment, lufenuron alone may be sufficient to prevent a flea infestation. However, it will not prevent fleas from outside sources from biting the cat.

 

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