This article will compare Frontline Plus and Advantage II. Before getting into the details, pet owners should note the major difference between Frontline and Advantage, is that Frontline Plus kills fleas, ticks, and lice while Advantage and Advantage II only kill fleas and lice. The difference between regular Advantage and Advantage II is that the new Advantage II adds an IGR (insect growth regulator) to the formula which kills fleas in all their life stages and also kills their eggs, while regular Advantage only kills the fleas. For pet owners who need both flea and tick protection, I suggest you read my Advantix vs Frontline comparison since it compares two flea meds that target fleas, ticks, and additional pests. Regardless, Advantage II is a great choice for flea control so let’s see how it measures up against the best known flea treatment on the market, Frontline Plus.
Frontline Plus Versus Advantage II Comparison Chart
| Lowest Price This Week | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kills Fleas |  | |
| Kills Flea Larvae, Eggs, And Lice | | |
| Kills Ticks | | |
| Waterproof | | |
As you can see, the main difference between Frontline Plus and Advantage II is that Advantage does not kill ticks. Advantage kills and prevents fleas very effectively, but if you need to protect against ticks as well then there is no reason to buy Advantage. The obvious choice for both flea and tick protection is Frontline Plus. Frontline is the considered the best for killing both fleas and ticks, and it does its job very well. However, there are other flea medications that also repel and kill other pests. If you are looking for flea meds with even more killing power, I suggest you read about K9 Advantix 2.
Health Concerns
Not only do fleas and ticks make your pet miserable on a daily basis, but they can lead to lyme disease, infections, skin allergies and lice for your pet and family. Protection of our pets from fleas and ticks is a priority for most pet owners evaluating pet supplies. Pet owners want to know that the cat and dog flea meds are effective and safe. In the case of Frontline and Advantage, your vet will tell you that these are the two of the most effective treatments. Your vet will also give you an education that individual sensitivities, while rare, may occur after using any pesticide product. Since both products are applied topically, some pets may experience temporary irritation at the site of product application. Other types of reactions can occur in a small percentage of pets and may include restlessness, or generally nervous behavior. This typically lasts a day or two. If signs persist, or become more severe within a few days of application then you should call your vet about what to do.
Both products are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, which states that, “While these registered pet spot-on products have been found to be safe for use around small children, as an extra precaution, you may want to keep children away from pets until the product has dried.” If you have infants or children who can’t follow these instructions, you may want to choose Advantage (as long as it is still available) and forego the tick protection of Frontline Plus. The original Advantage used only one pesticide, but now Advantage II has two pesticides, the second was added to make it more effective against larval stages of fleas to prevent re-infestation.
Both Frontline Plus and Advantage can be ordered without prescription. Though no prescription is required for either product, you should note that they do contain pesticides. Whether using prescription or over the counter medications we should be vigilant in the application of the product and follow up to see if there are any side effects. Both Frontline and Bayer Advantage have versions for dogs and cats but you should never use a flea medication that is designed for dogs on a cat, or vice versa. The dosage amount and ingredient content is different for dog and cat flea products.
Tips for Successful Application
Weigh your dog or cat and order the right package according to the weight. The application dosages of the dog flea and tick meds for Frontline and Advantage vary according to the weight of the dog. Frontline has one single dosage available for cats, whereas Advantage has three weight classes: Kitten (under 5 lbs.), Small Cat (5-9 lbs.) and Large Cat (over 9 lbs.).
Choose a time when your pet is calm, tired or asleep. Part your pet’s hair and apply the liquid directly onto the pet’s skin in just one spot, not on their hair, at the base of the neck between the shoulder blades, where your pet cannot lick it off. Do not bathe your pet or allow it to get wet for 24 hours. Don’t touch your pet or allow the kids to touch where you applied the liquid for 24 hours.
Observe the application area on your pet for the next two days. There may be some initial redness or irritation. If signs of side effects persist or become more severe, consult your vet. By the way, your gardening habits, the pesticides that you use in your garden to protect your plants could also cause symptoms in your pet like skin sores and ulcers, diarrhea and vomiting, as well as nervous system symptoms like lethargy, nervousness, tremors and seizure.
If your pet is already infested with fleas, you may want to apply a fast acting solution like Frontline Spray. Then you will continue with monthly treatments of either Frontline Plus or Advantage II for at least three months to break the life cycle of the flea. In severe flea infestation cases you may have to treat the dogs bedding, your carpet, etc.
Both Frontline Plus and Advantage II are top-notch products and highly effective at killing and preventing parasites from attacking your pet. The decision of which to buy boils down to this: if you need both flea and tick protection, then Frontline Plus is the better choice; if you just need to focus on killing and preventing fleas only, Advantage II is an excellent choice.
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