There are many products available to help safeguard your dog from fleas and to rid your dog of fleas should he already be infested. Below are descriptions of commonly used flea prevention and treatment products. However, you must consult with your vet before giving any of these products to your dog. As of May 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates topical pet treatments, is intensifying its evaluation of spot-on flea and tick products due to a marked increase in the number of reported adverse reactions in pets using these products. Spot-on products are those products, usually sold in tubes or vials, that are applied to one or more areas of your dog’s body, such as in between the shoulder blades.
The adverse reactions reported to the EPA range from skin irritations to seizures and death. Although the EPA states that pets may have adverse reactions from a variety of tick and flea control products including sprays, shampoos, and collars, the majority of the reports to the EPA of adverse reactions are related to the spot-on products. Although the EPA is not issuing product recalls, the Agency, along with DoggedHealth, urges owners to take precautions when using these products:  speak to your veterinarian before choosing a product, follow the label's directions, and monitor your dog for any adverse reactions.

Advantage is a topical prescription product applied monthly. The active ingredient in Advantage is imidoclopramide, which works to kill adult fleas and larvae in approximately 8 to 12 hours.

Advantage is produced by Bayer.

AdvantageMulti is a topical prescription applied monthly. The active ingredients in Advantage Multi are imidacloprid and moxidectin. These ingredients work to kill adult fleas, prevent heartworm, and treat intestinal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms and whipworms in dogs as young as 7 weeks or who weigh at least 3lbs. Advantage Multi should kill fleas in approximately 8 hours. The makers of this product warn that oral ingestion can lead to serious side effects.

Advantage Multi is produced by Bayer.

K9 Advantix is a topical prescription product applied monthly. Imidocloprid and Permethrin are the two active ingredients in this product. These ingredients work to repel and kill adult fleas, ticks and mosquitoes on dogs 7 weeks and older. K9 Advantix should kill fleas in approximately 8 hours.

K9 Advantix is produced by Bayer.

Capstar is an oral prescription product that may be given to your dog daily. The active ingredient is nitenpyram which works to kills adult fleas soon after given to your dog. Capstar is often combined with insect growth regulators for more comprehensive flea control. Capstar tablets are safe to use in dogs as young as 4 weeks old.

Capstar is produced by Novartis.

Comfortis is an oral prescription product administered to your dog monthly. Spinosad is the active ingredient in this product, and it is the first FDA-approved beef flavored tablet designed to kills fleas.

Comfortis is produced by Eli Lilly.

Frontline plus is a topical product applied monthly. Fipronil and S-methoprene are the active ingredients. Fipronil is an insecticide that kills adult fleas and ticks. S-methoprene is an insect regulator which sterilizes the eggs so new fleas cannot develop. This product can be used on dogs as early as 8 weeks.

Frontline Plus is produced by Merial.

Frontline Spray is a topical spray product applied monthly. The active ingredient is fipronil. Frontline Spray may be used on dogs as young as 8 weeks.

Frontline Spray is produced by Merial.

Frontline Top Spot is a topical product applied monthly. The active ingredient is fipronil. Frontline Top Spot may be used on dogs as young as 8 weeks.

Frontline Top Spot is produced by Merial.

Nylar is a product produced by many companies in topical or spray form. The active ingredient is pyriproxifen which is also used by many exterminators to rid indoor and outdoor surfaces of fleas. One application of either the spray or topical form can last up to 150 days.

Program and Sentinal are oral prescription products. Program contains an insect growth regulator called lufenuron, and Sentinel combines lufenuron with a heartworm preventative called milbemycin oxime. Program and Sentinel cause existing fleas to produce sterile eggs. However, they do not kill the actual fleas. Both of these products come in tablets administered monthly to your dog.

Program and Sentinel are produced by Novartis.

Promeris Duo is a topical product applied monthly. The active ingredients are metflumizone and amitraz which work to kill adult fleas and ticks. Promeris Duo is safe to use on dogs 8 weeks and older. 

Promeris Duo is produced by For Dodge.

Revolution is a topical product applied monthly. The active ingredient is selamectin, and it works to kill adult fleas, ear mites, sarcoptic mites, ticks and is a preventative for heartworm in dogs 6 weeks and older. Revolution has a slower flea kill rate then some of the other available products. However, Revolution does quickly halt the production of flea eggs.

Revolution is produced by Pfizer.

Vectra 3D is a topical prescription product. The active ingredients are dinotefuran, permethrin and pyriproxifen. Dinotefuran is an immediate-acting insecticide, permethrin repels and kills ticks, and pyriproxifen is an insect growth regulator.

Vectra 3D is produced by Summit Vet Pharm.

This information should not be construed to indicate that any of these medications are appropriate, safe, or effective. you must consult with your vet before giving any of these products to your dog