flea treatment for dogs and cats

[encee]

now that flea season is upon us any ideas on the best way to protect our cats and dogs would be appreciated.
the cats do not like the spot on stuff but the dogs seem ok with anything.
so any ideas on the best prevention i would be extreemly happy with.
i think last year we used frontline?

[lankeela]

Can't beat Frontline, but the spray only, not the spot on. Only available from vet as its prescription only. The rest is a waste of money.

[lankeela]

If your cats don't like the spray use a latex or rubber glove, spray that then stroke it onto the cats.

[janbee]

I've seen Frontline in local chemist shops

[Schutzengel]

If the cats don't like Frontline Spot On, they would like the Frontline Spray a lot less. Added to which it is very easy to overdose a cat with the Spray type, which can have disastrous results. It's the smell of the Spot On that cats don't like, but they soon forget about it. It is well worth persevering with the Frontline Spot On, as it is by far the best. It is now available in many chemists shops, or you can buy it on the Internet, which would probably work out cheaper for you as you have several cats and dogs to be treated.

[encee]

just got frontline pipettes for the dogs off pet supermarket 19.63 for 3 which i thought was good.the cats i am not sure what to do yet as one of the cats went beserk the last time i put drops on and she left home for 4 days. not a happy moggy

[lankeela]

The spray is prescription only for a reason, it is stronger so works better. It also kills fleas on the animals almost immediately, whereas the spot on stops them from hatching eggs.

[Schutzengel]

Lankeela. Would you agree that because the spray is stronger, and therefore only on prescription, that it is very important that the instructions are followed to the letter.

[Mr Veritas]

Having had (and still having 3) cats over the years,can I give you some suggestions?
My Vet said this little saying to me "Comb as if you hadn't sprayed,and sparay as if you haven't combed"
Let me make this a bit clearer.
When we got fleas we througly hoovered the carpets,and they sprayed the room with a flea spray(paying especial attention to the place where the skirting meets the carpet).
We used any reccomended(by the vet) "on cat" drops,but we also goa flea comb ang every day (or more) combed the cat.If we found fleas on the comb we pushed them off of the comb into a bowl of water(where they drowned).
Only following this schedule will you break the cat~flea~cat~flea cycle.Hoovering and spraying is essential as flea larvae can live dormant for years in furnishings,carpets etc,and will awaken when they sense a source of blood(sorry).
Conversely,the adult flea only bites the cat (or you) for food,and will then (eventually) drop off lay it's eggs (wherever) and die.Of course if you haven't hoovered/sprayed it will alll happen again.
Don't worru too much,it's not difficult to get on top.
BTW,DON'T use flea collars,they are useless as they only put the flea killing agent near the cats neck and shoulders,and can (in some case) be harmful to the cat

[lankeela]

Can't help feeling I am walking right into something here - yes I do agree you should follow the instructions, although I have to say I don't use as many 'pumps' of the spray as they recommend, as I have four small dogs I just spray all of them on their backs and sides, then rub it in and any fleas that jump off are got when they land on the next dog. I only use it when I see evidence of a flea, and only ever use it sparingly. Also very important not to confine the animals to a small area when they have been sprayed, as two Golden Retrievers once died when they were sprayed and then shut in their kennel. Best to do it outside and try not to breathe it in yourself.

[lankeela]

Pet Dispensary are cheap for Frontline drops.

http://petdispensary.co.uk/frontline-spot-on-c at-4037-0.html

[tamborine]

liquidise garlic into a spray and apply. Or infuse pine & spray. I use both on pets for flea/mite/tic repellants.

[woofgang]

I use the frontline spray tick regime on our dogs as that is more of a problem to us than fleas (New Forest dwellers) and have never had a problem with reaction, even though the treatment is more frequent than just for fleas. Frontline spray is the only one that doesn't say not to be ingested which is why we use it, the dogs constantly groom each other so we spray at the beginning of a walk, so by the time thery want to groom each other, the stuff is dry. You can also use it occasionally to spot treat a tick that can't be removed which is helpful.

[woofgang]

I should add that over all the time we have been using frontline we have only had a potential infestation in the house twice...once when DH brought in fleas from a taxi and once when I did from someone else's home