Flea/Tick/Mosquito protection

I know I've procrastinated a bit longer this year than I should have,
but I've finally gotten around to getting a flea and tick topical for
our 6 year old Shih Tsu. We had been using K9 Advantix, but I have been
unhappy with how greasy it leaves the application area, and how
expensive it was. So I though I'd try something different this year.

After a bit of internet research, I decided to give BioSpot (Farnam) a
try. Headed out to the local retail pet store.
Found something that made me scratch my head...

BioSpot for puppies has .034 fl oz applicators. 45% permethrin, 3%
methoprene, 52% 'other'.
BioSpot for small dogs, under 15 lbs has .034 fl oz applicators. 45%
permethrin, 3% methoprene, 52% 'other'.
BioSpot for medium dogs, 16 - 30 lbs has .034 fl oz applicators. 45%
permethrin, 3% methoprene, 52% 'other'.

Only difference I see is the price.

Am I missing something or are these all the same product, just in
differently labeled boxes with different price tags?


At the pet store, I also noticed they were carrying 'Zodiac' brand
(Wellness?) flea/tick/mosquito spot ons. These appeared to also have
the same formulation as the BioSpot, and had the same applicator volume
(.034 fl oz). But they were considerably cheaper than the BioSpot. Why?
- is Zodiac basically considered a 'generic' or what?

Dave

Davel wrote:

> Am I missing something or are these all the same product, just in
> differently labeled boxes with different price tags?

It sure does look like it's the same stuff, in the same amounts, at
the same concentration.

That said, I wouldn't use BioSpot, because I've got an old cat.
Personally, I'd use an amitraz collar for ticks. For fleas, I've
had good luck with treating the house with Siphotrol. It's got a
component that works immediately, plus an IGR to kill any emergent
fleas for something like 90 days.

I had a *bad* flea infestation last year, for the first time ever.
Siphotrol worked, while none of the top spot treatments made a dent
in the problem.

> At the pet store, I also noticed they were carrying 'Zodiac' brand
> (Wellness?) flea/tick/mosquito spot ons. These appeared to also have
> the same formulation as the BioSpot, and had the same applicator volume
> (.034 fl oz). But they were considerably cheaper than the BioSpot. Why?
> - is Zodiac basically considered a 'generic' or what?

Zodiac has been around for awhile. I've seen their products at
department stores (Walmart, Meijer, Target), so I think it's just a
matter of marketing niche. If the active ingredients are the same,
then I would expect it to work as well as a similar, more expensive
product.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)