I don’t know where the got them, but all my critters - two cats and two dogs - have fleas. I’ve used Frontline with mixed results, I’ve tried the flea pill from the vet but at $25 a pill = $100 a month, too expensive to continue. What OTC products are the best at getting rid of fleas both in the house and on the animals themselves? Thanks.
The OTC stuff really isn’t going to do the trick. Major resistance to frontline these days and for what Advantage costs you might as well get one of the newer options. Bravecto is going to last 3 months with a single dose, which is enough to break the flea life cycle. You are, however, looking at a cost of about $20 per month per pet. Siphotrol spray works well for treating your home
Bravecto is da’ bomb for dogs! I started using it last year. I live on a farm with multiple dogs that are outside a lot. I haven’t seen a flea since, and believe me I’ve done my battles with fleas! I’ve had ticks on me, but none on the dogs, which is amazing because we all go on regular walks around the pond and hay field.
Is Bravecto a prescription?
I use the Seresto collars on my inside animals (dog and cats) and Revolution on the outside cat. Initial outlay with Seresto is a little high at $55/collar, but they last 8 months. No prescription needed.
Depending on where you live, it can be tough. If fleas are not killed off during the winter, you will have constant parasite pressure and insecticide resistance may become high quickly. Flea control can be difficult in many areas in the southern US.
For the animals, you’re going to need a prescription, there’s too much resistance to OTC meds in most areas of the US. For “monthly” meds, there’s a fine line between overuse and underuse. With dogs or indoor/outdoor cats, they pretty much have to be consistently used, and potentially rotated in areas with high flea populations, because bringing in a single flea can lead to an infestation. It’s really not unlike equine wormers in areas where parasites are endemic-only treat if there is a problem, but treat quickly and be mindful of resistance if there is.
I used to use an old vet’s trick to deal with indoor populations. Sprinkle Borax on dry carpets, let it sit for about an hour, and then vacuum it up. You want to make sure pets (or kids) cannot come into contact with the Borax during the carpet treatment. I was always very cautious about contact with it, but boy did it work.
We use bravecto on our dogs , frontline on the cats, but we have not had much of a problem as in the past. I started Beneficial nematodes treatment 2 years ago and they work like a charm. I apply them january/february to catch any ticks too and that works. In the house- I got rid of all carpet and put in hardwood floors. If you have a vacuumcleaner, put a spoon full of D.E. in the bag- otherwise the fleas love to breed in there. You can sprinkle D.E. on the carpet as well - I just got tired of it and took care of it 
good luck- its a battle
I’ve been using Advantage or Cheristin, but I’ve got one cat, Pharaoh, who is allergic to fleas and reacts badly to several of the meds, too. Pharaoh was the runt of the dumped litter out at Cat Lady’s and had some problems as a kitten, all of which other than this one outgrown. It has been a constant battle trying to find something for that one tolerable but effective. Just recently, I got one of the Seresto collars, as the vet said they really do work and are a missing link for some allergic critters. I nearly had a heart attack paying that for a flea collar (“Okay, company, you have one and only one shot to convince me”), but it’s been on about three weeks, and I can really tell a difference in fur quality. Now, to see if it lasts the 8 months advertised.
I order my Bravecto from http://www.pets-megastore.com.au. My vet doesn’t carry it and it’s the cheapest source I’ve found. Shipping takes about a week. Those Soresto collars are $43 there and the other flea stuff is reasonable, too.
Bravecto? I’m a believer. Yes, it is prescription. My vet doesn’t have it but 1800-Petmeds contacted my vet and I got it easily.
