Let start with "Program" which is manufactured by Ciba Drug Company. It comes complete for dogs and cats with really jazzy t.v. spots which air in prime time. The chemical in the tablet is lufenuron and it is used in this case as flea birth control. Unfortunately, for the pet it must be bitten in order for the flea to get it's medicine.

The fleas that bite the pet who is taking the monthly birth control medicine do eventually die but the fleas that take a blood meal from another warm blooded animal such as yourself will lay more eggs to hatch and the cycle starts all over again.

The package insert on "Program" cautions you to make sure that the pet ingests the entire medication and that it should be given with a meal. The medication must be given on the same day each month to be effective. The insert does mention that if you live in an area where fleas are a problem all year long that the medication should be given every month year round.

Nothing is mentioned about ticks and the word Precaution is to get your attention to the fact that it may take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to ease the flea infestation. Of course, this does depend on where you live and how cool the climate is normally.

"Program" states on it's package insert that is does not kill the adult flea and suggests that you must be sure to have all the household pets on the tablet to insure some usefulness from the product.

The package insert refers to a problem that I see everyday in my business "flea bite" allergies only the technical term is now FAD [Flea Allergy Dermatitis]. Remember this acronym folks it could get interesting later.

It does have good news because if your pets are on this tablet the chances of them developing tapeworms drops dramatically as the flea is the intermediate host for the tapeworm.

It does warn you that it must be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian and that you should keep any and all drugs out of the reach of children. The word used is OSHA's lowest rating Caution.