Frontline Plus vs. Program Comparison

Frontline Plus

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Program

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Proticall For Dogs

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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

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

Protects against dog lice and mites.

Waterproof (shampooing once a week can reduce effectiveness)

Not Applicable

Safe for pregnant or nursing Pets

Consult your veterinarian

How long does it take to work

Kills Fleas within 12 hours and Ticks within 48 hours

Begins to work immediately.

3 days

Taste

Applied to Skin

Beef Flavor

Applied to Skin

Active Ingredient(s)

Fipronil/(S)-Methoprene

Lufenuron

Permethrin

RX Required

Dosage

Monthly

Usage

Video

Coming soon

Vet Review

I find that the effective combination of an ingredient like fipronil, along with the insect growth regulator methoprene, provides the best spectrum of activity and protection against all stages of the flea life cycle from egg through larval stage on to adult. Because of these two main ingredients and their method of action, I find that clients don't have to treat the environment as much. I find that this product tends to be safer in smaller breed animals when compared to its competition. I find its tick efficacy quite good. The fact that it is waterproof also allows clients, whose pets swim frequently, to confidently use this product during the swimming months. I also find that this product works the longest for fleas, while some of the competitive products have to be reapplied before the end of the month. The lack of label efficacy against mosquitoes and flies, as well as the fact that this product does not repel fleas or ticks are the two main disadvantages. As with any insecticidal products, I find that every pet is an individual, in terms of which of the products works best on them. When I am dealing with more of a flea issue in a patient, this is the product I will likely reach for first.

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.

This wonderful product whose flea and tick efficacy DIRECTLY ON CONTACT is based on topical permethrin which damages theses pests nervous systems, and when applied is effective, gentle on most dogs, long lasting (up to 6 weeks with most species of ticks)(5 weeks with fleas)(up to 4 weeks for dog lice and mites), and is very easy to apply, in addition to being economical and available without a prescription from your vet. It is safe enough to use on puppies over 4 weeks of age, but a consultation with your vet should be done before starting especially if your pet is old or has a chronic disease. . It also kills and repels mosquitoes as well. The major disadvantage with this product (unlike others like Frontline) is that it cannot be used on cats or near cats because of the permethrins in it. It is also marginally water soluble, and thus if your dog swims frequently it may need to be applied as often as every 2 weeks, which is off label use, but will last up to one month in those dogs not frequently bathed or who swim often. The rare side effects I have seen are usually mild, mainly being redness or hair loss of the skin where applied, and sometimes lethargy, vomiting or drooling if application spot is licked at. These however are not common in my experience.

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.