Frontline Top Spot vs. Parastar Plus for Dogs Comparison

Frontline Top Spot

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Parastar Plus for Dogs

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Program

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Kills Fleas

Repels Fleas

Kills Flea eggs and Larvae

Prevents Development

Kills Ticks

Repels Ticks

Kills and/or Repels Mosquitoes

Prevents Heartworm

Other Parasites Information

Kills chewing lice in dog and puppies and controls mites that may cause sarcoptic mange.

Eliminates infestations with chewing lice, aids in the control of sarcoptic mange infestation

Waterproof (shampooing once a week can reduce effectiveness)

Not Applicable

Safe for pregnant or nursing Pets

How long does it take to work

Kills Fleas within 12 hours of contact and Ticks within 48 hours of contact.

Starts working in 1 hour

Begins to work immediately.

Taste

Applied To Skin

Applied to skin

Beef Flavor

Active Ingredient(s)

Fipronil

Fipronil and Cyphenothrin

Lufenuron

RX Required

Dosage

Usage

Video

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Vet Review

One of my favorite and most widely prescribed flea and tick control products in practice front line top spot offers not only the ease of application in one spot, where it collects in the hair follicles and skin oils and gradually released over the month, but also a wide area of safety in most pets, including breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs. . It will kill adult fleas and larvae by selectively affecting the parasite's nervous system. Efficacy against flea eggs is variable in my experience and opinion. It will also kill chewing lice and some veterinarians, including myself have seen it work to help control demodectic mange and ear mites, although it is it not approved for use for these uses. This versatile product will also kill all stages of various ticks including brown dog ticks, american dog ticks, lone star ticks and deer ticks. I have also used it to control sarcoptic mange infestations in dogs, but will often go to topical revolution first in sarcoptic mange or ivermectin as my first choices for scabies. In general I find that fleas and ticks are generally killed before they have the chance to transmit diseases in patients, usually being close to 100% effective within 24 to 48 hours. The formulation is water proof so it is certainly appropriate to use in those outdoor dogs who love to swim. I have only seen occasional/rare side effects at the sight of application, and even more rare systemic reactions like digestive upset or neurological reactions or blood disorders in extremely sensitive pets. However these reactions are rare in my experience. In geriatric patients or sick patients or those with chronic disease it is important to consult with your veterinarian before applying this or any other topical flea and tick product.

Parastar Plus combines the proven performing main ingredient of fipronil with cyphenothrin, which allows for more rapid killing and treatment of fleas, ticks, certain mites, and lice. This combination allows for this topically applied product to begin killing within an hour. In my experience, most of my clients have reported higher efficacy and better satisfaction for tick control over fleas. It seems to be easier to dispense out of the applicator over competitor products, and especially with lighter colored dogs the product does not seem to stain. However on occasion, I have seen a sensitive darker coated dog have some mild bleaching at the site of application. With some longer haired dogs, I have seen it leave an occasional slightly sticky spot at the site of application as well. Like many of the competitor products, it is touted as waterproof, however, I try and recommend that clients do not bathe dogs for 2 or 3 days before or after application, as some feel that this may affect the efficacy of the product. In my experience, I have found that this product is better at preventing problems rather than controlling already heavy flea infestations, in which case I usually will go to one of the newer oral tablets for flea/tick control that usually kill rapidly within 30 minutes. Another limitation of the product is that you can't use Parastar Plus on less than 4-pound dogs, which is an added benefit of topical prescription products like Revolution. As with any product of this type, occasional itchiness, and/or irritation/agitation from applying the product may be seen, but I find this side effect less common than with competitor products. It is also important for clients to understand that it is critical, especially with heavy flea infestations, to also focus on treating the environment as well. Overall this product has performed better for tick control and prevention than for fleas. I give it an overall rating of a 3, with an ease-of-application rating of 4.5 out of 5.

For my clients who prefer an effective non-pesticide manner of preventing and controlling fleas on their dogs and cats, program offers a wonderful alternative. When this product first came out, I used to educate my clients on the fact that it was in essence a birth control pill for fleas. The main ingredient lufeneron is an insect growth regulator that does not kill adult fleas, but sterilizes adult fleas and prevents them from laying eggs that develop into larvae and future adults. Each adult flea can lay up to 2000 eggs in its life. It is because of this effect on flea development which makes program such a wonderful preventative. For existing flea infestations, I don't find this product works as well unless it is combined with oral Capstar, which kills adult fleas on cats and/or topical products like Frontline or Advantage. I have found this product both very safe and effective with only rare side effects seen i.e rare digestive upset. It is best given with a meal for maximal absorption which is hard on some kitty owners My overall rating of this product is a 4 with ease of use a 4, taste a 4 and efficacy a 5, in particular for preventing flea infestations before they become established.

Our expert panel consists of licensed veterinarians and the knowledgeable staff of PetMed Express, Inc. d/b/a 1-800-PetMeds. Neither the Company nor any of its employees or consultants make any warranties, expressed or implied, or representations about the accuracy or completeness of the content or the content of any site or external sites. Likewise, no legal liability or responsibility is assumed for the accuracy or completeness of any information, or usefulness of products discussed. While every effort has been made to accurately represent the qualities and characteristics of each product, which for the most part were taken directly from the websites of the manufacturers, we are not responsible for any errors. The information presented is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet. It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for services provided by your veterinarian. Note: Any trademarks are the property of their respective companies.