Review of CAPSTAR: A Very Effective Flea Control Product

Our beloved dog returned from the groomer looking spiffy and smelling fresh, but little did we know that he had picked up a flea or two, not an unusual event when visiting an environment full of dogs, right?!

That evening we noticed he was licking and scratching incessantly one of his legs, to the point of nuisance, but I didn't pay much attention to his scratching because only two weeks before I had applied a monthly spot flea treatment called BioSpot*

The next morning, the dog continued to lick the same area, but this time, when I examined his body, I saw a several fleas on his belly, but I managed to kill them and thought the problem was over. Day number three, I was shocked to see his leg, the area that he'd been licking. He had pulled out the hair with his teeth from a large area of his leg, and now in desperation, he was tearing up his skin! I knew my poor dog had to be seen by the vet the next morning!

About fleas:

The readers already know that fleas are disgusting insects, but they should know that fleas spread tapeworms to pets and other family members. I've read that very small or young pets can develop anemia and can die from blood loss from flea bites; that's scary! Also, fleas can trigger an allergic reaction causing your pet to tear up its skin, lesions which result in skin infections!

What to look for when your dog is suffering from a flea infestation and/or an allergic reaction:

Dogs: Hair loss, in patches, with the evidence of red and swollen sores, particularly areas such as:

~Along the tail,
~the buttocks,
~the entire hind legs, and
~in the groin area

Cats: Scratching of various part of the body with the evidence of painful scabs in sensitive areas such as:

~neck,
~face, and
~ groin

Capstar is a very impressive product, and while watching an SPCA show on Animal Planet I saw vets treating a batch of rescued puppies with it. Within minutes, the fleas were literally jumping off the pups, and less than 30 minutes later, the pups were flea-free! I knew it was a product I wanted to discuss with our vet!

Visiting the Vet:

One scan of key areas on my dog's body and she knew that my dog was suffering from a severe case of "flea allergy dermatitis." She found the evidence all over his body: those tiny, dirt-looking particles, and a couple of fleas running around his belly! Due to the skin infection, he was put on a five-day course of antibiotics and a topical analgesic for his sores. She also recommended CAPSTAR, manufactured by Novartis Animal Health, to aggressively fight the fleas already residing on his body!

About the product:

CAPSTAR is non-toxic to the animal and it may be used daily until the flea infestation is under control, without any adverse results. CAPSTAR can help you control fleas whenever your pet is exposed to areas of heavy infestation, such as going to a kennel for boarding, or simply going to the groomer's.

CAPSTAR is an oral tablet made for dogs and cats, and may be given to even puppies and kittens 4 weeks and older, weighing two pounds or more.

CAPSTAR contains "nitenpyram," a chemical belonging to a class of "neonicotinoids" which attacks the flea's nervous system, causing its death! CAPSTAR works only on adult fleas and as part of your flea control program you should continue to apply a monthly spot treatment that inhibits insect development.

Manufacturer's Product Information:

Active Ingredients:

CAPSTAR tablets contain 11.4 or 57.0 mg of nitenpyram.

How to use Capstar:

Place the pill directly in your pet's mouth or hide it in food. If you place the pill in food, ensure that your pet has swallowed the pill by watching him closely. If you're not sure that your pet swallowed the pill, it's safe to give him a second pill.

Other Information:

CAPSTAR begins to work within 30 minutes. Studies conducted by Novartis show this product is safe for use in pregnant or lactating dogs or cats, and for dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens 4 weeks of age and older.

CAPSTAR can be used as needed, and in conjunction with a flea management system, such as a monthly spot treatment.

Who sells CAPSTAR?

CAPSTAR is sold by most veterinarians or it can be purchased from several On-line pet products vendors. Petco and PetSmart do not carry it.

As with any medicine that you purchase online, you must inform your vet of pending use before administering it.

Summary:

I live in a southern city and summers are hot and humid, creating the ideal environment for flea infestations. CAPSTAR is a tool that will help pet owners control flea-infestations, but you must remember that it's not a flea-prevention product, and you must continue to use a flea management system, such as monthly spot treatments.

It appears that severe flea allergic reactions are common in many pure breed dogs and cats, and CAPSTAR gave me (and my dog) a fighting chance in the battle against fleas...in South Texas, it is an ongoing battle!

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*BioSpot's main ingredients are Permethrin combined with pyriproxyfen which is an insect growth regulator. These products will not prevent the flea from biting the animal, so if the animal is allergic to flea bites and has constant exposure to fleas, they will not prevent the allergies.