Frontline alternative (for dogs)?

littlesnuggy

I'm sure I read a thread on here with alternatives to Frontline flea treatment but I now can't find it.

I think that the Frontline I've been using on my pug isn't working: At end of November I found flea dirt on him (he's my first dog and it took me a while to realise what it was) so treated with Frontline spot-on, which admittedly I hadn't used for a while. No further dirt/fleas found until 3 weeks later when I combed him and found a couple of fleas under his tail (on his back as he has a curly tail). Happened to be at the vets that week so asked the vet who said to re-treat.

We're now 3 weeks on again (so the Frontline should still be effective) but again last night when combing him I found a couple of fleas under his tail - none elsewhere on him though, and I assume this is because it's warm/dark under his tail so that's where they like to live/breed.

I'd like to treat him again with something different but unsure as to what the best product would be?

Any recommendations gratefully received.


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BECKIN1507

I've just changed from frontline to advantage, it uses a different ingredient than frontline, its uses the same as advocate but doesn't treat worms (advocate added another ingredient) and its available without prescription now. I'm not sure this is the cheapest place to get it but I get mine from here as they are always deliver quickly. I also buy house stuff acclaim or indorex from here http://www.medicanimal.com/setSessionLocale/product?product_id=9&newLocale=en_GB

~Chameleon~

Have you sprayed the house with something like Acclaim or Indorex? (don't be tempted to use petshop or supermarket products, they don't work) If not, then this is why you're still seeing fleas as they live in the environment and not on the animal, so no matter how often you treat your dog they will remain until you treat your house as well.

littlesnuggy

Thanks both - I'd done some research this afternoon and come to the same conclusion; Advantage & Indorex for the house! We have solid wood floors & a leather sofa so I vacuumed everything very thoroughly at the weekend (ie moved sofa/TV unit/fridge for first time in 18 months!), binned the bag and put a flea collar in the new bag as awI s recommended on here previously. I will order the Indorex and move everything again next weekend to spray it all.

Should I be spraying the curtains? And the dog bed? I washed his bed at 60 degrees at the weekend and binned his blanket, so hopefully I've made a good start!

con1888

yep curtains and dog bed defo.

BECKIN1507

Washing on a 60 should kill fleas but I still spray mine and curtains and the fabric under the leather sofa, cushions, throw overs, anything that can be sprayed gets sprayed in my house. Even places your dog doesn't go will need spraying as fleas can jump on your clothes and you can carry them in to other rooms, and the jump high themselves! Thinking of flea collars, my vet tried to get me to buy a new flea collar that has come out on prescription only, it looked good, last 7-8months I think but I don't really like flea collars, another vet once told me that they are a waste of time and the whole body never gets full protection. They usually end up with fleas on the back end. I can't remember what they were called it began with S.

BECKIN1507

Its called Seresto, they are more than double this price at my vets http://www.medicanimal.com/product/~product_id=106060

littlesnuggy

Don't really want him to have yet another collar - he has his normal one with his ID tag on, wears a harness for walks and an LED collar for evening walks. Add a fourth and he'll look ridiculous!

Will get the spray and spray all the rooms. Is it safe to spray our pillows & mattress? If so, I assume this shouldn't be done straight before going to bed though.

BECKIN1507

I strip the bed chuck it all in the washing machine on a 60 or higher if you can then spray mattress's and pillows and duvet (lightly) I do it all in the mornings then I have time to open windows and make all the beds in the evening. I do go over the top but I really can not stand fleas they drive me insane, if I think the dogs have them (when they usually haven't) my house gets redone and so do my animals much more than they should need to be.

Katiehound

Another treatment that you may consider is Program. It's a tablet which is ingested and chemical goes into blood stream. Won't kill adult fleas but will break the cycle making the fleas sterile. Not an instant cure.

pippinpuss

I've also noticed that Frontline has stopped working this year. Have they changed the formula? My vet has suggested I change to Stronghold. (they sell both). This seems to have done the trick. So will try it again when Spring comes.