Bio Spot Defense Flea & Tick Control For Dogs vs. Parastar Plus for Dogs Comparison

Bio Spot Defense Flea & Tick Control For Dogs

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Parastar Plus for Dogs

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Trifexis

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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

Treats and controls hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms infections.

Waterproof (shampooing once a week can reduce effectiveness)

N/A

Safe for pregnant or nursing Pets

Consult your veterinarian

Consult your veterinarian

How long does it take to work

1-2 Days

Starts working in 1 hour

Starts to kill fleas within 30 minutes; kills 100% of fleas within 4 hours.

Taste

Applied to Skin

Applied to skin

Beef Flavor

Active Ingredient(s)

Permethrin/Pyriproxyfen (Nylar)

Fipronil and Cyphenothrin

Spinosad/Milbemycin Oxime

RX Required

Dosage

Usage

Video

Coming soon

Vet Review

This topical product that has been around for years is really a potluck type product in my opinion and experience. Many of my clients, who could not afford the other commonly veterinary recommended topical flea/tick pesticides, have found this product a quite helpful much more economic and effective product than the more expensive competitors. . However I have had equal number of clients, who have used this product, been quite disappointed with the results, and their infestations seemed to have gotten worse after starting with this product. I personally don't recommend this product,for my biggest concern that overrides any economic savings that clients have, are the sometimes serious side effects I have seen with certain sensitive pets in my practice and experience. This has ranged from local irritation and greasiness in the coat, to an almost burn like eruption at place of application, to more serious systemic effects like excess drooling, ear itching/irritation and in rare cases neurological side effects including suspected seizures shortly after application. Although these side effects are not common, I feel their severity over rides my ability to recommend this product, I would stick with the more widely veterinary recommended products like Frontline, Advantage or Advantix. I therefore give this product an overall rating of a 2. Its efficacy is a 2 and its ease of use is a 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.

An exciting and brand new product now available combines the main ingredient of Interceptor milbemycin with a powerful flea insecticide known as spinosad. Given as a once monthly heartworm preventative, this product also will control and prevent whipworms, hookworms and roundworms, in addition to preventing heartworms. The additional ingredient spinosad allows effective flea and these internal parasite control all in one pill, making it quite convenient for clients. As with any pesticide rare digestive tract and neurological side effects may occur but this has not been a major problem in clinical trials. Since it is relatively new I will have to see how this product performs on the fleas but it seems to have excellent potential. I give this product an overall rating of a 5 with an ease of administration a 5 as well, taste a 5.

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