tick and flea concern

Susie Lefler · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject: tick and flea concern

forgive my naivete, but how true is it that fleas and ticks get "resistant" to treatment products if you use them long enough? is it really necessary to change flea/tick removal products after several months?

Edith Pope · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject:

Oh i guess it depends... I have used the Advantage treatment for the longest time but it still works well for preventing and controlling ticks in my Shih Tzu. I think if it is effective for your pet, then keep on using it. But if you observe that the fleas and ticks in your pet remain even after several treatments of a particular product, then perhaps it is best to change to another product. There's a wide variety of tick and flea control products available so that won't be a problem. Smile

Eleni Gordon · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:28 am Post subject:

i guess that happens. like this one product that i used for several months. at first it really worked well for my yuki. however, i noticed that after using that brand for a few more weeks, it was no longer able to ward off fleas and ticks! i guess the little creepers have become "desensitized" to the product after months of exposure to it! Surprised

Joey Concha · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:59 am Post subject:

Hey Susie. Edith's right. If it still works for your dog, cat or whatever pet you have there, why stop using it?

Susie Lefler · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject:

actually, i've been using Frontline for a long time now and have no intention to switch brands. but the other week, a friend mentioned that using the same brand on my pets for several months can make the fleas and ticks resistant to it. that's why i'm asking if this is really true. Wink

Carlito Lucas · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject:

It may be true, Susie -- just as vaccines make us immune to certain diseases. Though a change in dosage may do the trick if it ever reaches that point.

Guest · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

maybe it is not a case of developing a resistance. more of a re infestation. there are products that only kill the adult stage flea, but not the eggs and larva. as they mature, your pets have fleas again. it is a common practice to treat a pet again after a flea infestation. try something with metalumizone, pyroproxifen or nitenpyram to control fleas and something with selamectin for ticks.

Melrose Clement · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:37 am Post subject:

this thread made me think of that old saying that goes, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"! Laughing

you know, it might also be true in the case of fleas and ticks! we never know! Laughing

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Liz Munro · Hairball Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 44

bottom line is just use the flea treatment that works well for your pet. if it doesn't work anymore, then have your vet advise a different product for you to use. Wink

Harry Sorum · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:05 am Post subject: reinfestation

i agree that it's a case of reinfestation, try anti-flea treatments that eliminate not only adult fleas and ticks but the parasite's eggs and larva as well..developing resistance to medication involves complex bio-chem process, not just mere exposure to it.

Isabella Valencia · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:13 am Post subject:

hey, i've read somewhere that fleas are like cockroaches -- they can adapt to their environment. this means that it's really possible for these pests to develop immunity to certain chemicals.

Maia Shearer · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:23 am Post subject:

Tim Lassek · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:57 pm Post subject:

failure to eliminate fleas and thier eggs lurking in carpets, floor mats, and dog beds is the primary cause of flea reinfestation..pet owners therefore should apply anti-flea treatments in those areas where pets usually spend most of their time..

Melrose Clement · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject:

Amelia Bowman · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject:

Pauline Weiss · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:03 am Post subject:

i haven't encountered this problem with flea treatment products before. i guess if it's a case of reinfestation the solution is to just reapply the treatment. of course i agree with some of the folks here: you also have to clean your surroundings. the truth is that only a small percentage of flea population lives on your pet. the rest lurks in the environment.

Jennifer Trenton · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject:

i agree. fleas abound in the environment rather on the pet so keep your place clean and use products or sprays to kill these pests.

Alan Pugliese · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

vacuum cleaners can be a great help in eliminating fleas in our homes, it doesn't just destroy adult fleas but flea eggs as well.

Melrose Clement · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject:

fleas especially loooove the carpet! so make sure you wash and vacuum your carpet always! as for me, i clean all the carpets in my house at least once a week! talk about neat freak! Laughing

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Mikee Hansen · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject:

it's alright to be neat freak, fleas are just too freaky.. Smile

Angela Gellis · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject:

Yeah, mikee's right. It is better to be neat and all rather than allow your pet and your home get infested with fleas. Cleaning up and prevention of fleas are easier to do than having treatment when the fleas are already there, invading your world. Wink

Pauline Weiss · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

don't they sell flea powder for carpets nowadays? why don't you try those melrose? i'm sure they'll get rid of fleas. so you won't have to wash/clean your carpets every week. pet shed sells some of the top brands, i think.