Topical flea protection

[get the red out]

I'm pretty much a first time dog owner at 46 (at least since I was 15, then my parents did the heavy lifting), and I have been applying the (First Shield) topical flea protection to our dog monthly since she was a tiny pup and she is 8 months old. I live in Kentucky and it is the middle of winter, do you guys that live where it gets cold in the winter continue to apply the flea protection monthly while it is cold and there are no fleas around?

I was just wondering since she is due for her dose and she HATES IT, runs around trying to wipe herself on everything, and then her thick coat feels gunky for days when we pet her.

Thanks.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. There's some controversy about the safety and efficacy of First Shield

We use Frontline and it gives us no problems at all, and the dogs have had no ill effects from it.

It is easy to apply on the backs of their necks. They can't pick at it and actually don't even try. You put on a small quantity of the thick liquid in a straight line for about three inches on bare skin under parted fur and that's it.

[get the red out]

2. I should have paid more attention to your reply

I used the First Shield on my dog and she had a horrible reaction. Then I investigated on the internet and saw that I should bathe her in Dawn dishwashing liquid to get as much of the stuff off as possible. Thankfully this worked. My 8 month old herding breed mix went from being a playful pup to absolutely closed down and hunkering under a table the minute I put it on her. She slept for two hours and just didn't have any energy at all, VERY strange for her. I then did what I should have done to begin with and looked into this brand. It appears that it is not a good product at all. I will never put her through this again if I can help it. I will get some Frontline, like you, my sister has never had any problems with it either using it on her two dogs.

[roody]

3. I'm sure she will bounce back fast. Keep us posted.

[get the red out]

4. She came back to herself

She started "coming back" some right after the bath, then by bedtime she was acting like herself, trying to jump on the bed with us and play when we were trying to go to sleep, it was a relief. I am glad we washed that stuff off. I read online about much worse reactions in pets than hers, and that scared me bad enough.

I had to pick my Mom's elderly Papillion up from the vet clinic for her tonight and I told them I will be ordering flea protection online, I won't be using that stuff again.