Comfortis® is a chewable, beef-flavored tablet you give to your dog to kill fleas and prevent flea infestations for one month. Comfortis® chewable tablets are recommended for monthly use in dogs and puppies 14 weeks of age or older.
Q: What is spinosad?
Spinosad is a member of the class of antiparasitics, the spinosyns, which are novel members of a chemical class of tetracyclic macrolides. The spinosyns were identified as products of the naturally occurring bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa, an aerobic, non-antibiotic actinomycete.
Q: Why has my veterinarian prescribed Comfortis® chewable tablets?
Your veterinarian has provided this medication either to prevent a flea infestation or to treat an existing infestation on your pet.
Q: What should I discuss with my veterinarian regarding Comfortis® chewable tablets for my dog?
Your veterinarian is your dog’s healthcare expert and can make the best recommendation for medications for your pet. This includes how to prevent and treat parasites such as fleas, and the conditions they may cause, such as, flea allergy dermatitis and anemia. Key points of your discussion may include the following:
- Treatment with Comfortis® chewable tablets may begin at any time of the year, preferably starting one month before fleas become active and continuing through the end of flea season. In areas where fleas may occur year-round, monthly treatment with Comfortis® chewable tablets should continue the entire year without interruption.
- If a dose is missed, administer Comfortis® chewable tablets with food and resume a monthly dosing schedule.
- To minimize the likelihood of flea reinfestation, it is important to treat all animals within a household with an approved flea protection product.
- Comfortis® chewable tablets are not for use in humans. Like all medications, keep Comfortis® chewable tablets out of the reach of children.
Q: My dog has allergies. Can he still take Comfortis®?
Comfortis® contains beef-flavoring made from a pork-based protein. If your dog has an allergy to pork, another alternative for flea treatment and prevention may need to be considered. Please discuss these options with your pet’s veterinarian.
Q: Should I restrict either my dog’s activity or contact with my dog after the tablet is consumed?
Since Comfortis® chewable tablets are an oral formulation, you may maintain normal activities and interactions with your pet.
Q: Can other medications be given while my pet is taking Comfortis® chewable tablets?
Yes, Comfortis® chewable tablets have been given safely with a wide variety of products and medications. Your veterinarian should be made aware of all products you intend to administer to your dog.
Q: Does Comfortis® have to be given with food?
Comfortis® chewable tablets are labeled to be administered with food for maximum effectiveness.
Q: How much food do I have to give my dog when administering the Comfortis® tablet?
In field trials, owners of dogs were instructed to give the Comfortis® chewable tablet with food. However, the quantity of food was not specified and Comfortis® was still efficacious. A suggestion may be to give the Comfortis® tablet first then feed your dog his/her regularly scheduled meal. For free feeders, a suggestion may be to take the food away at night, give the Comfortis® tablet first in the morning, then put food back down.
Q: Can Comfortis® be used in cats?
No. Comfortis® tablets are not approved by the FDA for use in cats.
Q: When should treatment with Comfortis® begin?
Treatment with Comfortis® chewable tablets may begin at any time of the year. Consult your veterinarian for the flea regimen most appropriate for your area. The preference will be to start one month before fleas become active and continue monthly dosing through the end of the flea season. In areas where fleas are common year-round, monthly treatment with Comfortis® chewable tablets should continue throughout the entire year without interruption. To minimize the likelihood of flea reinfestation, it will be important for pet owners to treat all animals within a household with an approved flea protection product.
Q: How quickly will Comfortis® chewable tablets kill fleas?
Comfortis® chewable tablets start to kill fleas within 30 minutes and killed 100 percent of fleas within four hours in a controlled laboratory study. Comfortis® chewable tablets kill fleas before they can lay eggs[9].
Q: Does seeing fleas on my dog mean the flea treatment is not working?
Comfortis® chewable tablets kill fleas before they can lay eggs when used monthly according to the label directions. Remember all animals in the household should be treated with an approved flea product to help control the flea population.
Female fleas that are living on animals produce eggs that fall from the animal into their surroundings. These eggs hatch within a week; larvae then emerge and spin cocoons to become pupae. The entire life cycle can be completed in as little as three weeks, with new adult fleas emerging from the pupae, to jump onto your dog. If conditions such as temperature and humidity aren’t perfect for flea development, the time from egg to new adult flea can take as long as two to four months to complete. Because each female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day there is potential for a large buildup of eggs, larvae and pupae, resulting in a constant supply of new adults emerging in the dog’s environment.[8]
Regardless of the product used to kill fleas, the dog can continue to be exposed to fleas that live in the environment. When these fleas jump onto the dog, they can feed almost immediately but will be quickly killed by Comfortis® chewable tablets.
If you see fleas on your dog within a month after your pet receives Comfortis® chewable tablets, it is most likely these are new fleas that have very recently emerged from pupae and jumped onto the dog. These new fleas will be killed quickly before they can produce eggs that contaminate the environment. Consistent monthly application of Comfortis® should be continued to provide continued protection for your dog against these fleas.
Q: How long does Comfortis® last?
Comfortis® has demonstrated efficacy over a 30-day duration
