Flea and Tick Repellent - Frontline??

[Mayfly]

So everyone has been telling me that I have to get frontline to take care of the tick problem my dog has. Me being cheap just did not want to buy it. I know it lasts the whole year etc...but still didn't want to spend the 40 - 50 bucks. So I was telling this to my cousin Scott and he referred me to the feed mill. I headed up there and talked with the woman who worked there and she reccomended a product that was only $7.00. It is for horses, dogs and other domesticated animals. It is in a spray bottle and all you do is spray you dog down and rub it in. That was Monday and as of today she is tick free! I'm hoping it lasts for the month like it says but I think so far it is a nice cheap alternative. This bottle should last me the whole summer! Just thought I would pass this along......

[Pegleg]

Whats the name of that spray? I've got a horse and six dogs. I can't afford that Frontline stuff either.
                                                                             Pegleg

[labs4me]

If it's permithrin or pyrathin or any of the others in that group, watch how much of it you use.  It is actually a toxin and too much can cause health issues (for you and the dog!)  If you are rubbing it in with your hands, wear rubber gloves.  If you read the bottles of permithrin we use on hunting clothes, it says to not apply to the skin...  None of the products containing those ingredients are water proof... so they will not last a month if the dog gets wet.  The fipronil in Frontline is the best and most water proof, K9 advantix is next most used and somewhat cheaper, but still has waterproof issues (it contains permithrin, but it is a controlled dose) and you just keep going down the charts from there.  I've tried and used the sprays in the past with mixed results... good short term, not near enough coverage to make the savings worth it for me.   I still keep a bottle of spray or 'dip' handy for immediate control if they get covered with ticks, but I no longer rely on them for tick control.

Good Luck!

Ken

[thunderpout]

I have used the perm/pyrth. sprays when I got my first hunting dog years back, they do work with vigalent use, as they wear off quick and are not waterproof....and as labs4me said, that stuff is nasty and unless you have a total kennel dog,the toxins are gonna be on every thing in your house and on you and your kids .  I have an english setter that will find water to swim/cool off in while training but dosent live in the water like some dogs do.  You'll find that to make that stuff effective youre going to go thru alot of it!  In the long run frontline is the way to go, you can get it cheaper than what your price, check Fosters & Smith vet catalogue and Lion country supply for deals....                   -thunderpout 8)

[ScottPugh]

After having the dog running through the woods this past weekend I only pulled off 2 ticks that had burried the head.  I pulled or brushed off 20 or so from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon that were walking on her.  In years past it had only taken about 3 hours to find ticks burried.  Frontline is spendy but it is worth it IMHO...     

[thunderpout]

Just remembered the name of the spray on perm./pyrth. stuff, Aadams....I know horse owners that use the stuff, but again...most horses aint layin on your feet at the foot of the bed when the alarm clock goes off..... ::)                          -thunderpout 8)

[Grouseman]

Just use Front Line! It's the only real waterproof control on the market and it works. It's expensive, but on sites like foster and smith you can buy it for less. It really is the best!

[Mayfly]

I should have updated this post a long time ago. I have been using the cheap spray that I bought and although it does work it only lasts a short time and if she goes in water it is gone. I would recommend using frontline, one application and you don't have to worry about it. Also less chemicals to have around the house as well. I have a 2 year old that gets into everything and one less is a good thing

[rchaze60]

Just my 2 cents worth ....... I use frontline and would never use anything else

[JackpineRob]

For many years I have used Permethrin spray on my dogs and on my clothing, and have had no tick problems - or so I thought.  I really can't remember the last time I have had to pull a tick off the dog - it has been that rare!

Apparently, it was not enough.

My lab is dying.  His kidneys are damaged, and only a steady diet of drugs and special food is keeping him operating.  The vet gave him anywhere from 2 to 6 months.

A titer test shows positive for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lymes.  He showed none of the classic early symptoms.  In fact, over Memorial weekend he grabbed a whole bunch of dummies out of the water for me and my son, played with my sis's little spaniel pup, and had a great time.  2 weeks later he was dropping weight at an alarming rate and couldn't keep anything down.  He couldn't walk more than a few hundred yards without needing to rest.  The disease(s) had settled into his kidneys and quietly did their damage, unseen and unknown.

I thought the spray was working well.  I was wrong.

Next dog, things will be done differently.  For now, we hope he can make it through to the hunting season.  He has always liked the feel of a duck in his mouth....

[DaveO]

That is a sad story JackpineRob Im hate hearing stuff like that,,the same thing is happening to my shepard.

[The General]

I thought I would onle ever use Frontline.  Until I used Biospot this year.  I didn't pick off 1 tick and it's a heck of a lot cheaper.  Plus you don't need some vet to write a Rx. 

[thunderpout]

I tried biospot two years ago, and it works, but I did find ticks on the dog but they were never attached...   I know I went through more of the bio-spot because its not as water-resistant as frontline.  You can save $$ on em both at Fosters & Smith or Lion Country Supply and ya dont need an Rx from a vet.    -thunderpout 8)

[The General]

I tried getting Frontline from Fosters and Smith this spring and they asked for a Rx so I didn't get it.  Then in the next issue they had some super deal where they cut the price on BioSpot plus also gave 3 months supply for free for a total of 9 months.  I have never heard of the other company before.

[thunderpout]

General,  Look em up.  They're in Pennsilvania and they carry more dog training/hunting stuff than anyplace Ive found, really good people and they all are bird dog people, even the ones answering the phones...  Lion Country Supply (as in the Penn State Lions, why I dont know...) I havent needed a Rx there in years, I think they're even cheaper than Fosters...    - Thunderpout 8)     

[The General]

I will def. look them up.  Thanks for the info.

[Tbrothers]

I use to buy frontline at the vet,but I seen it at Fleetfarm and it is alot cheaper.It was only 37.00 for a 3 month supply about 20.00 cheaper than my vet and Petco.I have to labs and never had a tick on either one of them.I hunt with them pretty much every weekend.

[mrs icebanger]

Just my 2 cents....Online Pharmacies do not get the products ethically...i work with Merial, Pfizer, Fort Dodge and Novartis they do not sell product to Foster and Smith, Pet Meds, etc.  So where do they get these products you ask? Well, some of it comes from Vets who buy a bunch and sell some to those companies....alot of it comes from different countries....the problem i have with these 'cheap' companies is that Novartis, Merial etc...will not guarantee that product unless purchased from your Veterinarian.  They have no way of knowing where it has been ...if its been in a controlled environment etc....Veterinarians are not being 'mean' by not authorizing you to purchase medications online/catalog without seeing your dog...they are thinking of the safety of your pet....your doctor would never let You self medicate...why would a Vet let you do it to your dog?

[thunderpout]

Dont get me wrong here, but not all Vets do what they do JUST because they care about you and your animal....Ive gone thru a handful of Vets because some of them tried to sell me every thing they can: Science diet dog food...I had a couple of em argue with me that it was better than what I fed my dogs, what they didnt know was I was very up on dog food ingredients, what fillers and preservatives and what quality protien sources are all about.  Now they have updated versions where corn gluetin isnt the first ingredient on the list.... The Lyme vac. is another sore spot with me, Ive read many things on the old vaccine and how it may have actually caused the disease it was trying to prevent.  I was told that is the reason there is the new version, as in the human vaccine...I have a friend who is in the medical feild who got the vaccination, and is convinced he came down with Lymes from it. Doctors told him he was crazy, well he paid his own way to the Mayo clinic, was  treated with the anti-bio's and hes fine now...but why did they pull the old version?  We'd be lost with out em, but Vets have to make $ to pay for their big new bldgs. and all the newest equipment...dont kid yourself that what they tell you is only motivated by the love for your pet.  Ive got friends who are farm raised folks who have vaccinated their dogs and livestock their whole lives and allways will and they know when its time to see a Vet, and know how valuable they are, as do I, but know this...they like human doctors, have ties with the companies whos products(drugs,...dog food) they sell to you.  They will push their wares like car salesmen pushing undercoating for a used car!  Luckily not all of them, thank God...there are many good Vets out there and My dog and I are thankful they're there!  But to tie all this together...for now Im perfectly comfortable with the store bought frontline for my setter, and I'll keep dousing myself with tick repellant and what few ticks I find on us both, if any, go down the toilet or in the bonfire....      -thunderpout 8)

[icebanger]

im gonna agree with mrs here she works in the feild and does know what she is talking about...i used to go to the vet and think they push the shots and food on you to make money..each vet has there own food they push thats for sure ..but you dont have to buy it and as far as shots or tick prevention they will get you on the right path for the health of your pet....vets are out to make  money but they are also there to keep your pet healthy just like your doctor keeps you healthy...1 diffrence from your doctor and your vet you dont have insurance on your pet so you pay  full price....if you want a healthy pet take it to the vet......

[mrs icebanger]

yes they did pull the old human lyme vaccine....for one it didnt work and for two it DID make people sick. Lyme is a very tricky disease...it changes all the time.
Yes i agree there are Vets that are not as good ..there are 'bad seeds' in every business.  Our practice thrives on keeping your pet healthy and we want to do what is best for your pet.  We only recommend things that are good for your pet....whether you decide to do it is up to you.  We understand the costs are out of your own pocket so we also try to work with you to get the best care for your pet...of course we need to pay bills for buildings and equipment....but all companies need to do that...new up to date equipment benefits your pet...Medicine is a very expensive field....but the people in medicine spend alot of time and money learning everything there is to know about the health of humans and animals so you dont have to.  Vets and Vet technicians spend alot of time learning new things at seminars and conventions so they can stay up to date and keep you(pet owners) up to date on the latest research and ideas.  Medicine is an ever changing field...what they knew 10 years ago about lyme disease has changed and continues to change as the disease itself changes....
I would say that the Online/Catalog companies are more money oriented because all they are doing is selling you product...they dont care what you do with the product...we do....we want to know that you are putting this product in/on a healthy pet....many of these products can hurt your pet if they have underlying diseases or problems.....so the bottom line...which i feel very passionate about is that your pet, like you, need medical exams on an annual basis...if not twice a year.  If you think about how fast a dog ages....if people were age that quickly they would be going to the doctor for checkups every other month.
I appreciate being able to voice my opinion on here. I have been working in an Animal Hospital for 10 years and i believe in animal medicine....we have helped many families with their animals....i sleep well at night  :)

[thunderpout]

I agree with most of what you said, and I didnt mean for you to think I dont use vets or I am against them making money...however, sometimes they, as a whole seemto think all non-trained folks have absolutly no clue as to how to care for their pets... and as a whole, thats a safe bet, being that 7 out of 10 people cant even take care of themselves, their kids, and basically have no common sense!  I have always taken my dogs at least once a year to a vet, and I have a great one now!  My current english setter owes his life to the wonderful vet who went thru his entire intestinal tract to remove blockage from chewed up rope chew toys in three spots, he was hours from death, I could not be more grateful for her expertise and prowess in saving Drummer.  I am also grateful I had about $1000 laying around!  The technology has gone past what most people can afford...but Im still glad its there!  BUT...I just cant take it when they treat you like an idiot, (try) to sell ya stuff ya dont need, push the lifeline on pets who have lived long lives and make them suffer on longer, and make $$$$$ doing it, and think competent people are incapable of understanding their pets needs.  You honestly wouldnt believe what I went thru with a few vets.....  also if anyone needs a good vet, PM me and Ill steer ya to a good one.  I know there are others, but if i can keep others from from sifting thru some bad ones, like I had to... ::   -thunderpout happy2.gif

[thunderpout]

And just to add, its not just Vets, there are also many human docs out there who probably shouldnt be! Just as in any proffesion.(suprise!) That dosent mean you shouldn"t go to see the Doc, right?  Just dont let em grab ya by the nose-ring and lead ya down the wrong path... AND you can also get pet health insurance!  I'm just waitin to be able to get drummer the wonderdog on my family plan! :ROTFLMAO:       -thunderpout