Frontline Plus for Dogs Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons, and More

Written by Kristin Hitchcock
Published: April 4, 2022
© cynoclub/Shutterstock.com

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If you have a dog, then you probably know how hard the fight against fleas and ticks is. Luckily, there is a range of products that you can choose from to help you manage these pests, including Frontline Plus for dogs.

Out of all the different products on the market, Frontline Plus is easily one of the most popular. It is very fast-acting and works on a variety of common pests, including most stages of the flea lifecycle and even chewing lice.

They even make treatments for a wide range of dog sizes, including the very small and very large. Therefore, these treatments are useable on most canines.

However, purchasing a flea and tick treatment can be complicated. For everything you need to know before purchasing Frontline Plus, keep reading.

Summary

The main point of Frontline Plus is to protect your dogs from fleas and ticks. However, they also work on a variety of different other parasites, like chewing lice.

One of the reasons this formula works so well is that it is successful at nearly all stages of the flea lifespan. It successfully kills adult fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae. Therefore, you don’t have to deal with common reinfestations as more eggs hatch. This formula simply kills the eggs before they hatch.

It is formulated with two primary ingredients: fipronil and (S)-Methoprene. These work together to disrupt an insect’s lifecycle and prevent further infestations. Therefore, it provides complete and long-acting prevention.

It takes only 24 hours for this formula to work. After that, simply apply it every 30-days. Each box comes with multiple treatments (usually about six). Therefore, you can continue treating your canine for months in the future with one purchase.

Best for Dogs
Frontline Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Dogs
  • Contains Fipronil and (S)-methoprene
  • Fast-acting
  • Kills fleas, flea eggs, lice, and ticks
  • Last thirty days
Check Chewy Check Amazon

Because this formula is dosed based on size, you should select the product that best matches your dog’s size. Here are the links to various dosages:

Frontline Plus Benefits and Features

  • Disrupts the flea life cycle
  • Kills fleas, chewing lice, and ticks
  • Boxes come with multiple doses
  • Waterproof
  • Works in 24 hours

Frontline Plus: Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Works on all stages of the flea life cycle
  • Kills most common pests
  • No measuring required
  • Works quickly
  • Waterproof, long-lasting formulation

Cons:

  • Expensive

Where is Frontline Plus Made?

Merial primarily manufactures Frontline Plus. they do not own the brand. Instead, they are simply a third-party manufacturer that primarily creates this medication. This manufacturing company is owned by Boehringer Ingelheim, which is an international company headquartered in Germany.

We don’t know exactly where Frontline Plus is made. However, we do know that this company owns manufacturing sites all over the world. Frontline Plus is probably made at one or many of these sites.

Generally, Frontline Plus is imported into the USA from distributors around the world. While some of these are in the USA, this is the exception, not the rule.

Frontline Plus Ingredients

Frontline Plus for dogs uses two primary active ingredients: fipronil and (S)-methoprene.

Fipronil is a very common pest-control ingredient for dogs, as well as a variety of other applications. For instance, many residential pest control companies use Fipronil as well, and it has been effective in turf-grass management.

It is considered to be extremely safe for dogs and cats, as well as completely safe for humans in the dosages commonly used. Of course, in some cases, poisoning can occur with misuse.

It is toxic to some species of animals, including some birds and fish. Therefore, it may not be the most environmentally-friendly option.

(S)-methoprene is also commonly used against insects. This ingredient acts as a common hormone in insects, which helps disrupt their lifecycle. In fact, you can use it against fleas, flies, moths, and beetles.

Because it disrupts their lifecycle, it is commonly used in pesticide products to prevent eggs and larvae from developing. For this reason, it works a bit like a preventative, preventing further infestations due to eggs and larvae reaching adulthood.

Frontline Plus: Where to Buy

You can purchase Frontline Plus at most pet stores and retailers, as it is quite popular. Online, you can find it at:

Best for Dogs
Frontline Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Dogs
  • Contains Fipronil and (S)-methoprene
  • Fast-acting
  • Kills fleas, flea eggs, lice, and ticks
  • Last thirty days
Check Chewy Check Amazon

Frontline Plus Specs

Effectiveness

Out of all the flea and tick controllers on the market, Frontline Plus is generally considered to be one of the most effective options. It stops fleas and ticks in their tracks, as well as prevents new ones from hatching.

Plus, it also works on a variety of other pests, including chewing lice.

Safety

Overall, this formula is made using only effective and safe ingredients. In fact, the active ingredients are considered to be some of the safest on the market. People use them widely to control pests populations in residential and commercial areas.

Therefore, if you’re looking for something safe, you can’t get much better than Frontline Plus.

Ease of Use

To apply Frontline Plus, you simply squeeze out the applicator onto your dog’s back. it takes about 24 hours for it to start working. However, after that, you only have to reapply every month.

Overall, Frontline Plus appears much easier to use than other preventatives on the market.

Price

Of course, one of the major downsides of this product is the price. Compared to others, the price is quite a bit higher. Therefore, it may be out of some people’s budget. With that said, Frontline Plus has a higher price tag for a reason – it simply works.

Frontline Plus Vs. Activyl

Activyl appears to be slightly less popular than Frontline Plus. This treatment is not available everywhere like Frontline Plus seems to be. However, one study did find that this treatment was slightly more effective (though Frontline Plus did bring the research into question).

Beyond that, both products are quite similar. Users seem to be very pleased with both products, and they are similarly priced. There is no obvious winner here, though many may choose Frontline simply because it is easier to get.

Bottom Line

Frontline Plus is extremely popular for a reason. This flea and tick treatment works very effectively and remains quite safe. It utilizes two different active ingredients to kill adult pests and disrupt their life cycle, which prevents reinfestations.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use and effective flea and tick treatment, Frontline Plus is the best option on the market. However, this also means that you will be paying a bit more for it.

About the Author

Kristin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering dogs, cats, fish, and other pets. She has been an animal writer for seven years, writing for top publications on everything from chinchilla cancer to the rise of designer dogs. She currently lives in Tennessee with her cat, dogs, and two children. When she isn't writing about pets, she enjoys hiking and crocheting.

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