Frontline Issues

I and a number of others I know have had this problem in the past.  What I do is rotate between frontline and advantix.  Also your apartment needs to treated several times, a week or 2 apart.

Sorry you had trouble finding us.  A bunch of people had that problem when the software was changed.

K9 Advantix uses a compound to kill fleas that is neurotoxic to mammals.  Cats can die from licking a dog that has had Advantix applied.

Frontline kills fleas, but it does not repel them. 

Here are a few sites on natural flea & tick repellents. Repellents can be put on a bandana or vest if you don't want the aroma on Reesee all the time.

http://www.holistichealthtools.com/fleas.html  (fleas and ticks)
http://www.caberfeidh.com/Fleas.htm  (fleas)
http://www.healthypetcorner.com  (fleas)
http://www.flutterbyearomatics.com/flutterpooch/flea_tick.htm  (fleas and ticks)

NOTE: "natural" = herbs and essential Oils

I use Frontline *spray* on one of my dogs (my peke) who seems a bit resistant to Frontline Plus.  But my other two do fine on it.  I still prefer Advantage to Advantix -- basically for the reasons Janet mentioned above. 

If you are having your apartment sprayed it may be totally ineffective.  If the fleas live thru that once they become resistant to it.  You may need to *bomb* your apartment with a good flea bomb (like Raid Fumigators or something of a good quality).  Then you'll need to do it again a week later (particularly if whatever you use doesn't kill 'eggs';).

Fleas can come right thru concrete block -- so in an apartment they can breed in the sand/dirt outside and then just waltz right in thru the foundation. 

So, Janet, if you have a dog that has an allergy to fleas, Frontline is not going to help them?

I've been going through old posts regarding the different flea preventatives.  Also, I do have a flea spray that I've been using  weekly that has eucalyptis oil, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemon grass oil, clove oil, and thyme oil because I worry about my kids being around a bunch of pesticides.  The whole neurological effects on mammals thing kind of has me freaked out.  I just brushed her coat and went through it with a flea comb.  I found a couple dead fleas and one that was staggering, ready to die.  I'm the type of person that will move out if I see a cockroach, so the flea infestation has been giving me the heebie jeebies. 

I wonder if the fleas became resistant to the Frontline.  I'm hoping this will do the trick and that I can eventually not have to use the Advantix after a while.  The last thing I want to do is give her cancer or  neurological issues just because I'm trying to keep the fleas off of her. 

Frontline is one of the GOOD ones to use (Frontline Plus more specifically) -- things like Revolution, Biospot, and to a degree Advantix are systemic.  I don't know a lot about Advantix, but iwth Revolution and Biospot the flea has to BITE the dog to die.

That's bad.  Because it is the flea 'spit' that an allergic dog has problems with.  Yes, they are literally allergic to the flea spittle -- and it acts like a serious long-lasting toxin in the dog's body.  So once the dog is bitten it causes weeks/months of problem.

Advantage and Frontline kill on contact.  Advantage crystalizes over the skin and Frontline pools in hair follicles and skin pores (not hardly at all absorbed ... a tiny bit of the inert ingredients may be but not the active ingredients). 

the problem is some fleas seem to be resistant to Fipronil at this point.  Altho I keep hearing different things -- some attribute it to some particular dogs and others say it's the chemical.

I *do* know in my case that both Billy and Luna do FINE on Frontline topspot.  But I have to use the spray on Kee -- the topspot seems not to work well on her.  dunno ...

Fleas: Getting Rid of Fleas Holistically  -  read!

Pet owners can now buy a do-it-yourself product marketed as Interrupt, BioFlea Halt, or BioSafe. The nematodes are available at many vet offices, garden centers, and pet stores, and can also be purchased in bulk from organic farm and gardening supply catalogues (Peaceful Valley Farm Supply in Grass Valley, California at (916)272-4769). The nematodes can be applied easily with a hose end sprayer or through an irrigation system.

Yes!  My husband bough flea stuff for the dogs it was Hartz, and it seemed to work O.K., but since here in Pittsburgh our weather stayed warmer than usual, so I found the vet had actually given us a free sample of Frontline, so I put it on Misty.  She's still scrating like a feen and we've even been shampooing her in flea shampoo (before the application).  So, I don't know what's going on.  Luckily it's getting colder now (I can't believe I just said that????) but it still won't matter if the fleas are on her.  But you're not alone.  Good Luck!

calliecritturs

I *do* know in my case that both Billy and Luna do FINE on Frontline topspot.  But I have to use the spray on Kee -- the topspot seems not to work well on her.  dunno ...

Oh I know those flea heebie jeebies !     and I SWEAR by the Fleabusters stuff -- they sell the nematodes (for outside) as well as a borate salt for indoors.   Any flea that makes it past the Frontline Plus and lays eggs will have its young desiccate once it hatches.  I actually paid the Fleabusters people to apply the stuff (indoors and inside) since I'm not exactly the best DYIer.

Poor Reese :(   but I'm so glad you were able to find us again !

gradyupmybutt

So, Janet, if you have a dog that has an allergy to fleas, Frontline is not going to help them?

Frontline kills on contact.  The fleas don't have to bite. 

I might alternate Frontline Plus and Advantage if I thought the fleas were developing a resistance to Frontline, but I would absolutely not use permethrin (examples are K9 Advantix and Bio Spot).

www.safe2use.com/poisons-pesticides/pesticides/permethrin/cox-report/cox.htm

Permethrin, like all synthetic pyrethroids, is a neurotoxin. Symptoms include tremors, incoordination, elevated body temperature, increased aggressive behavior, and disruption of learning. Laboratory tests suggest that permethrin is more acutely toxic to children than to adults.    
 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified permethrin as a carcinogen because it causes lung tumors in female mice and liver tumors in mice of both sexes. Permethrin inhibits the activity of the immune system in laboratory tests, and also binds to the receptors for a male sex hormone. It causes chromosome aberrations in human and hamster cells.

NC_cockermama, would you please start another thread and bring us up to date on the puppies?  Thanks!

janet_rose

gradyupmybutt

So, Janet, if you have a dog that has an allergy to fleas, Frontline is not going to help them?

Frontline kills on contact.  The fleas don't have to bite. 

I might alternate Frontline Plus and Advantage if I thought the fleas were developing a resistance to Frontline, but I would absolutely not use permethrin (examples are K9 Advantix and Bio Spot).

www.safe2use.com/poisons-pesticides/pesticides/permethrin/cox-report/cox.htm

Permethrin, like all synthetic pyrethroids, is a neurotoxin. Symptoms include tremors, incoordination, elevated body temperature, increased aggressive behavior, and disruption of learning. Laboratory tests suggest that permethrin is more acutely toxic to children than to adults.    
 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified permethrin as a carcinogen because it causes lung tumors in female mice and liver tumors in mice of both sexes. Permethrin inhibits the activity of the immune system in laboratory tests, and also binds to the receptors for a male sex hormone. It causes chromosome aberrations in human and hamster cells.

VERY interesting stuff.  Thanks for your input.  Right now, fleas are the bane of my existance.