Adverse reactions to flea topicals?

Advantage - On last dog it created an itchy, giant red, oozing sore the next morning, hot to the touch. Eventually had hair loss (it grew back)
 
We had to bath him well to get it off, and vet treated it with Benadryl and typical injury/sore methods. (like for a hotspot or abrasion). Got put on antibiotics for 10 days. Total recovery, but never used it again.

Harley, three of mine had a reaction to the Frontline and Frontline Plus, where they had hot inflamed, pus filled rash like bumps within seconds of applying it to their skin.
I now use Advantage.
You just have to try either one to see what your baby's reaction will be. If you notice an allergic reaction, wash them off really well, let them dry for at least three days or until if they have the same reaction where the skin is broken, heal up before you try another topical flea medication.

The adverse reaction I got with K9 Advantix was with my rabbit.  After putting it on the dog she started sneezing.  I didn't change diet or anything in her normal routine.  No new cleasners nothing.  She was in the room with the dog in her cage.  It happened within minutes of putting it on him.  He didn't even go near her.  THe vet told me it would be safe around the rabbit as long as she was not loose with him.  I have had to move her to another room in the house.  I tried to put her back in kitchen after I had bathed him and she started sneezing again.  The vet has taken care of alot of rabbits.  So I called the vet office and told them that they may want to warn other people of the problem I had with my rabbit....the receptionist was a bit rude.  As if I was out to sue or something.  I just wanted to give them the information to save someone from a similar situation.  So I am looking for a flea spot treatment for the dog that hopefully will not bother the rabbit.

Teenie had a lovely chemical burn from Frontline Plus, just recently. Merial acted like it was totally normal.

Never again will I use a chemical pesticide on my dog. Never.

What do you use if anything to prevent?

A few years ago, Brown had a bad reaction to Frontline. A few hours after I applied it, I looked at him, and his back muscles were twitching. When I touched him, he screamed. I couldn't tell until the next day at the vet that his skin was red and sore. So the vet shaved a huge patch of fur on his back to let the skin "breathe." We never had that kind of problem again, but according to the vet, the same thing happened to two other dogs that same week.
 
The same thing happened with a Yorkie I know except his owner used Advantage.

What do you use if anything to prevent?

Good diet, a healthy immune system, regular flea checks, and garlic in their food (I don't know if it helps, but SOMETHING is working). I want to get some diatomaceous earth, but I have had too much to deal with lately to look for food grade. It's safe to use as a flea powder, and an intestinal dewormer. If they get fleas (from ME, where else?), I bathe them in Dr Bronner's Miracle Soap and go over them with a flea comb, then flush the stunned fleas.

Romeo, had a reaction to Advantage, Frontline and Frontline Plus.  So my search began.  And what I do is use white organic vinegar for his drinking water.  I use 2-3 tablespoons for a gallon of water, I also use a product called Flea Fighter by Animal Botanical the ingredients are: "Fully concentrated herbal extracts of Garlic, Pennyroyal, Wormwood, Yellow Dock, Alfalfa, Nettles, and Kelp with Flower Essences for emotional balance."( it makes his blood bitter, so he does not attract little critters)  Romeo is out in the woods a lot, and before going inside the house, I go over him w/a flea comb and went from finding more than a couple to maybe one or none at all.  I live in Houston and is very warm here, fleas start early, but this year so far Romeo is doing well.  He is allergic to flea bites, so is important to me to keep under control.  I also vacumm regularly and wash his bedding with 20 Team Mule borax detergent every 2-3 days from spring to fall.

For my carpets I use a powder I get online the name of it is "Fleabusters", it is wonderful, it comes w/money back guarantee,  is $35.00 and will do a 1500 sq ft house, the best thing of this is that you apply it once and forget about it for a year. Is borate powder...which kills all kinds of critters you may have (even roaches). I don't work for the company, but this stuff really works their website is: fleabusters.com

Two of my dogs react to Frontline plus in a negative way...
 
My Westie Mattie had an anxiety attack last month... foaming at the mouth... hid under the bed... excessive panting...
 
I told my Holistic vet about it and she said a friend of her's Rottie responded the same way and she has heard of other dogs... I asked her what is it in the product that would be causing whatever it is to bother these dogs like it does... she said its the carrier in the product...
 
My Scottie Max hates it but acts nothing like Mattie did.... and Iv used it on her for  years and this has never happened till last month... so I say NO MORE for her... my regular vet and my holistic vet suggested I use the spray...
 
I live on acreage so I have no choice but to use something other than trying to do a natural remedy....we have alot of ticks....

I got Max some of the *Bug Off Garlic Chewables* from Springtime.  He's been on them for about 3 weeks, but it's still a little early for bad fleas here.  If they seem to work for him, I'll let everyone know.

Joyce & Max

oscar, my 11 yr old silky yorkie mix is allergic to advantage (hives and welts) so i tried frontline plus since he's allergic to flea bites and we're in florida. about a week after frontline use he had a stroke/blood clot a the site of application. he lost use of his right side of his body, but is recovering with the aid of acupuncture and herbs.

I gave my dog Sadie advantage 2 days ago and after 2 hours she was having mobility problems in her hind end and she has not stopped itching yet. Also, I had a friend who was told by a cashier in petsmart that it was okay to put advantage on his cat, the cat had 13 seizures and died

Has anyone tried natural flea topicals?

rontline Plus seems OK on my setter, but I used Biospot once and she became very agitated and idstressed and began drooling.  I dumped her in the bathtub and scrubbed the stuff off and she was immediately fine.