Capstar vs. Comfortis: Which Flea Treatment is Better?

Does your dog have fleas, and you need an easy, fast way to get rid of them?

Well, Capstar or Comfortis may be exactly what your dog needs. Both flea medicines are reliable solutions that start killing fleas in less than an hour.

Capstar and Comfortis are both oral medications that will take care of fleas on your dog.

Though neither are effective against eggs or larvae, they will kill all adult fleas within 24-hours.

Though Capstar and Comfortis are similar, they have their differences, such as active ingredients, duration, cost, and availability.

This Capstar vs. Comfortis review covers each of the products’ strengths, side effects, cost, and best use.

Capstar

• Active Ingredients: Nitenpyram
• Type: Tablet
• Duration: 24 Hours

Capstar is an Elanco Animal Health Incorporated product. It was originally a PetIQ product, but the U.S. rights were divested to Elanco in early 2020^[1].

Capstar is an oral flea medication designed to aid dogs with an active flea infestation (see our Capstar review here).

Capstar goes to work quickly, starting to kill fleas in just 30 minutes. One dose is often enough; however, for severe flea infestations, a second dose the next day may be necessary.

Though Capstar is one of the best flea medications without a prescription for ridding your dog of fleas, it is not a flea preventative.

Capstar should only be used when a dog actively has fleas and is not intended for monthly use.

After ridding your dog of fleas with Capstar, you should start using a flea preventative, like Frontline Plus, Bravecto, or K9 Advantix II, to ensure you keep fleas away.

However, always consult your veterinarian before using multiple flea medications together.

Capstar is available for purchase without a prescription and is found online (you can check the latest price on Amazon here) as well as at local pet supply stores.

Capstar is a relatively safe option and can be used for small dogs and puppies as young as 4-weeks old.

Pros:

• It kills fleas in just thirty minutes
• Easy to administer
• Economical about $5 per dose
• Safe for young puppies and small dogs

Cons:

• Does not work as a preventative

If your dog has fleas and you need a fast-acting flea medicine, order Capstar today!

Comfortis

• Active Ingredients: Spinosad
• Type: Flavored Tablet
• Duration: 1 Month

Comfortis is another product of Elanco Animal Health Incorporated. Elanco first opened in 1954 and is a pharmaceutical company based in the U.S.

The active ingredient used in Comfortis is spinosad, which is part of the spinosyn family.

Chemicals that fall into the spinosyn group are created from fermented compounds. Most insecticides made from spinosyn chemicals are used for vegetation.

Comfortis is a palatable beef-flavored chewable; however, it does not contain beef but instead uses pork, making it a better choice for dogs with food sensitivities.

Comfortis starts to kill fleas in just 30 minutes. And it only takes four hours for Comfortis to eradicate the whole adult flea population.

And Comfortis continues to work for a full month and is easy to administer because of its appealing flavor.

Comfortis does not kill all flea life cycles. So, if your dog suffers from an active flea infestation, you should continue to use Comfortis for at least three months to avoid reinfestation.

However, it is best to use Comfortis year-round to proactively protect your dog against fleas.

Pros:

• Starts to work in just 30 Minutes
• It comes in an easy to administer beef-flavored tablet
• Hypo-allergenic
• It can be used in dogs as young as 14-weeks and older

Cons:

• It does not work as a repellent
• Interacts with ivermectin^[2] – A common active ingredient in heartworm preventative

If you think Comfortis is the right option for your dog, click here to get your order started today.

Capstar vs. Comfortis

	Capstar	Comfortis
Form	Tablet	Flavored Tablet
Kills Fleas and Ticks	Fleas Only	Fleas Only
Repels Fleas	No	No
Other Parasites	No	No
Active Ingredient	Nitenpyram	Spinosad
Duration	24 Hours	1 Month
Prescription Needed	No	Yes
Waterproof or Water Resistant	Yes	Yes
Price per Dose (Based on a Small Sized Dog)	$5.00	$17.00
Minimum Age Requirement	4-weeks	14 -Weeks

Side Effects

All flea medications, regardless of how safe they claim to be, have the chance of side effects.

Capstar Side Effects

Comfortis Side Effects

However, if you are using a product with ivermectin, such as Heartgard, at the same time as Comfortis, additional side-effects are possible, such as:

Which Flea Treatment is Better?

Which is Safest?

Winner: Capstar

Capstar is a safe flea treatment; though it has side effects, they are not common. Plus, Capstar is safe enough to administer for two consecutive days.

Which Works Fastest?

Winner: Tie

They both start working in just 30 minutes.

Which is Cheapest?

Winner: Capstar

Capstar, is only $5 per dose.

Which Lasts Longer?

Winner: Comfortis

Comfortis lasts up to one month, Capstar only lasts for a day.

Standout Features

Capstar does not require a prescription and is an economical choice.

Comfortis is a flea preventative that kills fleas quickly and lasts for up to a month.

Conclusion

Overall winner is Comfortis.

Comfortis not only kills fleas but works as a preventative that will continue to keep your dog safe from fleas.

Though I like both Capstar and Comfortis, especially since they work faster than most flea products, they are very different, and each is better in specific situations.

Use Capstar if:

• Your dog has fleas and you don't have access to a prescription
• You recently picked up a dog from the shelter that has fleas and hasn't seen a vet yet
• If your dog is already on a product with ivermectin and you need to get rid of fleas quickly

Use Comfortis if:

• Your dog actively has fleas but is not already on a preventative
• You are looking for an effective fast-acting flea medicine that will last the whole month

FAQs

Resources

1. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200113005467/en/Elanco-Signs-Agreement-with-PetIQ-to-Divest-Capstar%C2%AE
2. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ivermectin