Best Flea Treatments for Dogs and Cats
Key takeaways:
There are three types of flea treatments available for dogs and cats: oral (pill) medications, topical treatments applied directly to the skin, and flea collars.
Common flea medications for dogs include Activyl, Nexgard, K9 Advantix II, and Vectra 3D. Flea medications for cats include Comfortis, Bravecto, Cheristin, and Advantage II.
Always read the labels on flea medications before giving them to cats because products designed for dogs are toxic to cats.
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Table of contents
As summer approaches, many pet owners are likely thinking about how to prevent their dogs and cats from getting fleas. While fleas are more common during warmer months, they can be a nuisance year-round if you don’t keep up with prevention. And for dogs, cats, or even people with flea allergies, these pesky parasites may cause quite the itch.
Below is a look at the different types of flea medications available for dogs and cats. We’ll also provide some guidance on which type of medication may be best for your pet, since there are so many products to choose from.
Types of flea treatments for dogs and cats
There are three primary forms of flea medication for dogs and cats. The main difference between the three flea treatments is how you give them to your pet. They are:
Those given by mouth (oral)
Those applied on the skin (topical)
Those worn around the neck (collars)
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The best flea medication for your cat or dog will depend on what’s easiest to give to your pet. For dogs or cats who don’t do well with oral medication, a topical or collar flea treatment may be your best bet. On the other hand, if your pet has sensitive skin, your best option may be a pill.
When giving flea prevention medication to cats, always read the label and make sure it’s approved for cats. Flea medication for dogs can be very toxic to cats and even result in death.
To avoid forgetting when your pet needs their next dose of flea medication, consider making a note in your calendar. You can also have a pet store or pharmacy automatically ship flea medication to your house on schedule.
Oral dog and cat flea medications
Oral flea medications are given to your pet by mouth. They come in either pill or chewable tablet form and are available by prescription only. Most need to be given every month except Bravecto, which only needs to be given every 3 months.
Common oral flea pills for dog include:
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Oral flea medications for cats
It can be difficult to determine the best oral flea treatment options for cats. There also aren’t as many options compared to what’s available for dogs.
Available oral flea medications for cats include:
Comfortis
Credelio
Program (lufenuron)
Some oral flea medications for cats — such as Program — are also available as an oral liquid. It may be easier to give your cat a liquid medication instead of a pill. But if your cat really doesn’t like oral medication, your best bet may be a topical medication (see below).
How to give your dog or cat oral flea treatment
Depending on the specific brand of oral flea medication you use, it may need to be given to your pet with food or on an empty stomach. Flea medications that can be given with food are usually easier to get your pet to take.
For most dogs, hiding the pill in peanut butter, squeeze cheese, a banana, or bread will do the trick. If your cat is picky and tends to spit out pills hidden in wet food or pill-hiding treats, oral cat flea medications might not be a great choice for them.
Topical flea medications for cats and dogs
If your pet doesn’t take medication by mouth very well, or if they tend to get sick with anything new in their diet, consider using a topical flea medication. Topical flea medications are applied directly to your pet’s skin.
Topical flea medications for dogs and cats include:
Advantage II (imidacloprid / pyriproxyfen)
Bravecto (fluralaner)
Cheristin (spinetoram)
Frontline Plus (fipronil / methoprene)
K9 Advantix II (imidacloprid / permethrin / pyriproxyfen)
Revolution Plus (selamectin / sarolaner)
Vectra 3D (dinotefuran / pyriproxyfen / permethrin)
How to give your dog or cat topical flea medication
Just like oral medications, most topical flea medications should be given monthly. If your pet is prescribed Bravecto, that one only needs to be applied every 3 months. These medications are available over the counter and do not require a prescription from your vet.
Make sure not to bathe your pet for at least 48 hours before or after you give them a topical flea product. This will make the medication less effective.
To apply topical flea medication, use your fingers to part your pet’s fur and apply the product on:
The skin of their neck
In between their shoulder blades
Along their spine
When applying flea medication on a cat, just put it on the top of their neck and in between their shoulder blades. Since cats are avid groomers, you want to put it in a spot they can’t reach with their tongue.
If your cat licks off some of the flea medication, they may drool for a few minutes. As long as you used a cat-only flea medication, this is usually just due to the medication’s taste. However, if your cat swallowed the entire tube of medication or got a dog-only flea product, then take them to the vet immediately, and call a pet poison hotline.
If you have a cat that loves to groom other pets at home, prevent them from doing so for 24 hours after you apply topical flea medication. If you can’t prevent them from grooming, then the best option for all the pets in your home may be oral flea medications instead.
In addition, some pets have sensitive skin or a history of breaking out or losing fur in the areas where flea medication was applied. They might also be better served with an oral flea medication.
Flea collars for dogs and cats
If neither oral or topical flea medications are right for your pet, you might want to try a flea collar. Not all flea collars are created equal, and many of the older ones aren’t as effective as they used to be. Flea collars do not require a vet’s prescription.
One popular flea collar for dogs and cats is Seresto (flumethrin / imidacloprid). It can keep fleas away for up to 8 months before it needs to be replaced.
But there have been some safety concerns about Seresto and its potential to cause seizures in pets. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviewed safety concerns about Seresto, and in 2023 decided the collar was generally safe for pets.
However, the EPA found some cases where pets died because the safety release on the collar didn’t work as expected. After the EPA’s review of Seresto, the manufacturer agreed to improve the safety of the collar. Even with these concerns, keep in mind that negative reports about Seresto collars are very rare.
Seresto is the only available flea collar for cats. There are other flea collar options for dogs, including:
Preventic (amitraz)
Scalibor (deltamethrin)
If you use a flea collar, make sure the collar fits your pet and touches their skin so it works correctly. The collar should fit snug around your dog or cat’s neck. But you should also be able to fit two fingers between your pet’s neck and the collar.
Combination flea and tick medications
Your vet’s office may recommend prescription combination products that can take care of fleas, ticks, heartworm disease, and internal parasites all in one oral or topical medication.
A combination medication can be much easier when your pet needs protection against several pests because you only have to give your pet one medication for all of them. It may also save you money in the long run.
Examples of combination flea, tick, heartworm, and internal parasite medications include:
Revolution (selamectin)
Selarid (selamectin)
Advantage Multi (imidacloprid / moxidectin)
Sentinel Spectrum (milbemycin oxime / lufenuron / praziquantel)
If your dog takes one of the combination products, you usually need to make sure it has a heartworm test every year to continue taking the medication.
Can you use topical and oral flea medications together?
You can use oral and topical flea medication together, but you usually don’t need to. Generally, if your pet is already on one type of flea prevention, it’s not necessary to use a second kind unless your vet recommends it.
Your vet may suggest using two types of flea medication if your pet has a severe allergy to fleas.
Pets with flea allergies can lose fur, become extremely itchy, and get very red and inflamed skin from the bite of just a single flea. Some of these pets need flea prevention medications every 2 weeks. And many vets recommend alternating the doses between topical and oral medications.
Again, these are only in extreme cases. So it can be safe to use the two medications together, but it’s usually not necessary. Always talk to your vet before using more than one flea medication.
Are there any side effects to flea medications?
Flea medications for dogs and cats are generally safe. Occasionally, a dog or cat may be a bit sensitive to one. For instance, topical medications may cause hair loss or a mild irritation in the area it was applied on your pet. Or, if your dog or cat has a sensitive stomach, the oral flea medication may cause them to be nauseous or vomit.
If you notice any of these signs or any other change in your pet after giving them a flea medication, let your veterinarian know. They will want to keep an eye on your pet’s health and potentially report any side effects to the manufacturer of the medication.
When starting a new oral flea medication, try to give it to your pet on a day when you can be around to watch for potential issues. If possible, don’t give your pet any other medications or new food that day, either. This way, if your dog or cat has a problem, you’ll know it was most likely due to the flea medication and not something else.
Are there any natural alternatives to flea medications?
No, not really. There are many suggested natural alternatives to flea medications out there. However, they do not work as well as the manufactured products that have gone through safety and effectiveness testing.
Also, many of the supposed natural alternatives to prevent fleas can be toxic to your pets. For instance, some people suggest using garlic and others recommend essential oils to ward off fleas. But garlic can cause severe anemia in dogs, while essential oils can cause neurological issues and liver failure in cats.
If you prefer natural alternatives for flea control, talk with your veterinarian and let them know. They can work with you to find a flea control option that is safe and effective for your pet and more natural for your home.
The bottom line
While fleas are common and a nuisance, they are definitely manageable and preventable with the right medications and control measures. Oral, topical, and collar flea medications, especially the newer ones, are usually safe and effective for your cats and dogs. But it is always best to check with your veterinarian to determine the best flea prevention option for your individual pet and lifestyle. And don’t ever give your cat a flea medication intended for dogs.
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References
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Dryden, M. W. (2021). Fleas in dogs and cats. Merck Veterinary Manual.
Pet Poison Helpline. (n.d.). Garlic.
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