D2018-40
Dear Daisy Dog: Pixie, my toy poodle, has been using a popular topical liquid for fleas and ticks, but the monthly applications don’t seem to be killing the fleas as well as they once did. What do you suggest?
Daisy Responds: Three categories of products are effective alternatives for flea and tick control.
Your first option is a different topical liquid, preferably one that contains permethrin, which repels and kills fleas, ticks, mosquitos and other insects.
Mosquitos transmit heartworms, and since I live in an area where heartworm disease is common, Mom applies a permethrin-containing liquid to my skin every month to supplement my monthly heartworm pill. Common brands are K9 Advantix II and Vectra 3D.
A second choice is a chewable tablet that kills fleas and ticks when they bite. Credelio, NexGard and Simparica are monthly options; Bravecto is given every three months. Your veterinarian probably carries one of these medications.
A third product that works against fleas and ticks is a collar such as the Seresto collar, which lasts for eight months.
If Pixie continues to have problems with fleas, talk with her veterinarian.