[Closed] Dog flea treatments - what do you use?

I stick a bit of Broadline behind each ear before I go to bed.

There's never anything been available for dogs that does everything (Fleas AND worms that is - Broadline is for cats only).
Don't waste your money on herbal stuff - if you're lucky you won't get any flea problems but you could say the same if you just did nothing/sacrificed a goat every day and you'd have the same chance of staying flea-free.
Worming is more of a human health hazard though so you really should be using something effective, especially if you have young children or take your dog for walks in public spaces.

edit - just read the bit about foxes. Definitely need flea prevention then to avoid a population build up in your house. Fipronil based products from the pet shop are ok but there's more effective stuff available from your vet. The topical treatments particularly toxic to aquatic life (and cats) are the permethrins - mainly confined to cheaper pet shop spot-ons.

Edit again - interesting article on Fipronil there. I wasn't aware that there was such a problem with it but the fact still remains that topical treatments like Stronghold (from a vet) are absorbed more quickly and don't wash off as easily. Or stick with an oral treatment (Bravecto/Comfortis etc)

Some sort of necklace thing.

I use Advantix on my hound

Nexguard spectra chewable tablet once a month does fleas and worm. Think it's newish. Rather expensive but works.

I'm pretty sure Nexguard is the one that's been withdrawn - few of the UK online pet stores are showing stock and some that do are saying 'buy now while stocks last' - our vets won't prescribe it any more.

We use a serresto collar. Slow release stuff. Very effective for about 7 months a time.

I thought that Frontline was good, until our dog got the resistant fleas. One month later (and lots of flea treatments) we switched to the tablets. No more fleas.

I wanted the Serresto collar - we got one when we went to France as they're anti tick too.

It never actually went on him as the instructions said you had to be careful not to rub your skin on it too much and my wife likes cuddling the dog on the sofa...

Bravecto is what we use after out little shit of a terrier got infested, it got rid of them within 24 hours.

i use an advantage copy from vetsuk online shop. about 1/5th of the cost, and i only apply it to her when i notice she has fleas ( i brush her fairly regularly ). i must be lucky. i haven't had to dose her this year, last year maybe twice, and once was precautionary because she was staying with someone who had other cats and dogs around.

Stronghold in use here. A very small amount of chemical for a 30kg dog. Applied using disposable gloves as it must be evil stuff.

Nexgard "Spectra" covers round worms as well as fleas and ticks. It doesn't cover Tapeworms though so, depending on where you live, you still need to treat for this occasionally. Very effective against fleas/ticks though (as is the standard Nexgard chewable)

I'm not aware of any problems with Nexgard but we don't stock it so I could be wrong.

Commiserations...

I did read about someone placing one of those ultraviolet fly-zappers at floor level next to their pooch and watching all the fleas, to paraphrase Metallica, 'jump in the fire'.

Much less fun would be to bathe your dog in very salty water and shampooing it with the tea-tree body wash that we humans know and love.
Rinse off with water, but before you dry your dog, apply some alcohol based mouthwash and watch the fur foam up. This should help suffocate any insects/ eggs.

Repeat as necessary...

Another option is to buy some craghoppers Nosilife 'infinity scarves' (try purple turtle).

They'd wrap round your neck about three times, so should cover much of your dog and the active ingredient is highly effective against insects.

However, this active ingredient is (like Lilly's), very bad news for cats.

Afaik, it doesn't adversely affect dogs.

Good luck!

Just had a quick Google and couldn't see anything about it being withdrawn apart from a petition someone started. Beech has been taking it for 6 months with no issues and we just picked more up a few weeks ago. Her vet is a personal friend of mine and we got beech as a puppy from a friend of his so I trust he wouldn't do anything to risk her health but will ask him about it next time I see him.

Further discussion with the vets and it appears we were wrongly advised by a receptionist.

Nexguard Spectra has not been withdrawn, it's just not available due to limited supply until next summer.

We've been switched to standard Nexguard tablets with separate worming.

We've found Nexguard to be much better than the topical treatments, so I'm glad it's still available.

I thought that Frontline was good, until our dog got the resistant fleas

Used to use that on the cats, but fleas are now resistant, so moved to Advantage Spot On...

Good to know.

thought id find a thread somewhere, looks like i can just beat the year deadline.......

we're looking after a jack russell for a while, he cant stop scratching so we'd like to sort the poor lad out. what are we all using these days?

cheers

Ask your local vet what works, as in each area different immunities amongst the local flea population build up e.g. we had to abandon FrontLine as it now longer works in our area.

Are you sure it's fleas? Dogs get grass allergies too.

We've use Advantage but discovered that if any got on our kitchen cupboards it stripped off the gloss finish! So now we have to treat them outside and wait for it to dry before allowing them back in.

Also, our spaniel/beagle licks at her paws constantly unless given half a tablet of something or other (can't remember the name) every day, always comes on in the summer.

Probably prednisolone Jake has to have one occasionally.

We're the hippies using the herbal option. Billy no mates I think. Zero fleas in the two years we've had her and she gets 3 countyside walks a day.

We do keep a close eye on her as we've found a few ticks, but zero fleas.

We also don't worm her, but we do get a worm count done each month.

We started with Advantix but it damaged my dogs fur where it was applied and also got a tick at one point. Spoke with the vets who recommended Bravecto - did a google and there is no way id give that to my dog also came to the conclusion at this time due to a few other events at the vets that they were more interested in profit than animal welfare.
Have used Cooper and Gracie natural flee spray ever since, costs roughly £15 per month so inline with Frontline etc, so far (~6months) no fleas or ticks and my dog goes in deep grass all the time.

Are you sure it’s fleas? Dogs get grass allergies too.

no we're not, and we can't see any so there may be some mileage in exploring that avenue. is there only a vet that can decide this?

Bravecto for fleas, Milpro for worms.
I use the monthly payment option from Vets at Home;
https://www.vets4pets.com/pet-health-plans/flea-worm-pack/

My dog is up to date with her flea treatment but has recently started scratching and has made a sore spot. Same this time last year so i recon it's all the grass seed/pollen from her walks that's bothering her.

no we’re not, and we can’t see any so there may be some mileage in exploring that avenue. is there only a vet that can decide this?

Kind of a but you'll get a good idea if they're underside is red and/or they're nibbling at their paws it could well be.

Ask your local vet what works, as in each area different immunities amongst the local flea population build up e.g. we had to abandon FrontLine as it now longer works in our area.

We were advised to use Advocate due to high incidents of lung worm in the locale. Mutt's been fine & flea free for years.

I use the monthly payment option from Vets at Home;

Our cats are signed up to a £10/month subscription thing with Vets4Pets, covers worming / flea drugs, vacinations and annual health checks.

I alternate Advantix and Frontline. Seems to (mostly) do the job but i occasionally need to remove a stubborn tick.