Help! Tapeworms and fleas won't go away!

tiffsea

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Hello!

I have three cats and they have been religiously on frontline for years. Two months ago, I saw a tapeworm larvae, so my vet prescribed drontal and didn't see any fleas or flea dirt on my cats, so told  me to continue with frontline. My cats have had two doses of drontal, spaced between the two months that have passed. Today I not only found a flea on one of my cats, but also took some time looking at her butt *gross* and saw another larvae!!! I'm so upset! What can I do to resolve this situation? My vet recommended another dose of drontal and switching from frontline to revolution, which deworms with each application. Does this seem like a good idae? I want the fleas AND tapeworm GONE FOR GOOD! Please help! I clean all the time, have mostly wood floors, a couple of rugs I vacuum often, I wash my sheets all the time... etc, etc... I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm pissed frontline has failed me and I don't understand how it can be sold for so much money and not even work :(  

Thank you for reading and I appreciate all responses. I want my little babies to get better and be parasite free! 
 

stephanietx

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Change to Revolution for the fleas.  Treat your kitties again for the tapeworms.  Wash all their bedding in hot water.  Treat for fleas inside and out. 
 

susank521

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You're certainly not doing anything wrong. Are your kitties mousers? They can pick up the tape worms (and fleas) that way. Unfortunately, nothing can be 100% effective against fleas when the cats are constantly exposed, as is the case in my neck of the woods. It sure won't hurt to change to another flea treatment, such as Revolution and use the Drontal again. I knew Revolution was effective on roundworm and heartworm, didn't know about tapeworms. There's been a lot of talk about fleas becoming resistant to fipronil (the adult flea killer in Frontline) but I continue to prefer to use it on certain cat populations for a variety of reasons and am still pleased with the results.
 
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tiffsea

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I haven't seen mice or any hints of mice in my house. My cats never go outside, but I do have a dog (who's also on frontline) so perhaps he brings them in from outdoors? It's so frustrating I hate knowing my babies have worms in them. I got the third dose of drontal and will be giving them frontline and I hope that helps. Thanks for your responses! 
 
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stephanietx

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The dog may be carrying them in.  If so, you should treat your yard for sure.  You can sprinkle Borax or food grade Diatomaceous Earth on your carpets, working it into the pile, then vacuum it up.  Put a flea collar in your vacuum bag.
 
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