Fleas and ticks are more than just a nuisance; they are linked to health problems ranging from flea allergy dermatitis or anemia to more serious conditions like babesiosis, ehrlichiosis or Lyme disease. Choosing the right product for your dog is imperative for proper protection. Among the most popular flea-repellent products are Advantix and Frontline Plus.
-
Advantix: The Facts
-
K9 Advantix is indicated for topical use to prevent and treat fleas, ticks, biting flies and mosquitoes and should be applied monthly on dogs older than 7 weeks. The active ingredients include imidacloprid and permethrin, which act to both repel and kill ticks, fleas and mosquitoes. The product is waterproof and will kill 98 to 100 percent of fleas on your dog within 12 hours of application.
How Advantix Works
-
Advantix works in several ways. Imidacloprid is absorbed into a flea's system, killing the adult flea before it can lay eggs, killing larvae before they can develop and preventing fleas from biting within three to five minutes of application. It is not, however, as effective against ticks. Permethrin is effective in repelling and killing ticks before they can attach to your dog. The combination also kills chewing lice (within one week of application), repels biting flies from feeding on your dogs and prevents mosquito bites.
Frontline Plus: The Facts
-
Frontline Plus is indicated for topical monthly use in dogs 8 weeks and older. The active ingredients are fipronil and an insect growth regulator, (S)-methoprene, which act to control all stages of fleas, kill all stages of ticks, prevent re-infestation, and control chewing lice and sarcoptic mange infestations. The product is waterproof and kills 100 percent of fleas within 12 hours of applying it to your dog. It also kills ticks within 48 hours of application.
How Frontline Works
-
Frontline's active ingredient, fipronil, is stored in your dog's oil glands underneath the skin and spreads throughout the hair follicles within 24 hours of applying the product. Fleas and ticks die from coming into contact with your dog's coat, and the added ingredient (S)-methoprene helps to break the life cycle of fleas. Since the product does not affect your dog systemically, the Environmental Protection Agency has approved Frontline Plus for use in pregnant or lactating dogs.
Comparison
-
Comparing Advantix and Frontline Plus is like comparing two of the same drugs. Both products are considered safe and effective but have a risk of allergy or mild side effects.
Both products are distributed among your dog's skin and coat and are not absorbed into the bloodstream.
Both products are waterproof within 24 to 48 hours of application and last for four weeks.
The only real difference between the two drugs is that Advantix also kills and repels mosquitoes, while Frontline Plus is EPA-approved for use in pregnant or lactating dogs.
-