Alternatives to Methoprene for Fleas

Methoprene is a chemical most commonly found in flea treatments for dogs and cats. It is a toxin that is specifically tailored to kill most kinds of fleas, as well as some kinds of ticks and parasites. Due to the high levels of toxicity that are found inside methoprene, however, it can actually be very dangerous to your dog or cat. There are many alternatives approaches to getting rid of fleas rather than using methoprene.

  1. Fipronil

    • Fipronil is a kind of chemical that is found in Frontline, a popular and widely used flea and tick treatment. Fipronil causes an over-stimulation in the flea's nervous system and causes the fleas to suffer multiple spasms at once. Like methoprene, it still comes in contact with the skin of the pet, though it is far less toxic than methoprene.

    Carbitol

    • Carbitol is an inert ingredient, also found in treatments similar to Frontline. Instead of breaking down the nervous system of the flea, it causes the fleas to lapse into a coma and suppresses their ability to function, killing them over time rather than instantly.

    Comfortis

    • Comfortis is a type of pill that can be taken orally by the pet to produce the same effects as methoprene. It spreads a chemical throughout the follicles of the pet's skin, which causes a flea to consume an amount of the toxin whenever it bites the skin of the pet. This toxin will kill fleas instantly while not presenting any lasting effects in the pet. Though this treatment will require the flea to bite the pet, it is one of the more effective treatments.

    Pyrethrin

    • Pyrethrin is a chemical and, like those found in methoprene, is applied to the skin manually through a shampoo that kills fleas instantly on contact. The only issue with this particular kind of treatment is that it must be applied at weekly intervals in order for it to be the most effective.