Which Frontline Product Should I Use? Frontline Plus? Frontline Spray? Frontline Top-Spot (Original)?

When it comes to deciding what type of flea and tick control to use on our pets, there is such a wide variety of products available that it can be hard to choose which is the best option. I personally prefer to stick to a well-known brand with proven results, which is why I use Frontline on my dogs and cats.

Frontline Spray, Frontline Top-spot or Frontline Plus?

Frontline is available in three different formats: Frontline Spray, Frontline Top-spot (Original) and Frontline Plus. Since each product has distinct benefits and uses, it is worth spending some time working out exactly which of these flea control methods is correct for your dog or cat. To help you do that lets take a closer look at how these products work and in what situations they should be used.

Frontline Spray

Containing the active ingredient Fipronil, Frontline Spray can be used on both dogs and cats from the age of two days upwards. Providing protection against fleas and ticks, you apply Frontline Spray to the animal's skin and it lasts for several weeks. This is a good choice for multi-pet households who have several animals to treat, but you should be sure to always check the dosage calculator to ensure your pet gets the correct coverage and protection needed.

Frontline Top-spot

Frontline Top-spot (Original) is described by its manufacturers as offering the same benefits as Frontline Spray. Again containing Fipronil, which kills adult fleas, Top-spot is applied directly to your pet's skin. There it is absorbed into the glands and slowly released over a month, providing on-going flea and tick control. This version of the product can be used on dogs and cats from the age of eight weeks.

Frontline Plus

The third option is Frontline Plus. Frontline Plus contains Fipronil, along with an ingredient called Methoprene, which is the main difference between Frontline Plus and the previous Frontline pet meds. While Fipronil deals with adult fleas, Methoprene goes to work on killing fleas at all stages of the reproductive cycle. When you consider that only 1% of the flea population is adult fleas, it becomes clear that destroying the eggs, larvae and pupae of the fleas is essential. This is why Frontline Plus is recommended if you are trying to end a resistant flea or tick infestation. Frontline Plus can be used on pets from eight weeks of age, and is available in Frontline Plus for Dogs and Frontline Plus for Cats formulas. Remember that you should always use the correct type of Frontline Plus for your pet species, as Frontline Plus contains a different concentration of anti-flea ingredients depending on the pet's size and type. To sum up, if you have several pets or want to treat young puppies or kittens for fleas, Frontline Spray is recommended. Frontline Top-spot is excellent if you are looking for a monthly treatment to protect your pet from infestation by fleas and ticks. However, only Frontline Plus offers the combination of flea control ingredients which will kill the parasites at all stages of the life-cycle.

Types of Ticks Common in the United States

Over the last few years, I have seen an increasing number of TV and newspaper reports about tick infestation in the USA. As a pet owner, seeing these news items has been a real worry and I have been busy looking for ways to prevent my dog and cat from being bitten by these nasty critters. In order to better protect my pets from ticks, I've done some research about the most common tick types found in the United States and have decided to share all that I have learned here, so that other animal owners and carers can benefit and take the right precautions for themselves and their pets. During my research I've also found out about a great product for flea and tick control – it's called Frontline Plus – so I'll share more details about that with you later in this post.

The Most Common Ticks

The American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis) is the most common tick found in the United States. The concern with this particular species is that they can carry diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which can potentially be passed on to humans.

The Lonestar Tick (Amblyomma Americanum) is also a common species, and may carry bacteria which can lead to infection. They are also notorious for biting humans as well as pets, so it is worth being tick aware if you are in an area that these are known to inhabit.

The Brown Dog Tick (Ripicephalus sanguineus) is a tick of tropical origin and therefore only usually found in parts of the US where it does not get too cold in winter. These ticks are known for biting dogs, and may hide in small spaces, under furnishings etc. while waiting to latch onto an animal.

The Deer Tick, also known as the Black Legged Tick (Ixodes scapularis) is less common than the American Dog Tick and somewhat smaller. Often found in woodland areas, this type of tick is limited to certain areas of the states.

Frontline Plus – Flea and Tick Control in One

Writing and reading about ticks makes my skin crawl, and the thought of finding a tick on one of my pets is even worse. That is why I was very excited to discover Frontline Plus. Frontline Plus offer a range of over the counter pet medications which are specifically designed to protect your pet, not only from ticks but also from fleas. Frontline Plus is formulated for use on dogs to give a high level of flea and tick control. I follow my vet's advice and use Frontline Plus on my pooch once every four weeks. Since using Frontline Plus on a regular basis, my dog has not suffered from flea infestation, and although I do check him every day, has not been attacked by any ticks! I have read that ticks are most active during the month of May and during the summer, but rather than risk my pets being bitten, I use Frontline Plus on them all year round.

Frontline Plus for cats is slightly different than Frontline Plus for dogs in that it offers flea control only. If you are worried about your cat picking up ticks, you should use the Frontline Spray, which can be applied to both cats and kittens.