Anyone have experience with Zodiac flea and tick medicine?

Question

Just bought it and was wondering if people have had bad experiences with it. I bought Hertz prior and thanks to reading this forum promptly went and returned it. We have been using frontline the last three months and this was more economical.

Also if you used it and it was fine please let me know as well. We have the plus medicine so it's a little more expensive. And people who are against OTC meds, please do not tell me to use Frontline or Revolution, we tried that. It didn't fully take care of the problem after 3 months and is very expensive. OTC medicine can't be bad for all animals otherwise they would never be able to sell it.

Answer 1

I'm a vet technician and the chemicals in the OTC brands are dangerous. I've seen kittens die from exposure to it and cats get very sick. If you talked to a vet, they would tell you the exact same thing...stay away from OTC flea treatments. Flea collars are okay for adult cats, but they aren't very effective...and also, Zodiac and Hartz are not effective. They definitely do not work as well as Frontline or Advantage and if you animals is harmed by it, you will spend much more at the vet then you would just purchasing the more expensive veterinary approved products.

Now I'm going to give you a little secret if money is your concern. Some vet clinics will let you buy Advantage in whatever size you want. Buy the one that is for the largest size dog's...it's not that much more expensive then the smallest size and you can get quite a bit out of it if you have cats or small dogs. Now make sure you know how much in ml's (cc's) you need for your pet (based on weight) and use a syringe and draw that much out of the tube (the ml/cc's are on the box and tubes of advantage - just look at the one for your pet size). You can get quite a few uses out of one tube if your pet isn't very big.

I've heard people complain that it's not safe to do something that isn't written on the package, but the vets I've worked with told this to cat and dog rescue to help them out financially...and to people that had quite a few pets, but not much money. It's perfectly safe and effective...but not widely mentioned because company's want you to buy as much of their product as possible. The medicine in the large size is exactly the same as it is in the cat size, there is just a considerable amount more in the large dog size, meaning you can get multiple monthly doses out of one tube. And some vet clinics will let you buy individual tubes if you are concerned about the big cost of buying an entire package.

However, this information won't help you if you have a large breed dog. But I also doubt you will have much luck with the OTC products if you are determined to use them.

Answer 2

If you are not treating the environment, you are not getting rid of the fleas. Plain and simple. Nuff said.

If it continues to be a problem and you don't like the answers you have all ready received, ask your vet, they'll tell you.

And yes, I have seen first hand the bad experiences stupid people have when using OTC flea applications. Want what's safe and effective? Talk with your vet. Want to rid the fleas and keep them under control? Use monthly applications AFTER the environment has been taken care of and in heavily infested areas or homes, one treatment may not work. And PLEASE - OTC flea bombs do not work!! Search the internet and you will see!

Here is a "no product" website (meaning it is not sponsored by any flea treatment product or brand). Good info:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?articleid=591

Answer 3

Do NOT use OTC flea medications!! They are dangerous to use and also not very effective. These meds are cheap for a reason!!! Go to your vet and get a safe flea product..it may cost more but it is a lot safer.

Answer 4

you should stick with frontline...the cheaper the stuff the worse it is for your pets...frontline and advantage are proven to be the best please spend the little extra and do your cat right