📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Fleas and their prevention

I have two cats and a dog and all have Advocate in the treatment of fleas. However, they become very ill afterwards (especially the dog) with runny poo etc for a few days.

The cats used to have Frontline and we didnt have as many issues with this but I had heard fleas have become resistant to it.

Please can anyone recommend anything that is not quite so fierce as my poor hound is very poorly indeed this time. :-(
«1

Comments

  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 22,693 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    You can get Seresto collars for cats and dogs. You need to get it from your vet or get a prescription from him to buy online.

    The collar is effective for up to 8 months.
  • SensibleSarah
    SensibleSarah Posts: 629 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I use Advantage on my dog and cats. Seems to work fine - much better than Frontline.
  • GBNI
    GBNI Posts: 576 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    I don't routinely treat for fleas as I believe this is why they are building up an immunity to treatments. Certainly, if I ever found a flea they'd be treated but otherwise I leave well alone.
  • Katiehound
    Katiehound Posts: 8,125 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    My dogs don't seem to get fleas- they have very short coats. So, I don't treat (it's a bit like treating children for headlice- just in case!- as a preventative measure, which does not work)

    Something I used to use was Program which is a tablet- makes the fleas sterile so they can't breed. Think it's POM. My dog never had any side effects.
    Being polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
    -Stash bust:in 2022:337
    Stash bust :2023. 120duvets, 24bags,43dogcoats, 2scrunchies, 10mitts, 6 bootees, 8spec cases, 2 A6notebooks, 59cards, 6 lav bags,36 angels,9 bones,1 blanket, 1 lined bag,3 owls, 88 pyramids = total 420total spend £5.Total for 'Dogs for Good' £546.82

    2024:Sewn:59Doggy ds,52pyramids,18 bags,6spec cases,6lav.bags.
    Knits:6covers,4hats,10mitts,2 bootees.
    Crotchet:61angels, 229cards=453 £158.55profit!!!
    2025 3dduvets
  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 36,165 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I'm wary of flea collars since I used a branded one and the dog's neck developed on open sore overnight.
    I'm another one who only treats when I see fleas or if he's scratching a lot - generally once a year if that. I have been told about Bravecto tablets which are for fleas and ticks - I think it's meant to kill the fleas before they lay eggs - and last 3 months but not tried it yet. I understand they are more expensive.
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • bouicca21
    bouicca21 Posts: 6,699 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It would be worth asking your vet whether European heart worm is a risk in your area. If it is then you need to guard against it, not all flea treatments do. If it isn't then I'm inclined to think that regular grooming might be enough to stop the fleas.
  • LEJC
    LEJC Posts: 9,618 Forumite
    Ask you vet about an injection called program....I don't know if they do a dog version but the cat version is extremely good.

    It works by breaking the flea cycle by rendering them unable to reproduce.

    It needs to be given 6 monthly and hand on heart I have not seen a flea for as long as we have been using it.
    frugal October...£41.82 of £40 food shopping spend for the 2 of us!

    2017 toiletries challenge 179 out 145 in ...£18.64 spend
  • teddysmum
    teddysmum Posts: 9,521 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I don't routinely treat for fleas, but one of my cavalier picked up a flea at the vets., last year,resulting in both dogs having a few each.


    I used Advantage, as it was the cheapest, but it was fine for them and no sign of fleas after about two days. I bought spray for the house, but didn't use because of the fish tank and we have had no more fleas.
  • I bath my Staffies using mild Lemon washing up liquid and put a tiny bit of Garlic in their food once a week. Never seen a flea.

    Both these were recommended by our Vet years ago, Fleas can't stand Lemon or Garlic also they will never become immune to it.

    The way fleas multiply i can not see why anyone would wait until they have fleas before treating an animal because by then you will have thousands in egg or lava form not to mention the horrible little jumping biting terrors.
    Or is that just me?
  • owlet
    owlet Posts: 1,510 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I flea treat mine because she seems to Pick up fleas at the drop of a hat if unprotected.
    I use advantix because wecare in high tick area too.

    I don't know if advantage is the same but advantix has different dose sizes ie under 4kg then 4-10 kg. My little one was rough for a couple of days after using the 4-10kg dose when she was just over 5kg. I put her back on the under 4kg one and she was fine. No fleas or ticks either. She now weighs just under 6.5kg and I'm still using the loeer dose with good effect.
    Maybe try dropping down a dose size, if applicable.

    The other thing is , are you worming your dog at the same time or leaving a week or so gap? Don't do both together.
    SPC 8 (2015) #485 TOTAL: £334.65
    SPC 9 (2016) #485 TOTAL £84
    SPC 10 (2017) # 485 TOTAL: £464.80
    SPC 11 (2018) #485
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 599.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.1K Life & Family
  • 257.7K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.