Fleas always appear at the wrong time, especially if you barely make it to your next paycheck. According to the laws of the genre, it is when there are problems with finances that unplanned expenses arise. Is it possible to get rid of parasites if there is only enough money in your wallet? inexpensive flea remedies?
So, suppose we have allocated 200-400 rubles from the budget for this business - what can we count on? It is clear that there is no question of hiring a professional service; we are fighting on our own. There is an abundance of insecticides on the market today, and advertising texts certainly guarantee 100% results. But let's be realistic - if all the advertising were true, no one would read this article.
What do expensive and cheap flea remedies have in common?
I will not sin against the truth if I say that not a single drug can guarantee that it will rid your apartment of fleas on the first try. No one! Even very expensive, very innovative, imported, and generally revolutionary. And not because manufacturers are deceiving us all around and pushing us with unsuitable products. That's not the point. But the fact is that fighting insects is not as simple as we would like.
On the one hand, when developing insecticides, chemical companies are limited to a list of permitted toxic substances, otherwise our ecosystem would be in trouble. On the other hand, insects quickly adapt to permitted poisons in permitted dosages and lose sensitivity.
Resistance is the number one problem in pest and pest control. And therefore, any drug, regardless of cost, may or may not work in each individual case.
The effectiveness of a drug is judged not by its price, but by its results. It happens that a cheap flea remedy (of course, if it is not counterfeit) helps better than an expensive one. For example: a conditionally “expensive” drug was poisoned 3 times in a row, including when there was no obvious need for it, for prevention. As a result, they just “vaccinated” the insects.
On forums on this topic, where people share their own experiences, one praises some remedy, and another immediately criticizes it. And both are not lying - it’s just that it helped one from the very first treatment, while the other had zero results. In one yard, fleas are resistant to the active ingredient of the drug, but in another they are not, not to mention different cities.
Tick and flea collars
The active substance is introduced into the structure of the collar and is gradually released and distributed over the surface of the animal’s body during the life of the collar - usually 5-7 months. The collar must be worn without removing it.
To summarize, the effectiveness of tablet forms is higher than that of drop forms. We recommend using flea and tick sprays and collars for additional protection. Their use is very important if they contain repellents - substances that repel insects.
The amount of costs depends not only on the price of the product
In addition to the price, it is necessary to take into account several more nuances on which the consumption of the drug will depend:
- Degree of infection. If fleas were detected in the first week of their appearance, there is an excellent chance of getting rid of them in one treatment cycle. But if they are already swarming on the floor, much more money will be spent. I don't want to upset anyone, but the invisible part of the population in the house (eggs, larvae, pupae) is 19 times larger than the number of jumping adults! And we’ll talk about what to do with all this at the end of the article.
- Condition of the living space. If the housing is dilapidated, there are cracks in the floor and walls, the rooms are cluttered with rubbish and dusty, then 5 times more preparation may be needed for treatment. In a clean house with finished floors and walls, flea removal will be cheaper.
- Pet sizes. In 90% of cases, fleas enter an apartment through pets, and this cannot be done without veterinary medications. The dosage will depend on the weight of the animal - a cat, for example, requires less product than a large dog.
- Season. With the arrival of the warm season, fleas begin to breed on the street and in the basements of apartment buildings. It would be wise to spend a little on prevention so that you don’t have to remove fleas from your apartment over and over again.
Choosing an inexpensive flea remedy
The following is a list of drugs for different situations:
1) fleas only on domestic animals;
2) fleas are already jumping on the floor in the house;
3) fleas in a house where there are no animals.
Funds from the budget price category are collected here. Prices are approximate; they may vary in different cities and even in different veterinary pharmacies. At a low price, it is better to look for funds in online stores.
Inexpensive flea treatments for dogs and cats
This category includes only drops on the withers and sprays. Insecticides for animals in this form work longer than in collars or shampoos. One application is usually enough for 4-8 weeks. Drops are applied to the animal's skin in places inaccessible to licking (between the shoulder blades or on the lower part of the back of the head). The entire coat is treated with sprays, after which the animal is put on a protective collar or muzzle until it dries completely.
- Drops "Leopard" separately for cats and separately for dogs - product line. The combination of active ingredients is fipronil, diflubenzuron and dicarboximide. Different packaging is intended for different weight categories of animals. Prices range from 70 rubles (for 1 pipette - for cats) to 200 rubles (4 pipettes - for large dogs). And also spray for animals “Bars” - approximately 200 rubles per 100 ml.
- Drops for cats and dogs "Clandestine Maximum", . The active ingredients are fipronil and permethrin. The average price is 100-120 rubles per 5 ml. The dosage is calculated at 0.1 ml per kilogram of weight, so the package is enough to treat a dog up to 50 kg.
- Drops for cats and dogs "Insectal". The active ingredients are fipronil and pyriproxyfen. The drops are packaged in disposable pipettes according to weight categories, and the price accordingly ranges from 70 to 200 rubles.
- Drops for cats and dogs "Dana Spot-On", vet.. Active ingredient: fipronil. Recommended retail price – 165 rubles per 15 ml. From the same series, “Dana Ultra” drops (thiamethoxam and pyriproxyfen are used in combination with finpronil), packaged in disposable pipettes with dosages for different weight categories. For cats – 90 rubles, for dogs – 125-170 rubles. And “Dana Ultra” spray – 215 rubles per 100 ml.
- Much more expensive than drops for dogs and cats "VetExpertPro Insecta", packaged in single-use pipettes with dosages according to weight categories. The combination of active ingredients is fipronil, thiamethoxam, pyriproxyfen and cyfluthrin. Price from 235 to 365 rubles depending on the weight of the animal.
Products for premises and animals
Preparations in this category were originally developed for the treatment of livestock buildings. Handling animals requires precautions. It is not allowed for the animal to lick wet fur after treatment, this can lead to poisoning. Immediately after treatment, the cat or dog should be dried with a hair dryer or a protective collar should be used to prevent licking of the drug.
It is also not allowed to unauthorizedly exceed the dosage specified by the manufacturer in the instructions. Products are limited by age, pregnancy and health status of the animal. For safety reasons, consult your veterinarian before use.
When treating apartments, the use of most of these products is not strictly regulated. Someone dilutes the solution with it (sometimes with the addition of folk remedies) and washes the floors, someone wipes furniture with the same solution or smears the walls with a brush or roller. The most convenient way, which does not require rolling up and removing carpets, soft toys and absorbent coverings, is to spray from a spray bottle.
- Ampoules for cats and dogs "Butox 50", the active ingredient is deltamethrin. In addition to being cheap, the drug has another important advantage - it is practically odorless. The contents of one ampoule are diluted in 4 liters of cool water. Short-haired animals are sprayed with a working solution, long-haired animals are bathed or moistened with a swab or sponge, protecting them from contact with the eyes, nose and mouth. To treat a room, 1 ml of the drug is diluted in 1.5 liters of water, sprayed on floors and walls to a height of 1 meter from the floor, focusing on problem areas. After exposure (2-3 hours), the room is thoroughly ventilated. Price – 90-100 rubles for 5 ampoules, one or two packages are enough to treat an animal and an apartment.
- Ampoules for cats and dogs "Neostomozan", the active ingredients are transmix and tetramethrin. Has a slight specific odor. Diluted with water in a ratio of 5 ml per liter, the working solution is used to treat the pet and the apartment. This flea remedy is inexpensive - 1 ampoule (2 ml) 20 rubles. It will take 10-15 ampoules to disinfest an apartment and an animal.
- Ampoules "Delcid" based on deltamethrin - another flea remedy for cats and dogs that is inexpensive. For the working solution, one ampoule is diluted into 1.6 liters of water. Animals are treated by spraying or bathing, the room is treated by spraying the solution on the floor and walls to a height of 1 meter. The cost of packaging (5 ampoules of 2 ml) is 130-140 rubles.
- "Clandestine zoospray" based on permethrin. Ready-to-use product in a spray bottle. One press of the sprayer – 0.5 ml of the drug. For cats and dogs, depending on weight, the dose is 3-6 ml (6-12 pumps). When treating a room, the recommended consumption is 2 ml per 1 square meter. Price: 220-260 rubles per bottle (200 ml).
Products for indoor treatment only
Perol-A solution based on permethrin (500 ml bottle) for surface treatment. Apply by spraying onto contaminated areas of the floor and onto walls up to 1 meter in height. One bottle is designed to treat 45 square meters of surface. The cost of the drug in online stores ranges from 220-280 rubles.
| Name | Application | Approximate cost/quantity* |
| Leopard | Cats | 70 rub. (1 pipette) |
| Dogs | 200 RUR (spray or 4 pipettes) | |
| Celandine Maximum | Cats and dogs | 120 rub. (5 ml ampoule - up to 50 kg) |
| Insectal | Cats | 70 rub. (1 pipette for minimum weight category) |
| Dogs | 200 rub. (1 pipette for max. weight category) | |
| Dana Spot-on/Dana Ultra | Cats | 90 rub. (1 pipette) |
| Dogs | 170 rub. (1 pipette) | |
| VetExpertPro Insecta | Cats | 235 rub. (1 pipette) |
| Dogs | 365 rub. (1 pipette) | |
| Butox 50 | Animal + room | 200 rub. (up to 2 packs or 10 ampoules) |
| Neostomozan | Animal + room | 300 rub. (15 ampoules) |
| Delcid | Animal + room | 140-280 rub. (5-10 ampoules) |
| Celandine zoospray | Animal + room | 260 rub. (1 spray bottle) |
| Perol-A | Room | 280 rub. (1 spray bottle) |
* - price may vary depending on the region of sale, packaging or dose in the ampoule
As you can see, even with a limited budget, fleas in the house are a solvable problem. Additionally, you can use available products, which will be completely free provided that you already have them at your disposal: various detergents, soda, salt, boric acid, wormwood, essential oils.
Fleas can be effectively controlled by thorough cleaning - hot steam and a vacuum cleaner will not require any expense if these devices are available in the house. If not, then ordinary cleaning equipment in the form of a mop, bucket, rag and rubber gloves can also be successfully used if you repeat cleaning several times (3x) a day.
Note!
Steam treatment, vacuuming and washing surfaces reduce the effect of the insecticide.
With the exception of vacuuming, clean before treatment, or at least after the insecticide's exposure time has expired (8-24 hours). If the product works well, wait at least a week for visible improvement before doing any deep cleaning. A vacuum cleaner destroys the insecticide least of all, so you can use it as soon as the surfaces dry.
Drops on the withers: features of application
Despite the variety of antiparasitic agents, drops on the withers are considered the most effective. They are effective and retain their effect for a long time.
How to apply antiparasitic drops correctly
There is nothing complicated in this process, but you need to remember one important circumstance: all drip products are created on the basis of volatile and rather toxic components. If you use the product incorrectly, your dog can be poisoned.
How to apply the medicine correctly so that there are no such consequences? In fact, there is nothing complicated about this:
- They should be applied strictly to the withers area and the base of the skull. It is imperative to ensure that there are no scratches, wounds, abrasions, or signs of inflammation on the skin in this area. Their presence leads to the fact that the drugs in concentrated form enter directly into the general bloodstream. This is dangerous and leads to severe poisoning.
- When applied, it is strictly forbidden to rub or rub the drops into the skin! Failure to comply with this rule may lead to poisoning of the animal.
Important! You cannot bathe your dog until at least a week has passed since the treatment! In some cases, the manufacturer generally advises waiting at least two weeks.
This is due to the fact that the active substances are not immediately “absorbed” by the skin and sebaceous glands. If you do not wait, the effectiveness of the treatment may be significantly reduced.
Large breeds and “kids”: features of drops for different dogs
Owners should be aware that large breeds have their own characteristics, which must be taken into account when processing. And we are not talking about some physiological nuances of their body, but about the characteristics of the means used. It all depends on the specific drug. Some are produced universally, with the same characteristics for all, while others are divided into several types:
- For "compact" dogs. This includes both small breeds and puppies.
- For medium breeds.
- For large animals.
However, usually breeders do not need to go into such details, since the packaging of the drug should indicate for which animals it is intended. In addition, many manufacturers additionally use color differentiation, producing drugs for dogs of different weight categories, packaging them in pipettes with certain colors.
Important! We categorically do not recommend confusing them, since the concentration of active substances in these cases is completely different! A small dog can be easily poisoned by treating it with a product for “giants” weighing 50 kilograms or more.
But pouring the contents of several pipettes intended for babies onto a large dog is also not the best. In this case, the dog will receive severe poisoning, which can be fatal.
"Leopard"
Bars drops are produced on the basis of one of the newest and highest quality insecticides, fipronil. It accumulates in the upper layer of the epithelium, as well as in the sebaceous bulbs, which ensures a high-quality and long-lasting effect of the drug (at least one month). The drug can be applied only when the pet is at least a couple of months old.
"Advocate"
The drug contains a combination of imidacloprid and moxidectin. Because of this, there is a strict age limit - the animal being processed must be at least 2.5 months old (or at least nine weeks, but no less).
Weight – at least four kilograms. You need to pay special attention when purchasing: “Lawyer” is produced for animals belonging to different weight categories! As in the previous case, the effect of the treatment lasts for about a month.
Advantix
The drug has a pronounced effect against not only fleas, but also ticks, mosquitoes and lice eaters.
Contains imidacloprid and permitrin. It is prohibited to handle dogs younger than seven weeks and weighing less than one and a half kilograms. Available in four types: for pets from 4 to 40 kilograms. Advantix is distributed throughout the coat and upper layers of the skin, maintaining effectiveness for up to four weeks.
"Dana"
Contains fipronil and diazinon. The latter has a pronounced and high-quality effect against not only bloodsuckers, but also the larvae of many parasitic worms (including heartworms). Because of this, “Dana” is especially valued by breeders living in areas disadvantaged by these pathologies.
But! There is one peculiarity. The product contains organophosphorus compounds, which are very dangerous for mammals.
Therefore, it is allowed to process animals that have reached at least three months of age, not younger.
Frontline
One of the highest quality products (among those presented on the domestic market). Its main advantage is its truly prolonged action, which can last for almost two months. Moreover, this is the only drug that can really be prescribed to pregnant and even nursing pets without fear for their offspring.
The medicine is available not only in the form of drops. Frontline NexgarD is available in tablet form. And they are really effective against fleas and other ectoparasites! Can be prescribed starting from six weeks of age.
"Inspector"
Contains moxidectin and fipronil. The drug does not have any outstanding features. It can be applied starting from seven weeks of age. In addition, the manufacturer claims a powerful repellent effect against ticks, so the product is indicated for hunting and guard dogs, which often suffer from “attacks” of these parasites. The “inspector” will help protect your pet from dangerous diseases transmitted by ticks.
"Celandine"
As in many of the cases described above, the drug contains two active ingredients: fipronil and permitrin. The product was developed and produced by domestic pharmacists, and therefore is relatively cheap and accessible.
In addition, the drug is very effective, and permitrin, which is part of it, acts not only on ectoparasites, but also on the young of some parasitic worms. Celandine is prescribed strictly from two months, the dog’s weight should not be less than half a kilo.
Hartz
One of the most effective means. Produced by an American company of the same name and world famous. Contains phenothrin and methoprene. This drug is a real record holder for the duration of action: just one treatment is enough for about three months.
Such a powerful effect is due to high-quality and “serious” components, but... Only dogs aged four months and older can be treated. It is strictly prohibited to use Hartz for lactating and pregnant bitches.
Stronghold
It is also one of the “classics”, known and loved by domestic breeders. This popularity did not arise out of nowhere: the product, which contains selamectin, allows you to fight not only fleas and ticks, but also parasitic worms with equal success.
As for the latter, the drug is capable of destroying not only their larvae, but also fully grown individuals. Stronghold can be used from approximately six months of age.
Butox
Strictly speaking, these are not ready-made drops, but only a “semi-finished product” for preparing them yourself. The main component of the product is a very powerful and effective insecticide, deltamethrin. The problem is that Butox is also quite toxic to mammals. Therefore, they are prohibited from treating puppies, pregnant and lactating bitches.
Barrier
The active ingredient is fipronil, already known to the reader. In fact, Barrier is a complete analogue of Barca. The protective effect lasts up to two months. Animals that have reached three months of age and weigh at least two kilograms can be treated. It is strictly forbidden to wash the dog if less than two days have passed since the treatment.
BlochNet
A product with an interesting name is produced by domestic manufacturers. The composition includes fipronil, as well as benzyl benzoate and dimethyl phthalate.
BlochNet perfectly protects against fleas for three (!) months, fully justifying its name. Animals at least three months old can be treated.
Rolf 3D
The product contains fipronil, as well as etofenprox and pyriproxyfen. It has pronounced effectiveness against all ectoparasites, and the effect of treatment lasts for about two months. Rolf 3D is strictly prohibited for use on animals under two months of age, as well as dogs weighing less than two kilograms.
Fleas appear again and again: reviews and examples
As mentioned above, it is important not to forget that fleas jumping on your legs are only a visible part of the problem. Scattered eggs (7 days), as well as larvae (10 days) and pupae (7-12 days), hiding in carpet pile, floor crevices and other hard-to-reach places are the least vulnerable. Most of them enter the stage of adult fleas just when the effect of the product has already weakened. And it doesn’t matter which preparation from the proposed list you used to treat the room. To eradicate parasites, especially in an overly infested area, it is recommended to treat every 7-12 days. This is how long the period of the “incubation” cycle of the pupa lasts.
By fresh bites and jumping individuals, it can be determined that the transition of larvae to pupae has passed and ended with the emergence of the next “batch” of new fleas from the cocoons. Of course, some of the eggs and larvae will be collected with a vacuum cleaner after the first disinfestation. But if we do not want history to repeat itself, then the next processing is inevitable, and it must be timely. And in order to react immediately, it is important to observe. Traps will help a lot when it comes to observations.
Let's look at real examples:
Obviously, the problem cannot be solved in one day. What time you should prepare yourself for depends on the sanitary and hygienic condition (temperature, humidity, technical condition of the house and the number of fleas). If you managed to prevent or at least “detect” a jump in numbers in time, then 1-2 treatments will be enough to forget about the parasites forever. In the example below, the fleas disappeared immediately:
In some situations it will take a month or a month and a half. Don't despair if it takes a long time. If fleas have developed “immunity,” then self-treatment becomes a useless exercise. For example, like here:
Obviously, the situation requires immediate intervention by the sanitary service (disinsection service). It is important not to forget: in direct proportion to time, money expenses will increase. The faster and more carefully the efforts are made, the cheaper the result achieved. And vice versa.
Having only up to 400 rubles in your wallet and available means, you can count on 2 weeks of unscheduled pest control and cleaning, and if the situation is not yet too advanced, then on the high efficiency of the measures taken. Good luck and complete withdrawal!
