Big Problems with Frontline ( or is it me ? )

[Zoe]

Dylan has been having Frontline since he came to us ( now 9 months old ). The first dose was administered very professionally by the vet and I took over from there. However, he seems to HATE it. I should have posted earlier. I used to give it to him on his grooming table which I got rid of a few months ago ( but will replace ), so he was at least in one place. He wanted to know what it was ( sniffing around ) and I showed him. He was ok the first time, but the next time I had to ask my husband to distract him while I did it. The next time my husband had to hold him for me. After that my husband was away and I had to tie Dylan up fairly close to a post in the hall'cos he kept looking around. I hated to do that, but didn't know what else to do.I don't know if that was my big mistake or if Dylan genuinely hates Frontline for some reason and came to the end of his tether. I thought about asking the vet to do it, but didn't want Dylan to have a bad experience there.So, the time before last I decided to try and give it to him while he was asleep. BIG MISTAKE and as I write this now I feel really stupid. I couldn't get it all on to him and he wouldn't let me put the rest on. He looked like he was going to bite - so I had to tie him up again to finish the dosage. I cried my eyes out that night. I felt so bad.I don't know if he hates it 'cos of the way I administered it, or because he hates the smell or effect it has on him. He doesn't appear to me to suffer any red skin or itchiness or any other side effects, however. Then last week he was due for another dose and I asked the vet to do it. And of course I told the vet what had happened. Anyway, he was held by the vet's assistant and tried to bite (? warn ?) the vet. The vet said to take Dylan to him from now on, and that Dylan would get used to it. I don't think he will. I think it has kind of gone out of control and will only traumatize Dylan to put him through it agian. SO, do I try to desensitize Dylan to Frontline with lures and treats and praise etc, or do I look for some alternative. Someone has recommended holistic treatments and to take Dylan off Frontline, saying it is very strong, but I really don't know what to do. Does anyone have any experience of this or any advice ? I have desensitized Dylan to his fear of the car and the bathroom by using treats as lures/rewards and praise and was thinking of getting some empty phials of frontline and just encouraging him to come near to it and then treat him and work from there. I have about 20 days before his next due dose. I'm really concerned he'll get fleas/ticks if I don't use it, but don't want to jeapordise his health/sanity by using it either. ( I've done enough damage already......) I should add that he is the sweetest guy normally - and I've never seen any other signs of aggression; or not that I would recognize.

[laurie etc]

I'v heard of other "sensitive" dogs having violent reactions to Frontline, as well. It sound like you are applying it monthly. Are fleas AND ticks a big problem in Japan? If it's mainly fleas, then Frontline is "overkill" in my opinion. Try going to another product that can be applied less frequently, or is not in that class of chemicals - say "Advantage", which does not really get ticks, but is great for fleas. I would get online and do some research. Most of these products are sold over-the-counter at this point, so you may not have to go to your vet to get one that will be easier on Dylan. Good Luck!

[bcnewe2]

I have been using Frontline for as long as I can remember. I have some dogs who hate it being put on and some don't even notice it.

Recently I found a way to put it on that everyone seems to be ok with. Even the cats.

 

I take an empty syringe and draw up all the frontline into it with the needle, then remove the needle and use the syringe w/o the needle to apply it to their backs.

Something with breaking the little applicator open and the scratchy feeling it gives during application seems to upset some dogs. With the needleless syringe they don't seem to notice. I also get the syringe ready without them in the room

The cats are better with this method too.

Good luck

Kristen

[lrayburn]

Chances are really good that his nervousness is making you nervous which is making him more nervous and the two of you have created a negative feedback loop. Nellie was getting worse and worse about her Frontline until I realized that we were making each other more upset. So now I open the packet when she is not close enough to hear it and get upset about it. Next, I ask her to lie down (make sure you have a solid down) and scratch her back for a minute. As I'm scratching, I part her hair and make absolutely no big deal about applying the Frontline. If she gets restless she is physically free to move away but the fun back scratches stop until she settles down again and I stay relaxed the whole time.

 

You might want to try this technique with your pup. It sounds like he was getting restless (nervous) and you escalated the physical control which made him even more uncomfortable (now he can't get away if he needs to) and he has associated this anxiety with the Frontline. It might take several minutes for him to relax the first time or two but you've got all night to sit and snuggle and associate Frontline with good things rather than anxiety.

[Zoe]

Thanks for all your replies. I had been opening the frontline and preparing it out of sight.But I think now he associates that smell with bad things, and he is really smell sensitive - he can find anything anywhere ! I think I have made a mess of things - and need to do some really gentle training to get him ok with it again. I'm thinking it is more of a psychological problem now.........I like the syringe idea - I never scratched him but maybe a change of container may help. Ticks are a huge problem here - I see them on his fur almost every time we get back from our walks in the mountain behind our house (we go there once or twice a week ). And there are many local varieties - our vet showed us - they are really gross. I'll have a go at desensitizing him and if that doesn't work, will rethink/repost !!

[juliepoudrier]

Zoe,

If your dog isn't spending a lot of time in water or around sensitive animals like cats, you might want to consider the Preventic collar. I understand that it is quite effective against ticks, whereas Frontline may have lost some effectiveness. It would at least solve the problem of applying Frontline, and you could find an oral flea control if necessary. Just another option....

 

J.

[nancy]

Ferg doesn't like getting the Frontline either. But it is necessary down here. So I've made sure that her Frontline and her Inteceptor fall on the same day. She's willing to let me put the Frontline on because she knows she gets her Inteceptor tablet as a treat.

[Will, Kelsey & Toby]

Not sure if it is available in Japan, but my vet informed me that there is a Frontline Shot that can be given every 6 month or a year(don't remember which). So you might try and find out if you can do this instead.

 

Will

[Cheri McDonald]

Rob and Briar are both Frontlined once a month. Vet says it stings a little on some. Our two don't seem to mind too much though.

[Zoe]

Thanks again everyone. I'll ask my vet about the shot. And what is Interceptor ? I'll check out the collar too, but someone told me it is not safe for people to touch - or that they should be careful around it at any rate - and that it does a good job around the neck area, but not so good elsewhere ... ??? I'll check it out though.

[BigD]

Hi Zoe -

 

Interceptor is heartworm preventitive. It's a pill. Not sure if there is heartworm in Japan.

 

No, you are not supposed to touch the collar (that's what I read). Just wash your hands afterwards. If you are around kids, It'd be careful.

 

With our puppy, my first Frontline dosage was done and prepped while I sat on the floor. I wanted her to see that it's not a big deal. She sniffed (also an owner of a nose with 4 legs!) and watched. I talked to her the whole time and gave her treats here and there.

 

Then I asked her to sit and I parted the hair at her shoulder blades. I put the frontline on in less then a few seconds. She may turn her head a little but I just tell her to leave it. (It's handy if you have taught the dog a sit stay and leave it.) Immediately afterwards I gave her a very, very hi-end treat. (Greenie)

 

I do the Greenie for 2 reasons - 1) it's treat for being good and 2) I want her to settle for a bit after the application. Let it "soak" in.

 

I've never had a problem with her since that time. If she hears the Frontline box coming, she runs to me a sits nicely and waits.

 

The positive reinforcement for her is done on anything new or different. She really feeds off that well.

 

You have 20 days or so before the next one...what you need to do is sit down on the floor with some treats. Have the frontline box out. Open it, treat the pup, close it, treat the pup, take out a dose, treat, move it around, treat. Put it by him, let him sniff it, treat, treat, treat.

 

Do this everyday. Get to the point where your pup is like "what the heck!" Pretend to apply it on him, treat, treat. Just do this over and over again. When it finally comes time for you to do it, you will be calm, the dog will be calm and it will take you 3 seconds to get it on him. Any longer and you are doing something wrong!

 

Make sure the treats are hi-end value treats. This is a big deal for him, so make it worth the reward.

 

Good luck and calm down. Do NOT leash him for this. Let him call the shots....and only treat the behavior YOU want.

 

Denise

[Zoe]

Denise, THANK YOU. This is what I needed to hear - I did a similar thing with Dylan and the car. He just used to get carsick looking at the car and run the other way, but will now jump in and out and I don't even need to treat him anymore. ( Unfortunately, he still does get a bit carsick once we're moving - poor thing ! )I'll try it just like you said. I'll post again when we get there. By the way, we do get heartworm - where we live we have to medicate for 7 months of the year but it is really easy to give. It looks like a chunk of jerkey and Dylan loves it.

[Bill Fosher]

The six-month shot was ProHeart 6 from Fort Dodge. It was to prevent heartworm and had nothing to do with flea and tick control. It was recalled because of adverse reactions, including death, in enough dogs that Fort Dodge took it off the market itself.

 

We have started to see Frontline lose its efficacy and have switched to Advantix from Bayer. But before we made the switch, I always used the syringe method that someone outlined above. Not so much because of reactions from the dogs, but because it allowed me to buy a large-dose tube for $12 and split it over three dogs, rather than paying $27 for three small-dose tubes.