On Fri, 01 Apr 2005 18:27:06 +0100, Nell wrote:

Is there any other method of flea-control or flea-prevention, I wonder?

There are several products you can use which are effective against fleas and
do not require vacuuming, bombing, spraying the house with insecticides.


Read Dr. Noxon's page for an overview of fleas and recommendations. He is an
animal dermatologist at Iowa State.
http://www.vetmed.iastate.edu/services/vth/clinical/derm/flea/fleaold.html#fleafleacontrol


These products work:

Chemical Trade Name Web Site
lufenuron Program http://www.pets.novartis.com
fipronil Frontline http://www.frontline.com
imidacloprid Advantage http://www.nofleas.com
selemectin Revolution http://www.revolutionpet.com/


Program is a hormone that keeps flea eggs from hatching. It's given either in
food or by injection. The flea picks up the hormone from the bloodstream when
it bites the animal. Given by injection, it lasts six months.

Advantage, Frontline, Revolution kill adult fleas. They are applied to the back
of the neck and are considered quite safe since they are not absorbed through
the skin. All are available for dogs and cats. Program is a little safer,
especially for families with infants, allergies, or people with a compromised
immune system, i.e. elderly, cancer patients on chemotherapy, HIV, but not
suitable if the cat has flea allergies. Revolution is more expensive but it
will kill heartworms and ear mites at the same time. Frontline kills ticks as
well as fleas.

Program plus Advantage or Frontline are frequently used together in the
beginning because the insecticides give quick kill of the adults, while Program
is an IGR (insect growth regulator) which prevents new eggs from hatching.

BarB