General Product Information
Frontline Plus is a flea and tick medication that is intended for topic monthly application on dogs and cats. The manufacturer claims that Frontline Plus can eliminate all adult fleas in as little as 18 hours, and all ticks in as little as 48 hours. Frontline Plus also serves as a pest growth regulator that can effectively kill the eggs and larvae of fleas. In addition, the manufacturer claims that Frontline Plus works on various types of ticks such as Brown Dog ticks, American dog ticks, and Lone Star ticks. Frontline Plus is also an effective remedy against the major carrier of Lyme disease, deer ticks.
Frontline Plus is intended for use only in cats and dogs that are eight weeks old and above.
The primary active ingredient in Frontline Plus is Fipronil, which is an insecticide that targets the central nervous system of both fleas and ticks. Frontline Plus also contains S-Methoprene, which prevents the growth of insects and kills the eggs and larvae of fleas. Upon application of Frontline Plus, these active ingredients are deposited into the sebaceous glands of the animal and are continuously secreted from the hair follicles. This ensures a constant protection that is waterproof as well as long-lasting.
Frontline Plus
Frontline Plus is intended only for external use, and is generally safe for pregnant or nursing animals. If you intend to use Frontline Plus on animals that are undergoing treatment with any other type of medication however, you should first consult a veterinarian. The same goes for older animals or those suffering from any type of health condition.
Frontline Plus is flammable and harmful to humans when ingested. You should also avoid getting Frontline Plus in your eyes and on your skin, and you should wash your hands thoroughly after use.
Frontline Plus comes in packages of 3 doses, 6 doses, and 12 doses, and is manufactured by Merial.
Possible Side Effects As Acknowledged By The Manufacturer
According to Merial, pets treated with Frontline Plus may show signs of irritation on to area where the product is applied, although this side effect is generally temporary. If the irritation does persist or worsens over the next few days, the dog or cat should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Customer Reviews And Ratings
Customer reviews of Frontline Plus seem to be split down the middle, with some people reporting satisfactory results, and others noticing seemingly no improvement in their pets. One customer for example managed to successfully use Frontline Plus for two months, after which the fleas on her dog seemed to develop immunity to the product. This customer was particularly disappointed in Frontline Plus, especially given its relatively high price.
Another customer echoed the same observation with regard to Frontline Plus’s comparatively high price, as well as its seeming ineffectiveness. In spite of having to pay just a little less than $100 on two boxes of Frontline Plus, this customer was disappointed in the lack of improvement in the condition of her pet.
On the other hand, one customer reports fairly satisfactory results with Frontline Plus, having used the product on her dog for almost 7 years. She did however express some doubts with the product’s continued effectiveness.
One other customer also reports satisfactory results with Frontline Plus, noticing a distinct improvement in her dog, particularly after most of the fleas died. In fact, this customer reports that any fleas that later managed to make it back to her dog’s coat were subsequently eliminated by the residual product remaining on the dog’s fur.
My healthy 2 year old male cat had a massive heart attack the day after we applied the proper dose of Frontline to the back of his neck. The vet has not heard of any similar reactions to Frontline. I think that my cat’s death was a lethal reaction to the Frontline medication. Beware of using Frontline if you love your cat.
Hello Becky,
I am sorry yo hear that. I never used Frontline before but thanks for the warning.
We tried using Frontline for several months consecutively on our dog and cat, and it did not work. Frontline refused to give us a refund for our unused applicators. I know several people who have tried Frontline and say it is no good. One vet in our area has stopped selling it because of so many complaints. Comfortis tablets for dogs work great. During the cooler months we sprinkle a little garlic on the dog’s food and he never has a flea, but we have to give him the tablets during the summer.
Hello Karen,
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
It’s worked fine for our German Shepherd (so far). However, like any other med, one never knows how a pet will react to it. My dog had a very bad reaction to Prion. It caused him to seize. Luckily, we discontinued the medication and the problem soon went away …
I don’t know if this will help anyone, but there are a few videos in this article that I found helpful. In particular, the second video explains how the dog and the cat version are made of the same stuff, but the cat version is dosed differently due to a difference in metabolism.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Frontline-Plus-For-dogs-And-Cats