Sponsored Links
Page: 4 of 4
In this report

See Also

Flea Control: Ratings of Sources

Total of 10 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. Dogster.com
May 26, 2010
Vet Blog Discusses Safety and Efficacy of Flea Control Products
by Eric Barchas
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentDogster.com is a community website that gives expert dog advice. Veterinarian Eric Barchas gives his assessment of topical treatments, oral medications and other flea control products from his 10 years working as a vet. Barchas says Advantage, Frontline, Program and Capstar all "have very low rates of adverse reactions," and rarely are these reactions severe.
2. Main Street Pet Care
Not Dated
Flea and Tick Control
by Staff of Main Street Pet Care
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe staff at Main Street Pet Care in Joplin, Mo., recommend Sentinel Flavor Tabs for dogs and Program 6 Month Injectable for cats as "the only flea control program that ALWAYS works." Although these products have no effect on adult fleas, they describe them as highly effective "over the long haul." For dealing with an existing flea problem on cats or dogs, Main Street Pet Care recommends either Trifexis or Capstar. They prefer Trifexis for its low cost and ease of use but note that it can cause vomiting, while Capstar is largely free of side effects.
3. VeterinaryPartner
Not Dated
Flea Control
by Carol S. Foil
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentVeterinaryPartner.com is a resource for the veterinary industry. Veterinarian Carol S. Foil gives her assessment of the oral and topical flea control products on the market. Foil provides a simple explanation of how each works and gives the pros and cons. She recommends fast-acting products for pets that are allergic to fleas. However, it's not clear just how up-to-date this particular article is. Two of the listed products are discontinued, and one that's described as "completely new" has been around for a couple of years.
4. Twin Maples Veterinary Hospital
Updated 2010
Flea Control
by Staff of Twin Maples Veterinary Hospital
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis article by the staff of Twin Maples Veterinary Hospital in West Carrollton, Ohio discusses the flea's life cycle and compares different flea-control methods. To quickly eliminate fleas on dogs that are at least 14 weeks old, the staff recommend the oral medicine Comfortis. They note that Capstar, another oral medicine, works on cats as well, but they do not specifically recommend it. To kill adult fleas within 12 to 36 hours and break the life cycle, they recommend the topical medications Vectra 3D (for dogs only), Frontline Plus or Revolution. They also caution against using over the counter products, especially ones that contain permethrin (even though one recommended product -- Vectra3D -- does contain that chemical).
5. Feline Advisory Bureau
November 2008
Tackling Fleas on Cats
by Editors of Feline Advisory Bureau
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe Feline Advisory Bureau is a U.K.-based animal welfare organization dedicated to cats. The site recommends "spot-on treatments" over collars, powders and sprays. Advantage Multi for Cats, Frontline Top Spot for Cats & Kittens and Frontline Plus for Cats are the three recommended spot treatments sold in the U.S. The site also recommends the oral medications Capstar and Program Suspension, but it notes that repeated treatments will be needed to deal with an infestation.
6. 1800PetMeds.com
As of June 2012
Flea and Tick
by Contributors to 1800PetMeds.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis online pet pharmacy sells many brands of flea control products, and we found a huge volume of reviews by pet owners here -- literally thousands, for some products. By far the best-rated products here are Revolution and Advantage II. Each of these two topical medications earns overall ratings of more than 4 stars out of 5 from more than a thousand dog and cat owners. We also found very strong reviews, though not quite as many, for the oral medications Comfortis and Sentinel Flavor Tabs.
7. Petco.com
As of June 2012
Flea & Tick Control
by Contributors to Petco.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentPetco.com sorts its flea and tick products into separate pages for dogs and cats. We did not find as many reviews from pet owners at this site as at 1800PetMeds.com, but the most popular products still receive hundreds of comments. The top choices here are all topical treatments. For dogs, Frontline Plus is the best-rated product, followed by K9 Advantix II and Advantage II. Among cat owners, Advantage II is more popular than Frontline Plus, but both are highly rated. The best-rated oral medication for both dogs and cats is Capstar, but it does not receive nearly as many reviews as the topical products.
8. Amazon.com
As of June 2012
Pet Supplies
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAmazon.com has been selling flea control products long enough for some to accumulate hundreds of reviews. Sorting through the reviews can be difficult, however. Not only are products for dogs and cats listed on separate pages, but reviews for specific formulations of products (e.g., packages of different sizes, or dosages for dogs of different sizes) are scattered across multiple pages. Still, a few products are clear standouts. For dogs, Frontline Plus and K9 Advantix II are well recommended. For cats, the most popular product is Advantage, which is now discontinued; however, the newer version, Advantage II for Cats, is also highly rated. Capstar is the top-rated oral flea medication for both dogs and cats.
9. SimpleSteps.org
Not Dated
GreenPaws Flea and Tick Products Directory
by Editors of SimpleSteps.org
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe directory of flea-control products at SimpleSteps.org, sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council, includes a rating of risk level and details the dangers of using these products. "Natural" remedies, such as essential oils and diatomaceous earth, are also evaluated. The site makes it easy to find information about a specific product or identify products by their risk level. Although the information on this site is reliable and detailed, it is not clear how current it is. There is no indication as to when the site was last updated, and several of the listed products have been discontinued or replaced. Also, this site evaluates only the safety of flea-control products; it offers no information about their effectiveness or ease of use.
10. Amazon.com
As of July 2010
Flea & Tick Control
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAmazon.com has been selling flea control products long enough to accumulate hundreds of reviews for some. Most reviews are for topical flea treatments. Advantage for Cats and Frontline Plus for Dogs score good ratings and have lots of posted reviews, while Advantage for Dogs and Frontline Plus for Cats also receive good ratings but from a smaller number of pet owners.
     
 

This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.

Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
 
 
 
  
Anti-Flea Medications
 
Sponsored Links

Back to top