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“Flea control”, now there are two words that have caused a lot of fervor the last few months. Some products, previously only available through veterinary offices, can now be bought over the counter, without a prescription. Is this good news for Pets, good news for Pet parents or good news for fleas? Unfortunately, answering these questions cannot be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No”.
Flea control is actually a lot more complex that a lot of us would like to think. As you know there are a huge range of flea “control” products out there. So many choices, in fact, that sometimes it becomes overwhelming. The challenge is that there isn’t a single product out there that is perfect – if you define perfect as “kills 100% of fleas on my Pet, in the environment, is very safe for my Pet and is cheap”. So let’s try to tackle each of these things a little at a time.
Kills 100% of fleas on my Pet – there isn’t any product that kills 100% of fleas, no matter what ads may tell you. That is why flea control isn’t something you do one month and can then forget for the rest of the year. Flea control is a constant, or almost constant, battle depending on which region of the country in which you happen to live. Fleas are remarkably resistant little critters and, as such, they survive in a multitude of environments, and can withstand changes in temperature and moisture. The best information for when you should be using protection comes from your veterinarian. Taking their advice will ensure that you keep fleas to such a low level that you never see them on your Pet.
Kills 100% of fleas in the environment – topical flea control products are mostly designed to keep fleas off your Pet and, as such have little environmental control per se. FirstShield®, for example, does include an insect growth regulator which drops into the environment thus actually helping to control fleas there too. This means that it will be more effective at keeping your Pet flea-free than products that don’t have this feature.
Pet safety – one of my biggest concerns with the recent changes is safety. Certain flea control products should never be used on cats and should be used very cautiously on small dogs. Permethrin, for example, one of the commonly used active ingredients, is highly toxic to certain Pets. Especially where safety is concerned, you really need to make sure you read the labels carefully, follow instructions to the tee, and, ideally, consult with a veterinarian to get the most up to date advice.
Cost – where cost is concerned, the old adage certainly applies: “you get what you pay for”. Unfortunately, things that work just cost more money. However, I for one, would rather pay for the product that actually keeps fleas at bay, rather than skimp and have to run through the gamut of products trying to find the effective one, and actually end up spending more in the process.
Bottom line, my biggest concern is this: skin problems, including fleas, are complex and require veterinary involvement. By making well-known products available over the counter, we unfortunately opened ourselves up to decreasing the meaningful conversations that clients and veterinarians have regarding the best medical decisions for Pets, as well as increased the probability that Pets might be harmed by products meant to protect them. So please, keep your veterinarian in the loop and continue having those conversations that allow you to make the best decision for you and you furry friends.