Although few of us would put fleas in the same category of pet health threats as heartworms, at the very least they're an annoyance for our dogs and cats. At their worst, they cause severe allergies, driving pets to distraction and leaving their scratched and chewed skin susceptible to secondary infections.
The good news is that there are medications capable of simultaneously protecting kitty or doggie from heartworms, fleas and several other pests.
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Revolution
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Introduced in 1999, Pfizer's topical treatment Revolution (selamectin) protects cats and dogs not only from fleas and heartworms, but from ear mites and several intestinal parasites. It's available by veterinary prescription. Revolution is sold in multipacks of single-dose vials.
The package color indicates the strength of the individual doses. Use one vial to treat your pet each month.
Apply Revolution by parting the fur at the base of your pet's neck between her shoulder blades and emptying the vial onto the exposed skin. Her skin will absorb the medication. Once it's in her bloodstream, it will prevent heartworms, roundworms and hookworms.
Revolution also passes from the blood back into the skin where it kills both adult fleas and eggs, ear and mange mites and ticks.
Let Revolution dry before petting or playing with your pet. After 2 hours the medicine will remain effective even if you bathe him.
Revolution is safe for puppies over 6 weeks and kittens over 8 weeks.
Advantage Multi
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Bayer HealthCare's Advantage Multi (imidacloprid + moxidectin), like Revolution, is a once-monthly topical medication suitable for both dogs and cats. It prevents heartworm and kills existing roundworms, hookworms, fleas and ear mites.
Administer the Advantage Multi vial as you would Revolution. The imidacloprid paralyzes fleas and mites and the moxidectin paralyzes the internal parasites, which your pet will void in her stool.
Wait 90 minutes after applying the medicine before bathing your pet.
Like Revolution, Advantage Multi is a prescription medication available through your vet. Advantage Multi is safe for use on puppies over 3 lbs. and 7 weeks, and kittens over 2 lbs. and 9 weeks.
Warnings
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Neither Revolution nor Advantage Multi will remove existing heartworms. A pet testing positive for them needs veterinary treatment to remove both the adults and the circulating larvae.
Don't let your pet or another animal lick either of these medications for 30 minutes after using them. Signs that your pet has ingested them include excessive salivation, pupil dilation, tremors, diarrhea, loss of appetite and noncoordination.
Side effects of Advantage include loss of appetite, vomiting, coughing, eye and nasal discharge and lethargy. Revolution may cause digestive upset. Some cats experience hair loss where it's applied.
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