advantage or frontline?

[Biciclista]

SOMEWHERE on here we discussed this and someone said that fleas are becoming resistant to either advantage or frontline. please someone tell me which i have to order ... one of them.

[smurfalicious]

Neither! My landlord has a little black chihuahua that has a white stripe down his back from where that stuff burned his skin. The EPA is stepping in to investigate these products too because they can be downright dangerous. Here's the link:

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health...k-control.html

We're blessed to not really have fleas in Colorado, but oh do I remember living in Portland and being a bite magnet. Simple soap and water will kill fleas on your pet, so "flea dips" are wholly unnecessary. The problem is fleas don't spend the bulk of their time on your pet so treating the house is more is important to stopping the cycle. Rather than me ramble, check out this article it has good tips:

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/Knowle...d=53&Keywords=

Last spring at the Boulder Hometown Fair and I coated myself with our herbal defense spray since we were right by the creek and I the skeeter magnet lived to tell. I definitely recommend sprinkling with the all in one powder around the house and yard. And the brewer's yeast/garlic remedies work great too. I used to take both myself when I lived in the "valley" because otherwise I was coated in red bumps.

[Blueberry]

We're actually having problems with both now. I had originally posted about problems with Frontline (which is now wholly ineffective for me). But, we've tried advantage recently and had really bad results.

Our dog is on Comfortis, which seems to be working. We're still working on what we can put on our kitty (he's on chemo, and we're being very cautious...). Regular baths might work, but they would stress him way too much. For now, we're doing lots of combing.

[Eden]

I can't remember what we used - its been a while, but our kitties are indoor only, so I've only did the treatments once or twice. Once our house was flea free it has stayed that way. No ill effects to either kitty.

[kermit]

I get my yard sprayed every three months and knock on wood have never had a flea problem. A friend of mine did and was turned on to sevin dust. Use it around the perimeter of the yard and even on the dogs. The bug man recommended it and once you have used it, they leave and will never return. Also works or ticks.

[bouncybouncy]

I like the natural approach to fleas...use it! But what about TICKS???? They are out of control and nothing seems to help...

Thanks

[smilingcat]

Hi Mimi,

It was me who was complaining about Advantage.

BUUUTTTT this is what we know around here. Lot of people in our area have been using Advantage and the fleas have developed an immunity to them. Several of the vets in the area were telling us that many of their clients were saying that Advantage was not working. Fleas on our cats have been resistant to Advantage since about two years ago.

Frontline seems to work and lot of people in our area have switched to them. We have switched to Revolution as it takes care of several other parasites and bugs. mites and ticks?? Revolution isn't as readily available.

What you need to find out is what majority of the people in your area are using and call several vets in area to find out if any have heard of "advantage doesn't work anymore" or "frontline isn't working anymore" . If neither is working then you need to go to Revolution. Its available only through a vet.

hope this helps.

[Biciclista]

thanks, Smiling cat.

that's a good answer. I can call my vet.
I used to be able to comb fleas out of my cats' hair but my eyes no longer see them quickly enough. Now what happens is I get fleabites (from fleas jumping on me while i comb the cats) and not EVER finding fleas on my cats.

Yes, I agree they are terrible poisons but as long as neither of my cats has a physical reaction to the stuff, I'm going to keep giving it to them.

We don't have ticks here thank goodness, and as long as I live on this dead end, I will probably continue to let my cats out because they seem to keep the rat population down.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think it's important to remind everyone NEVER to give more than the dosage recommended in the instructions. I saw the results of that at my vet's once- a poor beautiful maramelade tabby cat in a cage having horrible convulsions due to being over-dosed with one of these products. She was literally poisoned and the vet said she had been convulsing for a day and a half. I asked about the poor kitty later, and she did recover but came close to death. That was from Hartz Mountain flea/tick meds.- though I'm sure an overdose of any brand might produce the same results.

[smurfalicious]

Welp, you could always try this stuff. It's a little less chemically than other spot ons.

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produc...gs/207000.aspx

For ticks neem oil works fabulously. You can find neem oil sprays. My store has one from Ark Naturals but you can also get the straight essential oil from www.vitacost.com. A word about essential oils though, they should never ever be applied to cats. Can't for the life of me remember why, but I think it just has to do with the licking to groom themselves.

[Biciclista]

we don't have ticks, thanks though.

[smurfalicious]

we don't have ticks, thanks though.

Oh, sorry should have quoted it. Bouncy was asking about ticks. Neem works for people and pets in that regard. I have never had the misfortune of getting ticks on any of my animals. The thought alone makes me want to vomit. I helped my roommate get one off her dog, blech!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

A word about essential oils though, they should never ever be applied to cats. Can't for the life of me remember why, but I think it just has to do with the licking to groom themselves.

That's right, unlike dogs, cats wind up EATING whatever you put on their coats if they can reach it with their tongues. That's one reason they say to apply those Advantage type products to the back of the neck or between shoulder blades.

[tctrek]

I seem to remember a long time ago, I rescued a pregnant cat that had terrible fleas. I didn't want to use any of those products on her because of the kittens. I *think* my vet told me to bathe her in baby shampoo... that somehow it got rid of fleas. Anyone ever heard of that? Or is my memory just bad?

[ASammy1]

We use Frontline Plus around here, but I know that our vet recommends Revolution.