Frontline Combo 'only' lasting 3 weeks before more fleas....

[mejon]

Since moving to the countryside in March our cats have had fleas (never had them in the city). I've been using Frontline Combo on them but this has only been effective for exactly 3 weeks this last occasion. I've now seen flea dirt on the white cat (I've been checking almost daily just in case!).

Is it usual for Frontline Combo to only last this long as it is summer and peak flea-season or could it be losing it's effectiveness? We live in very close proximity to a number of free-roaming ducks and hens and the cats do spend a lot of the day hunting shrews in the nearby hedges so I'm guessing they are probably getting them from there.

[FlightHattendant]

Tbh I found frontline combo pretty rubbish

Program works much better. You can buy it online now at Petmeds.

[shootfromthehip]

I've had this problem too and I resent it as it's sooooo expensive. Our vet will only give it out if you take the cat to them too which is nigh on impossible as our cats hate cat boxes. Interesting to know about the progam option- will check it out myself.

[FlightHattendant]

Yes our vet refuses to rpescribe anything until they have had her in - silly as she is on their system for the out of hours vet from 5 years ago. We also used them recently for the guinea pigs.

I didn't know you could buy program online, think it's recently changed. It's good stuff, it's a contraceptive for the fleas - it doesn't depend on spreading across the fur/skin surface, it actually goes into the cat's bloodstream so when they bite her they get a dose.

It's about £26 for 6 months worth. Brilliant.

[mejon]

Oh thanks - I'll investigate Program. I did mention it to the veterinary nurse when I picked the last dose up but she said that Frontline Combo was the strongest stuff they could give me . The fleas only seem to be apparent on the white cat though - haven't found any dirt or seen any sign of a flea on the tabby.

[edam]

Hope the Program helps.

What does flea dirt look like? Have forgotten as my last cat didn't want to go out (used to look at the world through the cat flap but never used it) but now have a kitten. Vet check up yesterday - vet said no flea dirt but then saw a flea! We've got Frontline so am worried to hear it may not be effective.

[MyCatIsAFleaBagNoMore]

I've just done our cat (hence my recent namechange), but we needed to spray the house too with something called Indorex. You need to kill any eggs and fleas on the cats sleeping areas too, otherwise they will keep coming back.

It is bloody expensive though isn't it. Still rather that than finding flea bites on me and a flea in DS ear (yuk!)

[edam]

eek, that does sound horrid. But what does flea dirt look like?

[bonkerz]

you can get frontline from pets at home so eliminates the need to take animal to vet!

[MyCatIsAFleaBagNoMore]

flea dirt looks like little black specs. If you part the fur apart you should be able to see it.

Makes me itchy thinking about it (Cat has definitley cheered up since we de fleaed him so he must have been itching like mad

[edam]

Thank you. Cat is black, helpfully but will part his fur.

[beautifulgirls]

Program does not kill fleas, it only stops them from breeding - if your cats have access to a "source" of fleas out of the home it is unlikely that program alone is going to be effective enough, whilst being very good at what it does. It works well alone in situations where cats only pick up the very occasional flea rather than a regular source. The flea has to bite the cat to get a dose of flea hormone that stop the eggs it lays from hatching. Fleas only disappear when they naturally die off therefore.

If frontline or f/line combo are not doing the job well enough then look to ask the vet for some stronghold or advocate instead. They have a different mode of action to kill fleas to the killing agent in frontline/combo. It is perfectly safe to use these products alongside program if you want to.
The differences between frontline and the combo product? Both have fipronil in to kill fleas on the pet. The combo has a flea hormone as well in that the cat will spread around the environment and stop the population from expanding in the house if some manage to breed before they die.

The vet will not be legally allowed to prescribe prescription category products without "having the patient under their care" Being on the books of a vet from 5 years ago is not deemed to be currently "under their care" so they are quite correct to insist that the cat comes in. Most vets however will prescribe flea treatments and wormers if your vaccines have been done each year as that is seen as regular care - there should then be no need for a separate visit. Some vets will see your pets free of charge just to allow them and you to comply with the law, so worth calling round to see who does do this perhaps if the consult costs are an issue to you. Certainly where I work (no I'm not saying as that would be advertising!) we will see cats and dogs for free specifically for the purpose of being able to supply these products legally. We may be in a minority though I suspect.

Hope that helps

[FlightHattendant]

Well guys. I got frontline last autumn, started on it, did nothing...vet told me it is possibly less effective nowadays thus the new frontline combo which is meant to be stronger. It also coats the eggs apparently. Well tried that for 4 months, no bloody difference...I guess we had eggs here already. Started using frontline combo PLUS program, that worked very quickly. The thing is with the program, you don't have to treat the house because eventually all the eggs hatching will have hatched and become fleas, bitten cat, become infertile, and died. The egg thing will stop once they;'ve all hatched - it can take months for this to happen if you already have them in your carpets etc but if you are patient it should be fine. I have never sprayed anywhere and we're fine now.

[FlightHattendant]

BG I crossed posts with you there - thanks for explaining! Obv I'm not a vet so you're the one to listen to.

Our practice does offer a free consultation, which is good of them - I suspected it might be a legal thing - however what surprised me was the fact they wouldn't sell me something I could buy online without a script.

I wonder why that was. Plus I do kind of resent my cat having to have had something up in the last 5 years in order to qualify!! (I don't vaccinate - probably should, though - just so so expensive )

[mejon]

Beautifulgirls - would you say that the Frontline Combo isn't working as it should because I'm having to treat more frequently or is it more down to it being summer and there's more of the buggers around anyway? Presumably if there is dirt, there are fleas but are they just feeding then dropping dead in which case I'm worrying too much about nothing? Neither cat is scratching btw(and neither are we!). Thanks.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

This happened to me last year, around this time when fleas are most virilent. It just stopped working for the cats. My vet said that cats become immune to one particular brand after a period of time, or rather they build up a tolerance to it (the fleas do anyway). So he recommended changing to an alternative brand after 18 months-2 years, then next time switching back again.

I changed to Stronghold and after a good dose of floor/furniture spray and a week of hoovering, they went.

[beautifulgirls]

Frontline used to be prescription only so you could only get through the vets, but it was "downgraded" to an over the counter produce hence it can be bought online without a script. Frontline combo is however still a prescription only product.
? I am not sure but maybe program is also now over the counter. It certainly used to be a prescription only drug though.

This summer is pretty bad for fleas I think, we are certainly seeing a lot of cases but as a practice we are starting to sell more advocate and Stronghold than frontline combo, but we do a mix of things. The difference between frontline and the other two is that frontline coats the hairs of the pet in the natural coat oils, it does not get absorbed in to the blood stream of the pet. It acts as a "contact" killer - ie fleas only have to walk through the coat to be affected. Stronghold and advocate are absorbed into the body and fleas die when they bite, though they are very safe drugs for pets. Advocate is being used more in some areas for dogs due to lungworm problems as it also helps prevent that. Stronghold and Advocate both treat roundworms, though tapewormer medications will need to be given at times in addition for routine worming.
Why is frontline less effective?? I really don't know. It would seem from client reports and the posts on here that there are some issues with efficacy, but if you talk to the drugs companies they will tell you in tests they have seen no problems. Maybe there is a resistance building up in fleas to the active ingredient in frontline/combo, maybe no. It lasts 1-2 months in dogs but only 4-5 weeks in cats - that was due to the fact cats groom so much more and when they shed hairs they are shedding the chemical on the hairs. Perhaps therefore if pets are having slightly unusual moulting/shedding patterns then that could explain it working but for shorter periods? Lets face it the summer has been pretty odd and lots of pets seem to have had a constant shedding phase for the last few weeks as they try and adapt to warm then cool then warm weather!! Personal opinion there really, not scientificly verified.
Personally I suggest you change to stronghold or advocate - both are easy to use, very effective and similar in price to the frontline combo.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Frontline over the counter is crap, only combo is any good imo. Or the alternative of Stronghold which is prescription only.

I have never used any over the counter or off the shelf flea products that have worked.

[Itching2know]

I have just returned from a week's holiday to find my poor cat aggravated and scratching. I had applied Frontline Combo just before we left so it should have still be quite strong but I combed 12 fleas out of him and 5 the following day. I rang the vets who told me I couldn't treat him for another 3 weeks, wouldn't give me my money back on the six pack I had started but were happy to sell me some very expensive spray for the house and instructed me to vacuum daily. They admitted that Frontline hadn't been working very well and told me to write to the manufacturers before telling me they're probably infested in our house. What I don't understand is how I can have an infestation when I have used Frontline or Advocate religiously for the last eight years without a problem. Surely these products are meant to treat the environment as well as the cat.

[beautifulgirls]

Frontline or Advocate will not treat the environment no, Frontline Combo does have an element of environmental control to it. If however a product fails for whatever reason then a population is going to become established. Unless you use a decent product on the pet, and treat the environment with something they are going to keep coming back. If you are concerned that the product has failed please do contact the manufacturers for help and hopefully a refund too. Meanwhile please do treat the house and ideally the pet too. Your vet should be able to supply advocate or stronghold and these would almost certainly be safe to use after frontline combo as they are entirely different chemicals and not likely to be a problem. If your vet has any concerns ask them to call the manufacturers on the vet line to check it out for themselves.

[midori1999]

My vet reckons there is quite a bit of resistance being seen to Frontline.

I don't actually treat for fleas that often, we don't get ticks much round here and we have never had fleas. I use stronghold when I do treat though.

[Vallhala]

Flea dirt is, has been said, little black specs and can be identified by combing and wiping the comb on a damp tissue. If you see what looks like tiny specs of blood, that's flea dirt.