Anyone else scared to use flea meds on their pets?

Pet Advice
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Has anyone else had terrible experiences or just feel really uneasy about using flea meds on their pets, whether it’s topical, oral, or collars? We had a horrible scare with our older dog a few years ago—he had a neurological reaction to a topical flea treatment, and we almost lost him. Ever since then, I’ve been super anxious about using anything on my pets that feels like poison.

Recently, we had a flea problem after my kitten caught a mouse. I’m guessing that’s where the fleas came from. Normally, I’m very diligent with regular baths and flea combing, and that’s always worked for us. We have two pit bulls (ages 8 and 3) with short hair and two medium-haired cats, one 13-week-old kitten and our 10-year-old ‘alpha’ cat. It’s our older cat who found the mouse and played with it, then the kitten joined in. After a while of trying to manage the fleas with baths and combing, I caved and gave them Capstar (half the dose for the cats, based on our vet’s advice), followed by flea collars.

I researched flea treatments for what felt like 12 straight hours, trying to find something I could feel okay about. The Capstar killed the existing fleas, and I chose collars because they can be removed if there’s a reaction. The vet recommended using drops, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I’ve steam cleaned the furniture and carpets, washed everything washable, and treated the whole house with Wondercide. Still, we had a fresh batch of fleas hatch, so back to square one. The Capstar worked wonders though. No health issues for either cat—our kitten even got the zoomies, which I read is normal as the fleas get super active before they die. We combed 22 fleas off her! The older cat, however, was not having it and retreated to the garage for some peace. But the next day, they were both like new, so relaxed and cuddly.

We did the dogs and cats 12 hours apart, just in case of reactions. I’m trying the collars for now. The cat collars have Deltamethrin 1.5% and Imidacloprid 2%, and the dog collars use citronella, lemongrass, and clove oils since some dog treatments can be toxic to cats. They’re supposed to last for 8 months.

I’ll update if there’s any reaction, but so far, everyone is fine. I’d do anything for my pets, and this little kitten, Molly, is our pride and joy. She’s our ‘empty nest’ baby, and we’d buy her the moon if we could. I know many people just give their pets flea meds and move on, but after watching our middle-aged dog almost die from a reaction, I can’t shake the fear.

Our vet is so understanding, but I wanted to see if anyone else out there is losing sleep over this too? Thanks for letting me vent. I feel better now.

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I only stick to the expensive neck drop treatments from the pet store and always make sure it’s the right one for their weight. I use Advantage, I think. Cheaper products, especially collars, can be really dangerous and even deadly. I’ve used this method with over 8 dogs and around 20 cats, and I’ve never had an issue.

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@Florence
Thank you for sharing. I might need to reconsider my approach if these collars don’t work out.

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I use Revolution because it also protects against heartworms, even in cats, which usually isn’t caught until it’s too late. If your vet is good, they could give your pets something that kills all the fleas and makes them drop off while you treat the house. I’ve seen it in action, and it’s wild. Then, you just keep using a topical. You seem really stressed about this. Do you worry this much about what you eat and drink too? If so, maybe it’s a sign to talk to someone. I know you care about your pets, but it sounds like you’re overthinking it.

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@Remy
I used to not worry so much until my dog almost died from a reaction to flea meds. It was medication from the vet too. Also, I do think a lot about what I consume because I have MS, which is a neurological disease. I know it seems extreme, but it’s hard not to be overly cautious now.

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@Wil
That makes sense now. My dad had MS, and while he didn’t stress about it much, he naturally leaned toward healthier options. He lived a good life and made it to 76. I hope you do too! If you don’t mind me asking, what flea med caused the issue for your dog?