What is the best alternative none prescription flea treatment to Frontline. Or isn't there one one available without a prescription?
I use Frontline and have for years but im beginning to think my two dogs are getting immune to it. Is this possible?

They are scratching and I cant find anything with a comb, me and my partner have found a couple of bites on us.
I will be going to the vets but wondered if others are having the same problem this time of year. 

My brother had a big problem with frontline not working in there area at one point. His vet said they were becoming resistant to it. My vet advises swapping products.
I use advocate it does lots of other stuff than just fleas and ticks, basically everything except tape worm, then the next time I treat I use either frontline or advantage with milbimax wormer. 

But i don't do my girl regularly, don't like the idea of putting chemicals into her unless I suspect she had picked up something, find something or am going to a place which had a flea problem. I also spray the house with indorex it's ment to last a year.
So far in 2 years only found a single flea twice

Our vet mentioned that Frontline was becoming ineffective and we have Advocate this time for the pup.

I was wondering about more natural remedies for flea and if poss tick control. I understand adding Garlic can help any further advice?

I haven't seen fleas on my animals for years and years, and don't routinely treat them but when I took in some cats (a couple of years ago) that had fleas I did indeed notice that Frontline no longer seemed as effective as it once was.

Is there anything else it could be? We live in a rural area and this time of year the cornflies are dreadful, and despite being even smaller than fleas, they really do bite. They get on all of us, the animals and humans. Wherever I look they are, even on my computer monitor. Once the harvest has all been done they go again.

>im beginning to think my two dogs are getting immune to it. Is this possible?

Well this debate raises its head as regular as the flea life cycle itself!
Anectodatly there are people who say yes, and (sometimes on advice from their vet!) swap to other products Advantage (for example) and report good results - So that's the anecdotal evidence of which you'll find lots, but the science suggests otherwise.. personally I think it's the flea life cycle at work here and not the product swap!! This was cited by Dr.Tim Nuttal Veterinary Dermatologist University Liverpool in the BBC link I've provided below. The science below bears this out and many of the authors have cited that veterinarians should educate pet owners better in the life cycle of the flea to achieve better prevention and not have unrealistic expectations when they have mismanaged prevention!

There have been several Veterinary research papers published, I'm sure there is another even more recent (2011) regarding Fipronil,
one  study was published in the February 2009 issue of the Journal of Economic Entomology (Rdl gene polymorphism and sequence analysis and relation to in vivo fipronil susceptibility in strain of the cat flea). This study found no evidence of flea resistance to fipronil.
BBC News Article on 'Super Fleas'

I use frontline, never had a problem. There have been instances where I've totally forgotten to use it, good luck or the fact my dog has garlic?..... Well again that's just anecdotal!

Interestingly I've heard recently that Avon skin so soft spray is used by a lot people with good effect.... I would check with people who do as to how you go about this for dog coats ( dilute with water? Etc etc) but I must say I've heard from soooo many people now about it and it originated from the working gundog fraternity ( in fact my Dad! head of media and publications for BASC and writes in the shooting magazines)

:-)

>Avon skin so soft spray

This has been used for many years by horse owners to keep midges at bay. It was very effective and I think that is why dog owners started to use it. There are a few past threads on this subject, so worth doing a search using the facility for that purpose in the header.

SSS - 5 parts water to 1 part SSS oil - spray dog with fine mist avoiding eyes/nose/mouth/private parts.

I too, have found that recently, Frontline no longer works on my cat.

I recently heard of the following preventative treatment for dogs. I have no idea if it works or not, but it is so easy to make, it has to be worth a try:

Add 2 cups of water to a saucepan and add a slice of lemon. Bring to the boil and then allow to stand over night. Add to a spray bottle and use behind the ears, base of tail, armpits and tummy. Alternatively, you can use lemongrass or lime instead of lemon.

> that veterinarians should educate pet owners better in the life cycle of the flea

:) Just because an owner 'sees' a flea on their dog doesn't mean that the dogs 'has' fleas - ie they are supporting the life cycle on their body :) :) I've had the odd flea on my two - particularly Tara who insists on digging under an old shed where her buddies ( :( ) wild rabbits and hedgehogs hang out :) :) The next day (or more) there are no fleas on her - she is fed garlic - I don't rush out and Frontline her just because I see a flea :) :)

If you keep using the same product for years, when you don't need it, then of course resistance is going to set in.  You only need to treat for fleas when you see them.  They carry no diseases apart from the flea tapeworm, which your oral wormer meds will pick up anyway. 

Frontline and similar are powerful pesticides which it's not necessary to use constantly.  Keep them only for when you have a flea problem and they will work.  Use them endlessly and fleas will develop a resistance, besides covering your pets in dangerous chemicals, and exposing your family to them too.

For many years I would import 11 month flea collars from America when you could only buy 1 month ones here.  Then they stopped making them and so I did more research.
From 1996 I stopped chemicals and started feeding my dogs garlic and using a mixture of essential oils to deter and make the dogs smell nice.  Since them I didn't see another flea on them, even when my dogs hung in the parlour window and I had a dog running all over!

What dosage of Garlic for a eleven week old large breed pup would you recommend? Given the difficulties of persuading dogs to eat non tasty pills, is there a powder or liquid form? What manufacturer do you recommend?

Sorry if I'm hi-jacking the thread, but I'm disinclined to continually use chemicals for fleas if possible. We have a holiday home in an area where there are ticks and its there where we accept that a chemical control will be used as well as physically picking off any we find, especially before they have latched on. In the past we have used Frontline on the dogs, but only during those times we are in a tick area.

> Given the difficulties of persuading dogs to eat non tasty pills

I think most dogs like garlic.  Mine will take the garlic and fenugreek tablets (from Dorwest Herbs) straight from my hand!  They also like garlic juice which I sometimes spray on their dinner (as well as on minor wounds and on their coats to deter ticks!)

Fresh garlic is always appreciated too and I often leave a squashed clove of garlic in a box of training treats to make everything smell a bit more interesting...

I've used odourless garlic capsules for the last 9 years on my Leos'. Never had a flea between them. *touches wood* now that I've said it ;) I hide it in their food

Is Fipronil as good as Frontline. I was given Advocate by my vet but I'm hesitant to use it. It must be pretty potent coz it does so many things. I always worry about putting too much chemical into my girl. Any advise please.

Same as Missie here, not had to use any chemicals on my dogs for many years.

Frontline contains Fipronil - it's the active ingredient.    If you check the strength and dosage against Frontline, you'll have more idea :-)

I haven't used Frontline for years, I have pack here, but it's probably out of date.    Haven't seen a flea for years either.     I do give garlic though :-)

Having said that, I do believe some dogs are flea magnets,  our Tibetan Terrier seemed to be one and always seemed to acquire them.