Comments on: Allergic reaction to Frontline Plus

By: Kirk

Kirk — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:35:22 +0000

My dog and I encountered the red bumps, rash, skin irritation and itch to my dog that appeared around his body – 10 month malamute.
The vet was resistant to acknowledging any correlation between the rash and frontline. My dog ended up chewing his back end raw trying to relieve the itch. He is now wearing a cone for the next three weeks, on antibiotics, and a course of topical ointnment on the sores.
Spent two weeks trying to find a common cause behind allergic reaction before reading the posts here that described his symptoms.

By: Jasmine

Jasmine — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:55:48 +0000

Hello Robin and Christine! My dog is have the same symptoms, she can’t walk on her back right leg, won’t eat or drink, is running a fever. This is not like her at all she is always very happy and I don’t know what to do . She recieved frontline about 3 and a half weeks ago.

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 23:15:34 +0000

Hello Christine with the chihuahua!
How is your dog doing now almost 3 months later? My little dog is having the identical symptoms as yours and she received frontline a week ago. She is lethargic, was running a fever which has subsided. Her white blood cell count is dangerously LOW. We cannot figure out what is wrong with her, but she seems soooo lethargic and she is usually the peppy one.

By: Robert Festinger

Robert Festinger — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:23:23 +0000

while i was using frontline plus i faced the same problem with my boxer dog, he had fiver for 3-4 days as soon as frontline plus applied to it, so my vet told me that may be frontline plus is not for him, so he suggested me aspis forte i.t generic version of frontline plus by his experience, he told me that this could help me, and really it worked as well as no other harmful side effects.

By: Stormy

Stormy — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:33:05 +0000

Hi, I recently gave my pit bull frontline. Its been about 2-3 weeks and he broke out into these small, mosquito bite like bumps on his shoulders where the frontline was applied. They were oily at first, then became scabby.. now those scabs have come off into big OPEN sores! The bumps have also spread all the way down his back. I have no idea what to do, I’ve given him an ointment to prevent infection and relieve pain but I want to completely fix the problem if possible, and suggestions on what I should do?

By: Christine M.

Christine M. — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:19:15 +0000

I applied Frontline to my chihuahua on May 31st and within 2 weeks, he became lethargic, wouldn’t eat or drink and became unable to move. When the vet did bloodwork, his white blood cells were elevated and he was running a fever. They put him on antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory over the weekend. Come Monday we were back at the vets because his symptoms were getting worse. They put him on new antibiotics and Prednisone. Unfortunately, he is still on the Prednisone because every time we try to taper him off the pain returns. So now we are in the process of setting up a spinal tap appointment. The vet seems to think it could be immunity defficiency or a form of menengitis….but I believe it was the Frontline, seeing as how he was completey healthy before recieving the treatment!! =(

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:23:18 +0000

My 5 year old Airedale is having, what I am convinced esp. after reading so many of these stories, an allergic reaction to Frontline/PetArmour (the Walmart Version). I am now wondering if it could be the PetArmour because I have noticed this reaction mostly since switching to that brand, but I can not really prove that. I would not just stay away from anything like Frontline. His reaction has been hives or scabs mostly around his hind quarters, and his neck. Places that are hard for him to reach, making his scratching all the more difficult. I have long wondered what could be causing these outbreaks, and am now convinced it is the frontline. Last summer he also contracted Lyme disease, while on Frontline (never found a tick). So I also question its effectiveness, at lease with my dog.

By: Christina

Christina — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:32:27 +0000

All of the flea meds are traditionally a pesticide. Our first Weimaraner used Frontline successfully but one time I used BioSpot and had same reaction with itchy and rolling and immediately washed off. Our new young Weim was given Trifexis when there was the heartgard shortage back in Feb/March this year and had severe diarehha for over a week, was lethargic and sleepy for 2 days and after much googling and help with her breeded, that can cause some serious side effects and believe that is what happened. Back in early July, we went to a park that was foresty and she had a few bumps near her neck that didn’t seem to go away. Fearing fleas or something else that got to her b/c I was swatting flies off both of us that day, I treated her with Frontline Plus as well. We are still battling a skin issue today. SHe had more bumps after I applied, I washed off that night or next day and talked vet into giving her antiobiotics b/c thought she may have had a staph infection which is common in young Weims and especially in heat like we have had. She was a bit better but not fully so vet had me stop giving Cephaflexin and put her on short course of Pred. Didn’t help at all and even tried some Zyrtec as benedryl didn’t help fully. She was put back on Cephaflexin for 2 weeks and just given another 2 weeks b/c vet knows it got worse when pulled heroff the first time and haven’t figured out. Have no idea if was front line or was the beginning of what I noticed to prompt me to put frontlne on her. She is on different food (fish) and started her on some natural supplements from our vet – STandard Process Derm Support and another immune herb booster. Can’t believe the vet prescribed since they were more convential in the past but she does seem to be improving a bit in 2 days. The issue is that it is bumps only on her back/sides that seem to wax and wane. Nothing on belly/feet/ or anywhere else. She was itchy in beginning but less now but still not going away. Being that it is August and this started in July, it very well can be an inhallant allergy too. She is only 11 months old so don’t have history with a summer but grass and mold are also out right now.
My point is, any flea preventative or any med can cause a reaction in any animal. If unsure, don’t use or try something with a totally diff ingredient if not sure it caused a reaction. Our other Weim was allergic to many drugs and always did my homework or asked vet about all side effects (even rare) when they were prescribed. Also how to handle a reeaction just in case he experienced. I suggest the same for all of you so at least you are aware of all potential effects and how to handle…just to be safe.
I hope her skin clears up before winter and we don’t experience again next July but until then, we watch what she eats, bath her in gentle skin shampoo for allergies/infections on a weekly basis and hope for it to go away.
Good luck with all your dogs as well. I definitelly would not advise Trifexis until you read all of the side effects and google reactions. This is a new drug which is my warning as not much known about. I have bought a spray that will be used when needed as it is not long acting. That way we use low dose and only when needed since in an area that is not flea infested.

By: Mickie

Mickie — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:02:43 +0000

All these stories sound just like what we are going through with our 8 year old, 97 pound chocolate lab. We’ve been to the vet twice in the past week and poor Jenny doesn’t seem to be getting any better. She’s on antibiotics but today at the vet he shaved off 16 different spots where she had open wounds (back, tail, ear, sides and paw). She also has running eyes which we’ve been treating with steroid/antibiotic ointment for a week now. The vet feels she’s developed glaucoma in her right eye and will likely loose all sight in that eye. She was also running a fever today. He added anti-inflammatory drugs today but is at a loss as to what is causing the problems. She lays in one spot for hours, stumbles when she walks and can’t make it up the 3 stairs to the house without a lot of help. I’m scared to death for her. I’ve passed all the information from everyone on this site on to my vet and am awaiting a call back now. Anyone know how long these symptoms last–we’re going on 10 days now and getting worse instead of better.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 04:13:22 +0000

Last month gave FRONTLINE plus to my basset and within 24 hours he had developed a huge welt/sore in the the application area and localised hairloss.

With 3 days this has developed into hives all over the body and dramatic hairloss

30 days on and although the application area has cleared – his whole underbelly is going almost totally bald.

I contacted FRONTLINE straight away – and they saif this is not an unusual side affect – and just gave me a case number – not comforting

FYI

This never happened when we used UK Frontline when I lived there

USA FRONTLINE IS EVIL PLEASE DO NOT USE ON YOUR LOVE ONES