We have two main choices of frontline for our Dogs, those being frontline topspot and frontline plus. They both treat for fleas and ticks but is there a big difference between the two, and if so what are they, and is it a considerable difference?

Let’s take a look at which one we should be using if we want to treat for fleas and ticks as effectively as possible.

Both frontline medicines will kill adult fleas and will also kill ticks. The frontline will then go on to guard against any new infestations for a minimum of a month. This means that whichever one we use our Dogs will be protected for at least this period of time.

One thing that frontline topspot does not do is kill the fleas in their larval, egg or pupae stage. This means that although it will kill any adult fleas it is not so effective at getting rid of the fleas at their juvenile stages. Once they have grown they will be killed but we will not be destroying the life-cycle.

The cycle will keep perpetuating and we will always need to treat to guard against fleas.

Frontline plus on the other hand contains an extra active ingredient. (S) – methoprene is now included in frontline plus for Dogs. This eradicates fleas in the early stages when they are still eggs, larva or pupae.

By killing the young like this it is much more effective at breaking the cycle of the flea. If we can get rid of the young then there will be no adults and this will see a very marked reduction in the number of fleas our Dogs will get.

This may eventually lead to us not needing to treat for fleas on such a regular basis. As well as this it will also guard against mites so we have an added incentive to use frontline plus.

As we can effectively break the life-cycle it may mean that we either do not need to treat for fleas at all for some time or at the very least we may be able to extend the period between applying the frontline medication.

It is for these reasons that frontline plus is now recommended as being a much more effective flea control.

If you use frontline for Dogs then this is probably the best of the two products to use.

UPDATE: At the moment K9 Advantix has a generic version available. It treats for fleas and stops ticks on Dogs and also guards against mosquitoes. Prices are only $34 for a large Dog for six months of generic Advantix.  As it is simply so cheap so you may be interested in this. There is no real generic Frontline Plus alternative at this low price so we really do recommend it.

Read about K9 Advantix here

My sponsor here at frontline for Dogs has the best prices online for frontline medicine and there are massive savings to be made by using them. I was just curious if there is an even cheaper alternative to frontline. I have done some considerable searching and I found it is not really the case. There are places where you may just purchase the active ingredient but this is really not very safe in my opinion.

You have to measure out the exact quantity yourself and this could put your Dog at risk if you get the quantity wrong. As far as price goes there seems to be a negligible saving. If you purchase six months worth of frontline medicine then you will be paying about the same for the real thing as you would for a generic.

What is as important as getting good quality frontline is the fact that the generics only contain one of the two active ingredients in Frontline. This means it simply will not be as effective at getting rid of the ticks and fleas. Frontline plus contains fipronil and methoprene while a generic source of discount frontline will only supply you with fipronil. This means you will get nowhere near the same results.

Why Not To Buy Generic Frontline For Dogs

Frontline plus works by killing fleas and ticks and stopping re-infestation for up to six weeks. It also prevents the development of flea eggs, larvae and pupae that may have been produced by adult fleas for the same amount of time. A generic will not perform the latter part as you will not be getting the active ingredient.

In effect this means that there is a much higher likelihood of your Dog becoming infested with fleas before it is time for the next treatment. This is less than optimal. I would always advise using the best quality products as you want to ensure that the treatment works effectively. If you want to save a littel money then you can but it is so negligible that there is little point. Especially when it means your Dog will not be properly protected, which is the whole point of applying frontline for Dogs in the first place.

All the resources on this site take you to the cheapest place online, and that is guaranteed. You will not find a better source of discount frontline anywhere so there is little saving to be made by purchasing a product that will not perform as well. I have spent an awful lot of my time investigating this topic so I really do know the best sources for all pets medicines. Buy quality products and ensure that your Dog really will stay flea and tick free from treatment to treatment.

You will also find that if you simply purchase the active ingredient you may have to apply at least every thirty days rather than probably every six weeks with frontline for Dogs. This equates to the savings seming even less likely. Frontline  really is the best way to protect your Dog. If you feel that you do not need any flea protection then it may be a cheaper solution but for the minimal savings I personally do not advocate generic frontline for Dogs.