flea control?

[Patti]

If you don't have a flea problem I can't think of a reason why you would continue to use flea medication.

 

[MM3]

I guess PREVENTION has been drilled in. + doesn't advantage cover others areas such as parasites & etc?

 

[Patti]

Prevention is key - if you are in an area where the disease/infestation is prevalent. For instance, when I went to Africa I received a vaccination for yellow fever and took preventative meds for malaria, but I do not normally get the yellow fever vaccine or take anti-malarial meds when residing in the US. I also deworm my cats twice a year because I feed them raw, but in the past when I haven't fed raw I found no need to deworm them.

If you are in an area that has fleas then you are absolutely right about treating for them before they become a problem for you.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I think prevention is a very good thing, you don't want fleas as getting rid of them from your house is a pain!

Fleas are often worse during the warmer months, so you could also just consider skipping meds during the cooler months. We don't get a lot of fleas here in San Francisco, and so it is generally only the few "warm" months we get here that I even consider using Advantage.

 

[MM3]

Prevention is key - if you are in an area where the disease/infestation is prevalent. For instance, when I went to Africa I received a vaccination for yellow fever and took preventative meds for malaria, but I do not normally get the yellow fever vaccine or take anti-malarial meds when residing in the US. I also deworm my cats twice a year because I feed them raw, but in the past when I haven't fed raw I found no need to deworm them.

If you are in an area that has fleas then you are absolutely right about treating for them before they become a problem for you.

Oh don't know anything about deworming. What do I buy to do that? Kitty gets raw and just turned one year old.... Maybe it's time? Doing it twice a year, which months do you choose?

 

[Patti]

Well, Advantage Multi treats roundworm and hookworm, which is why I mentioned it. I personally use Panacur, and try to treat in January and July. There's no rhyme or reason to the months I choose except to stay consistent so that I don't forget.

 

[Rafiki]

Hmmm....mine have not been dewormed since their first year and they eat raw. How do you know if they have worms? I did a very comprehensive blood/fecal exam in May - would worms normally show up?

Also, is Panacur available OTC or is it only administered by a vet?

 

[MM3]

Hmmm....mine have not been dewormed since their first year and they eat raw. How do you know if they have worms? I did a very comprehensive blood/fecal exam in May - would worms normally show up?

Also, is Panacur available OTC or is it only administered by a vet?

I am also interested in your answer to these questions.

 

[Patti]

If you did a fecal in May and they were clear they are probably okay. Cats don't always get worms from raw, but it is always a possibility - I just find it less expensive to treat them all with Panacur twice a year than run a fecal on them all twice a year. And yes, you can get Panacur (Safeguard) OTC - just google it. You can get it in tasteless sprinkles to put on food which is really simple when you only have a few cats. I find it more economical to purchase the liter bottle of liquid.

 

[NikkiA]

If you don't have a flea problem I can't think of a reason why you would continue to use flea medication.

I use revolution on our boys because I have a neighbor whose care of his animals I would not consider hygenic, and his pigs keep escaping into my yard
I also use revolution because D goes out in public, and seems to love making out with the therapy dogs, so I want to be sure he doesn't bring anything home.