Controlling fleas on epileptic, chemically sensitive dog

[didgery]

We have had the worst flea year EVER. We ripped out all of our carpet, moved all of our furniture, cleaned like crazy, and put frontline on the dogs and cats religiously. Then my epileptic Aussie began to have grand mal siezures every time the Frontline touched him (it happened twice), plus the fleas would be back with a vengeance ten days later. We tried Advantage and it didn’t phase the fleas at all! My vet recommends Comfortis, the oral tablet, but their packaging warns against use in epileptic animals due to reports of it triggering seizures.

I do have a good vet who a) believes me when I say the meds cause the siezures and b) believes me when I say the fleas aren’t dying. My other vet didn’t believe either statement. I’m going in next week to have him reassess Paisley’s phenobarbitol dosage. He’s having grand mal siezures lasting 5-7 minutes each about every two months. My vet says he does use Comfortis on epileptic animals and does NOT use Frontline, as it contains tiny amounts of a neurotoxin.

Thoughts?

[Marshfield]

You might want to ask for a referral to a neurologist for better seizure control. Other medication options include potassium bromide, keppra, and zonisamide. As. For the fleas, I think Revolution may be your best option.

[TheresanAppfurthat]

Diatomaceous earth - here comes a warning - DO NOT USE THE SWIMMING POOL DIATOMACEOUS EARTH. use the FOOD GRADE. You can get it at the feed store, it is sold by the pound - extremely reasonably priced, I get it at my feed store for about a dollar a pound and I still haven’tused up all of the 5 lbs I bought last summer during flea season. You can shake it into the carpet and vacuum; you can rub it into your dog’s fur and brush out; you can even ingest it (helps with dog and cat worms esp. tape worms). There are some educational websites to visit; just google “food grade diatomaceous earth” with “flea control”. This is very easy to use and unbelievably affordable. All DE is, is the itty bitty remains of the shells of calcareous organisms that swam in the oceans before us and when the world was one and largely covered with water (unless you’re a creationist in which case I have no idea how to describe them). Good luck and remember some of the meds used to control seizures actually cause them, so a Board Cert vet neuro is the only way to go.

[Hampton_Bay]

My vet says Comfortis is fine for my seizure dog, and I’ve been using it fine for 2 years now. Current vet also said no topicals, old vet didn’t mention it because he knew I never had luck with them killing fleas anyway.

BUT, this may be a total coincidence, I put mine on Blue Buffalo Grain-Free food recently, and since they they have no fleas?? Their Comfortis ran out over a week ago, and usually after that month they have fleas again. It’s still in the upper 80’s and low to mid 90’s here, so it’s not like the fleas all died. The outdoor cats have fleas, and the little one rubs up against the dogs. It’ll be interesting to see how long the fleas stay away. I only give the Comfortis if the bigger one starts scratching, so I do know how long it takes for them to pick up a flea or two again.

[Horsegal984]

Yes, comfortis has a label warning about seizures. Some epileptics have breakthrough seizures while on comfortis, but equally as many, if not more, do not. So… I would consider my options, give Comfortis and risk more breakthroughs, or go to a Capstar a day and Sentinel. The studies show amasing flea control with Sentinel and Capstar, and it was the best option out there until Comfortis came along.

Frontline generally is safe, as the active ingredients only affect the exoskeleton, and since mamals don’t have one… well duh…

I would reccomend adding in KBr or something else for seizure control, esp if the breakthrough’s do not resolve with a change of flea control. There are lots of options now for epileptics

Katherine
Vet Tech

[Alagirl]

tough call.

While garlic is one of those so-so things, maybe you can add a bit of it to this dog’s food. Along with some cider vinegar (can’t remember what the latter was fr tho, it’s been too long since I talked to dog people)

but I do agree, around here, Frontline seems to be the drink of choice for fleas…:no:

[Ben_and_Me]

@Alagirl;5854382

tough call.

While garlic is one of those so-so things, maybe you can add a bit of it to this dog’s food. Along with some cider vinegar (can’t remember what the latter was fr tho, it’s been too long since I talked to dog people)

Garlic can be toxic to dogs.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.aspx

[irkenequine]

You’ve been given some good advice here. I would say in conjunction with the vet give confortis a try. How does trifexis stack up for dogs with seizures? Thats a new excellent product out there.

If you can’t find a product that works:

Bomb the house, use DE in the cupboards, food bags, and dog beds, and pair capstars with flea combs. My roommate has an epileptic dog and although the rest of ours are on Advantage Multi, he gets a nightly flea-comb dipped in water mixed with Dawn dish soap. He’s just as flea-free as the rest of them.

Jingles for poor Paisley Hope he has better luck. This has been a miserable flea season.

[ShadowsMom]

The only flea product that my epileptic dog could tolerate was D/E. Any chemicals brought on severe seizures, and she was on both potassium bromide and phenobarbital. But every epileptic dog is different.

[LauraKY]

Have you tried the regular Frontline, not the Frontline Plus. It worked for my chemically sensitive, seizure prone cocker with no side effects. I had to order it online.