If you use Frontline Plus flea/tick spot treatment for your pets, you might be interested to know that it doesn't work anymore. I must be the last to know, but it is true, from my own experience.
Just bought a comfortis pill from the vet to get my little poodle through until I can figure out what to do about a new spot treatment or pill for fleas. You can't reapply the spot insecticide more than every 30 days for the little guys anyway. But, bottom line, the Frontline spot treatment has no effect on fleas, and we were unprotected for a banner year for them. I have also started letting him follow me around in the garden, when he was previously a total house dog. So, he was incredibly infested, within two weeks of Frontline spot treatment, when I noticed.
The vet's office told me that the salesman said that yes, Frontline did change the formula. But, the fleas may have changed too. From the url I linked, it hasn't worked in several years. So, head's up!
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Any recommendations? I've
Any recommendations?
I've been complaining that LF doesn't work.
Oops. FL (that dyslexia thingie again)
comfortis
The woman at Petsmart told me to bathe him in original blue Dawn and leave the suds on as long as he would let me--which was about 7 minutes. Rinse and dry him off and brush him with comb. If still any live fleas, rinse with 1/2 half apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water. I had to do the rinse but that finished them off. This only works as an emergency treatment. The vet told me to give him a comfortis pill which will kill them in 30 minutes. I did that last night and you have to use the pill every 30 days. $22 a whack. It does not cover ticks so I am interested in what everybody else uses for fleas/ticks.
We found out last year and
We found out last year and were equally surprised that everyone else already knew.
I can't recall what we are using now.
We've had the same
We've had the same experience. Will let the Mrs. expound when she gets a chance.
I started using the Comfortis
I started using the Comfortis last year. It's been great, especially after the previous two years when none of the spot treatments worked (and I went through all the spot treatments).
Now Comfortis doesn't kill the flea larvae, but it will kill any flea that jumps onto your dog. It's also better for your dog if he/she has skin problems (ie dermatitis problems from dry skin or allergies).
As for keeping fleas out of the home without using chemicals, sprinkle salt on your carpets and leave for a few hours then vacuum.
Thanks!
I am worried about that...
Our use of FL stopped working
Our use of FL stopped working last year too. Have been trying it this year and have battled fleas worse than ever. Didn't hear anything about this till we saw it posted by a "friend" last night on a "social network website." Guess the word's out.
Have fleas mutated? Of course that would be evolution, and we know that doesn't happen (heh).
inevitable design
Theoretically, hormone disrupters should be evolution-proof. In practice, evolution may have more intelligence on its side than its proponents wish to admit.
Why would hormone disrupters
Why would hormone disrupters be evolution-proof?
We use Revolution on our cat.
We use Revolution on our cat. Vet said its chemical formula is better for pets.
Thanks
Good to know.
Yes, Revolution
The upside is that it's supposed to kill heartworm as well as fleas.
The downside is, as far as I know, you can only get it at the vet's, rather than retail store.
And I suppose, it will eventually stop working when the little critters develop immunity to it.
Revoltion flea tick worm killer
You can order Revolution on line without a prescription and for much less money. It is sold in Australia and Britain (called Stronghold there) where it is available over the counter. It is exactly the same stuff made by Pfziers. Try the Pet Shed site. Only takes 4 or 5 days to get it.
Yes, we learned that
Yes, we learned that Frontline was no longer working as expected last month. We, too, found out two weeks after applying Frontline when Gracie was getting groomed and the groomer noticed a flea. Luckily she wasn't infested and we quickly obtained a couple of the Comfortis pills to get us through the warm months. We're hoping to find a replacement that controls fleas and ticks.
The EPA has a web page on "taking care of fleas and ticks on your pet." Their final advise was "consider keeping pets indoors." Not gonna happen. Although, we considered it last year when we discontinued flea treatment in the winter, as we have done many times even in Florida, and Gracie got fleas and brought them inside. What an ordeal, vacuuming daily, washing her bedding and our bedding frequently until finally we were rid of the fleas. The vet gave us Comfortis at that time as well.
According to Consumer Reports
According to Consumer Reports (August 2011), "the patent has expired on fipronil, one of the active ingredients in Frontline Plus." Could be why they changed their formula, if they did so.
They did change it
The vet told me the salesman for Frontline told him that they did.
Comfortis + heartworm = Trifexis + Costco = savings?
We switched to Comfortis then the vet switched us to Trifexis which eliminated a second pill for heartworm prevention.
I am reading that Costco will fill animal prescriptions so that should further reduce the monthly cost.
Getting the dog to eat the pill is another story.
True
I had to break the comfortis into four pieces and shove each of them down Bailey's toothless throat.
vet scripts
Walmart pushed through a change in the law that went into effect last year that allows pharmacies to fill scripts. Kroger, CVS, etc. are all following suit. I need trilostane for one dog that no one stocks yet.
Thanks for the info
We use Frontline Plus on our cats, who are indoor-outdoor. Haven't noticed any fleas or ticks but will be on the lookout. I didn't know the formula had been changed. Thanks for the info.
We used to use Advantage. It is effective only on fleas, not ticks, we found out when one of our cats developed a deadly blood disorder from an organism transmitted by ticks, which we had found on him. At that point, we switched to Frontline Plus about 3 years ago, at vet's advice.
Advantage still works
I was under the impression that most of the over-the-counter stuff was inneffective even before last year. We've been using RX Advantage (now Advantage II or some such) and it works great on fleas.
I know it doesn't work on ticks, but I don't think my cats would tolerate a tick on them even if they went outside.
Okay, here's an update to my
Okay, here's an update to my comment above. I just ran a comb over the cats and found lots of flea eggs on one and a few on the other. I found a flea on one. We have been using Frontline Plus every 30 days. Well, we won't be using it again. No doubt our house is now infested.
We are debating what to use next, because we have to have something that works against ticks, too, as we live in the country with lots of ticks. Some chemicals are really not safe for cats.
Considering how much we have been paying for Frontline, I'm ticked! No pun intended.
sorry!
That is why I started this thread. Sorry you found out, but better to find out than not! Hope we can collectively come up with something. The comfortis seems to be working for my 12 pound elderly poodle. Don't know if it works for cats. But, you might want to wash them in Dawn original blue formula, per my post above.
The house infestation is the scariest part.
lavender oil to get rid of fleas
We had a flea infestation a few years ago. Lavender oil drops seemed to eliminate them around the house. Smelled Ok too.
Good news!
That is good news. I will get some. I am going to spray some places with the 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water rinse too since it worked pretty well on my dog in combo with the Dawn dish detergent shampoo. Thought I would soak some area rugs in the vinegar solution. Do you mix the lavender oil with water to spray?
laundry detergent kills fleas
(in reply to Tess)
Just wanted to say that regular washing with detergent will kill the fleas on your area rugs. The flea will die instantly, no need to soak.
And the vinegar is not effective as a premise spray, unfortunately. I wish it did work, as I'd rather have the cider vinegar smell than chemicals.
I doubt the formula has
I doubt the formula has changed. We last bought FL over a year ago, IIRC (though it did stop working around that time--OK). So this older package lists fipronil at 9.8% and (S)-methoprene at 8.8% as active ingredients.
Don't know why they would voluntarily change a safe and effective product, assuming it was both. What has changed?
In spite of all the fleas our dog has, I've not seen more than a couple stray fleas in the house, and our boy stays in about 85% of the time. No probs except an itchy dog.
I looked at our packaging and
I looked at our packaging and the formula is the same (fipronil at 9.8% and (S)-methoprene at 8.8% as active ingredients). We have a package purchased December, 2011, and a package purchased June, 2012. The formula is the same as yours on both. Of course, don't know how long the vet has had them. There is no expiration date.
Update to my update
I looked around online, and apparently the formula for the original Advantage for cats has been changed. It's now Advantage II, and some folks have reported neurological and other problems in their cats after using it. The original Advantage worked well for us, on fleas only, and I am afraid we may not be able to get the original now. Apparently, some patent expired there as well, and $$$ rules as the pharmaceutical companies try to stay ahead of loss of $$$ to generics. We lose some good drugs that way, as these companies sometimes/often pay off other companies not to make the generics. Documented.
One tip I will pass along on the Advantage: no matter how much our cats weighed -- and we have some hefty ones -- we always used the one for cats under 9 pounds. This was to keep as low a dose as possible on our cats, because this stuff is toxic, let's face it. We found the low dose of the original Advantage was superb against fleas on all our cats. Not so on ticks, though.
I hope we can find the original Advantage somewhere.
Good points
I heard on the news that mosquitoes are out of control this year too. Maybe the bugs are winning. But, we don't want to over-do the treatments and hurt our companions, either.
One tip we learned was to get
One tip we learned was to get a flea collar and cut off a piece to put in your vacuum cleaner bag and thoroughly vacuum your carpets and upholstery for a few days. Be careful handling the flea collar material, though. Apparently it's pretty toxic. I wouldn't recommend using them on pets, either, for that reason.
Found this online
Getting Rid of Fleas in Your Home
Getting rid of fleas in your home is essential to keeping fleas off of your pets permanently. This can be a little more challenging. First, wash everything in the home that is washable. This includes pillow covers, pet bedding and anything else your pet comes into contact with. Upholstery and carpets should be steam cleaned if possible. Use a high-powered vacuum to help remove flea eggs from carpets.
Some home remedies to get rid of fleas involve common grocery items. Sprinkling salt on carpets and under cushions both before and after vacuuming can help to kill fleas. Apple cider vinegar can be mixed with water and sprayed directly on your pet, or it can be used as a household cleaner and repellant. The acidic environment it creates drives fleas away.
Getting rid of fleas in your home doesn’t have to be a pungent chore. A more pleasant-smelling repellant can be made with essential oil of eucalyptus. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of the oil with 8 to 10 ounces of water and shake well. Spray this around the house and in places where fleas hide, but do not spray it directly on your pet. To control fleas outdoors, spread pine needles, cedar chips or diatomaceous earth in problem areas. Consistent use of these home remedies to get rid of fleas protects your pet’s health and saves you money on vet bills.
I have a steam mop, so will use that too on some upholstery and carpet areas.
Revolution ordering
I have had good luck with ordering from this website: (link...)
although I think the product might be shipped from outside the US. My cat lost a lot of fur because of a flea allergy and Central Vet recommended Revolution and it has worked fine.
Dangers with Frontline Flea
Frontline has killed many old dogs. Their old bodies just cannot tolerate the poison. Make no mistake that it is poison. The Vets do not want to admit how unsafe it is to our old dogs and want us to think that the problems that come along after its use are due to old age. Think again.
The package warns people to wash hands and avoid contact. Stop and consider that warning if you love your pet.
Now Walmart carries the Pet Armour that is causing really bad problems. Same ingredients. I know three cases of dogs having seizures after use. Clearly the poison is not just staying in the skin. Where else is it going? The fleas vex us and our pets. The poison is a game changer, but at what price?
Please consider this when giving the magic comfortis pill that our vets assure us is safe. Poison by any other name is still Poison. Ask yourself if you can really trust what the drug company tells you for the good of your pet. I declined the pill for my pets.
My sweet old poodle was fine until I put frontline on her. She then had a stroke and died. I know many stories like mine. Also Golden Retrievers and Pit Bulls are a high risk at any age. They changed the formula for a reason. The new one is just as bad.
The fleas did not kill Poodle the poison did.
Your poodle
Did you have a Necropsy done on your poodle to prove that the Frontline killed her?
I'm back with some news
I'm back with some news. You can still get the original Advantage flea med for cats (and dogs) from several sellers. I ordered through Amazon.com some of this original Advantage flea med that apparently has been discontinued by the manufacturer, which is Bayer. I ordered from a separate seller via Amazon.com.
We used the original Advantage for years, and it's good. Does not work on ticks, though. This seller we ordered from is here in the U.S. (which I recommend), and they specify on Amazon.com that they only sell the original Advantage, and for a good price. I e-mailed three of the sellers and was satisfied with what they told me about what they are selling. I went with one who has a 100% rating on Amazon and has the lowest price for a seller with that rating.
When you buy from these sellers by way of Amazon, you get the Amazon guarantee and a no-hassle refund if anything goes wrong with these sellers.
You don't want a knock-off made in a foreign country.
I do recommend keeping the dose low, the one for cats under 9 pounds, no matter how much your cat weighs.
Buy Revolution
Solve the problem by purchasing Revolution on line from Pet Shed. It is NOT a knock off. It is made by the same company and SAME formula as sold in U.S. Australia and Britain are hardly the third world.
PetGuard
My Jack Russell has a horrible flea infestation. She has practically no fur left on her little bottom and is constantly itching. I've tried Advantix, Frontline, vet purchased flea dips and nothing worked. I gave her back to back doses of Frontline and it did not work even for an hour. She did have a seizure. Now, I know what it is from. Thanks to the writer who posted that it is from the poison.
The local pet store (not a chain) didn't listen to what I have already done but informed me that she needs to have Frontline and to spend $30 on their anti-itch spray. They told me that I have changed her food, which I haven't, and that was the culprit. NOT. Walgreen has an anti-itch for dogs for $8.
Then I started giving her PetGuard from my local vitamin store. It's a Yeast & Garlic Powder which comes with a little scoop. I give her two full scoops a day that I mix with water in her food and have for almost a week. (It's $9.99 from Natural Food Patch in Ferndale, MI)
The product is listed on Amazon and the posts have said that it works. So I tried it. And it has been the only thing that has given her any relief. Me, too.
Here's what I have noticed. The fleas have been surfacing and I have been tweezing them off and killing them. She is scratching much less. She is sleeping thru the night. After only a week of use, I am seeing a difference.
How much poison can we put on our loved ones?
So, I vaccum house & car daily, and use a flea comb on her. I also have some "paper" hospital tape nearby that I use to trap fleas, larvae, etc.
My little friend is too old for this. I am amazed at the difference -- finally something that has worked.
Dawn original dish detergent
Bathe your dog in the original Dawn blue dish detergent and leave the suds on for as long as the dog will allow (which will probably be 5 minutes max). Rinse thoroughly with water and then apply 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water. This combo will kill fleas for sure. I think it is alright to do this once a week.
What we need is a good winter with some good low temps to kill all the bugs that have gotten the upper hand this past year.
Hate to mention it, but I've
Hate to mention it, but I've heard garlic is on the toxic list for dogs. Small doses, maybe, but what is that for a given dog?
(link...)
As I've said before, we use
As I've said before, we use Revolution. Our cat has severe flea allergies (among other allergies) and we actually take her to a kitty dermatologist. He says Revolution is safe - in fact, safe enough to use every 2 weeks if you really have to.
We also give her an oral medication for allergies, which has no side effects, and helps a lot.
If your pet has severe allergies, I would recommend a trip to Dr. Hnilica. He's in Louisville, but he's great. It's worth the trip.
Message me if you want contact info.
POISON
After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of selamectin, the agency and Pfizer received reports that a number of cats and dogs had allergy-type reactions to the medication. These side effects have included increased itching, hives, fever, loss of muscle coordination and death..... THAT IS SEIZURES AND DEATH!
Warnings for Animals
Pets in generally poor health or who have cracked or broken skin should not receive applications of selamectin. Nor should puppies younger than 6 weeks of age or kittens younger than 8 weeks of age..... POOR HEALTH AND FLEA BITTEN SKIN!
Warnings for Humans
In bolded text, the prescribing information for selamectin states, "Not for human use. Keep out of the reach of children. In humans, Revolution (selamectin) may be irritating to the skin and eyes." People who have gotten selamectin on their skin have broken out in rashes and experienced intense itchiness. These negative reactions occur because selamectin contains isopropyl (i.e., rubbing) alcohol and the preservative butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT. Anyone who gets selamectin on his or her skin should immediately wash the affected area with soap and water. Eye contact requires flushing with cool water, and accidental ingestion requires medical care...... MEDICAL CARE FOR HUMANS BUT NOT ANIMALS!
POISON BY ANY OTHER NAME IS STILL POISON! IF IT IS HARMFUL TO YOU THEN IT IS HARMFUL TO YOUR PET. USE COMMON SENSE. The drug companies are convincing us to do bad things with these poisons in the name of love. The dawn dish soap works. The government uses it to wash the oil spills off the sea birds. It is safe. Just be sure to rinse really well. Left over soap causes its own problems. Takes more investment of your time. Poison is faster yet comes at a terrible cost that may show up now or down the road.
"POISON BY ANY OTHER NAME IS
"POISON BY ANY OTHER NAME IS STILL POISON! IF IT IS HARMFUL TO YOU THEN IT IS HARMFUL TO YOUR PET. USE COMMON SENSE. The drug companies are convincing us to do bad things with these poisons in the name of love. The dawn dish soap works. The government uses it to wash the oil spills off the sea birds. It is safe. Just be sure to rinse really well. Left over soap causes its own problems. Takes more investment of your time. Poison is faster yet comes at a terrible cost that may show up now or down the road."
This is not necessarily true. Different species are different, and can have different responses to things they encounter. Indeed, some things that are hazardous to you will also be hazardous to your pet, but other things do not translate that way.
Without comment on the specific treatments mentioned in this thread, I would strongly caution against mistakenly assuming that something safe or dangerous for me is equally safe or dangerous for my pet and vice-versa. While you and your dog share some similar mammalian biology, you will note that there are obvious visually discernible differences between you and your dog. Get out a microscope and some biochemistry equipment, and you'll find even more differences.
Oversimplified "common sense" does not actually trump scientific analysis and extensive knowledge of veterinary medicine in this case. I have no idea whether or not certain flea treatments are or are not hazardous to your dog's health. I would find a trusted veterinarian and consult with him or her, rather than relying too much on internet chatter and anecdotal experiences.
Poison
Poison is Poison in the long run. Scientific analysis has caused a lot of heartache and lawsuits. This is a topic that keeps changing as the information keeps coming in. Fueled by big bucks from the poison makers. Lots of people have died from drugs that were at one time considered safe. BECAUSE OF THE SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS.
They took those drugs because they wanted to improve their health.Putting poison on anyone will not improve their health. Follow the money trail.
Yes our pets have some differences from us. One big difference is that they do not put poison on us then tell us how much they love us.
Each person must consider and decide for their own pet.
Lots of people have died from
Lots of people have died from drugs that were at one time considered safe. BECAUSE OF THE SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS.
Many, many, many orders of magnitude more people's lives have been improved, extended and saved because of scientific analysis in modern medicine, than have been negatively impacted because of error or corruption that distorted scientific results. Also, many, many more people have been negatively impacted, killed, or at best not helped by "medicine" that was administered based on unscientific, anecdotal evidence recommending a given "treatment."
Look, science and modern medicine are not perfect, and big business certainly can corrupt. However, rejecting out-of-hand science-based medicine out of a political distaste for "big pharma" is following the same type of illogic that led Congressman Aken to make the ridiculous statement that the trauma of a 'forcible' rape causes a biological reaction in a woman to prevent pregnancy. Science contravenes that ridiculous statement, but he made it anyway, because somewhere he heard some anecdotal or otherwise unsubstantiated point that supported his political views. That sort of thing leads to truthiness, but rarely the truth.
"Yes our pets have some differences from us. One big difference is that they do not put poison on us then tell us how much they love us."
A cat will, without malice and with great affection, rub and shed all over a beloved human who is horribly allergic to cats.
Dogs & Cats
OK - we need safe, effective flea, tick, and heartworm prevention/control for a dog and also for a cat. Cost is also a concern. Is there anything that can be purchased over the counter and works on all three for dogs, and all three for cats?
We use essential oils, borax, and diatomaceous earth in our home, and they work great. However, using oils and DE on the animals requires frequent applications, and I don't like any of us breathing in the DE.
What does your veterinarian
What does your veterinarian recommend?
Changing Vets
We had some issues with the treatment our epileptic dog received, and have decided to look for a new Vet. Any references on that would be appreciated as well.
Probably not as convenient
Probably not as convenient for you, but the folks at Volunteer Veterinary on Alcoa Highway (Dr. Bihl and Dr. Russell) have been outstanding for us. They also seem to have a good relationship with the U.T. vet school.
(link...)
My kids and I love Patrick
My kids and I love Patrick Hackett and Jennifer Bledsoe at the Pellissippi Veterinary Hospital on Schaeffer Road.
RufusK and I love Dr. Khalsa
RufusK and I love Dr. Khalsa at Fountain City Animal Hospital. Excellent care at very good rates. 688-0776.
I took Faith to the vet today
I took Faith to the vet today with infected hair follicles on her chin due, in part to fleas. I had bathed her with Dawn and thought they were under control but she has been scratching again recently and the doctor did find evidence of fleas around the base of her tail.
She said her clinic had stopped selling Frontline and is now recommending Comfortis. The Frontline still kills ticks but not fleas. I asked about poisoning my baby girl and she said the main ingredient in Comfortis is also used as an insecticide on organic foods for humans. Apparently we too are protected from fleas.
I found this at the Google:
The active ingredient is Spinosad.
PS: She also told me I should stop this foolishness of trying to find her a home and just adopt her myself. I'm beginning to think resistance is futile.
We've been using Comfortis
We've been using Comfortis this year due to the Frontline problem. We still use Frontline on occasion for ticks. Our vet suggested we use the two products a couple of weeks apart.
I agree with Factchecker on not using Dawn on Faith. Dawn has a very high grease cutting factor that may not be so good for her skin. We use either baby shampoo or a dog shampoo with oatmeal.
Hmmm, Faith is soon to be a permanent member of the family? So sweet. Although I know I would have trouble managing two pups. They can be a handful at times.
Good luck.
Just IMO
I dont think Dawn's a great idea to use as a shampoo. Too harsh and I'd expect it would strip all the beneficial skin oils, etc. It's only got its favorable rep from its use in oil spills when there's an emergency to cut through heavy oil in order to save wildlife. I don't even think it's a good choice as a carwash. Too strong and not made for the application.
That's good to know about Spinosad, though. Ours got a skin infection in late summer/fall from all the fleas and we're still finding the occasional stray flea. Of course, I've never mowed our grass in winter and it is getting to be in need now.
I'd say Faith approves of the other advice you got. Good luck!
Oh, the Dawn bath was
Oh, the Dawn bath was definitely a one time deal and it did help for a while. Faith is the first dog I have ever had who wants to play in the bathtub during a bath and we both got thoroughly wet. I always have to be sure the bathroom door is closed when I shower or I will have company.
Other than the expense of properly keeping two big dogs, there is the fear that Lulu doesn't get as much attention as she deserves now her home has been invaded. She often reminds Faith that she's the big dog around here.
I do have a great new way to exercise them now. Last summer my friend Lanny and I spent several weeks with lopping shears and chain saws clearing a walkway up to the top of the ridge behind my house so I now have what is essentially my own dog park. One trail ascends almost straight up the hill and rises 276 feet in elevation during a run of 860 feet as the crow flies. The one I generally use meanders around and gets me there more gently. I go a couple of times each week with Faith and Titus on leashes and Lulu on her own. She never lets me out of her sight.
All my KV friends are welcome to come take a stroll in the Cheneworth Gap Dog Park. For friends with little dogs, we can leave my troublemakers in the house as we stroll.
I may have to take you up on
I may have to take you up on your offer, once the weather gets warmer again. Can I take the trail that meaners around to get me there gently?
Nobody has mentioned food
Nobody has mentioned food grade diatomaceous earth. It's natural and works for our pets along with batheing.
Yes, I find the meandering
Yes, I find the meandering trail to be the better choice too. We can lock the back door and leave Faith (my neighbor calls her Lilith) at home.
Last summer she climbed over the five foot chain link fence to join us in the woods. We shut down the chain saw and I took her back in. Ten minutes later she had opened the sliding glass patio door and bounded over the fence once again. So far she hasn't learned to pick the lock on the door.
I love your stories about
I love your stories about Faith.
Thanks Pam, There is never a
Thanks Pam,
There is never a dull moment with this girl around the house.