Frontline Topspot question..

[thatguy]

We are using Frontline Topspot tick and flea treatment on your dog monthly. Last night after taking a nice long walk thru some tall weeds (yet another reason I cant wait for the tractor to be delivered) I got about 5 unattached ticks off Snicker and myself.

Just how does Frontline work? Do they bite and then immediately let go? Do the bite and have to suck some blood and then eventually drop off in a few days/hours?

I checked the frontline website and it didnt give a timeline for death..


ALSO - we have a cat that never goes outside.. Do you think we should also use Topspot on him just incase he gets any snicker left over ticks/fleas?

thanks

Brian

 

[KaiB]

Fleas and ticks do not have to bite, just come in contact with the base of the hair or skin. I love this stuff.

If you don't mind paying 6 bucks a month for your cat, I would suggets you look into Revolution for your cat (even if he stays indoors); cheap protection, and it acts as a wormer also.

If your dog is on the small side for his dose of Topspot, you could always pull off 0.5cc for your cat if you don't go with the Revolution. We buy the largest size Topspot and dose out all the animals according to weight; much less expensive this way.

Edit to add: I haven't seen a flea for so long, I can't remember how long it takes to kill one. I rarely see a live tick embedded on a treated dog, we just don't worry about them anymore.

 

[tallyho8]

A strange thing, to change the subject a little, I have 2 dogs that don't get fleas. I have raised dogs the last 50 years, and they have all had fleas except a certain line of Bluetick hounds that I have. I bought the Great-grandfather of the ones I have now 25 years ago and he, and all his decedents have never had a flea on them. I have always had dogs of other breeding sharing the kennels and the other dogs always got fleas and I have been using Frontline on them but never used Frontline or anything on my Blueticks. I will admit that all of these Blueticks had an unusual smell that makes you want to wash your hands after you pet them, and this smell does not go away even if you scrub the dogs well. But, imagine being able to breed a flea-proof dog. I never tried cross-breeding him with other breeds to see if they would be flea-proof also but I have thought about it.

 

[randy41]

Frontline® - Kill 98-100% of fleas and ticks

 

[thatguy]

Frontline® - Kill 98-100% of fleas and ticks

I checked out the referenced website before I posted but I was still confused on just how it actually killed the ticks.. But i did find this statment buried a little deeper

"FRONTLINE Brand flea and tick control kills up to 100% of ticks on dogs and cats within 24-48 hours." But does that mean after biting OR after application..

Snicker has been treated with Topspot for the previous 3 months but in the last few days we are finding ticks that are attached to him. If topspot works just by the tick touching the skin it isnt working very well.. BUT if they have to bite and then the tick dies and drops off we may not be waiting long enough for that to happen.

thanks

brian

 

[KaiB]

Fret not Brian, they'll die.

Do insure that you find a patch of skin to apply; if most ends up on the outer hair, you'll loose efficacy.

Just part of rural life.

 

[bmaxwell]

KaiB, we have done this in the past w/ our dogs, but I cannot remember the dosage, how do you figure out what size to buy and dosage to apply to each animal, I have a 45 lb English Springer Spaniel, a 30 lb Border Collie, and a 12 lb Daschund, it gets really expensive to buy each size, I think I have the dosage somewhere for the Border Collie/Daschund split, but I wouldn't mind knowing how to get all 3 out of one large dosage, thanks for any input

 

[KaiB]

I was pondering this thread as the pups came in last night...ticks all over the place; bad year here.

I'm in my office and don't have any boxes, but dosage is simple and linear. Say...(approximate numbers here).

The 100lb dog ampule is 4mL...thus each 25lbs of dog gets 1mL, a 12 lb dog would get 0.5 mL, a 50lb dog would get 2mL. This need not be exact, as you will note that there is a rather large weight spread on the boxes sold for different ranges.

We buy the largest size aval. and divide with a 5mL syringe (without needle!!).

 

[okie350]

Our Labs like to swim in our pond (actually can not keep em out of it) will the Frontline loose effectiveness due to the swimming in the pond?

 

[tallyho8]

It's supposed to be waterproof. But I would not shampoo the dog.