Frontline Plus
Frontline Plus is a product from the Frontline group of products made by Merial, a veterinary medicine company. Frontline Plus is a lotion for the treatment and prevention of fleas and control of ticks on pets, mainly dogs and cats.
Frontline Plus was introduced in 2000 and is the most advanced product of the Frontline brand, which includes Frontline Spray and Frontline TopSpot. The product is based on Fipronil and is actually an improved version of Frontline TopSpot through the addition of (S)-methoprene, which breaks the flea life cycle by killing their eggs and larvae, preventing re-infestation.
Function
Frontline Plus is applied as a lotion directly to the animal’s skin, optimally to the area between the shoulder blades. The product’s applicator consists of a safety-sealed nozzle and flexible tube. The user must make contact with the pet’s skin. The user squeezes the entire contents of the tube onto the skin.
The Fipronil ingredient of Frontline Plus is stored in the animal’s sebaceous glands and is delivered to the skin and hair through hair follicles. This function is advantageous because the Fipronil is constantly replaced regardless of bathing, swimming, rainfall, etc., and it is released over time, thereby countering new infections.
The medicine can be applied to dogs and cats (including breeding, pregnant, and lactating animals) above eight weeks of age.
Efficacy claims
Merial claims that Frontline Plus remains active for 30 days and kills 98-100% of a pet’s existing flea and tick infestation within 24 hours[1]. Frontline Plus addresses all flea/tick development stages, including the elimination of larvae. Frontline Plus is effective against the four major species of tick including Lyme disease carriers.
Compared to competing products such as Bayer’s Advantage and K9 Advantix, Merial claims greater efficacy for longer periods after treatment and the elimination of fleas/ticks at a wider number of development stages[2].
Frontline Plus has received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, meaning that the product is covered under a refund/replacement policy. Frontline Plus is also approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.[citation needed]