Frontline Spot On
Frontline Spot On Products

What is it?

What is FRONTLINE Spot On?

How FRONTLINE Spot On works.

FRONTLINE Spot On is non-systemic.

FRONTLINE Spot On has a non-systemic mode of action. FRONTLINE Spot On kills parasites through contact, not via the pet's bloodstream.

From where you apply the product, FRONTLINE Spot On spreads all over the pet's body.

It concentrates into the sebaceous glands of the skin and is constantly replenished over the pet's skin and coat. This 'store' gives the product its prolonged efficacy – even after bathing, swimming and grooming.

How Frontline Spot On Works

FRONTLINE Spot On kills fleas and ticks by affecting their nervous system.

It causes hyperexcitation in these parasites. Disoriented, dying fleas rise to the surface of the pet's coat – which is why you might actually notice more fleas after applying the product.

How and when to apply.

Treating your pet is easy with FRONTLINE Spot On.

Weigh your pet and choose the correct size pipette for its weight.

Application Steps

​Applying FRONTLINE Spot On causes fleas to become hyperexcited, so it's not unusual for them to become more visible before dying.

You can handle your cat or dog as usual as soon as the application site is dry.

Treatment Schedule Treatment schedule.

*In cases of severe flea infestations or animals diagnosed with Flea Allergy Dermatitis apply monthly.

For further details please refer to the leaflet within the packaging.

FRONTLINE Spot On and preventing fleas.

Application Steps

dog cleaning It's normal to see a few new fleas on your pet even if they have been treated with FRONTLINE Spot On. FRONTLINE Spot On does not repel fleas so if the pet visits an infested environment, a few new adult fleas may jump onto them. These new fleas will be killed within 24 hours.

Seeing fleas on a treated pet

lab

If you see fleas on your cat or dog after treating them, you might think the flea treatment isn't working. However, modern flea treatments that contain fipronil, such as FRONTLINE® products, are effective at killing fleas within 24 hours of them jumping on pets. The reason why you're still seeing fleas is because new fleas can jump on your pet at any time from an infested environment. Each new flea takes up to 24 hours to kill.

Why is Frontline Effective

The majority of the flea population is found in the environment and is subject to a large variation in conditions: different hosts, pets treated with different products or none at all. This means that repeated exposure to a single active ingredient (which is necessary to develop resistance) is low.

The active ingredient, fipronil, acts on three parts of the flea nervous system so it would take three mutations of flea DNA for the product to become ineffective. This would be an extremely rare situation.

Scientific studies prove that the fipronil in FRONTLINE products remains effective. These include manufacturer studies ( Beugnet F. & Franc M. ), competitor studies ( Jernej Küzner. Michael W. Dryden ) and studies by independent researchers and veterinary parasitologists.

Why am I seeing fleas on my treated pet, and what can I do about it?

Flea
  • No product stops newly hatched adult fleas from jumping onto a treated pet.
  • Most products kill an adult flea between 12 and 24 hours of it landing on a treated pet. You will see fleas during this period whenever your pet has been in an infested environment.
  • The key to flea control products is that they kill fleas before they can lay eggs that would be shed from your pet's fur into your home. This prevents a home infestation from developing, providing all pets in your home are treated throughout the year at the intervals specified on product packaging.
  • Any gaps in treatment mean that the product will start to wear off and, at some point, newly arriving fleas will survive long enough to lay eggs that will infest your home.
  • After a home infestation has developed, it will take monthly treatment of all pets in the home for at least 3 months to break the life cycle due to the amount of flea life stages in the pet's environment. While new fleas hatch out of pupae around the home, you will continue to see fleas on your pet. The treatment will kill these fleas within 24 hours, before they themselves can lay new eggs.
  • Pets cannot become immune to FRONTLINE products because they don't act through the pet's bloodstream. FRONTLINE products kill fleas on direct contact with the skin and fur.

* Dryden M (2012) Talk Flea Facts Seminar – DVD recording, Sydney; 22nd Feb 2012

FRONTLINE Spot On FAQs.

Why can I still see fleas on my pet after I've applied FRONTLINE Spot On?

Seeing fleas soon after applying the product is a sign that the product is working. FRONTLINE Spot On kills fleas by overstimulating their nervous systems, so disorientated hyperexcited fleas can rise to the surface of the pet's coat and become more visible.

Also, it's important to know that it's normal to see fleas on your pet as they pick up new fleas that are hatching out from pupae in the environment. These will be killed within 24 hours of jumping onto your treated pet.

However, if you're seeing a large number of fleas, this is a sign that your home environment is infested. Large numbers of fleas could be hatching out of flea eggs in the environment. Even if you have treated your home with an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) spray this will not kill the pupae. An IGR only kills eggs and larvae, so new adult fleas will still be seen on your pet until they have all hatched out of their pupae and into the environment. You should treat your pet every four weeks to bring the flea population under control.

Can I apply FRONTLINE Spot On anywhere on my pet?

No. You must apply it directly onto the pet's skin, not on their hair, at the base of the neck between the shoulder blades, where your pet cannot lick it off.

Can my pet be bathed or go swimming after I've applied FRONTLINE Spot On?

Yes, they can from 48 hours after application. FRONTLINE Spot On is water resistant and will remain effective even if your pet gets wet. If your pet goes swimming or is bathed more than once a week, we recommend you apply FRONTLINE Spot On every four weeks.

Do I need to treat my pet for fleas even in colder months?

Yes. With centrally heated homes, fleas can be a problem all year round.

I live in a highly tick-infested area. How often do I need to treat my pets?

Every four weeks. Ticks have been found to be active even in cold winter months, so you should treat all year round. Remember FRONTLINE Spot On is not a tick repellent so you may still see some ticks on your pet. They should be killed within 48 hours.

There are other flea treatment products which contain fipronil. Are these products the same as FRONTLINE Spot On?

No, check the label claims. Although they contain the same ingredient there are differences.