Fleas are the most common external parasite of pets in North 
America. Fleas are small wingless insects that use their 
specialized mouth to pierce the skin and siphon blood from their 
host. When a flea bites, it injects a small amount of saliva into 
the skin to prevent the blood from coagulating. Some animals 
become sensitized to flea saliva and animals that are allergic 
can have severe itching and scratching from a single bite. Flea 
allergy dermatitis is the most common disease among dogs. 

Current flea control products are primarily either oral or 
topical systemic treatments. Most of the products may be used for 
prevention as well as to treat existing flea problems. One group 
of products control fleas by interrupting their development by 
killing or stopping the maturation of flea larvae and eggs. These 
drugs are called Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs). One common oral 
product used is lufenuron which is found in the Program® line of 
products which are administered orally in tablet or liquid form. 
Methoprene and pyriproxifen are also IGRs that are available as 
sprays or collars. The FDA shares regulation of these products 
with the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture. Because even the same products from other 
countries have not been approved by these agencies, it is illegal 
to purchase or import these products for use in the United 
States.

Currently the most popular flea control products kill adult fleas 
(adulticide), are applied topically and work rapidly. Popular 
topical products utilize fipronil which is the key ingredient in 
Frontline® Top Spot and imidacloprid which is in Advantage®.  The 
most popular product on the market, Frontline Plus®, utilizes 
both an adulticide and an IGR. An oral adulticide that is also 
available is nitenpyram which is in Capstar® and begins to kill 
fleas in 30 minutes. Frontline Plus also kills ticks which makes 
it the most popular product where ongoing tick protection is 
required. 

Consult with your veterinarian to determine which flea and tick 
control products are best for you.  The choice of flea control 
will depend on your climate, environment, your pet's activities, 
and potential for exposure. However, with consistent use, it is 
almost always possible to control your flea problem. Using these 
products throughout the year typically will eliminate the need 
for regular insecticidal use. The following provide additional 
summary information on selected popular products.

Program from Novartis®

Program is available as a once a month pill or oral liquid 
suspension to be given with a full meal. Adult fleas that ingest 
Program's key ingredient, lufenuron, produce sterile eggs. 
Program does not kill adult fleas so pets remain susceptible to 
fleas hatching and maturing pupa already present in the 
environment. Therefore, some time may pass before the all fleas 
are killed in an environment. In order to stop the life cycle, 
every animal in the environment must receive lufenuron. Pets 
should also be sprayed with an adulticide during the first week 
or two of starting Program. 

Advantage from Bayer® 

Advantage is applied topically on both dogs and cats and seems to 
be very well-tolerated by sensitive cats. Advantage kills fleas 
within 24 hours and 100% protection can be maintained for cats 
for  21 days and 90% protection can be maintained for dogs for 28 
days. Advantage is susceptible to washing off so dogs that are 
active outdoors and dogs that swim or must be bathed frequently 
should be re-treated frequently. Up to weekly re-treatment is 
allowed.  The imidacloprid in Advantage does not effect ticks, 
but K-9Advantix, with permethrin does. K9 Advantix is only 
labeled for once a month K9 Advantix is ONLY FOR USE WITH DOGS 
and MUST NOT BE ADMINISTERED TO CATS.

Frontline Spray, Frontline Plus And Frontline Top Spot from 
Merial®

Frontline Spray, Frontline Plus, and Frontline Top Spot comprise 
the market leading Frontline flea control product line. The 
fipronil in Frontline products is a broad spectrum insecticide 
available as a spray or topical. Fipronil works by binding 
chemically to the pet's hair and is absorbed through the follicle 
by the sebaceous glands. As a spray, fipronil kills fleas at 95% 
for over 80 days after application on dogs and for 1 month with 
biweekly bathing. Frontline is labeled for puppies and kittens as 
young as 8 weeks (10 weeks for Top Spot) and it is not washed off 
by bathing. Frontline is also affective against ticks. Some cats 
may show minor adverse reactions with high volume use of the 
alcohol based spray product which should be applied no more than 
once a month. Frontline Plus also contains the IGR, S-methoprene 
which inhibits the growth of immature fleas.

Capstar from Novartis®

Capstar is an oral tablet for dogs and cats that may be 
administered as young as 4 weeks of age. It offers extremely 
rapid and complete killing of adult fleas and is safe enough that 
the tablets may be used whenever fleas are seen on your pet as 
often as once per day. Capstar may be used in combination with an 
IGR to kill fleas immediately to compliment the long-term control 
of an IGR such as Program. 

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