Get out the peanut butter. It's time to slip your dog a pill for flea control. Oral flea-control medications are proven to get rid of and protect against flea infestations. An oral medication can often be tailored to your dog's needs, whether he struggles with a seasonal infestation or is exposed to a particularly flea-ridden dog at the park.
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Brands
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Several main oral flea medications are Program, Capstar and Comfortis. Program is a once-a-month pill regimen, while Capstar has a 24-hour period of effectiveness (and tends to be used by vets for extreme infestation cases). Comfortis is another chewable tab that provides monthly coverage.
Benefits
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Flea-control pills are simple to administer; they can be hidden in food. You can precisely control when and for how long the medication is effective. Also, certain flea medications provide heartworm prevention, and pills can prove more advantageous than topical flea controls for drug-resistant and allergic dogs. What's more, pills are a great alternative for people who have physical reactions to the topical treatment.
Drawbacks
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Program pills do not take adult fleas into account, so any fleas already fully developed will not be killed by this medication. A secondary treatment may be required. Comfortis is the opposite of Program in that it kills adult fleas but does not prevent eggs from hatching or larvae growth. Capstar must be given every 24 hours to provide constant protection.
Results
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Program keeps all flea eggs and larvae from hatching and developing, and a single pill will last an entire month. Capstar, however, starts working within 30 minutes to get rid of flea infestations, and it will often remove the problem after four to six hours. This is especially helpful when you know a dog might be exposed to fleas during a particular time period, such as a dog show. Comfortis kills most fleas within four hours and keeps further eggs from being laid.
Cautions
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Flea control medications should not be used on dogs younger than six weeks old. Some dogs may be allergic to the medications. A vet should be consulted before beginning any treatment.
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