Advantages of Over the Counter Flea Treatments

Fleas are a major annoyance for pet owners. A handful of fleas can quickly turn into a major epidemic and cause health problems for pets and owners alike. Over-the-counter flea treatments include shampoos, collars, monthly on the spot flea treatments and flea sprays. Veterinarian-prescribed and groomer-applied medications also include shampoos and on-the-spot treatments, in addition to flea dips. Consider all options for treating fleas before deciding on a product.

  1. Price

    • Over-the-counter flea treatments tend to be more affordable than veterinarian-prescribed medications. For instance, as of March 2011, prices for over-the-counter flea treatments, including baths and spot treatment, range from $3 to $15 for several months of treatment. Professional flea dips, which must be done monthly, can range in cost from $40 to $150 annually. Often, these professional dips and treatments must also be supplemented with oral or spot treatment provided by a veterinarian or over the counter.

    Application

    • Because a flea infestation involves fleas in various stages of their life cycles, most flea treatments, whether prescription or sold over the counter, require multiple applications to completely eradicate the fleas. Busy pet owners can find it difficult to consistently take their pets to the veterinarian or groomer for repeated applications of prescription flea treatments or flea dips. Over-the-counter flea medications allow the pet owner to be in control of her pet's treatment, making more consistent treatment easier. Consistent treatment can more effectively relieve the flea problem.

    Treating Your Entire Household

    • Once a pet has contracted flea, they can quickly spread over your entire household, including onto your other pets. To completely eradicate a flea infestation, pet owners must not only treat the initially infected pet, but other pets and pet furniture as well. Since treating many pets involves a lot of medication, over-the-counter medications can be more affordable for owners. Additionally, many of these flea treatments, including shampoos and spot treatments, are sold with companion household sprays that can be used on pet beds and furniture. Over-the-counter flea shampoos can also be used on multiple animals, while veterinarian-prescribed medication is typically only given to one pet.

    Drawbacks

    • Over-the-counter flea treatments for dogs and cats have their drawbacks as well. Because they are not being overseen by a veterinarian or groomer, over-the-counter flea shampoos and medications generally do not have as much medication in them as other ones. Similarly, flea dips performed by a groomer are stronger and can quickly kill fleas. Additionally, there have been health problems associated with certain brands of over-the-counter flea treatments when not used correctly, including severe skin irritation and neurological problems.