Capstar pills for fleas?

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#1
Well, I'm giving up on the Frontline Plus program I've had my dogs on for years... last year we ended up with fleas that seemed completely unperturbed by the stuff! :eek:

So, I'm trying to come up with a new program before flea season kicks in... was reading about Capstar and it sounds interesting. Anyone use it or know any reasons not to? What's your treatment protocol? Do you use it in conjunction with other flea/tick preventives?

Of course, if you have an effective protocol that doesn't involve Capstar, I'd love to hear about that, too!

Any input would be appreciated!
 

Brattina88

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#2
I'm sorry you're also having problems! I started having problems with Frontline a couple years ago, we even had a frontline rep come out and apply it themselves to dogs in the area and follow up after hearing so many reports from my vet. I never saw real results, but my vet said they gave 2 family refunds. :eek:
I switched to Advantix and we had some success, but last fall we had some flair ups again :(

I've used Capstar with the rescues, especially to kill all of the fleas that are already ON the dog (especially when they come from the pound). They claim you can give it as often as once per day, and personally I am not comfortable with that, but I have given it 3 days in a row to a foster before... I *think* they worked ;) but I also had to bath them because they were covered, so it could be a combination of both...

As a preventative, what has worked the best for me is Food grade diatomaceous earth for flea and tick treatment. and I've also used Avon Skin So Soft How to use Avon Skin So Soft on your dog for flea and tick control | eHow.com...... and I like it because I feel like its a little bit more natural than the harsh chemicals in topicals that aren't really working for us anyway....
 
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#3
Thanks for the input and suggestions... I feel a little creepy about the idea of giving the Capstar daily, too! I'm always cautious about trying new stuff with my beasts and I try to avoid getting too crazy with the chemicals... I miss the good ol' days when I was able to get away with just using brewer's yeast and garlic to keep my dogs free of fleas! :D Seems like everything stops working after a while... I guess we've created a new species of resistant SUPERFLEAS by using all of these products.

Let's just hope they don't take over one of these days and make us their slaves...

Has anyone heard anything about Capstar NOT being safe?
 

Saeleofu

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#4
Capstar isn't really a preventative as much as it is a treatment. It will kill the fleas on the dog NOW but it really does only last a day or two. To be effective as a preventative, you'd probably have to give it at least every few days if not every other day.

I have never had a flea problem with my dogs, but I have kept them on Frontline since I get it for free. I used Advantix on Gavroche over the summer to help with mosquitoes with some good results.

I've heard a lot of good things about Comfortis and Trifexis, though. I haven't used it myself and I'm kind of leery of using an oral flea control, but I would definitely try Comfortis or Trifexis over Capstar. Comfortis just does fleas, Trifexis does fleas and heartworms (Trifexis is essentially a combination of Comfortis and Interceptor).
 
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#5
I've been nervous about trying Comfortis, since I've never used an oral flea control product, but it might be time to discuss that with my vet... I've got to come up with something that works!

I was thinking of trying to use some kind of preventive, then having the Capstar on hand to use on days when our dogs go places where they're likely to pick up fleas. Last year's issue started after my husband took our Malinois camping... she came back with fleas (even with a current dose of Frontline), the other dogs got them, then we had a hell of a time getting rid of them. Maybe it would be safe to use just on camping/hiking/park days...
 

Romy

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#6
We use the comfortis and it's like a magical pill of awesome. Half an hour after eating it, the fleas fall off the dogs dead. Woo!

It was literally a lifesaver for my older boy, because he ended up allergic to both topical flea preventatives and flea bites. With the comfortis the fleas die before they have a chance to bite him so he doesn't get all the nasty rashes and stuff like before.

I was nervous to try them on him too, especially since sight hounds are pretty sensitive to meds. Neither one of the borzois has had a reaction to it. Just make sure you give a meal at the same time so they don't get an upset stomach.
 

GlassOnion

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#7
I've been nervous about trying Comfortis, since I've never used an oral flea control product, but it might be time to discuss that with my vet... I've got to come up with something that works!
Comfortis is quite the lovely drug. Seems to work well and don't know anyone who's had adverse effects as of yet. The only catch is you have to give it with a meal.

Capstar is not for long term usage. Most popular usage is to give the dog relief NOW (or well, in 30 minutes...) and then start them on a regular flea prevention.
 
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#8
Sounds like Comfortis may just do the job on its own... glad to hear some of you are happy with your results.

Thanks for the input!! :)
 

StillandSilent

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#9
I gave Confortis with a meal, and my Argon still got extremely sick. Lots and lots of puking. However, Argon has multiple health problems and reacts to just about everything, so he may not be your best test case.
 

SizzleDog

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#10
I keep Capstar around but use it sparingly - my dogs don't pick up fleas for some reason.
 
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#11
My big dogs have cast iron stomachs, but my little old poodle has had a history of vomiting with meds, so it's pretty likely she'd go down the same pukey path as Argon did... I guess I'll just try it and see what happens.

I suppose that as long as I can keep the big dogs flea-free, she'll probably be fine, anyway, since she's a handicapped old lady who likes to stay close to home and only got fleas last year after our other dog picked up fleas in the outside world.
 
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#12
Advantage and Advantix didn't work when I tried them on Lacey, my vet techs said they have heard several people come in and say it (and Frontline) didn't work. I wonder if this is a regional thing?

We tried Comfortis and it works miracles on Lacey, but I do want to find something to rotate with. I do not want our super fleas getting use to the Comfortis. I too was leary of giving a flea pill vs. a spot on, but right now it is all I can find that works. Big bonus that I don't have to worry about it washing off too.
 

GlassOnion

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#13
Advantage and Advantix didn't work when I tried them on Lacey, my vet techs said they have heard several people come in and say it (and Frontline) didn't work. I wonder if this is a regional thing?
Yes.,
 
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#14
Good point about not worrying about it washing off, DogKisses... I never thought about that, but it'll be nice to not worry about the timing of baths/grooming/swimming and trying to work the application of Frontline in with all of that!
 

GlassOnion

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#15
It's only a two day period before and after. It's not exactly rocket surgery lol. You've still got 26 - 27 days left in the month to groom, bathe, or whatever you want to do.
 

Saeleofu

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#16
It's only a two day period before and after. It's not exactly rocket surgery lol. You've still got 26 - 27 days left in the month to groom, bathe, or whatever you want to do.
My dogs get bathed weekly. So it is kind of hard to work a bath in when 4-5 days out of 7 they can't be bathed. Especially when I want to apply it just before a show, yet they also need bathed just before a show.

But since I only do it every 3 months it's not too terrible.
 

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