Methods for controlling flea and tick infestations in a mammal

A method of controlling a flea and/or tick infestation in a mammal in need thereof, comprising:

• orally administering to said mammal an effective amount of an active material;
• continuing the oral administration substantially daily over a period of days to thereby increase the mammal's blood concentration of the active material to an amount effective to reduce the flea and/or tick infestation;
• after the mammal's blood concentration of the active material reaches the amount effective to reduce the flea or tick infestation, discontinuing the oral administration for a time period of at least one day, wherein the mammal's blood concentration of active material remains effective to control the flea and/or tick infestation over the time period.

A method of administering an effective amount of an active material for controlling a flea and/or tick infestation in a mammal in need thereof, comprising:

• orally administering a feed comprising the active material substantially daily over a period of days to thereby increase the mammal's blood concentration of the active material to an amount effective to reduce the flea and/or tick infestation;
• and
• after the mammal's blood concentration of the active material reaches the amount effective to reduce the flea or tick infestation, discontinuing the oral administration of daily feed for a time period of at least one day, wherein the mammal's blood concentration of active material remains effective to control the flea and/or tick infestation over the time period.