Activyl vs. Parastar Plus for Dogs Comparison

Activyl

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Parastar Plus for Dogs

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Preventic Amitraz Tick Collar for Dogs

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Kills Fleas

Repels Fleas

Kills Flea eggs and Larvae

Kills Ticks

Repels Ticks

Kills and/or Repels Mosquitoes

Prevents Heartworm

Other Parasites Information

Eliminates infestations with chewing lice, aids in the control of sarcoptic mange infestation

Waterproof (shampooing once a week can reduce effectiveness)

Safe for pregnant or nursing Pets

Consult your veterinarian

How long does it take to work

Reapply Activyl every 30 days.

Starts working in 1 hour

1 day

Taste

Applied to skin

Applied to Skin

Active Ingredient(s)

indoxacarb

Fipronil and Cyphenothrin

Amitraz

RX Required

Dosage

Usage

Preventic Amitraz Tick Collar for Dogs Usage

Video

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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.

Parastar Plus combines the proven performing main ingredient of fipronil with cyphenothrin, which allows for more rapid killing and treatment of fleas, ticks, certain mites, and lice. This combination allows for this topically applied product to begin killing within an hour. In my experience, most of my clients have reported higher efficacy and better satisfaction for tick control over fleas. It seems to be easier to dispense out of the applicator over competitor products, and especially with lighter colored dogs the product does not seem to stain. However on occasion, I have seen a sensitive darker coated dog have some mild bleaching at the site of application. With some longer haired dogs, I have seen it leave an occasional slightly sticky spot at the site of application as well. Like many of the competitor products, it is touted as waterproof, however, I try and recommend that clients do not bathe dogs for 2 or 3 days before or after application, as some feel that this may affect the efficacy of the product. In my experience, I have found that this product is better at preventing problems rather than controlling already heavy flea infestations, in which case I usually will go to one of the newer oral tablets for flea/tick control that usually kill rapidly within 30 minutes. Another limitation of the product is that you can't use Parastar Plus on less than 4-pound dogs, which is an added benefit of topical prescription products like Revolution. As with any product of this type, occasional itchiness, and/or irritation/agitation from applying the product may be seen, but I find this side effect less common than with competitor products. It is also important for clients to understand that it is critical, especially with heavy flea infestations, to also focus on treating the environment as well. Overall this product has performed better for tick control and prevention than for fleas. I give it an overall rating of a 3, with an ease-of-application rating of 4.5 out of 5.

This is one of my favorite and most effective products in preventing tick infestations on dogs of all sizes, as well as preventing the tick born diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehlrichia and Anaplasmosis. When some of the topical products have failed in some patients, I have found this collar quite valuable in significantly cutting down on tick burdens in these dogs. The effects are long lasting for up to 3 months preventing ticks from even attaching to dogs, and thus cutting down on tick exposure to humans as well. The only problems in terms of efficacy I have even seen with this product is when animal guardians apply the collar too loosely to their pets, which can cut down on its efficacy against ticks.. In order for this collar to work effectively, it must be fitted snugly against the pet's neck, where one is just able to get two fingers under the collar. If the collar is applied too loosely I have occasionally seen pets ingest this collar, leading to serious systemic reactions. The only other downside in using this collar is if the pet spends a significant time swimming during the warmer months. The collar's efficacy is cut down significantly if it is submerged in water or exposed to drenching rains. However when properly fitted to a dog's neck, this is one of the most effective products in preventing tick infestations on the market.

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