Dog still has fleas. Is it safe to apply a different topical?

Hello. I am so sorry for your worries with Nala. It should be fine to use the Vectra a week early, but you need to be aware that no topical flea product works to kill fleas immediately. With most topicals, the flea needs to be in contact with a pet for some time ( like 30 minutes or so ) while they accumulate the insecticide into their bodies. Then, they die. Nala may also just be extremely sensitive to flea bites, or in fact, be allergic to other things in her environment. The first thing to do is make sure all the other pets in your home, including cats, are also treated regularly for fleas. Most likely, your environment may have fleas, too, so you may need to treat your home with sprays &/or bombs. Make sure you use a product with an insect growth regulator. Finally, consider treating your outdoor space, especially if you have a crawlspace,I pay close attention to treating the area about 3 feet out from your foundation. If Nala continues to itch, you may need to have Nala examined for other allergies. We have very good medications to address this issue in dogs & make them much more comfortable. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The short answer is...it is not recommended in most situations. Combining different medications may increase the risk of negative side effects, adverse reactions or can lead to an overdose situation which could put your pet's life at risk. Due to the variety of [different products](https://www.petcoach.co/article/should-you-use-a-prescription-flea-and-tick-preventive) available on the veterinary market today, pet owners are encouraged to discuss the [best preventative option](https://www.petcoach.co/article/whats-the-difference-between-oral-and-topical-flea-and-tick-preve) for their individual pet with their veterinarian. If a pet has[ fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/article/fleas-life-cycle-anatomy-disease-transmission), most pet owners want to find the fastest treatment option available. In these cases, Capstar ([nitenpyram](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/nitenpyram)) is an oral flea medication available over the counter for dogs and cats that starts treating fleas in 30 minutes and kills 90 percent of adult fleas on a pet within four hours. While Capstar dosing can continue as frequently as every day, topical flea and tick preventatives can be used in conjunction with this oral medication to provide longer lasting treatment and prevention. Oral [flea and tick preventives](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-and-puppy-flea-and-tick) available for dogs with a prescription from your veterinarian are Credelio, Nexgard, Simparica, and Bravecto. Products that are available with a prescription from your veterinarian for flea treatment include Comfortis or Trifexis. These products also begin to kill fleas quickly and provide ongoing prevention, and do not usually require the concurrent use of a topical medication. If a topical [flea preventative fails](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-reasons-your-flea-prevention-isnt-working), most oral products can be safely used concurrently. ### Capstar is a trademark of Elanco or its affiliates.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Knuckles. It's not recommended to mix flea treatments together. I would wait one more week, then give the Advantage II. Until then, you can give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas in 30 minutes, and it's safe to give now. You can give him one a day until you can apply the Advantage II. 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. I hope this helps!

I'm so sorry ! Fleas are no fun! You are doing the right thing in treating your house- that is where most of the flea life cycle lives. Zodiac is not one of my favorite meds.... have safety & efficacy concerns. I would use the capstar and get a better topical from your local veterinarian. I would check with them, but you might be able to start the new topical prior to waiting a month. Don't forget that fleas will always have a "hatch out" 3-4 weeks after you treat your house, so don't forget to re-treat. I hope you can Penny comfortable soon! Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

A [flea](https://www.petcoach.co/article/fleas-life-cycle-anatomy-disease-transmission) infestation on your pet or in your home can be [difficult and frustrating](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-are-fleas-so-hard-to-kill) to deal with. Yes, if after two weeks the [flea preventive you applied isn't working](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-reasons-your-flea-prevention-isnt-working), you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand. I recommend using Advantix or a chewable prescription product from your vet, like Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. This recommendation is unrelated to Petco or PetCoach. If you are seeing fleas on Mia now, you can give her Capstar ([Nitenpyram](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/nitenpyram)). It's a one time pill that starts killing adult fleas in 30 minutes and is safe to use with a topical treatment. Use a monthly preventive on all pets for at least 3 consecutive months to break the flea life cycle. Year round use is preferred. You will also have to [treat the environment](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas). Wash all bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. Discard of the bag or empty the canister outdoors immediately afterwards. Use a spray, such as Indoorex or Knockout ES, in the house and to prevent reinfestation.

Unfortunately you cannot use topical medications that close together. Your best bet here is to try washing off the product immediately with Dish dawn detergent, and then to reapply the newer medication in 2 weeks. In the meantiime you can give Boogie a Capstar just about as often as you need to to rid fleas immediately after seeing them. You can purchase a Capstar at any pet store that carries this brand. This is not a preventative but it is a flea ridder that works fast (witihin 1 hr!). I hope that you are able to give Boogie some relief following his intense flea infestation. You definitely want to give him a calming aloe based or oatmeal based bath right after the Dawn bath, and a soothing conditoner from your local pet store can also be helpful. If he is still itching after tomorrow then its best to contact your vet for stronger medication. Best of luck with your pet Boogie. I hope that he gets some relief soon! Take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Dani is super cute! I think that is just A LOT of chemicals that are not necessary. Fipronil, which Frontline, just isn't that good anymore. I see multiple pets a week that have infestations and are using Fipronil. Flea baths do nothing to prevent fleas from jumping back on by the next day. Fipronil shouldn't by used 2 days before or 2 days after bathing or the product will not work well. With all the new products out there: Seresto collar, Bravecto, Simparica and Nexgard I see not reason to put 3 different chemicals on your dog. I am sure she will be fine but almost every product comes with risks and side effects which are likely compounded by using 3 at once. Most are chemicals aimed specifically at insect biology not mammalian. I would choose one product and use that. I hope this helps and I wish you and Dani the best!