Flea Collars

There are flea collars made for both dogs and cats. Flea collars emit insecticide over the body of the animal to deter fleas and ticks. The drawback to using flea collars is that they sometimes only protect the front half of a pet's body. This is effective for ticks, which tend to attach themselves near an animal's head or neck, but less effective for fleas, which can infest any part of the body.

Shampoos

Flea shampoos can be effective if they are designed to kill the fleas and not just remove them from the fur. Shampoo treatments help pet owners get an understanding of the severity of the flea infestation. Shampoos treat an existing flea infestation, but do not protect against future infections.

Topical Treatments

"Spot on" type medications, applied directly to a pet's skin, are the most popular flea treatment. There are many different formulas and chemicals available, from Frontline (Fipronil), Advantage (Imidacloprid), ProMeris (Metaflumizone), Advantix (Imidacloprid and 44 percent permethrin) or Revolution (Selamectin). These medications work by being applied on the skin at the base of the fur, which is then absorbed and distributed throughout the body and coat through the sebaceous glands, which secrete oil onto the skin and fur. These medications typically stop fleas from reproducing, so the infestation dies off.

Oral

Tablet medications can also be used to treat fleas. Oral medications need to be prescribed by a veterinarian, and are based on the pet's age and weight. This method also inhibits the growth of flea larvae, which causes a flea infestation to die off. Program (lufenuron) works by preventing flea eggs from hatching, but if adult fleas are present, it will not immediately kill them.

Precautions

Most pet flea medications are species-specific, so dog flea medication may not be safe for cats, and cat medication may not be safe or effective for dogs. Most medications are also based on a pet's weight and age, so read all packaging carefully. Also, talk to a vet before using flea products on a pregnant pet, or any pet under 6 weeks old.

Source:

The Dog Health Guide: Dog Flea Medicine

Drs. Foster & Smith: Ingredients in Flea & Tick Control Productsfor Dogs: Mode of Action, Use, and Safety

Flea Control Guide: Flea Control Tipsheet