Spot on flea treatments- collies

[linedancer3]

I've just read an earlier thread about Spot on flea drops and that collies shouldnt have certain ones. Recently my Border Collie ,aged 12, has started having a reaction when I apply them so much so that I am not going to use them again. She starts pacing around the house panting and unable to settle, drinking more water than usual. I have always used Frontline but changed to Advantage when this started but it made no difference. Any idea why she does this or what else I could try?

[jules77]

If you must use flea treatment, I would only use Frontline on a Collie, as they are susceptible to allergies and reactions. As regards what drugs to avoid, as a general rule of thumb, anything that ends in 'ectin', Ivermectin being the major drug to avoid unless your dog has been tested for MDR1.

http://www.collienet....0Collies%20(MDR1).htm

For a natural flea treatment try http://www.doghealth.co.uk/fleaworm.htm, or a garlic capsule daily.

[jules77]

Sorry, my last link didnt work. Media URL: http://www.doghealth.co.uk/fleaworm.htm
Description: Flea treatment

[boxtops]

Our cats had a reaction to Advantage when our vet stopped supplying Stronghold (which we much preferred) - there is a different technique for applying Advantage because it is much more liquid, and you need to spot it right at skin level in several different locations on the back of the neck. We found it so difficult that the manufacturers paid for the vet nurse to show us how to do it - now we do it that way, the cats don't react at all. If it all goes in one place it dribbles onto the coat and the cats were frothing at the mouth where they could lick it off. If this doesn't work, ask your vet what else they recommend - dogs might react differently than cats do.

[linedancer3]

Thanks for the advice! The links were very useful and I will possibly try a natural flea treatment. Applying it directly to the skin is very difficult as she has a long very thick coat which is hard to part!

[woofgang]

One of our boys is sensitive to fipronil so we can't use frontline. The vet suggested a Scalibor flea and tick collar whose active ingredient is deltamethrin. They have been rally good, actually seem to be better than frontline spray for preventing tick attachment which is our main problem.
the collars are soft rubber, the boys got used to wearing them in about 10 minutes.