So I treated my kitty today

[laurief]

Originally Posted by Carmel

Blacky had a bad reaction to Advantage, of all things, so since then we've only put flea collars on her. I've never thought it mattered who gave the animal the flea products, they're all poisonous insecticides, doesn't matter who gives them to your pet

There's a great deal of difference between ingredients in different flea control products, some of which are highly toxic to cats and dogs. For instance, the permethrin in K9 Advantix is safe for most dogs, but it is highly toxic to cats. Additionally, the chemicals in most flea control products (including collars) are absorbed systemically into the cat's body. There is a much higher possibilitiy of toxic reaction with systemically absorbed chemicals than there is with regular Frontline (not Frontline Plus), which is absorbed only into the skin layer and not systemically. When Advantage was introduced, it was believed that it, too, remained exclusively in the skin layer. It was later found that a small amount of the chemical in Advantage does, indeed, absorb systemically, which likely explains why a few animals have a bad reaction to it.

On the recommendation of two different vets, I will use only regular Frontline on my animals, since it is the only flea control product I know of that is not absorbed systemically. If I must put poison on my animals, I don't want it getting anywhere near their internal organs. No collars, shampoos, dips, sprays, powders, pills, or spot-ons other than Frontline for my kids. Of course it doesn't matter who applies the product, as long as it's the safest, effective product available.

Laurie