Flea Control : Ratings of Sources

Our AssessmentSimpleSteps.org is sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. This website has a directory of flea products that includes a rating of risk level and details the dangers of using these pesticides. Overall, oral flea medications have a lower risk rating than topical treatments. The site makes it easy to find information about a specific product or identify products by their risk level.

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. He says Advantage, Frontline, Program and Capstar "have very low rates of adverse reactions," and rarely are these reactions severe. Furthermore, "Hartz, Sargeant's and Bio Spot are quite ineffective and extremely likely to cause severe adverse reactions in pets." Barchas says although Comfortis often causes vomiting, it doesn't have serious side effects and "most clients who try Comfortis never look back." He warns against using herbal remedies or doing nothing to eliminate fleas.

Our AssessmentPlacervilleVet.com is the website of a veterinary clinic in Placerville, Calif. This helpful article describes various flea control products and recommends some. The author says Comfortis is "highly effective" for dogs, but Vectra 3D is the best choice for dogs that also need flea control. The reviewer also touts Frontline Plus for dogs and cats, which lasts longer than Advantage and is more effective. Program and Sentinel are deemed to be "not very effective flea control." Flea collars are economical, but are a good option only for flea prevention.

Our AssessmentThe Feline Advisory Bureau is a U.K.-based animal welfare organization dedicated to cats. The site recommends spot-on treatments over oral medications. Advantage for Cats, ProMeris for cats, Frontline Top Spot for Cats & Kittens, and Frontline Plus for Cats are the four recommended products sold in the U.S. This organization cautions against using natural remedies without consulting a veterinarian, as some may be toxic to cats. For treating the environment, editors say sprays and powders that can be directed at a specific area are more effective than foggers.

Our AssessmentThis online pet pharmacy sells many brands of flea control products, and we found a greater number of reviews by pet owners here than at other online retailers. Advantage has a good average rating and lots of feedback. Revolution also earns positive marks from dog and cat owners. Comfortis, Capstar and Sentinel Flavor Tabs are the highest-rated oral medications for flea control. Only a few flea collars and shampoos are sold at this site, and there aren't enough reviews to form a consensus.

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.

Our AssessmentPetSmart.com recommends Advantage and K9 Advantix, but we don't know the basis for their recommendation. Overall, this site has very few owner reviews for flea-control products, including flea collars.