At what age can you safely use a flea/tick

product like Advantage or Frontline on puppies? We live in an area with a lot of ticks and I've seen a couple of fleas on her. I'd like to get her protected ASAP.

TIA

 

I would wait until your puppy is at least 8 weeks old before applying either product, but I usually wait until they are at least 10 weeks old since I never trust the package instructions or the words of reassurance from my veterinarian. If you are taking your pup out for hikes in tall grass or the woods, I would go with the earlier application rather than the later. Also, you want keep a close eye your pup for the first day after the application, especially watching for signs of any panting or excessive salivation, since these symptoms indicate an allergic reaction.

I prefer to use Frontline since Advantage will not protect your pup from ticks unless you use the "canine" formula which is toxic to any/all cats he/she may come in contact . The way I look at it, is if it is toxic to cats, then I do not want it on my dog either!

Good luck and I hope your pup is forever free from any creepy bloodsuckers!

 

Frontline, BioSpot, K9Advantix.....all heavily concentrated super toxic chemical poisons that are applied to the skin...and then absorbed into the bloodstream....no good. Try "DaFeat Da Fleas" spray. I use it on my critters and it's safe for puppies 12 months and up. It's easy...just spray it on and it lasts just as long as the drops...and you do not even have to wear gloves to apply it. Main ingredients are all organic protectants...water, glycerin, citric acid, certified organic herbs, peppermint leaf, citronella leaf, lemongrass, citronella and peppermint essential oils.

I order mine through SmartPak.com (Canine Section)...also costs 1/3 of what a three month supply of the drops will run you and you get a whole bottle. You can also order it direct from the manufacturer...Kathy Santos.

 

a flea comb is the best way to be rid of fleas on a young un, i wouldnt trust the chemicals at ANY age myself.
for the bigguns if they get fleas, i use dr bronners lavender soap, lather it up well on doglet and keep the lather there for 10 mins. then rinse well.
fleas will suffocate in the bubbles! it really works and is safe

 

It should be noted that the active ingredient in Frontline, called "fibronyl" is an insect growth regulating hormone (not an insecticide) which is of a very low toxicity to most mammals and even more so due to the small amount used in this topical product for dogs or cats. Also, neither fibronyl or the natural oil base used in its application are ever absorbed into the bloodstream, since they remain strictly on the surface of the skin, more specifically, the sebaceous glands.

Personally, I have tried many of the natural remedies on the market at great cost over the years and found them to be only marginally effective on fleas and completely ineffective against ticks which transmit all types of nasty diseases. The Frontline product has kept all my dogs tick and flea free with no adverse side effects ever since it was first introduced some 8 years ago.

As I said in my earlier post, the most important thing to do if you use any tick/flea product, including those considered "all natural", is to watch closely for any signs of an allergic reaction. Keep in mind, that any chemical, synthesized or natural (plant derivative) can still be toxic to you and your dog.

I hope this helps, since I researched Frontline extensively prior to using it on my dogs and with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry, I was very thorough in my analytical method.

I so love my dogs very, very much and want them safe and happy at all times. I hope your puppy is doing well and having fun out in the woods too!

 

i'm glad the frontline is working for you toby, and that your animals are ok with it, but...
fipronil is indeed an insecticide, not a growth regulating hormone.
the packaging states that it is an insecticide and will kill fleas within 24 hours and ticks and lice in 48 hours.
here's some more info;
http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/actives/fipronil.htm


in my experience, the growth hormone regulators are used in the house, not on the pet.

 

I must apologize for the typographical error in my earlier post, since I meant to type "S-methoprene" rather than "Fipronil". You are quite correct regarding fipronil being an insecticide, yet both of chemicals are really of low toxicity to most mammals, either active or residual and remain only on the skin and do not transfer into the bloodsteam. This stuff works much in the way we humans use a product called "Off" to keep misquitoes from making a meal out of our blood streams.

With much peace and many blessings for the animals we love and each other too...

 

Here is a nice article about Frontline....

http://www.thepetwhisperer.com/Fleas.html

As a dog groomer, I talk to many many many pet owners on a daily basis. In the past month we have had 6 dogs with serious reactions to Frontline, BioSpot and K9Advantix. Anything from inflammed, broken skin to seizures and sight loss.

 

toby did you mean the frontline plus stuff? that one does have the regulator in it you are quite correct!
i must admit that when i did use the veterinary recommended means of flea control, i personally never noticed any negative side effects, though a friend's cat did react to it with a nasty rash on the site.
when my beloved tikki (rip) was diagnosed with a rare syndrome affecting the liver, i stopped all use of chemicals. fortunately for me i have had good results from the baths and flea comb, but i dont live in a bad tick area.

love and light

 

I agree, I don't trust any kind of chemical with any puppy younger than 6 months. I still try to avoid it as much as possible until at least a year of age. It's just not worth the risk, no matter what the boxes say... I've seen to many puppies get sick and die from overzealous owners freaking out over fleas and ticks.

Seriously, just proper hygiene for the pup, once weekly baths and daily brushings (even with a flea comb) and vacuuming your house every day and making sure all the furniture is vacuumed as well will help. The puppy should NOT be outside 24/7. It needs to be in the house with it's people. If you do all this for the house, and the puppy spends most of it's time in there, it will help some. If the flea/tick problem is really bad, then spray the yard outside for them but never leave puppy unattended outside where it could eat the grass. Use flea/tick powder on the carpet and floors once a day before you vacuum. Yes it's a lot of work but that's what you sign up for when you take a pup in ... it's responsibility to take care of another being. And doing all this work is much better than putting chemicals directly ON the puppy if it is enough to help the problem, if it isn't, and you have actually TRIED... then the next step would be a flea and tick collar meant for puppies. If that doesn't help either in additon to everything else, then if you just have to you could try puppy frontline.

Long story short, don't be lazy. Do the work and try to eliminate the problem as best as you can and use putting chemicals on the puppy as a last resort.

Also if you have other animals, and they are older, you can use advantage or frontline on them but you will have to keep the puppy away from them for several days and bathe them before they are allowed to play together so the puppy doesn't ingest the poison on THEIR fur... but, it will help the problem as well. Especially Advantage. It can work sort of like pack immunity, if all the other animals in the house have flea stuff on them, then it cuts down on how many the puppy will probably have.

 

Yes, I only use frontline plus purchased through my veterinarin, since I have read horror stories of people trying to save money by acquiring it from a pet or feed store at a lesser price, yet it is simply not the same product and a great risk to your pet over a few dollars saved. I always watch my dogs skin and behavior even more closely than usual for the first couple days after application looking for any adverse or allergic reaction and if it should occur, then I would immeadiately give them a complete bath with warm soapy water, but I have never had a problem, just no ticks or fleas. My oldest dog, Ollie, used to have severe allergic skin reactions to even one flea on her body, so this new product, rather than the extremely toxic chemicals of the past, was simply a godsend and she now lives a healthy, happy and much loved life and always comfortably by my side.

In my case, my dogs follow me everywhere I hike or go on horseback and this year it has not been so much fleas, but ticks, and if even one tick got past my scrutinizing eyes, brush and comb when we get home, I would never forgive myself if they contracted a tick-borne disease that might take them away from me before their time...

I really consider frontline a secondary safeguard in addition to me thouroughly checking them from each of their paws to the tip of their tails and noses every day and most especially after we have been out stream splashing and trekking the countryside.

I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved "Tikki" and completly agree with your reasoning for not risking it on her or any animal with comprimised health or suffering from age related illnesses.

many blessings

 

You hit the nail on the head Toby....it comes down to daily care! So many people just don't get that....animals are like humans, they need daily "maintenance"...not just a couple cups of kibble, a bowl of water and a pat on the head.

 

My mom's cat has had more than one stroke due to the use of vetrinarian purchased Frontline. Bad stuff. These companies care about money, not your pets. Also be wary of the natural stuff sold in the supermarket. It worked a treat on my sister's cat, but it also took the fur off the back of his neck.
Like what has been said before, comb often, vacuume often. If you still have a problem try making flea collars out of tubes of fabric stuffed with dried pennyroyal. I've used them with awsome results and no adverse side effects. I've heard adding garlic powder works too, but haven't tried it myself, as it seems too strong for sensitive animal noses.

 

go to ure local petshop and buy a medicne especially for puppies it should say right on the box...make sure though my mother gave my kitten adult cat flea medicine and he started having seisures...he is still alive and kickin though!