Flea and Tick Control Products for Dogs and Cats
This flea and tick control chart created by veterinary dermatology and toxicology specialists provides an easy comparison of the active ingredients, appropriate species and age, dosage and method of administration, effects, and pertinent notes for a specific product.
Note that all of the topical flea products are subject to wash-off when using anti-seborrheic (anti-dandruff) shampoos, or when frequent bathing or swimming are part of your pet’s routine.
Products that can be used on both dogs and cats are listed in each chart.
Client Flea/Tick Chart for Dogs
May 18, 2016 (published) | November 20, 2019 (revised)
Kathy Tater, DVM, DACVD, MPH ; Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD, DABVT, DABT ;
Mark Grossman, DVM, MS ; Phyllis DeGioia
Dogs: Flea and Tick Products
Oral/Systemic Products
NAME
(COMPANY)
1 Advantus (Bayer) ACTIVE
INGREDIENT Imidacloprid
TYPE Chewable tablet
PET,
MINIMUM
AGE
Dogs
(10 weeks and over 4 pounds and over)
FREQUENCY As needed; do not dose more than once daily
EFFECTS Kills fleas
COMMENTS Fleas in environment may re-infest dog so more than
one treatment may be needed.
NAME
(COMPANY)
2 Bravecto
(Intervet)
ACTIVE
INGREDIENT Fluralaner
TYPE Chewable tablet
PET,
MINIMUM
AGE
Dogs only (6 months and over 4.4 pounds)
FREQUENCY Lone star ticks: 8 weeks; fleas, other ticks: 12 weeks
EFFECTS Fleas: 98% kill within 12 hours, 100% kill within 48
hours; Lone star tick: 99% kill within 72 hours; Blacklegged (deer) tick, American dog tick, brown dog tick:
100% kill within 48 hours.
COMMENTS
NAME
(COMPANY)
3 Capaction
(Elanco)
FleaCaps (Elanco)
ACTIVE
INGREDIENT Nitenpyram
TYPE Tablet
PET,
MINIMUM
AGE
Dogs
(4 weeks and over 2 pounds and over)
FREQUENCY As needed; do not dose more than once daily
EFFECTS Kills fleas: begins working within 30 minutes with > 90%
effectiveness against adult fleas on dogs within 4 hours
and cats within 6 hours.
COMMENTS Dogs may start scratching themselves as fleas begin to
die; some dogs may experience transient signs of
hyperactivity, panting, vocalization and excessive
grooming/licking; this behavior is temporary and is a
reaction to the fleas, not the drug. Fleas in environment
may re-infest dog so more than one treatment may be
needed.
NAME
(COMPANY)
4 CapGuard
(Sergeant’s)
ACTIVE
INGREDIENT Nitenpyram
TYPE Tablet
PET,
MINIMUM
AGE
Dogs
(4 weeks and over 2 pounds and over)
FREQUENCY As needed; do not dose more than once daily
EFFECTS Kills fleas
COMMENTS Fleas in environment may re-infest dog so more than
one treatment may be needed.
NAME
(COMPANY)
5 Capstar (Elanco) ACTIVE
INGREDIENT Nitenpyram
TYPE Tablet
PET,
MINIMUM
AGE
Dogs (4 weeks and over 2 pounds)
Dogs and puppies (4 weeks and over 2 pounds)
FREQUENCY As needed, up to once per day
EFFECTS Fleas: begins to kill fleas within 30 minutes; >90% kill
within 4 hours
COMMENTS
Occasionally, dog or cat will start scratching itself as fleas
begin to die. The scratching behavior is temporary and is a
reaction to the fleas, not the drug. In cats and dogs, this
may appear as temporary signs of hyperactivity, panting,
vocalization and excessive grooming/licking. May be used
together with other products, including heartworm
preventives, corticosteroids, antibiotics, vaccines, deworming medications, shampoos and other flea products
NAME
(COMPANY)
6 Comfortis
(Elanco)/
Acuguard (VCA)
ACTIVE
INGREDIENT Spinosad
TYPE Chewable tablet
PET,
MINIMUM
AGE
Dogs (14 weeks and over 3.3 pounds)
Cats (14 weeks and over 2 pounds)
FREQUENCY Monthly
EFFECTS
Fleas: begins to kill fleas within 30 minutes: 98%
effectiveness within 4 hours; 100% effectiveness on first
day of application
COMMENTS
Administer with food for maximum effectiveness. If
vomiting occurs within one hour of administration, redose
with another full dose.
NAME
(COMPANY)
7 Credelio ACTIVE
INGREDIENT Lotilaner
TYPE Chewable tablet
PET,
MINIMUM AGE
Dogs & puppies
8 weeks and older
4.4 pounds and over
FREQUENCY Monthly
EFFECTS
Fleas: begins to kill fleas within 4 hours; 100%
effectiveness in 4 hours; Ticks: begins to kill withn 4
hours: lone star tick, American dog tick, black-legged tick,
brown dog tick
COMMENTS
The safe use of Credelio in breeding, pregnant, or lactating
dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs
with a history of seizures. The most frequently reported
adverse reactions are weight loss, elevated blood urea
nitrogen, excessive urination, and diarrhea
NAME
(COMPANY)
8 Nexgard (Merial) ACTIVE
INGREDIENT Afoxolaner
TYPE Chewable tablet
PET,
MINIMUM
AGE
Dogs (8 weeks and over 4 pounds)
FREQUENCY Monthly
EFFECTS Kills fleas; black-legged (deer) tick, American dog tick,
lone star tick, brown dog tick
COMMENTS The safe use in breeding, pregnant or lacta