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Where can I buy the best and most effective flea medicine for my dog?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

I need to purchase a flea medication/pill of my dog. Where can I find some?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on June 19th, 2016

You can pick up flea medication from your vet's office. You don't need an appointment to get them. Flea treatment from your vet's office will be a better product than those you can buy from the supermarket. If your dog already has fleas, you can get Capstar. It's a single dose pill that works in 30 minutes to kill fleas. The next day, you can put a spot on treatment like Advantage. It has to be used once a month every month for effective protection against fleas.

6Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 26th, 2018
This will depend on the type of flea medication. Some of them are prescroption only , others can be bought over the internet or over the counter without a prescription. You can go to a pet shop and ask about which are OTC. Stay away from Hartz or PetArmour brands.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Published on November 15th, 2017
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Fleas are super smart and have developed resistance to a lot of products. In the US we see fleas that are resistant to Frontline. Maybe a little less to Advantix/Advantage. Personally I think the new oral flea and tick preventions are the best: Nexgard and Simparica are monthly and Bravecto is one pill every 3 months. Also the Seresto collar is great and good value for the money, the collar lasts 8 months. These products are not cheap, they cost about $16/dose. But they are prescription from a Vet only. The price is worth the efficacy and it will save you in the long run from trying multiple products, bombing your house, etc plus it will help your dog quicker.

I hope this helps and have a great day!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on November 25th, 2016
I personally recommend Revolution or Advantage. I have used both on my large breed dogs with great success. If Naia currently has fleas, you can give her Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash her bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My dog has fleas. Should I see a vet or buy over-the-counter products?

You will need to go to the vet to get the following products. First, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30. minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has fleas. Are flea collars effective, or are oral meds better?

The Seresto flea/tick collar is the only one on the market that is safe and effective - the others, including Adams, are often dangerously toxic for the dog and not effective at all for fleas in my experience. Advantix is definitely a better choice than PetArmor, but the most effective option available for fleas and ticks currently would be an oral medication like Nexgard or Bravecto. I would recommend getting a prescription from your veterinarian for one of these medications, if possible - this will eliminate the need for any topical medication or flea collars, and will also work much better.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What long-lasting flea treatment pairs best with Capstar?

Capstar is an excellent choice for getting rid of fleas quickly - it's very effective at killing any fleas that may currently be on the dog, but only lasts for 24 hours. This is why it's recommended to start another, longer-lasting flea medication at the same time, or else the fleas will just come right back. The most effective options for flea control currently available are K9 Advantix, Nexgard, or Bravecto - I would recommend getting one of these from your vet if possible, to start within 24 hours of giving the Capstar.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My Yorkie's flea treatment isn't working. What's effective?

Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your pet when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae). Flea treatment: 1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian and apply monthly 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust., Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding, If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas. Flea products: Some of these are prescription, best call your veet and ask if you need to bring in the dog in order to buy those from him or get a prescription from him. Spot-ons and/or chews Advantage, Advantix Advantage Multi (Advocate in the UK) Frontline (ticks as well) Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats, in tablet form for dogs Simparica, Nexgard Revolution (stronghold in the UK) Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once) Collar: Seresto (ticks as well)

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Which flea treatment options are best for dogs in Southern California?

There are multiple good options for treating fleas and there is not one that is necessarily the "best." Frontline is a topical medication that is available over the counter, so you should be able to find it at most pet stores. NexGard and Bravecto are oral medications that are only available by prescription from your veterinarian. Frontline and NexGard have to be given once a month, while Bravecto lasts for 3 months. The most important thing when choosing a flea treatment is to choose one that you will be able to give to your pet consistently.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Best flea treatment for dogs in apartment when nothing works?

Since treating the environment isn't realistic in your case, the best thing you can do is put a flea pill. They have some you give monthly ( simparica or nexgard) or one every three months ( bravecto). I would recommend the bravecto in your case because it last for 3 months and it typically takes 3 months to get ahead of the life cycle of the fleas you are battling.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My pet has fleas. What's the best store product to get rid of them?

Sometimes the best place to get advise for fleas is from the locals or the local veterinarian. The reason for this is that fleas in certain geographic areas are more susceptible to certain products than others. For instance, when I lived in NY everyone used Frontline and loved it. When I went down to Virginia, everyone hated it and their animals would be crawling with fleas regardless of use. Here in Pennsylvania, it doesn't seem to work well either. I find that that the Seresto collar is the most effective product, and it is nice because it lasts or eight months. It can be purchased over the counter on websites such as amazon or at Walmart. Hope this helps.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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