Frontline Plus for dogs and cats effectively controls and prevents fleas and ticks and prevents tick-born diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It is generally safe and easy to use. However, as is the case with many medications, Frontline Plus poses potential risks for side effects and should be used with a few precautions.
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Side Effects
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To prevent ingestion-related side effects, prevent your animal from licking the Frontline Plus application site (the skin between the shoulder blades) or licking its paws after scratching the application area. If necessary, use a veterinary cone to keep the animal from reaching the application site. If your pet ingests the medication, it may drool, vomit or experience diarrhea. Other potential side effects include anxiety, nervousness, depression or aggression. Wash your pet and consult with your vet if your pet displays any of these behaviors.
Don't allow pets to lick one another's application sites. Cats often groom each other and may lick the area in which the Frontline has been applied. Consider separating the animals until the Frontline fully dries, which can take a day or two.
In addition to ingestion side effects, some dogs and cats experience itchiness or irritation at the application site. If the animal scratches too much it can cause wounds and scabbing. Open wounds are particularly problematic, as Frontline may enter the animal̵7;s body and cause an abscess. If any irritation occurs, wash the area immediately and contact your veterinarian.
Precautions
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Do not use Frontline Plus on puppies or kittens younger than 8 weeks of age. In addition, avoid using this product on animals who are very old or debilitated. Do not apply Frontline Plus to your animal if it has had previous reactions to it, or to fipronil or methoprene, two active ingredients in the medication. Furthermore, to avoid toxicity, do not use this product on an animal who has already been treated for fleas within a month.
Do not pet or touch a dog or cat in the application area after Frontline Plus has been recently applied. The medication can come off on a person̵7;s hands and can be dangerous if the person then puts her hand in her mouth. This is especially serious for children, who may not think to wash their hands after petting their animal. Apply Frontline Plus to your dog or cat at night when no one will pet it for eight to 10 hours.
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