Prevention is less stressful, cheaper, and healthier than treatment.
Oral Products
Capstar (Bayer, Elanco)
- Active Ingredient: Nitenpyram (neonicotinoid)
- Treats fleas currently on dog
- Dosing Frequency: daily
- Cost: $30 for 6 doses
- Minimum Age & Weight: 4 weeks
- The good: Rapid kill of fleas in 30 minutes. Begins killing fleas in just 15 minutes and kills >98% in 6 hours, 100% in 24 hours. Safe for dogs with food allergies (no flavoring). Safe in breeding/ pregnant/ lactating animals.
- The bad: Only lasts 24 hours. Not effective against ticks. No heartworm or GI parasite prevention.
Comfortis (Bayer, Elanco)
- Active Ingredient: Spinosad (Pediculicide)
- Treats and prevents fleas
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $100-110 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 14 weeks, 5 lbs (2.27 lbs)
- The good: Great choice for flea allergic dogs with rapid kill of fleas starting in 30 minutes with 100% killed in 4 hours. Kills fleas before they can lay eggs. Still effective in dogs that swim, bathe, groom frequently.
- The bad: Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (pork). Not effective against ticks. No heartworm or GI parasite prevention.
Bravecto (Merck)
- Active Ingredient: Fluralaner (isoxazoline)
- Treats and prevents fleas, ticks
- Dosing Frequency: 12 weeks (2.7 months)
- Cost: $57 for 12 weeks (2.7 months) oral, $50 for 12 weeks (2.7 months) topical
- Minimum Age & Weight: 6 months, 4.4 lbs (2 kg)
- The good: Longest-lasting protection available in a single chew or topical dose (almost 3x longer than any monthly treatment). Safe for most food allergic dogs (hydrolyzed pork should not be recognized by immune system).
- The bad: Not a good choice for flea allergic dogs (won’t kill tick until they bite – won’t transmit a disease causing organism though). Side effects may include vomiting, poor appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, increased thirst, flatulence. May decrease seizure threshold, so not recommended in dogs with history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dose. No heartworm or GI parasite prevention.
Credelio (Bayer, Elanco)
- Active Ingredient: Lotilaner (isoxazoline)
- Treats and prevents fleas, ticks
- Dosing Frequency: 1 month
- Cost: $20 for 1 month, $110 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 8 weeks, 4.4 lbs (2 kg)
- The good: Starts killing ticks and fleas in just 4 hours. 100% of fleas killed within 12 hours and lasts all month. 98.7% of ticks killed within 8 hours. Kills ticks for up to 37 days in case you are not prompt with administering.
- The bad: Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (pork). Side effects may include weight loss, elevated BUN, increased urination, diarrhea. Not tested in breeding/ lactating/ pregnant dogs. May decrease seizure threshold, so not recommended in dogs with history of seizures or neurologic disorders. No heartworm or GI parasite prevention.
NexGard (Boehringer Ingelheim)
- Active Ingredient: Afoxolaner (isoxazoline)
- Treats and prevents flea, ticks
- Dosing Frequency: 1 month
- Cost: $60 for 3 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 8 weeks, 4 lbs (1.8 kg)
- The good: Safe for most food allergic dogs (beef flavored but created with soy).
- The bad: Not a good choice for flea allergy dogs (won’t kill tick until they bite – won’t transmit a disease causing organism though). Side effects may include vomiting, itching, lethargy, diarrhea, poor appetite. Not tested in breeding/ pregnant/ lactating dogs. May decrease seizure threshold, so not recommended in dogs with history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Kills but does not repel fleas or ticks. No heartworm or GI parasite prevention.
HeartGard Plus (Boehringer Ingelheim)
- Active Ingredient: Ivermectin (anthelmintic), Pyrantel (anthelmintic)
- Treats and prevents roundworms, hookworms. Prevents heartworm disease.
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $40-60 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 6 weeks, 2.8 lbs (1.3 kg)
- The good: Great tasting.
- The bad: Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (beef). Side effects may include vomiting, itching, lethargy, diarrhea, lack of appetite. Not tested in breeding/ lactating dogs. No flea or tick treatment or prevention.
Simparica (Zoetis)
- Active Ingredient: Sarolaner (isoxazoline)
- Treats and prevents fleas, ticks
- Dosing Frequency: 35 days
- Cost: $90-105 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 6 months, 2.8 lbs (1.3 kg)
- The good: Extra wiggle room at end of the month in case you are a few days late with dose. Starts killing fleas in 3 hours. Starts killing ticks in 8 hours. Shown to kill >98% of existing deer tick infestations within 12 hours (lyme disease is typically transmitted in 24-48 hours)
- The bad: Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (pork liver). Not studied in pregnant/ breeding/ lactating dogs. Side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea. May decrease seizure threshold, so not recommended in dogs with history of seizures or neurologic disorders. No heartworm or GI parasite prevention.
Simparica Trio (Zoetis)
- Active Ingredient: Sarolaner (isoxazoline), Moxidectin (macrocyclic lactone), Pyrantel (anthelmintic)
- Treats and prevents fleas, ticks, roundworms, hookworms. Prevents heartworm disease.
- Dosing Frequency: 1 month
- Cost: $130-160 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 8 weeks, 2.8 lbs (1.3 kg)
- The good: Just 1 tablet covering prevention of fleas, ticks, GI worms, heartworm.
- The bad: Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (pork liver).
Trifexis (Elanco)
- Active Ingredient: Spinosad (Pediculicide), Milbemycin Oxime (Milbemycin)
- Treats and prevents fleas. Treats hookworm, roundworm, whipworm. Prevents heartworm disease.
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $100-120 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 8 weeks, 5 lbs
- The good: Starts killing fleas within 30 minutes, before they can lay eggs.
- The bad: Side effects may include vomiting, itching, decreased activity, diarrhea, skin inflammation/ redness, decreased appetite. Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (beef). No tick, flea egg, tapeworm, ear mites treatment or prevention.
Tri-Heart Plus (Merck)
- Active Ingredient: Ivermectin (anthelmintic), Pyrantel (anthelmintic)
- Treats roundworms, hookworms. Prevents heartworm disease
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $20-33 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 6 weeks
- The good: Prevents 3 types of worms. Safe in breeding/ pregnant.
- The bad: Side effects may include depression/ lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, mydriasis, ataxia, staggering, convulsions, hypersalivation. Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (beef). No flea or tick treatment or prevention. No heartworm prevention.
Interceptor Plus (Elanco)
- Active Ingredient: Milbemycin Oxime (Milbemycin), Praziquantel (Anthelmintic)
- Treats hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm. Protects against heartworm disease.
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $38-55 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 6 weeks, 2 lbs
- The good: Prevents 5 types of worms.
- The bad: Not evaluated for breeding/ lactating dogs. Side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased activity, incoordination, weight loss, convulsions, weakness, salivation. Adverse reactions likely in dogs with heartworm disease due to rapid kill of most microfilaria within 24 hours. Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (chicken). No flea or tick treatment or prevention.
Sentinel (Merck)
- Active Ingredient: Milbemycin Oxime (Milbemycin), Lufenuron (Insect Growth Regulator)
- Prevention and control of fleas, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms. Protects against heartworm disease.
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $48-72 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 4 weeks, 2 lbs (0.9 kg)
- The good: Prevents fleas and 4 types of worms. Safe in breeding/ pregnant dogs.
- The bad: Prevents the development of flea eggs but does not kill adult fleas. Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (pork). Not safe in lactating dogs. Side effects may include nasal discharge, pulmonary congestion, diarrhea, dehydration, sluggishness. No tick, tapeworm, ear mites treatment or prevention.
Sentinel Spectrum (Merck)
- Active Ingredient: Milbemycin Oxime (Milbemycin), Lufenuron (Insect Growth Regulator), Praziquantel (Anthelmintic)
- Treats and prevents fleas, Treats hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms. Protects against heartworm disease.
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $52-78 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 6 weeks, 2 lbs
- The good: Prevents fleas and 5 types of worms.
- The bad: Side effects may include vomiting, depression/ lethargy, pruritis, urticarial, diarrhea, anorexia, skin congestion, ataxia, convulsions, salivation, weakness. Not a good choice for food allergic dogs (pork). Not safe in lactating dogs. May have side effects in heartworm positive dogs with high microfilariae counts. No tick treatment or prevention.
Sources:
Photos and cost estimates from Chewy.com
https://us.bravecto.com/for-dogs
https://www.elanco.ca/products-services/companion-animal/capstar
https://www.elanco.us/products-services/dogs/comfortis
https://www.zoetispetcare.com/products/simparica
https://www.zoetispetcare.com/products/simparica-trio
https://www.comfortis.com/about-comfortis
https://www.elanco.us/products-services/dogs/trifexis
https://www.elancolabels.com/us/trifexis
https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/product/tri-heart-plus-chewable-tablets
https://pet.elanco.com/us/en/interceptorplus
https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/product/sentinel-flavor-tabs
https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/offload-downloads/sentinel_flavor_tabs
https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/product/sentinel-spectrum-chews
https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/offload-downloads/sentinel_spectrum
