Review: Frontline Plus for Dogs Weighing 23 to 44 Pounds

Our Pitbull mix Max is a sensitive dog. He doesn't like to be given medicine. He doesn't like anyone to touch him except my husband and me, and only for wrestling, pets, hugs and kisses. As you will see in the video review below, Max wasn't too pleased about being the flea medicine recipient. He has to receive the flea treatment no matter what, and what better example of how easy or difficult a product is to use than testing it on a difficult pet?

We don't know Max's history. He literally walked up our front porch steps one summer day a year ago, made friends with our older and large dog Roscoe, and he's been in our family since. The veterinarian believes Max is 2-years-old. We cope with his fears and sensitivities like we would that of any family member, human or animal.


We treat our cat and dogs, wash pet and people bedding, vacuum and treat the environment on the same day. If the dogs continue to have fleas after these steps are done, we assume the Frontline Plus for Dogs has failed.

Frontline Plus for Dogs containing fipronil 9.8 percent and S-methoprene 8.8 percent should be used on dogs and puppies 8 weeks or older. The liquid insecticide for dogs 23-44 lbs is available as 1.34 ml applicators. The product is sold in with 3 doses, which lasts 3 months. The retail price for this product ranges from $38.99 to $53.74, depending where you purchase. The product is available at retail and online stores.

Hound and Home gives this product 3.5 stars based on past and current results, and because the same ingredients can be applied easier with the PetArmor Plus for Dogs applicator.

How to Apply Frontline Plus for Dogs

I like to shave a small section of fur so that the spot-on treatment is certain to be absorbed into my dog's skin. If the product is placed on dense fur, it will not be absorbed properly and more likely to fail.

Place the applicator tip through your dog's fur, to the skin, between his or her shoulder blades. Apply the entire contents of the applicator. Use only one applicator per treatment.

Frontline Plus for Dogs Ingredients

Frontline Plus for Dogs is made by the pharmaceutical company Merial. It contains an insect growth regulator called S-methoprene that kills flea eggs and larvae. It is also effective against all life stages of the brown dog tick, the American dog tick, the deer tick and the lone star tick.

Frontline Plus for Dogs Benefits

There are five key benefits to using this product:

1. Kills fleas on your pet within 12 hours
2. One dose provides protection for one month
3. It aids in the control of sarcoptic mange infections
4. It is waterproof
5. Kills ticks and chewing lice

How Frontline Plus for Dogs Works

Frontline Plus contains fipronil, an insecticide that disrupts the central nervous system of fleas and ticks. It causes paralysis and death. The product also contains S-Methoprene, an insect growth regulator that kills flea eggs and larvae. These active ingredients are applied as a spot-on and enter your pet's bloodstream via the skin. The active ingredients are stored in your pet's sebaceous glands, which are small skin glands that secrete a lubricating oil (sebum) into the hair follicles to lubricate the skin and fur.

Side Effects and Warnings

Your dog may experience temporary irritation at the site of the spot-on application. While our larger dogs don't, our small dogs do have redness and irritation after application. If the irritation becomes more severe following application, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Wait 24 hours to for the flea treatment to fully dry before allowing your dog to swim or bathe. Do not reapply for 30 days.

This product is for external use on dogs and puppies only. It will kill cats or kittens (Merial makes a separate flea treatment for felines). Frontline Plus is approved for use on breeding, pregnant, or nursing animals. Ask your veterinarian before using this product on dogs taking medication or dogs that are using other pesticide products, or on debilitated or aged animals.

Frontline Plus is harmful to humans if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. It can also cause eye injury. Call a physician or poison control center for advice. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling, or wear gloves.

To dispose of the used product, wrap original container in layers of newspaper and throw in the trash. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Flea Control Tips

It is important to treat all pets in your household for fleas at the same time, as well as vacuum carpets, wash pet and human bedding, and treat the outside of your home. It's a lot of work, but if everything is done the same day, you should be flea free within a day or two. Since the flea treatment lasts only 30 days, you will need to repeat these steps monthly.

Review: SkinGuard CP Medicated Shampoo for Dogs, Cats [Watch]

Our 12-year-old Shih Tzu mix named Shelby has sensitive skin. Fleas, pollen and other irritants often have her scratching and licking her skin.

During a recent veterinarian visit, our vet recommended Vethical SkinGuard CP, an antiseptic shampoo for dogs and cats designed to treat superficial and severe skin conditions with chlorhexidine and climbazole.

The medicated shampoo is advertised to clean, protect and help maintain your pet’s skin health. It can only be purchased through VCA animal hospitals as it is distributed exclusively though VCA-Antech, Inc. It's retail price is $28.00 per 8 oz. bottle.

According to Vethical, SkinGuard CP should do the following:

• Gently remove dirt, crusts, scales and pimples
• Control bacteria, yeasts and fungi 
• Eliminate pruritus and itching
• Restore the skin barrier and ceramide levels to stop skin irritation
• Regulate associated seborrhea and inflammation
• Moisturize the pet's skin

SkinGuard CP Review

While the product performed well in reducing skin irritation, eliminating itching and more over time, it does not lather or spread across the skin well. We had to use quite a bit of it to create enough lather to ensure Shelby's entire skin was covered.

Once your pet's skin is covered, the product stays on the skin for 5 to 10 minutes, and then is rinsed off.

The shampoo alleviated Shelby's skin allergy itching for roughly 12 hours. Her skin allergy is/was not severe.  At $28.00 an 8 oz. bottle, it isn't economically feasible to frequently use this product. It may be best to ask your veterinarian for medication to couple with an oatmeal/organic-based soothing shampoo.

Hound and Home gives SkinGuard CP 3 stars. The amount of shampoo that must be used each wash plus the frequency of use does not make this product budget-friendly. It performs OK, but no better than similar medicated shampoos on the market that cost less.

SkinGuard CP Ingredients

The shampoo is hypoallergenic and contains Chlorhexidine 3%, Climbazole 0.5%, Lipacide C8G, and Phytosphingosine-salicyloyl. "Phytosphingosine is a new molecule in veterinary dermatology. It is a natural component of the epidermis and plays a key role in the building and maintenance of the skin defense barrier," the website reads. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and controls excess oils and scaling or crusting of the skin.

Have you used this medicated shampoo for your dog or cat? What was your experience? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Iams Classic Pate with Beef and Rice Dog Food Review

Our dogs Shelby, Lucy and Max tested Iams Classic Pate with Beef and Rice Dog Food. The product is a 13.2 oz. (375g) can of classic pâté, which is a mixture of cooked ground meat and fat minced into a spreadable paste.


The Hound and Home review team gives this dog food product 5 stars.

Here are the nutritional facts and other information concerning this product:

Ingredients

Water, Chicken, Meat By-Products, Chicken By-Products, Beef, Ground Rice, Dried Egg Product, Carrageenan, Flaxseed Meal, Cassia Gum, Potassium Chloride, Added Color, Calcium Sulfate, Sodium Tripolphosphate, Brewers Dried Yeast, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate (source Of Vitamin B1), D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source Of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source Of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Salt, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Fructooligosaccharides.

What this heck are Fructooligosaccharides? According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are oligosaccharides that occur naturally in plants such as garlic, asparagus, chicory, onion, artichoke, banana, and many others. They are composed of linear chains of fructose units, linked by beta (2-1) bonds.

Oligosaccharides are carbohydrate polymers comprised of three to ten simple sugars.

Iams claims that its canned wet dog food recipes are slow-cooked in real broth with added minerals and vitamins.

Guaranteed Analyis

• Crude protein (Max) 8.0 percent
• Crude fat (Max) 5.0 percent
• Crude fiber (Max)  1.0 percent
• Moisture (Max) 78.0 percent
• Omega-6 Fatty Acids (Min) 0.8 percent
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Min) 0.1 percent

Benefits

• This wet dog food is suitable for adult dogs 1 year and older
• It promotes a strong immune system
• It is created from all natural ingredients
• Vitamins and minerals are added
• Carrots are the main source of Beta Carotene in the food to strengthen your dog's vision and immune system
• Sweet potatoes are included because they are high in vitamins, potassium, calcium and iron.

Feeding Directions

10 lbs (5 kg): 3/4 to 1 can daily. 30 lbs (10 kg): 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 cans daily. 40 lbs (20 kg): 1-3/4 to 1-3/4 can daily. 60 lbs (30 kg): 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 can daily. 80 lbs (40 kg): 2-1/2 to 3 can daily. 100 lbs (45 kg): 3 to 3-1/4 can daily. Amount of food your dog requires depends on breed, age, activity level and environment. The dog food should be served at room temperature. Refrigerate unused food portions. Use the food by the expiration date stamped on the can.

Always provide clean fresh water.

Have you fed your dog this Iams canned wet food? What was your dog's experience? Share in the comment section below. 

PetArmor FastCaps Nitenpyram Flea Medicine Review

In our household of four dogs and one indoor/outdoor cat, the battle against fleas rages all year. In 2015, the fleas have been especially difficult to get rid of since Georgia has had only two frosts and our winter temperatures, so far, have been mostly around 60 and 70 degrees. The fleas are thriving outdoors, which brings up another important fact -- if you can afford to treat the outside of your home for fleas, you should as part of the overall flea control plan.

I've had animal companions my entire life, and I have tried flea baths, flea collars, flea bombs, pest control professionals, topical flea treatments, flea medication tablets and more over the years. I no longer use unsafe methods like flea bombs, but I have not found an infallible flea control method. My research into less toxic flea control options continues.

A recent fail using a topical product for cats and dogs that provides flea and tick control for 30 days led me to try a new product. At a chain retailer I found PetArmor FastCaps, which has an active ingredient called Nitenpyram. Nitenpyram is a fast acting, orally administered flea treatment that is absorbed into the blood of your dog or cat and is quickly ingested via blood by feeding fleas. It is the same ingredient used in the veterinarian recommended drug Capstar.

FastCaps offers Nitenpyram in 57.0 mg tablets for dogs over 25 pounds. There are tablets for smaller dogs and cats as well.

The box of FastCaps reads, "Begins working within 30 minutes." Sold! I was so excited that I purchased two of the products, one dose for our two large dogs, Roscoe and Max, and our two small dogs, Shelby and Lucy, and Cash, our cat.

The product directions read, "A single does of FastCaps tablest should kill the adult fleas on your pet." It is important to realize the flea eggs will not be killed by the product, so you will need to shampoo your pets. wash bedding, vacuum carpets, mop your floors and treat the environment.

I wrapped the FastCaps tablet in cheese. Max was the only dog who spit out the pill. I waited a few minutes, hid the pill inside a piece of hotdog, and Max swallowed it whole. Administering this flea tablet to dogs is rather easy.

Our cat Cash was a different story. Cash is not the kind of cat you can open his mouth and place a pill in his throat -- you would be risking life and limb! I hid the crumbled tablet mixed in his cat food. He ate only a small portion. We have concluded it is best to use a topical flea treatment for Cash, however, this product may work well in more cooperative kitties.

Side Effects

Lucy, our Papillon, had unusual excitability. She could not sit still. This lasted nearly two hours after she was given the FastCaps tablet.

No other side effects noted in Roscoe, Max or Shelby.

Result

The product claims to achieve greater than 90 percent effectiveness against adult fleas on dogs within 4 hours and cats within 6 hours. The first time we used the tablets, our dogs had noticeable relief in about four to five hours -- no sooner.

To effectively counter flea infestation, I know that I must get the fleas out of our home and off our property. We did not call a professional exterminator because we had hoped winter frost would kill the fleas outside. Inside our home, I vacuumed the furniture, rugs, carpeting and mopped floors. I sprayed the carpet with a veterinarian recommended pesticide spray, which required that the room be closed off until the spray was dry.

I washed the bedding, including human bedding, and shampooed Lucy and Shelby. I would have shampooed Roscoe and Max but they ran and once I cornered each one, the wrestling match ended in a loss for me. Later, I took both boys outside on the deck for a good brushing, which I hoped would get rid of the flea eggs.  

According to veterinarians, for best results, you must use a flea treatment exactly as directed beginning in the spring, through summer and going into winter. Your animal companion is more likely to remain free of fleas.

The PetArmor FastCaps, combined with the home flea treatment and grooming, was a success. Re-infestation is inevitable, but the period of time between dosing is unknown and likely varies depending on the pet's environment. The product manufacturer claims you can give another dose as often as once per day.

FastCaps tablets are safe for use in dogs, puppies, cats and kittens that weigh 2 pounds or more, and are 4 weeks of age or older. The tablets are also safe for pregnant and breeding dogs and cats.

PetArmor FastCaps are made in France and manufactured for Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska. The tablets are available for purchase at chain and online retailers.

Have you used PetArmor FastCaps tablets for your dog or cat? Share your experience in the comment section below.