Dog owners, bad reactions to frontline?

[koopa17]

I found a couple fleas on my chihuahua on Monday so yesterday after work I got some frontline for her and my 2 other dogs and applied it. No problems last night or this morning, but since I've been home from work she has been freaking out like crazy. Constant crying, biting at her skin, laying on her back and wiggling around. Have any of you seen this? The other 2 dogs are fine but she's way smaller at 7 lbs. I've read I can get it off of her skin with dawn dish soap. Should I go ahead and do it? It will make the frontline stop working but I'm afraid she's in pain right now.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

I fucking hate that stuff. We have never had fleas with any of our dogs, but my parents recently had them with their dogs. They refused frontline and instead used this stuff www.amazon.com/dp/B003QS6JL2/ref=dra_a_cs_lb_hn_it_P1700_1000?tag=dradisplay-20. They have been very pleased with it.

[isabel]

We had a similar reaction with something called Vectra. She only needed flea preventative for the one month, but she kept rubbing the application site on the couch and stuff. Now I feel bad that it may have really been hurting her. I would wash your pup.

[koopa17]

Ugh ok, my poor baby! I was hoping maybe it was just really itchy because the fleas are moving around/dying but that is wishful thinking. I'm going to bathe her now.

@theycalledherkate, according to the vet it was the right dose, she got the same dose as my 12 lb schnauzer.

Thanks everyone!

[Deleted]

One of my dogs had a bad reaction to Frontline. She started twitching and shaking and scratching so I bathed her, then it stopped after a couple of hours. It you are worried about fleas then get a pill like Trifexis or Comfortis. I have never had a topical work as well as one of those pills. They are amazing and work in like an hour, then continue working for a whole month. Trifexis is also a heartworm preventative.

[koopa17]

We just got her bathed and so far so good. She's running around like crazy like she always does after a bath, but isn't scratching and stuff. Woohoo! Thanks again for the recommendations!

[rageragerage]

I'm glad you washed it off and your pup feels better. Frontline actually burned through my dogs skin and the FDA opened a case on the incident. We only use oral meds now.

[TrickyBob]

I just want to throw in that we use Sentry. They have all natural (various oils blend that kill/discourage fleas) and a chemical one. I have used the chemical one numerous times and haven't had a problem at all.

But I think Frontline is made by Hartz, which is a company/line that is known to cause issues.

[purrbox]

Oct 23, 2013 22:25:09 GMT -5 rageragerage said:

I'm glad you washed it off and your pup feels better. Frontline actually burned through my dogs skin and the FDA opened a case on the incident. We only use oral meds now.

What oral medication do you use? Trifexis?

[TC]

Do not switch to oral meds such as comfortis and trifexis if your dog has any known neurological issues. They are even more of a known trigger for neurological episodes than topicals. Most vets will not tell you to stop using topicals with a neuro sensitive dog but they will tell you to stop using comfortis or trifexis.

Can you give her some benedryl after her bath?

[koopa17]

Oct 23, 2013 22:56:18 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

I just want to throw in that we use Sentry. They have all natural (various oils blend that kill/discourage fleas) and a chemical one. I have used the chemical one numerous times and haven't had a problem at all.

But I think Frontline is made by Hartz, which is a company/line that is known to cause issues.

I do like the all natural Sentry kind, but it didn't seem to keep the fleas away this time.  I think I need to treat the backyard, it's the only place she could be getting them from and she likes to play outside all day and evening (in and out the doggy door).

I didn't realize Frontline is a Hartz brand, I saw a really disturbing fb post yesterday about Hartz flea/tick products burning a dog's skin really bad.  Scary!

[koopa17]

Oct 23, 2013 23:00:17 GMT -5 TC said:

Do not switch to oral meds such as comfortis and trifexis if your dog has any known neurological issues. They are even more of a known trigger for neurological episodes than topicals. Most vets will not tell you to stop using topicals with a neuro sensitive dog but they will tell you to stop using comfortis or trifexis.

Can you give her some benedryl after her bath?

Thanks for the heads up.  I don't believe she has any neurological issues so I think the vet would be ok with switching her, but I will do a little research first.  

We tried to give her some of the grape chewable children's benedryl earlier but she wouldn't take it.  I think I will try to hide it in some cheese and try again!

[rageragerage]

Oct 23, 2013 22:59:08 GMT -5 purrbox said:

Oct 23, 2013 22:25:09 GMT -5 rageragerage said:

I'm glad you washed it off and your pup feels better. Frontline actually burned through my dogs skin and the FDA opened a case on the incident. We only use oral meds now.

What oral medication do you use? Trifexis?

He does okay on Comfortis.  It's just topical stuff that he seems to have issues with.  The glue they used after a surgery broke him out.

[koopa17]

luckydog, haha I think you are right! She also flops around in the grass immediately after a bath which is helpful.

She was doing much better pretty much immediately after her bath. She was still a little whiny but then slept through the night without a peep, and seemed all good this morning!

[thinklikeajellyfish]

Oct 23, 2013 22:56:18 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

I just want to throw in that we use Sentry. They have all natural (various oils blend that kill/discourage fleas) and a chemical one. I have used the chemical one numerous times and haven't had a problem at all.

But I think Frontline is made by Hartz, which is a company/line that is known to cause issues.

Frontline is not made by Hartz, it is made by Merial.  You are right, though, that Hartz products have a history of causing really bad reactions.

[maryjane]

so glad your pup's doing better!

we use comfortis for our 7 lbs. yorkie.

topical was a no from the start: the kitty likes to groom her. she also gets a bath every week, sometimes every other week.