While reading your article [on Sept. 11] about Capstar for killing fleas on cats and dogs, I noticed you did not reference the flea medication Comfortis. This is given in pill form once a month, and we have used it on our poodle and Pekingese dogs for more than two years. We now have no fleas in our home.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to mention every flea preventive available to pet owners in that column, in which I addressed a reader’s question about one specific insecticide that kills fleas within one day. That anti-flea treatment, Capstar, is a quick remedy for a severe flea infestation but isn’t intended for long-term use.
Comfortis, a chewable tablet containing the anti-parasitic spinosad, is one of many options for monthly pest management for cats and dogs. Comfortis is effective for one month and in areas where fleas are hopping year-round, it should be given consistently every month.
There are many choices when it comes to flea prevention. In addition to Capstar and Comfortis, there are monthly topical applications like Frontline, Advantix and Revolution. These are liquids that are applied to the skin between an animal’s shoulder blades. Some kill only fleas, while others also tackle ticks. Revolution contains an anti-flea ingredient and a heartworm preventive, but nothing for ticks.
Another reader wrote and wanted fellow pet owners to know about Frontline Tritak, a topical pesticide available in formulations for cats and dogs. Tritak kills fleas and ticks for one month and is said to begin killing fleas within five minutes after it’s applied.
With any of these pesticides, it’s important to make sure you use the one that’s created for your pet - you cannot use a dog product on a cat or vice versa. There are so many choices now that deciding on one product can be difficult without some guidance. That’s why it’s helpful to talk to your veterinarian about what’s best for your pet based on the animal’s age and individual medical issues.
Halloween is just around the corner, so what will Fido be wearing this year? According to Wayfair.com, which offers about 300 dog costumes on its website, the majority of shoppers choose fancy gowns and tiaras for their pooches.Princess power reigns, but dogs are also given props as devoted followers with “minion” from Despicable Me second on the list of most popular costumes.
Other costumes on the Wayfair’s top 10 list of Halloween frippery are ewoks, dinosaurs, clowns, Ghost Busters, lobsters, gangsters and - quite popular he is -Yoda.
Pet costumes are big business, with the National Retail Federation estimating people will spend $330 million to outfit their dogs and cats this year. I couldn’t find a list of most popular cat costumes - I won’t guess as to the reason, but I know my cats would have been less than thrilled to don clothes. Possibly a simpler explanation would be that there are more venues for showing off dogs in costume.
If you’re dressing Fido to meet the Great Pumpkin or whatever, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals suggests making sure his costume doesn’t restrict his eyesight or ability to hear, or make it hard for him to breathe or bark. Also make sure the costume doesn’t have any pieces that he could chew off and choke on. Lastly, if your dog seems distressed (or even embarrassed), consider letting him off the hook this year. Then give him a treat for being a good sport.
Do you have a question about pets? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Rhonda Owen, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or e-mail [email protected]
Family, Pages 34 on 10/09/2013