Anybody have a good pros/cons theory about Frontline vs. Advantix? I know the commerical for Advantix uses a puppy specifically, but that's all I know.

Beth-yeah, they are TOUGH to kill. I just flush them when I see them. I don't like to spray any harsh pesticides anywhere my pets can come in contact with them. They are extremely resilient little pests. Actually, they're more than pests, with the diseases they carry. Luckily, my current dogs haven't had any, although I do get them when I'm out with them, depending on how bad they are that particular year. I just go over them thoroughly so if there are any, I can grab them before they attach.

Jason-you say that like it's a *bad* thing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Jenni, Our vet suggested that we use Advantix.It may just be his personal preference.We have never used Frontline. Be careful about pulling ticks off with your fingers!Sometimes the heads stay in.Use some vaseline on them and they will back out. I had a friend that got viral encephelitis afer he picked ticks off his dog using his fingers.The doctor said he most likely got it from the ticks!

Beth-EEW! I don't pull them off with my fingers if they're attached-I meant when they're just crawling around on my leg or whatever...but I never heard of encephalitis associtated with ticks...add one more check mark in the "why ticks are repulsive" category. Alcohol makes them back out as well. I've done this on myself a few times, and then used tweezers. I'd love to know the real truth as to why my dogs don't get them, and I do.

i also live in a tick-infested area, find ticks on myself, but just about never on my dogs. after my pup was grown, i started putting a flea-tick collar on him, but i have never used any sort of chemical, and would not on a pup.

when i was a kid, our family was traumatized by the death of our airedale. she was only a year old. my dad put a tick dip on her he'd used countless times with another dog of ours, and it poisoned and killed her within days.

perhaps she was statistically insignificant when looking at the odds of this happening, but for us this was a 100 percent tragedy. i personally don't take those kinds of risks with my dogs.

Alice, if your using a flea/tick collar on your dog, you are putting chemicals on them. The collar is just another method.

right-o, bob, but i waited until the pup was full grown.

Ok,this is one time Ill post on this board even though I said would never again!

Since i started feeding my dogs better I have noticed less fleas and no ticks.I dont use frontline or anything like it.It is poison plain and simple.You may not be able to see the ill effects.It is true that a healthy dog with a healthy immune system does not need all this crap.In fact this stuff is doing a job that the immune system should be taking care of,therefore the immune system is weakened further.
Why would you blindly follow what a vet says.How many times have vets or doctors for that matter been wrong?

Who do you think funds the research for the positive and negative effects of frontline?The drug companies thats who.Where do you think the vets get there info?That same research thats where.

I would never never put frontline or anything else like it on a puppy.Feed a raw natural diet and treat them like dogs not people.A healthy immune system is where it all starts.

JENNI, THIS IS A STANDING RULE ON THIS WEBBOARD. ANYTIME YOU ARE QUOTING ANY SOURCE TO THIS WEBBOARD YOU MUST GIVE CREDIT TO WHOEVER THE WRITER IS. SO THOSE QUOTES ABOVE NEED TO BE REMOVED, OR YOU NEED TO CITE YOUR SOURCES. THIS SHOULDN'T BE NEW TO ANYONE, THIS IS COMMON PRACTICE IN ANY WRITTEN MEDIUM.

Thank You.






Again, it is entirely reasonable to give a puppy Frontline.

There are independant scientific studies on the safety of these medications, that's how they come up with dosage and safety recomendations. That means there is documented EMPIRICAL evidence showing that the risks involved in giving pups Frontline are minimal, if there are any at all.

Anyone interested can search the many vet med publications on the web.

If there is new scientific information available showing it is not safe, then I'd like to see it linked to.

There are significant health risks related to the infestation of fleas and ticks. Worms, disease, skin problems, irritation. . .etc. Pet owners need to make a decision.



As for the healthy dog theory, it is without merit in my opinion. I have incredibly healthy animals, I feed a raw diet and have been for many years, and I still get flea infestations that require attention. I use Frontline, it is very effective.

If you don't have flea or tick infestations it is probably because you don't have flea or tick infestations, not because of the diet you feed your dog. I've tried many many different natural diet fixes for fleas and none are effective in any way.

If they work for you, it's luck in my opinion.

People, people,people, we're missing the point here. I didn't say Frontline was going to kill anyone...anywhere. I also did not say that if you feed a natural diet your dogs will never get fleas and ticks.

What I did say is that lately, I've seen more and more articles on healthy diet contributing to better OVERALL health, and fewer parasite problems. So, I just quoted a few to see if anyone had seen this or had any personal experience.

VC-I've seen plenty of threads where someone quoted someone and didn't have the exact source handy. So, take the quotes away, and call it paraphrasing for now, if that's better, until I can get the exact URLs. You have the power to do that, I don't.

Were you talking to me when you were talking about lack of risks or Alice? I've never used the stuff, and didn't ever claim to know anything about the risks, or even say there were specific risks. I just stated that I was told by more than one vet not to ever put chemical pesticides on an epileptic, and that other modalities can have a great influence on the prevention of pesticides in general.

How can I not have tick infestations, if I get them myself??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I just threw out these particular health practitioners' theory for discussion purposes (and I'd have to say it worked <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. What's your theory (anyone, not just VC) on why my dogs never get them and I do?

Your dogs probably get them and you don't notice.