Frontline Plus vs. Advantage – Which One is Better?

Frontline Plus and Advantage are two of the most popular flea treatments for dogs and cats. Hence, it is obvious that pet owners may face confusion when it comes to shopping for a suitable flea-preventive product for their pets. Although these two treatments have been categorised into the same group, there are distinct points that make them different from each other. Read on to compare these points and decide which one is the best for your pets.

Frontline Plus vs. Advantage – Which One is Better?

Let us look at some of the pointers given below:

Efficacy 

Advantage for dogs and Advantage for cats kills approximately 98% of fleas within a few hours of administration. Advantage is highly effective against flea larvae and adult fleas and even helps reduce the incidence of Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). However, Advantage does not kill ticks on dogs.

Frontline Plus for Dogs is a flea and tick treatment that kills adult fleas, breaking the flea life cycle at every stage, and controls brown dog ticks, paralysis ticks, and biting lice upon administration. Moreover, it also aids in the control of sarcoptic mange in dogs. It is effective against fleas and brown dog ticks for a maximum of 30 days and paralysis ticks for a maximum of 2 weeks.

On the other hand, Frontline Plus for Cats is effective against fleas, flea larvae, and chewing lice but is not effective against ticks. Both Frontline Plus for Cats and Dogs treats and controls biting lice and flea allergy dermatitis.

Ingredients 

Advantage contains imidacloprid, which kills adult fleas and flea larvae on contact. Imidacloprid kills parasites by contact absorption via the flea intersegmental membranes, so fleas are not required to bite your pet to receive a lethal dose. The ingredient causes excessive stimulation, which leads to paralysis and the death of the fleas.

Frontline Plus contains fipronil and (S)-methoprene as its key ingredients. Fipronil is an insecticide that affects the nervous systems of fleas and ticks, while (S)-Methoprene is an insect growth regulator (IGR) that prohibits the maturation of flea eggs and larvae. When both of these ingredients are combined, it results in the total destruction of adult fleas, flea larvae, and ticks in dogs.

It is important to note that although Frontline Plus for Dogs and Frontline Plus for Cats have the same ingredients, the latter does not kill ticks.

Available Packs

Choosing an appropriate pack size for your cat and dog as per their current weight is crucial to ensure optimum composition strength.  

Advantage for dogs is available in pack sizes of 1, 4, 6 & 12 in different colour coded packs based on the weight of the dog:

For Advantage for cats and kittens the pack sizes remains the same but with different colour codes:

Frontline Plus for dogs is available in 3, 6, and 12 pipettes pack with different colour-coded packs based on the weight of the dog:

Frontline Plus for cats is also available in 3, 6, and 12 pipettes, but in a single green colour code suitable for all cats from 8 weeks of age.

Pricing

Pricing for both products is competitive and contingent based on the weight of the pet, the pack size of the product, and the supplier that you purchase the product from.

Advantage or Frontline Plus – Which One Should You Choose for Your Pet?

Advantage and Frontline Plus are both effective parasite-prevention treatments. Both are highly effective for flea treatment and prevention in dogs and cats. To decide which one is better for your pet, consider the following points:

  • Frontline Plus for Dogs offers the added advantage of tick protection over Advantage for Dogs. If fleas and ticks are both prevalent in your area, Frontline Plus may be a better choice for your canine. If ticks are not prevalent in your area, Advantage for Dogs can do the job equally well.
  • Frontline Plus for Cats is effective against fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae, whereas Advantage for Cats also protects your cat well against fleas and flea infestations. Frontline Plus for cats can be used from 8 weeks of age, but Advantage for Cats can be used on cats of any age. Hence, if you have a kitten younger than 8 weeks, Advantage can be a better choice.

Please ensure to consult your veterinarian before using any kind of treatment for your cats and dogs.