My Mini schnauzer has fleas, Frontline Gold isn't working. What now?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Maverick. This is my opinion and it's shared by many veterinarians out there. Frontline Plus is not as effective as it used to be and I saw it fail with my own personal pets. Some parts of the country might not see this problem but I actually lived in the 28112 zip code when that occurred. I would advise using a different topical such as ParaDefense, Vectra 3D, Advantix, etc to see if those products work better. Remember, Trifexis doesn't protect against ticks so make sure your topical product kills ticks also. Good luck with Maverick.

I would not recommend using Frontline Plus for dogs living in Florida. Frontline has been around a long time and it seems as though fleas are becoming resistant to it . I suggest you try one of the new oral flea/tick pills (Nexgard, Bravecto or Simparica). You can go to any of the VETCO vaccine clinics inside Petco stores to consult with the vet and get one of these products. Take your dog with you. Here are the upcoming clinics in your area. https://www.vetcoclinics.com/services-and-clinics/clinic-locations-and-schedules/?zip=33433 Remember, you also need to treat the house and the outside environment in order to get the fleas under control. Also, all pets in the house should be on a monthly flea prevention.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Fleas can be frustrating to eradicate even when using a quality product like Bravecto. You may wish to consider a product like Capstar or even a topical flea medication in addition to the Bravecto. Products like Frontline Gold, Vectra and Advantix tend to work well. The flea life cycle sometimes necessitates that you also treat your household and even your yard to fully eradicate the infestation. Regular laundering of pet bedding can help but you may still end up needing to have an exterminators help. Finally, make sure all pets in the household are treated with a safe, quality flea preventative as often house cats that have not been treated can harbor fleas. Good luck!

Flea infestations can be really frustrating to manage! It sounds as though you're doing all of the right things to manage this issue. However, in recent years, I have not found Frontline Plus to be as effective as it once was. Consider talking to your vet about switching to an oral flea preventive, such as Bravecto, Nexgard, Credelio or Simparica. (All are prescription-based, which is why you'll need to first talk to your vet.) I find these medications MUCH more effective at rapidly killing several flea lifestages, which helps to break the flea life cycle (adults lay eggs, which become larvae, then pupae, then adults, which lay more eggs). Consistently giving flea preventives is the best way to resolve a flea infestation. Over the counter oral medications like Capstar are great at killing adult fleas, but only last for 24 hours. K9 Advantix II is an over the counter topical option that works well, but isn't quite in the same league as the prescription orals. Also be sure to wash any blankets, pillows or bedding that is machine washable on the hottest setting allowable. Try to wash these things at least once a week. If all else fails, consult an exterminator to treat your environment. Flea baths are largely ineffective at treating fleas. Many of these flea shampoos cause skin irritation, so I would just try using a regular dog shampoo every few months to wash off any dead fleas or flea dirt. Also be sure to talk to your vet about checking a stool sample for tapeworms, as dogs can ingest tapeworm eggs if they eat infected fleas. I hope this helps and that all goes well for Atlas! https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/flea-infestation-1/

Hi there. If Frontline is not working for your dog (which is sadly very common, in my experience), I would recommend using a different medication rather than reapplying a second dose. I normally recommend Nexgard, Bravecto, Simparica, or Credelio for fleas and ticks - all of these medications are safe and effective, and would be fine to give even if you applied Frontline 10 days ago.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Moon. Frontline and Seresto are both good products. They utilize different drugs. It is unlikely that both products have failed. The problem is likely the environment. The majority of the flea eggs are in the environment not on the dog. The carpet will need to be vacuumed at least once per day. All of her bedding (or yours if she sleeps with you) needs to washed in hot water. The yard can also be a source of contamination and may need to be treated as well. Wild animals or neighborhood cats can carry fleas and continually reinfection her. You can teach her to go potty on a potty pad inside as that may help. I hope this information helps!

It is safe to reapply the Frontline now, but in my experience, it doesn't have great flea protection. You may have better luck with Advantage products or a Seresto collar. The best flea protection is the prescription oral flea preventatives, like Bravecto or Nexgard.