Quick question about Frontline

Boxerdad · 09-01-2009, 10:35 AM

We found a tick on mach and decided to get more than just the flea collar so we got frontline. I put it on his back on the skin as indicated and as it set in it left like a greasy line all down his back.
Less than a month later we have removed several more from his coat, they are thin so I guess we are catching them before they dig in and feed.

Did I maybe apply the medicine incorrectly? Should I apply it more than once a month? He is indoors 95% of the time.

We have a group of stray cats that I think are the tick carriers that he chases out of the yard every day.

bruinsBoxers · 09-01-2009, 11:54 AM

First I want to say I don't use any topicals anymore . But way back when I did the area down the middle of the back did always feel greasy / oily afterwards .

And you do not want to put on any extra , it is a toxin . By putting on an extra dose you run the risk of him getting sick .

Ticks will die within 48 hours of coming into contact with treated pets fur . So you will still find them on the animal they will die off though.

Frontline site and info.
http://frontline.us.merial.com/hlp_faq.asp

Spyglass Sally · 09-01-2009, 12:25 PM

We also do not use topicals because of concern about toxicity. Dr. Pitcairns book (which I can't recommend highly enough) recommends (besides grooming and looking for ticks) using an herbal flea repellent that contains eucalyptus.

We live in an area with dune grass higher than Buddy that is tick infested. At the beginning of the year we found a tick on him and removed it using a tick twister and then began using Spa Dog's eucalyptus spray when ever he was out running around or if he came back in and was scratching. We've never found another tick on him, but the spray helped with whatever was causing him to itch.

JoeV · 09-01-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyglass Sally

...then began using Spa Dog's eucalyptus spray when ever he was out running around or if he came back in and was scratching. We've never found another tick on him, but the spray helped with whatever was causing him to itch.

I just read about the spray, seems great. I think I'll try that on Lucky rather than giving Frontline. She's off of Frontline at the moment b/c of the hives. Only on heartworm. I think rather than put her back on the Frontline, I'll try this instead. How long will it last on them, is it like a daily/when needed spray?

JoeV · 09-01-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxerdad

Did I maybe apply the medicine incorrectly? Should I apply it more than once a month? He is indoors 95% of the time.

I usually take my time applying it b/c it doesn't all just soak in to her skin in the same spot unless I squeeze a little bit and wait 20 seconds and again and again until it is all out of the packet. That will ensure excess doesn't run down her neck or back or anywhere but the spot applied to. Usually there is not more than a quarter size area that is wet and will dry completely in a couple of hours.

Spyglass Sally · 09-01-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeV

I just read about the spray, seems great. I think I'll try that on Lucky rather than giving Frontline. She's off of Frontline at the moment b/c of the hives. Only on heartworm. I think rather than put her back on the Frontline, I'll try this instead. How long will it last on them, is it like a daily/when needed spray?

With Buddy, we put it on him when a)he's going into an area we know has things that bite or b) he must have gotten into something that bites because he's itching. We check him for ticks and (except for the one at the beginning of spring) don't find any. So it seems this stops them from jumping on but also if he's itching from something that we can't see (so I don't think it's a tick) it seems to stop it.

We don't need it everyday, since it's not our routine to let him run around in the dune grass. But sometimes it just happens.

More often I use it when coming back from the beach where something seems to get him itching.

Boxerdad · 09-02-2009, 09:52 AM

Thanx for the info all

Boxer100 · 09-02-2009, 10:41 PM

We have been using Revolution for Dogs from Pfizer and it works very nicely. It is applied on the top part of the neck. Tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil may work to some extent because they have very strong fragrances and believe me, you wouldn't want to be near it when it is applied. We used tea tree oil to treat a hot spot on our dog's ear, and he hated the smell in the beginning. He got used to it eventually since we had to apply it 2-3 times a day. His ear got better after using it, so it was worth it.

Spyglass Sally · 09-03-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxer100

We have been using Revolution for Dogs from Pfizer and it works very nicely. It is applied on the top part of the neck. Tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil may work to some extent because they have very strong fragrances and believe me, you wouldn't want to be near it when it is applied. We used tea tree oil to treat a hot spot on our dog's ear, and he hated the smell in the beginning. He got used to it eventually since we had to apply it 2-3 times a day. His ear got better after using it, so it was worth it.

Yeah, the smell is a little strong when first applied. Buddy has an area right between his eyes and then up his forehead that he's been itching and I see a few little pimple looking things there, so I started spraying it on my hand, then applying it to the area. I was wondering if something in the beach sand was biting him. When I use the Spa Dog's I don't think of applying it there, but he does stick his head in the sand.

He doesn't like the smell, but it is getting rid of whatever was going on there. It only smells at first though. After it's on him I don't smell it.