Flea and Tick Products and Information

At Five Points Veterinary Services we strive to provide our clients with the best flea and tick preventatives on the market. We know how difficult it can be to get rid of a flea infestation once one has started and how important it is to protect your pets from lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. We also know that not every medication works for every patient or owner's preference so we carry a topical preventative, an oral preventative and a collar for dogs and a topical preventative and a collar for cats. The following information explains the four different products we carry and their specific benefits.

Vectra & Vectra 3D

Vectra 3D is one of our topical flea and tick preventatives, and Dr. Heinnickel's preventative of choice for flea and tick prevention in dogs. The reason we recommend this product so highly is because the fleas and ticks do not need to bite your pet in order to be killed. In addition to fleas and ticks, Vectra 3D repels biting flies, mites, lice, and mosquitos. Vectra reduces flea feeding in 5 minutes and kills fleas within 6 hours. Vectra 3D can be used in puppies and dogs 8 weeks old or older. Vectra 3D does not protect against mange mites and cannot be used in cats.

Vectra (the original) can be used in cats and is the best product we have for flea prevention, however it does not repel or kill ticks. Vectra can be used in cats and kittens 8 weeks old or older.

Both Vectra and Vectra 3D are waterproof, however strong detergents, such as, dawn dish soap will degrade the product, so we recommend applying the products after baths if possible. Vectra and Vectra 3D both last for 30 days if applied correctly. For an application demonstration, just ask any member of our staff. We use these products for animals that come to our clinic for severe infestations. In patients that are anemic from the number of flea bites and need to be hospitalized, we apply vectra and can see dead fleas covering the floor of their kennel in as little as 30 minutes. We strongly recommend this product for anyone have problems with fleas and ticks.

Catego

Catego comes to us from the same company as Vectra 3D. Catego is a once a month topical treatment for prevention of fleas, ticks and lices for cats and kittens. It is approved for use in cats and kittens aged 8 weeks or greater and weighing over 1.5lbs. Catego is a unique combintation of Dinotefuran, Fipronil, and Pyriproxyfen.

Simparica

Simparica is our new oral flea and tick preventative of choice for dogs. Simparica replaced Nexgard. We were looking into new oral products due to the ever increasing price of Nexgard and found this product which is roughly $5.00 less per dose compared to Nexgard. We chose this product because in addition to the price point, the makers have a guarantee for their product's ability to prevent lyme disease. If your dog has a negative lyme test result within a month of starting Simparica and is kept on Simparica every month after that test, the makers will cover up to $2,500.00 of treatment for lyme disease if your dog ever contracts the disease. Simparica kills fleas within 3 hours and ticks within 8 hours. It also shows more consistent coverage throughout the whole month in comparison to Nexgard. While a lot of flea and tick preventatives decrease in effectiveness as the month goes on, Simparica is 99.8% effective throughout the month up to 35 days after administering. Simparica can only be used in dogs and puppies that are 6 months old or older. Fleas and Ticks need to bite your pet in order to be killed by this product. 

We do not currently offer an oral flea and tick preventative for cats.

Seresto

Seresto collars are our longest lasting flea and tick preventative and our most cost effective. Seresto collars last 8 months as long as the animal wearing the collar is not bathed more than once per month and does not go swimming more than once per month. If your pet does go swimming frequently or receives baths frequently then the effectiveness is reduce to 7 months for ticks and 5 months for fleas. Seresto collars both kill and repel fleas and ticks. Seresto collars are a great option for anyone that has trouble remembering to give monthly preventatives. We also have reminders for the Seresto collars so if you purchase one from us we will send you a postcard when it is time to change collars. Seresto collars can be used for dogs and puppies 7 weeks old or older and can be used for cats and kittens 10 weeks old or older. Seresto collars are applied like most collars, but any of our staff members can help you with application or apply the collar for you.

Credelio

Credelio is one of our newest flea and tick preventative. It is a once a month oral tablet that protects against both fleas and ticks. It can be administered to puppies and dogs ages 8 weeks old and older that weigh 4.4 lbs or more. Credelio is slightly different from our other oral preventatives because it needs to be given within 30 minutes of a meal in order for it to be absorbed properly. Credelio has shown fewer side effects and reactions compared to other oral preventatives, but it should still be used with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. However, in US studies Credelio was used in dogs with a history of seizures, and neither dog experienced seizures for the duration of the study. Credelio begins killing fleas within 4 hours of administration, and demonstrated a 100% effectiveness against adult fleas 12 hours after administration which continued for 35 days. Credelio also begins killing ticks within 4 hours of administration, and demonstrated a >97% effectiveness against 4 major tick species including the deer tick. Like all oral flea and tick preventatives, fleas and ticks need to bite your pet in order to be killed by this product. 

Bravecto

Bravecto is our newest flea and tick preventative and comes in two different forms. Bravecto (fluralaner) is an isoxazoline, a novel and specific blocker of insect ligand-gated chloride channels. For dogs, we carry the Bravecto chewable tablet. For dogs and puppies over six months of age, Bravecto chewables are labeled to protect against fleas and ticks for 12 weeks. Bravecto has been approved for use in breeding, pregnant, and lactating female dogs. No adverse affects were observed with Bravecto Chews for Dogs in MDR-1 gene-deficient collies at 3x the recommended dose. For cats Bravecto is available as a topical. It has been found effective in adult cats and kittens over 6 months of age that weigh 2.6lbs or greater.