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Page 2 of 2 If you chose not to take the preventative route, then controlling them is much more difficult once they are a problem. Flea and tick medications that contain insect growth regulators (IGR) stop eggs and larva from developing into fleas. These are examples of flea preventatives: Adult fleas are only 1-5% of the flea population. The adult fleas that do the bloodsucking and spread tapeworms, so it is most important to eliminate them; but at least 95% of the flea population are eggs, larvae, and pupae that hide in carpets and yards. Using flea medications with insect growth regulators (IGRs) can stop 95% of the flea problem. Traditional flea productsFlea spray and powder are obsolete. Frontline works ten times better, it is safer, and costs about the same. Flea dip is a reasonable choice for big dogs, which are expensive to treat with Frontline or Advantage. It however entails dipping the entire dog, nose to tail, every 3 weeks through the flea season. Because of the smell, dip is not a good choice for indoor dogs. Dip is a waste of time for small dogs, since Frontline spray is cheaper, more effective and easier to use. Flea collars are still an economical and useful method of flea control when used before you see fleas. If your pet is already itchy, it is too late for collars. Flea collars kill adult fleas and make flea eggs sterile. They aren't very effective if you already have a flea problem, but they are easy and cheap, and better than nothing. Flea collars also have an odor some do not like. Natural flea control methodsNatural or non insecticidal flea control methods, including flea combs, sonic collars, eucalyptus oil, flea traps, and brewer's yeast are not very effective.
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