Comfortis® (spinosad) for Dogs: Frequently Asked Questions
Comfortis Basics
Q: What are Comfortis® (spinosad) chewable tablets?
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 the active ingredient in Comfortis. It belongs to a new novel class of antiparasitics known as spinosyns, which are derived from a naturally-occurring soil microbe. It works by attacking the nervous system of insects, causing rapid death of adult fleas.
Q: How long does Comfortis last?
Comfortis has demonstrated full effectiveness over a 30-day duration.1 View a short video testimonial about the many benefits Comfortis offers.
Q: When should treatment with Comfortis begin?
Treatment with Comfortis chewable tablets can begin at any time of the year. Comfortis is most effective when given one month before fleas become active and monthly dosing is continued 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 is important for you to treat all animals in your household with a veterinarian-approved flea protection product.
Consult your veterinarian for the flea treatment options most appropriate for your area. See also “What should I discuss with my veterinarian regarding Comfortis for my dog?”
Q: Can Comfortis be given to cats?
No. Comfortis is not registered for use on cats. Comfortis was developed exclusively for administration to dogs.
If you also need flea control for your cat, Elanco offers a great choice for flea control for cats.
Talk to your veterinarian about any flea control product before administering or applying it to your pet to ensure it's the best choice for your pet's health. Involving your veterinarian in your pet's healthcare choices helps you avoid the expense — and potential danger — of the guesswork involved with using direct-to-consumer treatments.
Effective Flea Treatment
“The fleas are dying before their eyes…”
Veterinarians and their staff talk about their clients' satisfaction with Comfortis' fast results.
Q: How quickly will Comfortis kill fleas?
In a laboratory study spinosad, the active ingredient in Comfortis, started to kill fleas within 30 minutes and killed 100% of the fleas within 4 hours. Comfortis chewable tablets kill fleas before they can lay eggs.1
Q: Does seeing fleas on my dog mean that the treatment is not working?
Comfortis kills fleas before they can lay eggs, when used monthly according to the label directions. If, within a month after your dog receives Comfortis, you see fleas on your dog, it is most likely that these are new fleas. These new fleas will be killed before they can produce eggs that contaminate your home. Continued monthly use of Comfortis can prevent any new flea infestations.
However, your dog can continue to be exposed to the fleas living in the environment, so all animals in the household should be treated with an approved flea product to help control the flea population. Learn more about controlling flea infestations in your home.
Safe Flea Treatment
Q: Is it safe to give my dog Comfortis?
Comfortis has been demonstrated to be safe in pure and mixed breeds of healthy dogs when used according to label directions for dogs and puppies 14 weeks of age and older and five pounds of body weight or greater.
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 might need to be considered. Please discuss these options with your pet's veterinarian.
Q: What side effects might occur with Comfortis?
As with any medication, sometimes side effects can occur. In some cases, dogs vomited after receiving Comfortis. During field studies, no severe or prolonged vomiting occurred.
Additional adverse reactions observed in the clinical studies were itching, decreased activity, diarrhea, inflammation of the skin, redness of the skin, decreased appetite and redness of the ear. All reactions were regarded as mild.
See the Important Safety Information at the bottom of this page, or print the Comfortis client information sheet for future reference.
Administering Comfortis
Easy to Use
Flea protection doesn't have to be a monthly struggle. Vets and their staff explain why.
Q: How should I give Comfortis to my dog?
Give Comfortis with food for maximum effectiveness. Because Comfortis is a beef-flavored, chewable tablet, it can be offered as a treat. In fact, up to 90% of dogs accept it freely or in their food.2
Visit about Comfortis for more detail or download the Comfortis label.
To help you remember the monthly dosing schedule, stick-on labels are included for your calendar — or sign up for monthly reminders.
Q: How much food do I have to give my dog when administering the Comfortis tablet?
In field trials, dog owners were instructed to give the Comfortis chewable tablet with food. However, the quantity of food was not specified and Comfortis was still effective.
A suggestion might be to give the Comfortis tablet first then feed your dog his/her regularly scheduled meal. For free feeders (dogs who nibble throughout the day), you might take the food away at night, give the Comfortis tablet first in the morning, then put their food back down.
Q: What if I miss a dose of Comfortis?
Give your dog his or her regular dose immediately, then resume a regular monthly schedule from there.
Download the Comfortis label for more detail.
Q: What if I give more than the prescribed amount of Comfortis to my dog?
Contact your veterinarian if you believe your dog has ingested more than the recommended dose of Comfortis.
Visit about Comfortis for more detail or download the Comfortis label.
You don't have to isolate your dog
“I have two small children, so I have not been a real fan of topicals…”
Q: Should I restrict either my dog's activity or contact with my dog after the tablet is consumed?
No. Since Comfortis is an oral formulation, you may maintain normal activities and interactions with your dog.
Q: Can other medications be given while my dog is taking Comfortis?
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 that you administered and/or intend to administer to your dog.
Q: What should I discuss with my veterinarian regarding Comfortis for my dog?
Your veterinarian is your dog's healthcare expert and can make the best recommendation for medications for your dog. This includes the prevention, control and/or treatment of parasites such as fleas, heartworms and intestinal parasites that can cause conditions that include flea allergy dermatitis, anemia and heart disease. Key points of your discussion might include the following:
- The best time to start flea treatment in your geographic region
- What dosage options are best for your dog
- What to do if you miss a dose of Comfortis
- What other medications you are giving your dog
- What to do about a severe flea infestation
- What steps you can take to prevent re-infestation of fleas in your home
Print the Comfortis a client information sheet for future reference.
