Quite often, pet owners are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as fleas. These parasites not only drink the blood of pets, which causes severe itching, but also carry various diseases, which can be very difficult to completely cure. Pet stores offer a wide range of products that allow you to almost instantly save your pet from such a scourge. They are very different, but the most effective are drops. So that you can quickly help your animal cope with the discomfort that fleas cause, carefully study our rating of the best flea drops. Here we will not only talk about the most popular products, but also give some very useful tips regarding the choice of such products.
How to choose the right flea drops?
Fleas are very prolific insects: one female of these pests is capable of laying about 400 eggs during her life, which is why in the shortest possible time both the pet’s hair and its sleeping place will simply be teeming with these parasites. Drops are very simple to use, and the result is much more effective than when using other kinds of products. They are produced on the basis of substances that are quite toxic to insects, but at the same time they will be practically harmless to an animal or a person. However, you should still use these products with caution, as the pet may experience an allergic reaction to the drug. First, a small amount of the substance is applied to the coat and the animal is observed: if the skin at the site of application does not turn red under the fur, and the pet does not try to scratch or lick the treated area, then everything is in order, and you can treat it entirely.
Many flea drops also have a preventive effect. Instead of treating the animal for this scourge, you can treat its coat with a composition before a walk or going out into nature. It will prevent the invasion of fleas on your pet.
As active substances in these drops, as a rule, one of the following compounds is used — fipronil, permethrin or ivermectin. The latter aggressively affects the activity of not only fleas, but also other insects that parasitize domestic animals — withers, ticks, nematodes, but is very toxic for the pet itself. If you treat wool with drops containing this substance, you will need to carefully monitor that the animal does not lick itself for some time. Permethrin is less toxic and has good qualities, the action of which is directed mainly at fleas. In case of accidental licking, it does not enter the blood of the animal, it is quickly excreted from the body.
Fipronil is the safest and most modern substance. Today, on its basis, most drops are produced to get rid of fleas. The product is applied not to the wool itself, but to the skin, rubbed into it so that it is quickly absorbed. It is usually not necessary to process the entire body of the animal, especially if the product is quite toxic. It is enough to apply it where the animal cannot reach it with its tongue — on the withers or on the back of the head.
When choosing the products to include in our rating, we relied mainly on the analyzed factors, but also took into account user reviews and value for money products. The review includes not the most expensive, but the most effective means that will save the pet from discomfort, return it to its former activity and cheerfulness.
Means of import production
5. Advocate
Veterinary drug used for the treatment and prevention of nematodosis, demodicosis, entomosis and sarcoptoidosis, intended for external use. The tool is characterized by a very wide range of effects against parasites — it allows you to effectively deal with fleas, ticks, lice, withers, helps to cope even with worms and intestinal nematodes that live inside the animal. The drug belongs to the group of moderately hazardous substances. Subject to the dosage, dogs and cats tolerate its effects well. These are products of the German company Bayer, which has been producing medicines for humans and animals for many years. The solution is packaged in pipettes, the volume of which can vary from 0.4 to 4 ml. The function of the main active ingredients here is performed by moxidexin and imidacloprid, and additional components are also present — propylene carbonate, benzyl alcohol and butylhydroxytoluene. After application to the skin, the drug actively spreads throughout the body of the animal for a couple of hours, without being absorbed.
Means is reliably fixed on wool that provides long time of influence. Moxidectin is absorbed into the skin, penetrating into the tissues and into the circulatory system. Its highest concentration in the body of the animal is reached on the 5-6th day, it is completely excreted in a month. If you want to rid your pet of parasites living in the coat, then a single treatment will be enough, when you have to deal with internal parasites, you will have to re-apply the drug — do this after about 3-4 weeks. If the product is used for prevention purposes, then the animal must be treated after bathing without shampoo.
Advantages:
- Very effective;
- Possesses waterproof characteristics;
- Extended spectrum of action.
Disadvantages:
- Not all animals tolerate it well;
- High price.
Advocate
4. Frontline Combo
Very effective drops, which are easy to use, can quickly get rid of blood-sucking insects. This tool is produced by the French company Merial, which is known throughout the world for its discoveries in the field of veterinary medicine. The drug has unique properties, it penetrates under the chitinous cover of insects, acts at the cellular level, which initially leads to paralysis of the nervous system of fleas, and subsequently causes their death. In some cases, the larvae and eggs of bloodsuckers remain intact, which is why the animal’s coat will need to be re-treated, which is carried out after eight weeks. It is not recommended to apply to the skin of a pet if its age does not exceed 2 months. Drops penetrate deep into the epidermis, thanks to which it is possible to provide full protection. The dosage is calculated based on the weight of the animal. After the treatment has been carried out, you should limit the contact of the pet with children, minimize exposure to the open air, and you should also not bathe.
The drug also has a calming effect — it helps to get rid of itching after bites, is a prevention of flea dermatitis, and will not allow infection of the apartment. The tool copes with all types of ticks. It must be kept on the skin of the animal for about two days, after which the dog or cat is allowed to bathe. Fipronil is used as the main active agent. The animal will be completely protected from fleas for the next three months.
Advantages:
- Widespread drug;
- Actively fights fleas and ticks, as well as the consequences of their bites;
- Long lasting action.
Disadvantages:
- Do not use if the animal is not at least two months old.
Frontline Combo
3. Stronghold Pfizer
American-made products are based on selamectin, a chemical compound that not only kills adult fleas and ticks, but also blocks the incubation of their eggs. It is also suitable for combating ear and scabies mites, helps to cope with dirofilaria, which can affect the heart of a pet, it is allowed to be used in the treatment of an animal for roundworms and hookworms. The drug dries very quickly, has no foreign smell, has high moisture resistance. Safe for pets as long as they are 6 weeks old. Tests of its action were carried out even on the most sensitive breeds of dogs and cats — no allergic reaction was detected, although cases of individual intolerance to the drug were encountered.
The drug has a depressing effect on chloride channel receptors. As a result, the normal transmission of nerve impulses in the synapses of the muscle tissue of parasites is disrupted. Selamectin is absolutely safe for the animal — after application, it is almost instantly absorbed into the skin and enters the circulatory system, without adversely affecting the pet’s body. The maximum concentration is reached one day after the treatment of the cat and after three days if the drug was applied to the dog’s hair. The therapeutic concentration of the substance is maintained for a whole month. For people, this remedy is also absolutely safe, so immediately after the drug is absorbed, the animal can be stroked, picked up, bathed and played with.
Advantages:
- Very quickly absorbed into the blood;
- Extended list of parasites that this drug can fight;
- The required concentration is quickly reached.
Disadvantages:
- Not a very convenient release form.
Stronghold Pfizer
2. Bravecto Spot On
It starts to act very quickly — after treating the skin, the product begins to rid the animal of fleas in just 4 hours, and after another 4 hours, about 98% of the insects living in the pet’s fur die. After about a day, the death of fleas and ticks is observed in a pet, close to 100%. This drug is a fairly effective solution in the fight against flea dermatitis. During the development of the drug, studies were carried out on all varieties of ixodid ticks, both on adults and on eggs and larvae. Ticks will die regardless of which part of the animal’s body they stick to. This drug was developed specifically for cats and dogs, and its degree of toxicity is so low that it is allowed to be used if the animal is pregnant or nursing offspring. Adaptability in fleas to this drug is not observed.
The principle of operation is as follows: the active substance penetrates under the chitinous cover of the animal, blocks the work of nerve impulses and the digestive system. Insects stop eating, therefore, literally immediately after application, the level of discomfort in the animal decreases — it begins to itch less, almost does not lick itself. The key ingredient here is fluralaner, which is a mammal-friendly insecticide. It penetrates into the circulatory system, the maximum concentration is possible only a day after use.
Advantages:
- Convenient to use;
- Begins to act almost immediately after application;
- Suitable for lactating and pregnant individuals;
- Actively fights fleas and ticks;
- Safe for animals and people.
Disadvantages:
- It is very expensive.
Bravecto Spot On
1.UltraGuard Plus Drops
The leader in this section of our review of the best drops from fleas and ticks is a product developed by a well-known American company that specializes in the production of various veterinary drugs. The composition is allowed to use if the animal is at least 12 weeks old. It will have to be applied to dry and intact skin, it is advisable to cover the area from the withers to the root of the tail with it. Due to the fact that the animal can reach out and lick off the product, it is advisable to put a muzzle or a special collar on it. Do not apply the composition to the skin of sick or convalescent animals. If the pet bears or feeds offspring, then before use, it is imperative to consult with a veterinarian. If all these points are observed, no contraindications and side effects occur, however, there are cases of individual intolerance.
Drops are absorbed quite quickly — it takes about two hours, after which the body of a dog or cat becomes completely invulnerable to parasites. It is worth a tick or a flea to try just to bite a pet, as the insect immediately dies. In addition, the drug has a preventive effect, not allowing pests to start up again in the wool for the next 30 days, after which the skin will need to be processed again.
Advantages:
- One package is enough for three treatments, that is, for most of the summer season;
- Protects against ticks, mosquitoes and fleas;
- Penetrates deep into the skin, begins to act almost immediately after application to the animal.
Disadvantages:
- The need to use a muzzle or collar so that the pet does not lick it off.
UltraGuard Plus Drops
domestic products
5. Insectal drops from fleas and ticks
A fairly effective remedy that can be used as a medicinal or prophylactic drug to combat various external parasites. It is produced in several forms, so you can choose the most convenient option for your pet. If you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, then the animal will be able to be protected from harmful parasites for quite a long time. The composition effectively fights ticks of all kinds, fleas and withers. He copes with insects, regardless of what level of development they are at. Such a high level of usefulness is achieved largely due to the fact that the composition contains two active substances — fipronil and pyriproxyfen. If we talked about the first at the very beginning of the article, then the second has a completely different principle of operation. It suppresses the work of the hormonal system of parasites, which leads to a violation of the ability to reproduce offspring.
The drug shows itself perfectly in the warm season, when harmful insects are most active in their life. Application to the skin of animals is not allowed if they are recovering from severe pathologies, sick with various infectious diseases, as well as during feeding and pregnancy. Drops can be used if the puppy is at least 2 months old. They are a clear liquid with a slightly yellowish tint — the dosage is calculated depending on the weight of the pet. To combat ticks, this remedy must be applied two to three times after about 10-12 days.
Advantages:
- In terms of efficiency, they are in no way inferior to foreign counterparts, but the cost is several times lower;
- Easy to apply;
- Universal products for any pets;
- Long shelf life.
Disadvantages:
- Quite a strong smell, and not too pleasant.
Insectal drops for fleas and ticks
4. Ms. Kiss
Just like the other composition, they contain two active substances — fipronil and pyriproxyfen, there are still a number of auxiliary components — isopropyl alcohol, agidol, dipropylene glycol butyl ether and dipropylene glycol methyl ether. The format is a transparent oily liquid with a sharp characteristic odor. This drug not only has a detrimental effect on lice, block, withers and ticks, as well as on flying insects, which can also cause a lot of inconvenience to a pet. After a single treatment, the pet will be reliably protected from pests for a period of about one and a half months. This drug belongs to the group of moderately hazardous substances, therefore, if the dosage is observed, it does not cause irritation, rashes, and so on. Suitable for animals from 2 months of age.
Treat areas that the pet cannot reach with its tongue. An adult animal is treated in several places — on the neck, on the head and between the shoulder blades. In order to prevent the reappearance of parasites, it is desirable to treat habitats, cracks and household items with a special agent. The drug can also be used for the treatment of ear scabies. To do this, the auricles are thoroughly cleaned and a couple of drops of the substance are instilled into each of them. If you plan to use drops as a prophylactic, then they are treated with an animal in the spring, when flea activity is zero.
Advantages:
- Perfectly protects against parasites flying and living in wool;
- Acceptable cost;
- Long period of animal protection;
- Harmless to pet.
Disadvantages:
- Individual intolerance to components in animals occurs with enviable regularity.
Ms. Kiss
3. Dana Ultra
The third place among the popular drops for fleas of domestic production was taken by an insect-acaricidal agent, produced in the form of a solution, which is intended for external use. The active ingredient is fipronil. It is a clear, slightly oily liquid with a fairly slight odor. The composition ideally copes with harmful insects that are at the sexually mature stage of development. Its action leads to disruption of nerve impulses, resulting in rapid paralysis and death of parasites. It does not have a depressing effect on the receptors of mammals. When applied to the skin, it is practically not absorbed, but during the day it is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the body. It accumulates in the upper layers of the epidermis, penetrates into the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. This allows you to ensure a long-term effect of the drug.
According to the degree of impact on the animal itself, the composition belongs to slightly dangerous substances, which, even with a severe overdose, practically do not cause harm. The duration of exposure is approximately 4-6 weeks. Do not bathe the animal three days before and three days after treatment. In order to significantly extend the duration of the drug, it is necessary to treat the skin every 5-7 days two or three times. It is not advisable to use if the animal is feeding or bearing offspring.
Advantages:
- Inexpensive products;
- Good quality;
- Can be processed several times in a short period of time;
- Practically safe.
Disadvantages:
- Swimming restrictions;
- In some cases, an allergic reaction occurs.
Dana Ultra
2. Inspector Total K
Fipronil and moxidectin are used as key substances here, there are also a number of auxiliary compounds — polyethylene glycol, butylhydroxyanisole, butylhydroxytoluene, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether. Drops are available in the form of a clear liquid, slightly oily, may have a light yellow color. It is a veterinary drug of combined action, with which you can cope not only with the standard set of parasites such as fleas, ticks, and withers, but also with nematodes, which also parasitize on the surface of the animal’s skin, worsening the condition of its coat. Moxidectin is a semi-synthetic substance, its action is aimed at the active production of gamma-aminobutyric acid. The latter binds to postsynaptic receptors and disrupts the functioning of the muscular system, interrupts the interaction between nerve impulses — this leads to paralysis and death of insects.
This substance actively penetrates into the pores of the animal’s skin and is absorbed into the circulatory system, tissues and organs, accumulates there, due to which the beneficial effect is largely prolonged — the insecticidal effect lasts about 6-8 weeks. It can also be used as a prophylactic. The drug is not suitable for animals under 7 weeks of age, as well as for those suffering from chronic diseases. If the weight of the animal is less than 1 kg, then the treatment should be carried out under the close supervision of a specialist.
Advantages:
- Fleas disappear completely for a long time;
- The animal is not harmed in the slightest;
- Adverse reactions are practically absent;
- Acceptable cost of the drug.
Disadvantages:
- The stated validity period is somewhat exaggerated — it actually does not exceed 7 weeks.
Inspector Total K
1. Drops from fleas and ticks Bars
The best remedy for combating ticks and fleas, produced by the well-known domestic enterprise NVC «Agrovetzashchita». Pet owners note that the drug is very effective and easy to use. Available in bottles of 1 or 1.4 ml, they are also equipped with an easy-to-apply pipette. The function of the active substance here is performed by the pyrethroid permethrin. This component is regularly found in many compositions of household chemicals. This is a very effective tool that allows you to quickly deal with ticks, fleas, lice, bedbugs, withers, the drug can be used even in summer cottages, if there is a need to get rid of ants. Permethrin is characterized by a long period of action — it is able to save a pet from parasites that annoy him for about two months. The substance belongs to the group of nerve poisons. These drops are well tolerated by animals.
The active compound does not enter the pet’s circulatory system. The drug is suitable for treating kittens and puppies if they are at least 6 weeks old, however, it should be used with caution, preferably under the supervision of a veterinarian. The method of application is standard, large animals are given two or even three treatments in three to four weeks. The manufacturer does not recommend treating dogs if their weight is less than 2 kg, it is also prohibited for pregnant and lactating pets.
Advantages:
- Almost all parasites die within the first day after application;
- Compared to foreign analogues, it is very cheap;
- Long protective effect;
- Convenient dosage with accurate calculation of the weight of the animal.
Disadvantages:
- In addition to individual intolerance, it was not found.
Drops from fleas and ticks Bars
In conclusion, a useful video
So this rating of the best flea drops has ended, we hope that you were able to choose the best products for your pet. However, I would like to remind readers that these drugs should be used only after consulting a veterinarian, otherwise it can lead to side effects and other unpleasant moments. Tell us in the comments about your experience with similar drugs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l1ISApWTr4