Flea Control

A flea problem in a puppy or kitten is a big problem. A high flea burden can cause a life-threatening anaemia from blood loss, and cause your pet to get seriously ill. So what do you do if you have a young puppy or kitten with fleas? The best thing to do is to apply a flea control product that is registered as safe for use before the flea burden gets too much. Here is a list of the most commonly used flea control products, and what age they are safe to use at.

Disclaimer: If your puppy or kitten has a  large flea burden and is looking unwell, it needs to be seen by a veterinarian. If you have any concerns about your pet for any reason, a your local vet is the best person to talk to. Make sure that you are using the correct dose of medication, and that it is labeled for the correct species. Some dog flea control products are harmful to cats!

Advantage (Bayer)

Active ingredient: Imidacloprid

Effects:  Causes paralysis and death of fleas.

Safe to use: It is safe to use Advantage in puppies over 7 weeks of age and in kittens over 8 weeks of age. In unweaned puppies, treating the mother will provide some protection to the puppies.

Advantix (Bayer)

Active ingredients: Imidacloprid and permethrin

Effects: Causes paralysis and death of fleas. Kills and repels ticks, repels mosquitoes.

Safe to use: Advantix is safe for puppies over 7 weeks of age. Advantix cannot be used in kittens.

Advocate (Bayer)

Active ingredients: Imidacloprid and moxidectin

Effects: Causes paralysis and death of fleas. Prevents heartworms and intestinal worms. Kills mites.

Safe to use: Advocate is safe for use on puppies from 7 weeks of age and on kittens from 9 weeks of age.

Capstar  (Novartis)

Active ingredient: Nitenpyram

Effects: Causes rapid death of fleas

Safe to use: Capstar is safe for use on puppies and kittens from 4 weeks of age as long as they weight more than 1 kg.

Comfortis (Elanco)

Active ingredient: Spinosad

Effects: Causes flea paralysis and death

Safe to use: Comfortis is safe for use on puppies from 14 weeks of age. Comfortis is not registered for use in kittens.

Frontline plus (Merial)

Active ingredient: Fipronil and s-methoprene

Effects: Causes paralysis and death of fleas, kills ticks, ovicidal

Safe to use: It is safe to treat puppies and kittens with FRONTLINE SPRAY from 2 days of age. Puppies and kittens can be treated with FRONTLINE PLUS from 8 weeks of age.

Revolution (Pfizer)

Active ingredient: Selamectin

Effects: Kills fleas, prevents feeding, prevents egg production. Also prevents heartworm infestations, treats mites. Also kills roundworms and hookworms in cats.

Safe to use: It is safe to use revolution in puppies and kittens over 8 weeks of age.

Sentinel Spectrum (Novartis)

Active ingredient:  Lufenuron,

Effects: prevent flea infestations, prevent heartworm infection and control intestinal worms including tapeworm.

Safe to use: Sentinel Spectrum is safe for use on puppies from 4 weeks of age. Sentinel spectrum is not resistered for use in kittens.

A flea problem in a puppy or kitten is a big problem. A high flea burden can cause a life-threatening anaemia from blood loss, and cause your pet to get seriously ill. So what do you do if you have a young puppy or kitten with fleas? The best thing to do is to apply a flea control product that is registered as safe for use before the flea burden gets too much. Here is a list of the most commonly used flea control products, and what age they are safe to use at.

Disclaimer: If your puppy or kitten has a large flea burden and is looking unwell, it needs to be seen by a veterinarian. If you have any concerns about your pet for any reason, a your local vet is the best person to talk to. Make sure that you are using the correct dose of medication, and that it is labeled for the correct species. Some dog flea control products are harmful to cats!

Advantage (Bayer)

• Active ingredient: Imidacloprid
• Effects: Causes paralysis and death of fleas.
• Safe to use: It is safe to use Advantage in puppies over 7 weeks of age and in kittens over 8 weeks of age. In unweaned puppies, treating the mother will provide some protection to the puppies.

Advantix (Bayer)

• Active ingredients: Imidacloprid and permethrin
• Effects: Causes paralysis and death of fleas. Kills and repels ticks, repels mosquitoes.
• Safe to use: Advantix is safe for puppies over 7 weeks of age. Advantix cannot be used in kittens.

Advocate (Bayer)

• Active ingredients: Imidacloprid and moxidectin
• Effects: Causes paralysis and death of fleas. Prevents heartworms and intestinal worms. Kills mites.
• Safe to use: Advocate is safe for use on puppies from 7 weeks of age and on kittens from 9 weeks of age.

Capstar (Novartis)

• Active ingredient: Nitenpyram
• Effects: Causes rapid death of fleas
• Safe to use: Capstar is safe for use on puppies and kittens from 4 weeks of age as long as they weight more than 1 kg

Comfortis (Elanco)

• Active ingredient: Spinosad
• Effects: Causes flea paralysis and death
• Safe to use: Comfortis is safe for use on puppies from 14 weeks of age. Comfortis is not registered for use in kittens.

Frontline plus (Merial)

• Active ingredient: Fipronil and s-methoprene
• Effects: Causes paralysis and death of fleas, kills ticks, ovicidal
• Safe to use: It is safe to treat puppies and kittens with FRONTLINE SPRAY from 2 days of age. Puppies and kittens can be treated with FRONTLINE PLUS from 8 weeks of age.

Revolution (Pfizer)

• Active ingredient: Selamectin
• Effects: Kills fleas, prevents feeding, prevents egg production. Also prevents heartworm infestations, treats mites. Also kills roundworms and hookworms in cats.
• Safe to use: It is safe to use revolution in puppies and kittens over 8 weeks of age.

Sentinel Spectrum (Novartis)

• Active ingredient: Lufenuron
• Effects: prevent flea infestations, prevent heartworm infection and control intestinal worms including tapeworm.
• Safe to use: Sentinel Spectrum is safe for use on puppies from 4 weeks of age. Sentinel spectrum is not resistered for use in kittens.