Bio Spot Active Care Flea & Tick Collar For Dogs vs. Flea5X Plus Comparison

Bio Spot Active Care Flea & Tick Collar For Dogs

Learn More

Flea5X Plus

Learn More

Parastar Plus for Dogs

Learn More

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

Begins to work Immediately

Fast-acting protection that lasts up to 30 days

Starts working in 1 hour

Taste

Applied To Skin

Applied to skin

Active Ingredient(s)

Propoxur/(S)-Methoprene

Fipronil/(S)-Methoprene

Fipronil and Cyphenothrin

RX Required

Dosage

Usage

Video

Coming soon

Vet Review

While this product offers an economic alternative for killing/repelling fleas and ticks for 5 months, as well as preventing the development of flea eggs into larvae and adults, I have personally not found this product effective in my experience and opinion. The clients I have spoken to who have been pleased with this product have found it more effective as a flea preventative, rather than once an infestation already exists, where other products such as topical front line or advantage would be preferred. I have also seen that in some dogs local skin irritation and hives can occasionally occur in sensitive pets, which usually resolve once the collar is removed. I also have concern for cancer and neurological effects with exposure to any prolonged pesticides. While it is a nice benefit that the collar works even when wet, because of my concerns about overall efficacy and safety, I do not recommend use of this product. I give it an overall rating of a 2 with an efficacy a 2 and ease of use a 5.

1800petmeds is very excited to now offer an economic and reliable alternative to the brand name Front line plus in the war against flea and tick infestations on dogs and cats. By storing itself in the oil glands of the skin, the ingredients self distribute through the hair follicles and provide protection against fleas, ticks and lice for up to a month. While most of the competitors' products kill only the adult fleas on pets, the two main ingredients in this product, fiprinil and methoprene, not only kill the adult fleas and ticks, but also eggs and larvae, which may represent up to 95% of the total flea population. Recent studies in dogs have shown that these ingredients together start killing fleas within 4 hours, and within 12 to 24 hours 100% of the fleas are killed. While many competitors' products require the fleas to bite the pet, Flea 5x kills on contact. Another wonderful advantage of using Flea 5x is that the product is water proof, and will not be washed away with bathing or swimming, as long as animal guardians wait until the product is completely absorbed into the oil glands, which usually takes 48 hours, before bathing the pet or allowing pet to swim. Veterinarians and guardians should also know that this product is safe to use in breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs and cats. However kittens and puppies should be at least 8 weeks of age before applying this product. Because fleas and ticks pose many health threats to both dogs and cats, including dangerous anemia, rickettsial diseases, flea allergy dermatitis, and tapeworms, it is important to have all pets on a comprehensive flea and tick control program such as Flea 5x. And with the reliable 1800petmeds brand name, animal guardians can confidently rely on the performance of this product as comparable to the brand name. I see very few disadvantages in using this product. Rarely there may be a mild contact dermatitis at the site of application, where occasional pets experience crusting and hair loss. Even less common are idiosyncratic digestive or neurologic upset in very sensitive patients. Any pet with a chronic health condition or prior sensitivity to chemicals or vaccination should have a thorough veterinary exam and evaluation before applying any topical or oral pesticide product. I also recommend that the application of products such as Flea 5x be done on a different day(preferably at least 7 days apart) from other parasite control products such as heartworm prevention or immune challenges such as vaccination. Occasionally clients may see more fleas on their pets after immediately applying Flea 5x plus, but this is just the dying off of the flea population, as they rise to the top of the coat. Because of the often presence of eggs in the environment before the application of this product, it may take a few months to kill the total population of fleas in the home, which is why I often suggest treating the home as well when starting pets on a product like flea 5x plus. While flea 5x does not repel fleas and ticks, I have not found any current products on the market effective with that in my experience and opinion. I give this product an overall rating of 4.5(on scale of 1-5) with the efficacy and ease of use of a 5.

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.

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.