If you HAD to use a topical flea preventative, what would you use??

[viviansnickers]

So, I'm taking the boys to NYC this summer and I am SCARED that the Sentinel they are on will not be enough to ward off the fleas in NYC. There are SO many dogs in the city and we plan to go to the parks daily. I am going to start using Minksheen although I know nothing has been proven about it to ward off fleas.

For those of you who don't like topical treatments (like me,) which would you use if you HAD to use one. I have to order my Sentinel soon but am not sure if I should order a topical instead.

Let me know what you think....anyone use the Frontline Spray??

Thanks!!!
Viv

[LDMomma]

We used to use Advantage in the winter and Advantix in the summer. I'm not sure about the prevalence of ticks in NYC.

[chachi]

I like advantage Ive never had a problem with it and it always takes care of the fleas. I only use it when I have to though. The cat advantage was safe enough that my vet had me put 2 drops on a 3 week old kitten that had fleas. Thats another reason why I just trust the advantage

[Ellie May]

Well, it depends on if you want something that will stop the lifecycle or just kill hte adults. I would want the former. If I was going to use one, it would be:

Fronline Plus or
Frontline with Program (I think you can do that) or
Advanage with Program

For two of these, they could stay on the Sentinel because it has Program in it.

Ellie's vet recommends the first if we are just talking about fleas and a topical is needed. So that's what I use if needed. If I was going to do it more long term, I'd lean toward Advantage because imidacloprid is a group E human carcinogen while fipronil is group C. I would just feel more comfortable with the group E. But I'm sure they have very similar side effect rates in the end or many vets would stop carrying the more dangerous one.

More importantly, what one works for the people in NYC? Is there one thath fleas are becoming resistent to there?

I know you're nervous about this, but it's just for three months. They are all considered fairly safe. I wouldn't hesitate to use imidacloprid, fipronil, lufenuron (Program) or methoprene (the plus in Frontline Plus) on Ellie. I would put a lot of thought into it if I was going to have to use for an extended period (years), but just for a few months, no. I would just say try to find out what protocol works best for NY residents. Please don't spend your spring and summer worrying about them getting some chemicals. You and they will enjoy thte vacay and they should be just fine. Just apply the risrst dose at least a few days before leaving so you would know if there was going to be an immediate reaction before leaving your vet for the summer...

[Britster]

Are you more worried about fleas or ticks? I know here in MD, I have NO issues with fleas, but ticks are ridiculous. I *have* to use topicals. He even got ticks in December (when I thought it'd be safe to take him off it). We're semi-close to NY so I don't know if it's the same (maybe not in the city....) but the Frontline Plus protects from both. Frontline does NOT work for us in the summer, though. He still gets ticks, so in the summer we use K9 Advantix. I'd feel safer using Frontline Plus though if I could get away with it (I use it in the winter).

[kdhawks]

I have to use a topical on Levi...fleas can get pretty bad around here. We use Frontline Plus and it has worked well for us - no fleas at all. We use it in addition to Sentinel.

[linda44]

we use advantage

[107barney]

We use frontline plus.

[jadabug]

We use Frontline plus in the from Spring to late fall. We don't use anything for fleas in the winter months.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

I use Advantix but more for the ticks around here. Frontline didn't work very well for us here. However, my vet still recommends the Frontline.

[carsou]

We use Frontline Plus, Advantage didn't work for us.

[_Chrissy_]

Originally Posted by Britster

Are you more worried about fleas or ticks? I know here in MD, I have NO issues with fleas, but ticks are ridiculous. I *have* to use topicals. He even got ticks in December (when I thought it'd be safe to take him off it). We're semi-close to NY so I don't know if it's the same (maybe not in the city....) but the Frontline Plus protects from both. Frontline does NOT work for us in the summer, though. He still gets ticks, so in the summer we use K9 Advantix. I'd feel safer using Frontline Plus though if I could get away with it (I use it in the winter).

We use K9 Advantix here too

[viviansnickers]

Thanks everyone....I'm leaning toward the Frontline Plus and then using HeartGuard for heartworms. Crystal....I asked NY residents and didn't get much response, but I think you're right about being safe than sorry. I'll prob do then Sentinel until next month since we are going mid June and apply the Frontline Plus at the end of May.

Smiles-
Viv

[Ellie May]

Could just switch to Interceptor for now since they have already had the milbemycin in the Sentinel. Heartgard is great, but if you don't want to try something new, no need to switch to it...

BTW, if there is a tick problem in NY, Frontline Plus will very likely not do what you need it to do. In that case you may have to use Advantix.

[107barney]

[QUOTE=Ellie May;3494969]Could just switch to Interceptor for now since they have already had the milbemycin in the Sentinel. Heartgard is great, but if you don't want to try something new, no need to switch to it...

BTW, if there is a tick problem in NY, Frontline Plus will very likely not do what you need it to do. In that case you may have to use Advantix.[/QUOTE]


Should I switch? I've had good luck with Frontline Plus - have never seen a tick on my dogs and we live in lyme tick land. I've had 4 vets and all recommended Frontline Plus. We use it with Interceptor. Now you have me worried, we do test annually for Lyme routinely and everyone is negative.