EPA and FDA Flea Products — by Mark Grossman & Carol Foil, Copyright VETERINARY INFORMATION NETWORK® Updated 07/23/08 ACTIVE DOSAGE / PRODUCT SPECIES / MIN. AGE EFFECTS COMMENTS INGREDIENTS ADMINISTRATION Dogs 4 weeks By Prescripton Only Program / Sentinel Lufenuron Oral monthly; Prevents Egg Hatching (Sentinel prescription; Program OTC); Cats 6 weeks Cat injectable q 6 mos Oral forms must be given with food Fipronil Dogs 8 weeks Kills fleas within 48 hrs; Prevents Egg Frontline Plus Monthly Spot-On EPA-registered pesticide s-Methoprene Hatching; Kills ticks Cats 8 weeks Dogs 7 weeks Monthly spot-On; EPA-registered pesticide Rapid action; Advantage Imidacloprid Kills fleas within 12 hours can be used weekly shampoo wash off* Cats 8 weeks Dogs 7 weeks FDA Prescription Drug; heartworms, Kills fleas within 12 hours; Prevents Imidacloprid intestinal worms, ear mites; scabicidal; Advantage Multi Cats 9 weeks Monthly Spot-On heartworms, intestinal worms, Kills ear Moxidectin may have Demodex efficacy; imidacloprid Don’t use dog mites; Kills scabies mites; may kill Demodex shampoo wash-off* product on cats Caution with cat indirect Imidacloprid Kills fleas within 12 hours; Kills & repels K9 Advantix Dogs 7 weeks Monthly Spot-On exposure; imidacloprid shampoo Permethrin ticks; repels mosquitoes wash-off* Kills fleas within 48 hours; Rapidly stops egg Dogs 8 weeks production; Prevents heartworms; Kills ear FDA prescription drug; Slow to maximum kill for Revolution Selamectin Monthly Spot-On mites, scabies (and other related mites), Kills adult fleas, but cessation of feeding and egg Cats 8 weeks Dermacentor ticks; Prevents roundworms production is rapid and hookworms in cats Large vol (6.6 ml lg dog size); may have Promeris Metaflumizone Kills Fleas within 48 hours; Kills Ticks; Dogs 8 weeks Monthly Spot-On Demodex efficacy; slow to maximum Amitraz Kills scabies mites DOGS kill; Shampoo resistant* Promeris Metaflumizone Leaves residue on coat; some object to odor; lg vol Cats 8 weeks Monthly Spot-On Kills fleas within 48 hours CATS Amitraz (.8-1.6 ml); safe in pregnancy; slow to max. kill Spinosad Monthly FDA prescription drug; Not approved for cats, Comfortis Dogs 14 weeks Kills fleas within 2 hours Amitraz Chewable Tablet rapid onset, quick kill ; vomiting?; epilepsy caution Dogs 4 weeks 2+ lbs One Tablet prn or Capstar Nitenpyram Kills fleas within 2 hours FDA OTC Drug; rapid onset, quick kill, no residual daily - EOD Cats 4 weeks 2+ lbs Dinotefuran - kills fleas within 8 hrs; Dinotefuran Very rapid onset of action; cool applicator; Permethrin - kills fleas, repels & kills ticks, large vol (up to 8 mls in giant breed dogs); Vectra 3D Permethrin Dogs 7 weeks Monthly Spot-On repels & kills mosquitoes not tested against resistant flea strains; Pyriproxifen Pyriproxifen - prevents egg hatch dinotefuran shampoo wash-off* Very rapid onset of action; cool applicator; Vectra for Dinotefuran Dinotefuran - kills fleas 0.8 mls for cats < 9 lbs; 1.2 mls for cats 9+ Cats 8 weeks 9+ lbs Monthly Spot-On Cats & Kittens Pyriproxifen Pyriproxifen - prevents egg hatch lbs; not tested against resistant flea strains; dinotefuran shampoo wash-off* * Note that all of the topical flea products are subject to wash-off when using anti-seborrheic shampoos, or when frequent bathing or swimming are a part of your pet's routine..