I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience? I treated all 3 of mine last night as a preventative (which people may or may not agree with) but this morning all 3 have strong ammonia smelling breathe. It's actually quite putrid. I remember smelling it before and wondering what on Earth 2 out of 3 of them had got into but it's only this morning that I've made the link.

Effipro = ammonia breathe!

I think it only lasts as long as 48 hours if I remember rightly but can anyone explain to me why this has happened. Even more importantly, is it right?!?! It certainly doesn't seem so to me...!

Hiya, I don't use Effipro but I do use Advocate on my 2 every month for lungworm protection. It always makes their breath, poo and wee smell peculiar for a couple of days! I think these things are just such strong chemicals that infiltrate every part of their bodies and that the smell just proves it and is the outward show, so to speak :(

Not nice having to use such things regularly, but a necessary evil sometimes!

Effipro is the same chemical as Frontline (just different name) so I would imagine Frontline would have the same effect?

Yes, you are right.  Both contain fipronil which makes me think this could be a common link.  So, it begs another question...has anyone had these experiences with Frontline?

I'm sorry I don't have any experience of this, but a dog's breath smelling of ammonia can signal something serious.  If they were mine I would be concerned, and would probably want kidney and liver function tests.  I hope that it is nothing serious, especially if it normally passes very quickly, but I would be concerned about what's going on internally immediately after effipro if this is the result. 

> So, it begs another question...has anyone had these experiences with Frontline?

I have Frontline in the house - but never need to use it, as I haven't seen fleas for over 5 years.

CVL. just tagging on here but if effipro is a spot on similar to frontline (which I have used before it became ineffective) what's in it to cause a dog's breath to smell of ammonia - find that alarming. 

I have to agree - what is in this stuff?!  As mentioned before, it only lasts 48 hours but the fact that all 3 of mine have "ammonia breath", it is a bit weird.

If I could go without using preventative treatments then believe me I would!  Unfortunately I live in the countryside which is rife with parasites and my guys all bring home uninvited friends which can easily lead to an infestations. 

Lacy, can I ask what you use?  Just fishing for a bit of advice/alternatives!

The only time I have seen a flea on one of our dogs was well within the eight week period, we were at the vets, so he could have just picked it up. I then began to hear that locally (on the island) many other people were  finding frontine ineffective.  Looking back, think I was given a tablet that would kill anything on them within 24 hours (wouldn't do it again) and haven't treated them since (4 years). Groom them most days, run a flea comb through and generally keep an eye on them. If I found one, would probably spray them with frontine as others have suggested here, but will no longer routinely  treat them with such chemicals when they don't need it. But have no idea how you run a flea comb through the coat of a siberian husky!

I do not like Spot on's and now only use a fipronil Spray for which a prescription is needed.

I am having puppy vaccinations on Monday so will ask the Vet for a script for the Effipro Spray I have ordered from Hyperdrug.

I now only use flea sprays if a need arises (I do use a pyrethrin flea shampoo, Vetzyme JDS, for their very occasional baths), but for the last two years there have been ticks in my garden that baby pups have picked up (but never the adults) so with this litter I sprayed the pups before they first started going outside (and no ticks picked up) and that is almost a month ago, so getting some more in for the puppy I am keeping to use until she grows her proper guard coat and becomes like the others, somewhere the ticks don't seem to go.

As it is a suburban garden I can only assume these are hedgehog ticks or brought in by the foxes.

Other half was tending a bonfire late the other night and had foxy sat in the corner watching him for a good 20 minutes.

Thanks for the info Brainless.  I think I'm going to have to go down the same route of treating fleas as and when the need arises.  It's not a nice situation to be in (particularly with the fact I'm fostering dogs for the SHCGB Welfare) but smelling like ammonia can't be normal.

I've had a look at the sprays online since you mentioned it.  I may or may not use these.  Again, for me, it's the fipronil that's concerning me.  Is it a reaction to this alone or is it a little of something else that are in these spot ons?!

Came across this and not sure if it's what you may be asking your vet for on Monday... http://www.effipro-virbac.com/pdf/spray_datasheet.pdf

Good luck with the pups :)

the spot on-s are much more concentrated than the spray hence why a smaller volume of product is used.

I much prefer the more dilute spray that you then apply all over the dog.

Personally I think there is less chance of a contact reaction from the dilute spray than applying a very concentrated form in one spot, and then counting on it dispersing all over.

The Sprays can be used from as young as two days old, where the spot on cannot.