Advantus (imidacloprid) and Capstar (nitenpyram), both over-the-counter (OTC) medications, promptly kill adult fleas. When there is a serious flea infestation and the adult fleas need to be destroyed swiftly and securely, they can be quite helpful.
They are effective against flea infestations, but since they have short-term efficacy, you shouldn’t use them as your dog’s routine flea preventative. If there are any flea larvae or eggs on your dog, they will still mature into adult fleas, and the infestation will restart.
If one of these is used, a prescription flea prevention product should be used afterward.
Do dog flea medications work?
OTC flea medications (such as Capstar or Advantus) only work on adult fleas, therefore they can only get rid of existing fleas; they have no effect on flea prevention. Additionally, it is not advised to feed them to your dog frequently.
On the other hand, prescription flea medications work better for long-term flea prevention. They can also eliminate fleas that are already present, although it will take longer to function than an OTC medication like Capstar (it takes about a day to kill all existing fleas with prescription flea pills, whereas Capstar can kill fleas in about 30 minutes). Your dog can receive them as prescribed, usually every 12 weeks.
How long do dog flea pills last?
Would you like to lessen how frequently you have to treat your dogs for fleas and ticks? If so, you may have wondered whether the flea and tick treatment you gave your pet in the past is still shielding him or her from harm.
What kind of flea and tick medication you take will determine the answer. Some solutions have absolutely no residual action, which means that while they may be helpful at getting rid of fleas and ticks that are already on your pet, they essentially do nothing to stop new parasites from reinfesting the area. A missing dose in certain situations can hasten the end of the treatment.
The most common canine and feline flea and tick treatments work for at least a month; some may last for eight to twelve weeks! On the label of the drug, the manufacturer’s website, or by speaking with your veterinarian, you may easily get information about how long a specific product specifically works against various types of parasites.
Protect Your Pet Year-Round
The Companion Animal Parasite Council advises providing year-round flea and tick protection for dogs and cats. The causes behind this are straightforward. Fleas can readily complete their full life cycle inside a home, even in places with very cold winters or excessively hot, dry summers. The beginning and end of the flea and tick season are becoming more difficult to forecast as a result of climate change. Dogs and cats are more likely to have fleas and ticks, which increases their exposure to the illnesses that these parasites can transmit, including anemia, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, and others, as well as to diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Select a medication that is simple to administer if you want to treat fleas and ticks all year long. Pills, chewable tablets, collars, and spot-ons are all acceptable solutions. Make your decision based on the frequency with which you wish to administer the medication and any other worries you may have. Cats, for instance, are very susceptible to various flea and tick treatments; even low dose exposures might result in disease. Because of this, owners who own both dogs and cats may decide against using topical treatments on their dogs that could be hazardous to cats. Always double check that the label states the flea and tick treatment is safe for use on cats before administering it to a cat.
Protect Your Home, Too!
Environmental control is a vital technique for getting rid of parasite infestations. The best technique to physically eliminate flea eggs and larvae from the environment is to thoroughly clean carpets, floors, and furniture. Use the hottest washer and dryer cycles to wash and dry anything that can be washed, including pet bedding and linens. As long as every pet in the home is given an efficient flea and tick medicine year-round, this is typically all that is required. Sprays for your home and yard can be useful if you are dealing with an infestation that is particularly bad.
For maximum efficacy, read and abide by the label instructions for any flea and tick medicine you choose to give your pets. Speak with your veterinarian if you have any further inquiries or worries.
What is the duration of the Capstar flea treatment?
A Capstar tablet is the best option for your dog if you want quick-acting flea relief. After administration, fleas will start practically dropping off your pet. However, Capstar’s flea-killing prowess is short-lived. Its effects only last for 24 to 48 hours, however you can give your dog another tablet beyond that time without risk. Capstar, which is sold over the counter, is not intended to provide long-term flea treatment.
Is Nexgard an improvement over frontline?
The response to this query is the opposite of that for fleas, i.e., both are equally effective at eliminating ticks, however in this instance, Nexgard eliminates them more quickly. When compared to Frontline, which takes between 24 and 48 hours to take effect, Nexgard can get rid of the tiny bloodsuckers in just eight hours.
Although there isn’t much of a difference, the extra time may be sufficient for disease transmission to take place. However, your dog may just as easily contract a tick-borne illness in eight hours as they might in 48.
What do veterinarians advise for fleas?
You can give them this oral medication along with their meals to avoid fleas. NexGard’s chews are FDA-approved, according to the American Animal Hospital Association, to help eliminate adult fleas before they can lay eggs, offering protection from fleas and ticks for a full month. NexGard is a dog-only brand with a 4.7-star rating from more than 600 Chewy customers, in contrast to the other manufacturers mentioned above that produce products for both dogs and cats.
Based on Dog Size
As with owners of larger dogs, owners of smaller dogs may believe that the medication will take longer to safeguard their pup.
The truth is that as long as your dog is receiving the appropriate dosage for their weight, it doesn’t matter what size they are[1].
Based on Activity Level
Even if a dog takes a flea medication and immediately runs outside to the backyard, dogs that are more active and spend more time outside will still be protected.
Depending on the brand you purchase, the chemicals in flea pills should last the full month or possibly the entire year.
No amount of exercise will be able to flush the substances from your dog’s system.
For Dog to Stop Scratching/Itching
As a result of the fleas biting their skin, dogs scratch at them, therefore after the flea pill effectively eliminates the fleas, the scratching and itching should stop.
Take a look at our list of 11 fantastic indoor activities to keep your dog occupied and out of trouble.
Does CAPSTAR require a flea bite to function?
What do you do to survive the flea season? You won’t have much of a problem if you’ve followed your pest prevention plan all year long.
The topical medications and pills are the most efficient flea and tick control options now available, according to Dr. Jessica Stewart, DVM, a veterinarian with the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA in California.
Both include potent chemicals that kill adult fleas and, in some cases, even the eggs and larvae. As a result, both your home and your dogs will remain flea-free.
But what if you were careless with prevention in the first place or believed you could stop using prophylactic medications throughout the winter, and you’ve just discovered fleas on your pets? Not to worry! An oral flea medicine by the name of Capstar that contains nitenpyram is one of the finest treatments against adult fleas for cats and dogs.
Although Capstar, an oral flea medicine, is available over the counter, your veterinarian is likely to recommend it to you. For dogs and cats that weigh 2 to 25 pounds, there are Capstar Flea Tablets available. You’ll also be protected if you have a medium-sized or larger dog. You’d buy Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs Over 25 Pounds in that situation.
Tips for Using Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs & Cats
After purchasing Capstar flea medications, what should you do with them? Here is all the information you require on the oral flea medicine.
It’s simple to use them. The canine flea pills can be broken up and added to your dog’s food. Alternately, you might serve it as a treat by wrapping it in something delicious, like peanut butter or cream cheese. However, it’s a little more difficult to trick a cat in this manner. Your cat may need to have her head tilted back in order for you to slip the pill into her mouth while she is open. Congratulations—you’ve finished the trickiest step in treating your cat for fleas.
The flea treatment Capstar for dogs and cats works quite quickly. Within 30 minutes of your pet swallowing the tablet, the active component, a substance known as nitenpyram, begins to work, according to Dr. Stewart. When fleas bite your pet, they swallow nitenpyram once it has entered the bloodstream. The insecticide targets the nerve system of the flea, which results in paralysis and ultimately death. Ninety percent of adult fleas will be dead after six hours. What fantastic flea prevention for cats and dogs, eh?
It’s safe to use Capstar flea tablets for cats and dogs. Nitenpyram is safe to use every day until you get rid of all the fleas because it doesn’t stay in your pet’s body for very long. As long as they weigh more than 2.2 pounds, you can also give it to cats and dogs who are nursing or pregnant, as well as puppies and kittens that are at least four weeks old.
For cats and dogs, you’ll require a follow-up flea treatment. Only adult fleas are killed with nitenpyram. They are killed by the insecticide so swiftly that the females are unlikely to have time to deposit eggs. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t gamble. Dr. Stewart advises adding the following extra stages to your flea treatment regimen to ensure you get rid of all fleas on your pet’s body, including eggs and larvae:
- To get rid of any remaining fleas, use a flea comb. To guarantee it is as effective as possible, you should choose a flea comb made for either a cat or a dog.
- Bathe your animal. Even though some cats detest taking baths, it’s the only method to remove any flea detritus (poop, dried blood and other assorted yucky things). You can use a standard shampoo or one designed specifically to remove fleas from dogs or cats. You must pick a flea shampoo that is made specifically for pets. If you use a shampoo for dog fleas on your cat, it could make her very ill.
The key to getting rid of fleas from your home is persistence. Giving your pet a Capstar flea tablet every day until all the fleas are gone may be necessary for effective flea control in cats and dogs. If your pet has fleas, there is a strong probability that the carpet and bedding also have them (either yours or the one your pet snoozes on). They’ll keep jumping back onto your pet until the pests are exterminated from your home. Use the warmest dryer settings, wash all bedding in hot water, and vacuum the carpets. You can stop taking the tablets if you’re certain that you don’t have a flea infestation.
Ticks are not killed by nitenpyram. One of the best flea treatments for cats and dogs is Capstar, but these pills won’t get rid of ticks. You should speak with your veterinarian and take the right methods to remove ticks from your pet if you want to get rid of them.
You now understand the procedure. Whether flea season is in full swing or not, prevention is the key to keeping your pet pest-free. But if you make a mistake or fleas somehow find their way into your home, Capstar flea tablets can swiftly and effectively get rid of them.
When should I give my dog flea medication?
To try and prevent dogs from getting a flea problem and infesting the home, fleas should be treated on them monthly (or every other month, depending on the product you use) throughout the year.
The most crucial step in preventing a flea infestation in your home is to use solutions that kill flea infestations to treat every location that your dog has access to.
Do flea medications work?
Your grandfather told you a funny story about a flea circus. Your dog does not have fleas. You need to take action if it seems like your house is turning into a veritable flea circus.
Most likely, you’ve heard someone in your life mention dog flea medication. There are more options than ever before for these pills, which can be a highly efficient way to get rid of fleas on pets. To choose the best alternative for your dog, you should be aware of the following information regarding flea tablets.
What distinguishes Nexgard from Bravecto?
To treat fleas and ticks, both Nexgard and Bravecto employ a pesticide from the same “laners” class. In just 24 hours, Nexgard’s Afoxoflaner eliminates 100% of fleas. Fleas can be killed with Bravecto in as little as two hours thanks to Fluralaner. For eight weeks, Bravecto kills numerous tick species, including the lone star tick.
