The topic of flea control is probably one of the most confusing and frustrating ordeals to go through with your furry friend. There are many products out there for fleas but steer clear of those products available at places other than your veterinary hospital. Some contain harmful components that are extremely toxic to your cat (also young kittens/puppies) and may cause death - if used inappropriately. The labels on the dog products such as Zodiac Spot On, Hartz Control etc.. state DO NOT USE ON OR AROUND CATS. These also take up to 3 days to start killing fleas and are washed off with slight water exposure-does this mean even rain?

Advantage, Program, Revolution, and Capstar are only available through veterinary hospitals and are completely safe for kittens and puppies as young as 8 weeks of age. Advantage is a topical solution that stays on the surface of the skin. It only kills adult fleas, doesn't wash off with water (just shortens its residual effect) available for cats and dogs which lasts for an entire month. Applied to the back of the neck (between shoulder blades), it starts to work in about 8 - 12 hours and spreads over your pets body as it moves.

Program is like a "birth control" for fleas, it stops the outer skeleton or the egg tooth from forming therefore they cannot survive. This stops an infestation from happening, we recommend using this and Advantage or Capstar for the first couple months to get the flea population in your home under control. It's effective for a month and comes in a chewable beef flavoured tablet for dogs, a paste and injectable (lasts for 6 months) for cats.

Capstar, like Advantage, just kills the adult fleas but it is absorbed into the body. With cats it stays in their system for 2 days and in dogs its eliminated in a day through their urine. It comes in tablet form, starts working in 15 minutes, can be given once a day until there are no more fleas visible or we recommend using it once a week for 6 weeks along with the Program (made by the same company).

Revolution is a multi-parasitic monthly prescription medication that is applied the same way as Advantage but it is absorbed into the bloodstream. But it effects a lot more critters: in dogs: adult fleas, flea eggs, heartworm, ear mites and sarcoptic mange mites and in cats: adult fleas, flea eggs, heartworm, ear mites, hookworms and roundworms and now certain species of ticks.

We hope this clears up any confusion with flea prevention and control. Remember, here on the Sunshine Coast the flea season really never ends. Please feel free to stop by anytime, ask any questions you may have and pick up any of these products available without an examination by the veterinarian. (except Revolution)

Check out our parasitic product chart for easier reference