Spot-on Treatments

• Frontline products are safe and very effective, killing fleas in 24 to 48 hours, and fairly expensive. They have been used for so many years that some resistance to the product has been noted. However, Frontline Plus has shown less resistance than Frontline TopSpot. Frontline spray is less expensive and works faster, but it must be sprayed all over the dogs' bodies, so it's more difficult to use.
  
  Advantage is safe and fairly effective, also, but not quite as long-lasting as Frontline.
  
  Revolution and K9 Advantix are other spot-on liquids.
  
  Vectra is a new product applied to the skin. It's also a tick repellent, but it shouldn't be used in households with cats.
  
  

Pills

• Comfortis is highly effective because it kills fleas when they bite and they bite a lot! Comfortis is preferred by many because it doesn't expose humans to the chemicals. Comfortis costs about the same as Vectra or Frontline.
  
  Program Tabs are monthly pills that cause the fleas to lay sterile eggs. They are not as effective as Sentinel since they take about three weeks to kill adult fleas.
  
  Sentinel combines both a flea killer---Program---and a heartworm preventative, Interceptor.
  
  

Other Products

• Flea sprays and powders are a lot of trouble and not very effective.
  
  Don't buy products that only have permethrin as an active ingredient. Fleas have built up an immunity to permethrin, so these products are not effective.
  
  Flea dip is very effective but smelly and time consuming. The dog must be dipped entirely, every three weeks throughout flea season. Frontline spray is cheaper, as effective and easier, especially for smaller dogs.
  
  Flea collars are cheap and effective for preventing flea problems, but not very effective if your dog already has fleas. However, the insecticide can rub off on your hands when you pet your dogs.
  
  Those expensive electronic flea collars don't work. Don't waste your money.
  
  

Natural Methods

• Natural flea control methods, such as flea combs, eucalyptus oil, sonic collars, flea traps and brewer's yeast are not very effective.
  
  

Home and Yard

• Treat all of the pets in the house if you want to get rid of fleas. And treat your house, too. Use sprays since foggers don't get into all the cracks and crevices where fleas hide, and vacuum thoroughly and often to get rid of the infestation.
  
  By the time you notice fleas, there are enormous numbers of eggs, caterpillars and cocoons present. Flea pupae are not destroyed by vacuuming or fumigating. But treating your pets will break the insects' reproductive cycle. When the fleas hatch, they will jump on your treated pet and die.
  
  Treat your yard with an insecticide (that's safe for pets and people) to keep your pets from bringing in more fleas.
  
  Adams makes a line of products---including carpet powder, spray and room fogger---that will kill flea eggs, larvae and adult fleas. Adams also makes an effective yard spray.
  
  The best and cheapest way to rid yourself and your home of fleas it to treat your pets before you see any insects and continue to treat them all year long.
  
  If you're already infested, be prepared to battle for several months since it can take up to eight months for a flea egg to hatch and grow into an adult. However, once those fleas jump onto your treated pet, they will die.