Alternatives to Frontline

One of the few positive aspects of living in Minnesota is I don't have to spend my money on flea&tick prevention year round (as well as heartworm). But the snow is finally melting and its about that time of year again.
Anyway I forgot how expensive Frontline is! Are there any cheaper solutions that won't give my dog cancer (like the ones at the grocery store)?

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Permalink Reply by Amy on March 20, 2009 at 8:51pm

I give my dog revolution. I live in texas so the mosquitos are crazy here. It guards against fleas, ticks, heartworms and several parasites including ear mites. Its $20 a month and you have to get it at the vet. I buy a 6 months supply and my vet gives me a huge discount. I don't know if its any cheaper than frontline but its a great product.

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Permalink Reply by Alicia on March 21, 2009 at 1:14pm

I use revolution too. It is considered more expensive, but my father, my vet....says it covers parasites as well. Including ear mites. I LOVE revolution.

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Permalink Reply by Natalie, Lance &Tucker on March 20, 2009 at 8:51pm

Ross there was a post to stay away from several grocery store brands which could cause seizures and such on here!

Seargants was one of them i believe hartz and some others I cant recall!

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Permalink Reply by Natalie, Lance &Tucker on March 20, 2009 at 8:52pm

Its on the front page and say Flea medication-Bio spot.......and then lists several others in the post...you may want to read it

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Permalink Reply by Shelby Shirley on March 21, 2009 at 10:21am

Hi Ross - I would suggest you stay away from a product called Promeris. It is a topical. I work at a small vet clinic in southern MN and that was the product we stocked last year. It was cheaper initially, but not in the end. Sadie, my female about 7-9 months old last summer during the time I used it, had a bad reaction to it. At first I thought it was just my imagination and thought maybe I was overdosing her with too much medication as I had given her Iverhart Max at the same time ( heartworm and internal parasite wormer in one). The next month I made sure to give one medication one week and then one the following week. Same result, she was just lethargic and not her usual self for a few days and not wanting to eat. Still thinking maybe just my imagination I tried one more month and same thing. Another vet at our clinic tried it on her Shorthair pointer - same thing. We contacted Fort Dodge the maker of Promeris and didn't get much help from them. We talked to some of our Distributors and they did say they had received a lot of similar complaints. We returned the unused product we had left. This year we are using K9 Advantix - similar to Frontline but also does biting flies. There is also Fronline Plus. None of these are cheap - but they do work. Talk to your vet and ask if you can buy the bigger size ( usually very similar cost) and then get a small 3cc syringe and split the vial into 2 or 3 months. Unlike a pill which shouldn't be split - liquids can usually be safely split. The % of active ingredients is usually the same for all sizes of dogs - it's just the amount you apply that varies from small dogs to big dogs. BUT DO TALK TO YOUR VET FIRST as these are drugs and they can have side effects. Also buy from a reputable source so you know what's really in the vial. Shelby

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Permalink Reply by Ross on March 21, 2009 at 2:44pm

The splitting up a large dose is a very smart idea!
I have two dogs so I could just divide the one large does into two smaller doses, no need to even store it.

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Permalink Reply by Julie on March 21, 2009 at 5:09pm

I work at a vet clinic in the metro here in MN; we recommend Frontline Plus, even though it is more expensive than other products available. Other clinics use Revolution or K9 Advantix, but our clinic has seen the best protection from Frontline. Each clinic's opinion will be different, but no matter what, for the best prevention, you'll unfortunately have to shell out more money to get them the best. That's what we do for our pets, we give them the best.

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Permalink Reply by Corgibyassociation on March 23, 2009 at 9:53am

I use Advantage multi for my pup--it doesn't protect against ticks, unfortunately, but does protect against heartworms and tummy parasites and fleas. Right now it is costing about 17 per dose and I guess the vet won't let me get a couple of doses at a time yet cause she hasn't reached her full weight? I know that once I'm able to, I'll give some cash to the boyfriend and get him to buy me some at a discounted place on his way to work.