Why Flea Control is Important

If your dog or cat has never had a serious problem with flea, tick or heartworm infestations, count yourself lucky!

To keep your pet healthy and comfortable in flea and tick country, it's important to treat him regularly with a safe and effective treatment. Advantage flea products and Frontline for pets, are two brand name products that will work for your pets.

Fleas, ticks and other parasites can be unsightly, irritating and itchy, and carry disease. An infestation in one pet can spread to other pets - cat fleas will go to dogs and vice versa. These buggers don't discriminate much. Humans are also worthy targets, so look out for red bumps and itchy skin if you've got fleas in your house! Ticks attach to your skin and turn light gray/brown and become enlarged and swollen as they fill with your blood! (However, I DO NOT recommend Advantage flea products for you, just pets! ) Kill ticks by removing them with the head intact and then crushing them, or putting them in alcohol or soapy water.

Fleas Have a Long Life Cycle, so One-Time Treatments Don't Wipe Out The Population!

Fleas lay eggs, which hatch into worms, which then pupate into a cocoon, waiting to emerge as an adult and infect another host. Flea larvae can survive for up to a year, waiting to emerge from the pupae phase and re-infect your pets. They can live in your carpet or your back yard as well as woods and fields near your home.

These parasites carry diseases that can be harmful to animals and humans alike. Bottom line - fleas are bad business and keeping them out of your home and out of your hair should be a serious priority in any area where fleas thrive and humans and animals co-habitate.

I learned my lessons about flea control the hard way when I didn't use any flea and tick spray...

When I got my first dog, Kera - a golden retriever/lab mix - I thought flea control was not that big of a deal. Kera was mostly an inside dog, and even though we lived in North Carolina - (Yikes! Flea country!) - I figured it wasn't a big deal... (and, I didn't want to spend the money on Advantage flea products, Frontline Plus, or any other cheap flea control products).

Then, I got my first glimpse of fleas crawling on her skin. We were sitting together watching TV, and I reached down to pet her and noticed a little gray beast crawling through her hair. I seized up... the food in my mouth suddenly became very unappealing... it wasn't long before I was combing frantically through her fur, finding flea after flea, crushing them and throwing their questionably dead bodies into a jar of alcohol.

Talk about gross!

What I didn't know then is that the flea life cycle can last up to two years. Even if I had caught all the fleas on Kera's skin, my problems weren't necessarily over!

Remember to kill ticks and fleas, you need an ongoing flea treatment program!

Fleas bite their hosts (mammals in most casts - dogs, cats and humans!) and consume their blood. When they bite, their saliva enters the blood stream and creates itching and irritation at the site. They also spread diseases, like Lyme disease, in this manner.

Fleas also lay eggs, which can fall to the floor in your house, or yard - perpetuating the flea infestation even if you've given your dog a one-time treatment like a flea and tick spray, flea bath, or flea dip.

A perpetual treatment regimen with a flea control product like Frontline or Advantage flea products is really the best way to get and keep your pet flea-free. These flea drops provide effective treatment for eradicating the fleas throughout their life cycle.

In addition, you should regularly vacuum your house to remove flea and tick eggs and larvae so they don't re-infect your pets or family.

Here's a great tip... put a flea collar (like one that emits gas to kill fleas) in the vacuum cleaner's collection bag to kill fleas and ticks (and their offspring) that it vacuums up!

Bottom Line - Keep Up With Flea Treatments!

An Effective Flea Treatment like Advantage Flea Products or Frontline Plus can stop flea biting in 3-5 minutes (it paralyzes them) and get rid of 98-100% of adult fleas within 12 hours. However, you need to keep up with a monthly flea treatment program to insure your dog or cat is not re-infected. These flea meds are widely used, extensively tested and recommended by veterinarians across the country as a safe and effective solution that will kill fleas, kill ticks, and keep your pets safe and healthy.

Advantage Stops Fleas From Biting In 3-5 Minutes, Kills 98-100 Percent Of Fleas Within 12 Hours Of Application, Kills Re-infesting Fleas Within Two Hours And Lasts Up To A Month. Kills Fleas Before They Lay Eggs. One Treatment Prevents Further Infestation For At Least Four Weeks. 6 Topical Monthly Treatments.

Advantage effectively kills 98% to 100% of the fleas on cats and dogs within 12 hours after application. One treatment prevents further flea infestations for up to 4 weeks. Reinfesting fleas are killed within 2 hours. Flea larvae are killed following contact with an Advantage treated pet. Advantage is a once-a-month topical application for cats and kittens 8 weeks and older and dogs and puppies 7 weeks and older. Always read package labeling and directions prior to using Advantage.

If you are looking for a safe and effective flea control product for your dog or cat, it is useful to compare K9 Advantix to the other name brand products (namely K-9 Advantix vs. Frontline Plus vs. Advantage) on the market to see what will work best for your pet and family.

Compare K-9 Advantix Ingredients

The active ingredients in Bayer K-9 Advantix are Imidacloprid and Permethrin. This is different than Advantage for dogs (also by Bayer), which just uses Imidaclorprid but not Permethrin. The K9 Advantix flea control product is also the only one of the three products to report the potential side effects of Itching, burning and numbness at the application site.

When it comes to price for K9 Advantix, it's not as cheap as the Advantage for dogs (which, you'll remember has the same manufacturer, but only one active ingredient). Also, K9 Advantix lists occasional side effects such as itching, burning or numbness at the application site, whereas Advantage for dogs and Frontline Plus do not list any known side effects for these products, when used properly.

Compare K9 Advantix Pricing

Prices in this chart are the monthly cost of using the product, assuming you purchased 12 months' supply at one time.

K9 Advantix Green - up to 10 lbs - $12.75/month
K9 Advantix Teal - 11 - 20 lbs - $13.42/month
K9 Advantix Red - 21 - 55 lbs - $14.08/month
K9 Advantix Blue - Over 55 lbs - $14.42/month

Many people also look at Advantage Flea Products. K9 Advantix and Advantage flea killer are often confused. K9 Advantix is exclusively for dogs. Advantage flea drops are made for cats, or for dogs of various sizes.

Canine Advantage Pricing

Canine Advantage Green - up to 10 lbs - $10.75/month
Canine Advantage Teal - 11-20 lbs - $11.08/month
Canine Advantage Red - 21 - 55 lbs - $11.42/month
Canine Advantage Blue - Over 55 lbs - $11.58/month

When you compare K9 Advantix to Advantage flea control for dogs, you can see that Advantage is slightly less expensive, probably because it only has one active ingredient rather than two.

Now let's compare K9 Advantix to Frontline Plus for dogs.

Frontline Plus for dogs (they also have a cat version - but that is outside the scope of this article) has two entirely different active ingredients: Fipronil and S-methoprene. Frontline also has a different manufacturer: Merial. Frontline, unlike Advantage and canine Advantix, is also listed as being OK to use on young (8-weeks or older) puppies, and pregnant or lactating females. To me, that suggests that these active ingredients are a little less likely to create sensitivity or health problems in your dog, but I don't know for sure. On the downside, the medication may be a little more expensive, depending on the size of your dog. They have different dog-size application standards, so compare the cost for your dog's medication from all three suppliers.

Frontline Plus Orange - up to 22 lbs - $13.42/month
Frontline Plus Blue - 23 - 44 lbs - $13.92/month
Frontline Plus Purple - 45 - 88 lbs - $14.75/month
Frontline Plus Red - 88 - 132 lbs - $15.8/month

Overall, what makes the most sense for you may depend on your budget, the efficacy of the product in your area, and your dogs' sensitivity. If your pet has had a problem with one product in the past, consider switching to a flea control medicine with a different active ingredient.

On the website where they are sold, you can also read reader reviews and talk to a pet medicine pharmacist to have your questions answered. As I've read the product reviews, it sounds like most people have good results with all the products in terms of killing fleas and mosquitoes. Some dog owners have reported skin sensitivities with their pet and a certain flea medication. If you haven't used a product before, it might be best to compare K9 Advantix results to those of other products to see what works for you, then buy in bulk for the cheapest price and greatest savings.

Emily J. Cressey loves dogs and cats but hates fleas and ticks! After trying to find and crush her dog's fleas by hand (and failing!) she found a better way.

When your dog or cat engages fleas or ticks in battle, give your pet the advantage! Flea control products are a safe, fast and effective means of eliminating flea and tick problems the right way the first time.

It's tempting to try to take the easy way out - just cross your fingers and hope that fleas and ticks don't happen to your pet. Unfortunately, if you live in parts of the country where fleas and ticks are prevalent, you could be putting your other pets and family members at risk for uncomfortable flea and tick bites, as well as the dangerous diseases these parasites carry, if you let your pet go "au natural."

Spot applications of flea drops such as Advantage flea control, Frontline for dog or cat fleas, and K-9 Advantix are a good way to apply a small, targeted flea treatment that will go right where it's needed without "spraying" or "dipping" your dog - processes that uses more medication than really necessary, and without using a flea collar which may be ineffective at the tail end of your dog, anyway.

You can supplement your efforts with natural flea control methods including cedar shavings in the pet's bedding area, regular vacuuming, and combing your dog to inspect for and remove fleas and ticks by hand.

These processes can be time consuming, though, and if you're not going to have time to keep up with them, fleas and ticks can easily get the better of you because they are hard to detect when they arrive and can multiply quickly.

Break the flea life cycle and keep flea eggs already in your home from re-starting the infestation cycle, with an easy monthly application of Advantage flea control products, Frontline, or K-9 Advantix for dogs.

Whichever product you use, be sure to read the directions and follow them closely.

Emily J. Cressey loves comparison shopping to find great deals!

Advantage 20 effectively kills 98% to 100% of the fleas on dogs within 12 hours after application. One treatment prevents further flea infestations for up to 4 weeks. Reinfesting fleas are killed within 2 hours. Flea larvae are killed following contact with an Advantage 20 treated pet. Active ingredient is imidacloprid 9.1%. Advantage 20 is a once-a-month topical application for dogs and puppies 7 weeks and older and 10 lbs and under. Always read package labeling and directions prior to using Advantage 20.

Advantage 20 - For Dogs and Puppies 7 weeks and older and 11 - 20 lbs - 6 pack

Advantage 55 effectively kills 98% to 100% of the fleas on dogs within 12 hours after application. One treatment prevents further flea infestations for up to 4 weeks. Reinfesting fleas are killed within 2 hours. Flea larvae are killed following contact with an Advantage 55 treated pet. Active ingredient is imidacloprid 9.1%. Advantage 55 is a once-a-month topical application for dogs and puppies 7 weeks and older and 10 lbs and under. Always read package labeling and directions prior to using Advantage 55.

Advantage 55 - For Dogs and Puppies 7 weeks and older and 21-55 lbs - 6 pack

advantage 55 flea

Advantage 10 effectively kills 98% to 100% of the fleas on dogs within 12 hours after application. One treatment prevents further flea infestations for up to 4 weeks. Reinfesting fleas are killed within 2 hours. Flea larvae are killed following contact with an Advantage 10 treated pet. Active ingredient is imidacloprid 9.1%. Advantage 10 is a once-a-month topical application for dogs and puppies 7 weeks and older and 10 lbs and under. Always read package labeling and directions prior to using Advantage 10.

Advantage 10 - For Dogs and Puppies 7 weeks and Older and 10 lbs and Under - 6 pack

Advantage 9 effectively kills 98% to 100% of the fleas on cats within 12 hours after application. One treatment prevents further flea infestations for up to 4 weeks. Reinfesting fleas are killed within 2 hours. Flea larvae are killed following contact with an Advantage 9 treated pet. Active ingredient is imidacloprid 9.1%. Advantage 9 is a once-a-month topical application for cats and kittens 8 weeks and older and under 9 lbs. Always read package labeling and directions prior to using Advantage 9.

Advantage 9 - For Cats and Kittens 8 Weeks and Older and 9 lbs and Under - 6 pack

My mom and I were wondering which one would would be better to use. We live in San Diego California.

We also used to use Frontline Plus but it never really got rid of the fleas.

So for this summer we want to change the brand to see if it works better.

Which would you recommend?
And yes I have an eight month old kitten. We will be using Advantage multi for cats on him