Activyl vs. Revolution Comparison

Activyl

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Revolution

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Sentinel Flavor Tabs

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Kills Fleas

Repels Fleas

Kills Flea eggs and Larvae

Prevents development

Prevents Development

Kills Ticks

Repels Ticks

Kills and/or Repels Mosquitoes

Prevents Heartworm

Other Parasites Information

Controls ear mites, roundworms and hookworms.

Controls adult hookworms and removes and controls adult roundworms & whipworms

Waterproof (shampooing once a week can reduce effectiveness)

N/A

Safe for pregnant or nursing Pets

How long does it take to work

Reapply Activyl every 30 days.

See a greater than 90% control of your flea infestation during the first month but because adult fleas will emerge from cocoons in your environment, you may see a few fleas for several months until the flea population is destroyed.

Begins to work Immediately, However, pre-existing flea populations may continue to develop and emerge.

Taste

Applied to skin

Applied to Skin

Beef Flavor

Active Ingredient(s)

indoxacarb

Selamectin

Milbemycin Oxime/Lufenuron

RX Required

Dosage

Usage

Video

Coming soon

Vet Review

Another recently available new topical flea preventative for dogs and cats. This new product works by being activated by only the flea's enzyme systems into a flea specific mechanism which paralyzes and kills the adult flea. The company claims that it does not get into the blood stream, but stays only in the superficial skin layers of the pet. Any adult fleas which come into contact with this product are quickly killed so that fleas do not have to actually bite the pet, which is tremendously helpful in those flea-allergic pets, where it only takes a few flea bites to set off an extensive itchy allergic reaction. Another wonderful benefit of this product is that it is waterproof, which is especially helpful in those active outside pets who are exposed to rain or like to swim. This effective product starts working within 12 hours of application, where over 90% of adult fleas are killed. Another excellent benefit of this product is that it also inhibits the development of flea eggs and larvae in the environment, which is a big bonus since much of the flea life cycle occurs in the home environment. While Activyl is very safe and effective for most pets, I have seen occasional rare reactions in sensitive pets, which most commonly is seen as irritation or excessive itchiness at the site of application. While the company says that it is odorless, some of my clients have said that they do sense an odor within the first several days of application, as well as leaving an occasional oily film for the first day or two following application. This film, however usually quickly disappears. The only other very rare reactions include digestive upset and/or drooling/neurological reactions, and certainly if a pet has any chronic digestive weaknesses or history of seizures, etc then the local veterinarian should be consulted before applying the product. I give this product an overall rating of 4, with an ease of use of 4.

This versatile topical product has the widest range of protection of both internal and external parasites. In both cats and dogs, all 3 stages of the flea life cycle are effectively controlled,in addition to ear mites. For dogs, there is also the wonderful treatment benefit of killing hidden scabies mites on the skin, which are so difficult for veterinarians to find on routine skin scrapings at our offices. In fact, when either I or veterinary dermatologists are presented with a very itchy dog, in addition to our allergy workups, we will often treat with this topical every few weeks to treat and rule out any hidden scabies mites contributing to the pet's itching. It is amazing how many dogs will respond to this treatment, leading me to believe that scabies mites are involved with a lot more itching problems in dogs than I first learned about in vet school. With the increased recognition and understanding of feline heartworm disease, this is often the first heartworm preventative that I will reach for in cats, especially given all of the other benefits above. While it is often effective for canine heartworm prevention as well, I have heard of rare lapses in protection, so I usually combine this topical in dogs with one of the oral heartworm prevention medications like Heartgard or Interceptor. The only disadvantage I have seen is the rare reaction on cats of mild digestive upset and temporary hair loss at the site of application. It also has the wonderful benefits of being water proof in only 2 hours after application, and in being approved for use in puppies as young as 6 weeks of age.

Sentinel is a wonderful combination of the heartworm prevention pill interceptor and the flea control product program both in this one pill. Many clients enjoy the convenience of having such broad acting internal and external parasites in one pill, without having to worry about giving two separate medicines. Lufenuron, which is the main flea control ingredient, stops the flea life cycle in its track at the egg and larval stage, thus being like a birth control pill for fleas who get on our pets. Given that the main problem of fleas is how rapidly they reproduce, this pill literally stops escalating growth of flea populations, before they can become established in our homes, where most of the flea life cycle occurs. The main disadvantage to this product is that it does not kill or repel adult fleas, so in situations with already established heavy infestations, it is best combined with a great topical product like advantage or front line or with the oral adulticide flea pill Capstar for maximal effect. The only other rare disadvantage I see is the slight increase in reactions when two products are combined into one like this, but fortunately this is not common in clinical practice. With milbemycin for prevention of heartworms and controlling and treating most common intestinal worms, I overall highly recommend this versatile product.

Our expert panel consists of licensed veterinarians and the knowledgeable staff of PetMed Express, Inc. d/b/a 1-800-PetMeds. Neither the Company nor any of its employees or consultants make any warranties, expressed or implied, or representations about the accuracy or completeness of the content or the content of any site or external sites. Likewise, no legal liability or responsibility is assumed for the accuracy or completeness of any information, or usefulness of products discussed. While every effort has been made to accurately represent the qualities and characteristics of each product, which for the most part were taken directly from the websites of the manufacturers, we are not responsible for any errors. The information presented is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet. It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for services provided by your veterinarian. Note: Any trademarks are the property of their respective companies.