Is it safe for my dog to use topical flea meds and a flea supplement?

Most oral flea preventatives are safe to give along with topicals, but it would help to know exactly what the oral medication was and when medications were given. You may want to ask your veterinarian what flea product they would recommend in your area - in some areas fleas could be resistant to the medications. You also may need to treat your home - calling a pest control company is safest.

Yes, the products can be used together. Zodiac flea and tick powder can be quite irritating to a dog's eyes, nose, throat and lungs and is a very harsh chemical, so it is not my favorite method of flea control. I much prefer using a topical spot-op or oral flea and tick prevention which will work better and likely be safer and less irritating for Alice. The oral tablets are safe, but are likely not as effective as the other products on the market. I am attaching a handout below on flea control and a second one that has a link to current flea products on the market for dogs that might be helpful for you. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951999 https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952808 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using 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.

I would recommend using caution if the flea/tick shampoo and the topical product both contain permethrins, particularly if you have a small dog. I recommend avoiding all over the counter products containing permethrins for cats since they are prone to toxicity. If you use a flea/tick shampoo with permethrin and a topical product that has a different active ingredient it should be safer. An even safer alternative would be to use blue Dawn dishsoap for bathing, followed by flea combing and then applying a topical product.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, there is no harm in using a a topical flea treatment along with sentinel. Advantage II, K9 Avdantix, or Frontline Plus or Gold for example would all be okay. I hope this helps!

Hi and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Generally speaking, it is advised to administer one type of topical flea/tick preventative at one time. Administering more than one topical type in a 30 day period may be an overload to her system. The Fipronil is liking absorbed already, so I would not advise you apply the Vectra. Instead, you may ask your veterinarian about a administering capstar or another fast acting oral flea treatment medication. Next month, you may apply the Vectra. Hopefully that will do the trick.

You can use both products on the same day so it is fine to start the Advantix at any time. There are better products that Advantix. Top products for dogs are oral products such as Simparica and Nexgard. Top products for cats are topicals such as Revolution and Cheristan. There is also an oral product called Comfortis that both dogs and cats can take. You will need to switch all the pets over to a good flea product. Make sure to discuss these products with your veterinarian first. These products are generally safe for all pets but there are some conditions which are contraindicated for the oral products. Cleaning up and treating the house and yard will also help but it will not clear all the fleas. The main control is making sure the pets are on good products. This is what will ultimately stop the infestation. Also remember every female fleas lays about 50 eggs a day and it could take up to 6 months before the eggs hatch. Therefore, you will need to treat for at least 6 months. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.