A Winner In The Fight Against Fleas And Ticks
October 3rd, 2006This week, I’d like to review what is, in my opinion, one of the best options for controlling fleas and ticks on the market today. The name of this product is Frontline Plus.
Fleas continue to be one of the most common problems we battle for our pets, with ticks being a common threat as well. Fleas can not only make your pet uncomfortable, they can also call cause skin allergies, anemia, and can transmit tapeworms. They are also important in the transmission of diseases such as cat scratch disease. And fleas are present throughout most of the United States.
Ticks, like fleas, can make your pet uncomfortable and can also pass on a number of diseases to both you and your pet.
As you can see, controlling fleas and ticks is an important part of keeping your pet healthy and safe. Even if your pet does not currently have fleas or ticks, it is prudent to take preventive measures to ensure that these pests don’t become a problem. If your pet already has a flea or tick problem, then treating them becomes even more important.
Frontline Plus is an easy to use product which is very effective in controlling both fleas and ticks. This is a product that I have used on my own pets as well as recommending to my clients for use on their pets. I will not recommend a product without having faith in its effectiveness. However, I’m pleased to say that I have found Frontline Plus to be both very safe and very effective.
Frontline Plus is a topical medication. It is supplied in an applicator containing the proper amount of medication for your pet. It is applied by placing the applicator tip through your pet’s hair coat and down to the skin between the shoulder blades, and emptying the entire content of the applicator onto a single spot on your pet’s skin by squeezing the applicator. Frontline Plus should be applied once a month.
Not only does Frontline Plus kill up to 100% of adult fleas on your pet within 24 hours, it also contains a special ingredient that kills flea eggs and larvae to keep all stages of fleas from developing and infecting your pet and your home. And it will continue killing fleas for up to one month or longer. It also kills all four stages of the four major ticks which infect our pets, including the ticks that transmit Lyme disease.
Frontline Plus is safe for use on puppies and kittens 8 weeks of age and older, regardless of their size. It can also be used safely on pregnant females or nursing mothers. It remains completely waterproof, even after swimming or bathing. (*Note: I recommend waiting at least 48 hours after applying Frontline Plus before bathing your pet, letting your pet swim, or get wet in any other fashion. This allows the Frontline Plus to dry thoroughly and adequately distribute itself through your pet’s oil glands.)
Frontline Plus works by a process called translocation, which means that when applied, the product is gradually dispersed by the pet’s natural oils, collecting in the oil glands in the skin. It is then "wicked" onto the hair over the next 30 days. The translocation process can take up to 24 hours to complete. It then works by being absorbed through the hard shell covering the flea, affecting the flea’s nervous system and killing the flea. It does not require the flea to bite your pet in order for it to kill the flea. Fleas will die within 18 hours of contact with your treated pet, and ticks will die within 48 hours.
Because Frontline Plus acts by affecting the nervous system of the flea, it tends to make the fleas "hyperexcited". This increased activity may draw the fleas to the top of your pet’s haircoat and make the fleas more visible to you for 24-48 hours after applying the Frontline Plus, until the fleas die. This is actually a sign that the medication is working, though it may seem strange to actually notice more fleas after application.
With any medication, there is a risk of side effects. Frontline Plus is no exception, but it is a very safe product. In the years that I’ve been recommending its use, I can recall only a handful of reactions, which were limited to minor hair loss and irritation at the area of application. These lesions generally regress within a week or two. However, if these signs persist or become more severe, you should consult your pet’s veterinarian.
Who should use Frontline Plus? Anyone who is interested in providing the most complete flea and tick control available.
We invite you to visit 1-800-PetMeds for more information or pricing on Frontline Plus.
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