Frontline Nightmare

[camille]

Well, flea and tick season is upon us, and today I gave Daisy her first dose of Frontline since October. Last fall I was having some problems giving it to her. She would snap the instant I touched the applicator to her back. I tried everything, treats, praise, petting, warming up the applicator, to no avail. We've taken the winter months off, and I was hoping today that she would have forgotten (yeah right) how much she hates the stuff. So here I sit after spending 20 minutes on something that should take seconds, shaken and angry, with scratches on my arms and a bite (no broken skin) on my hand, and enough flea and tick preventative on ME to last all month. Daisy has no problems with any other thing I do to her. She's fine with bathing, brushing, nail clippers, etc., and will let me touch her anywhere. I just called the vet to tell them my story and ask if she could possibly be extra sensitive or allergic to the product, and they pretty much said "no", that she was just "being a female". I guess "female" is another word for "*". They did say that I could bring her in from now on to receive her dosage. Hopefully she'll treat them better than she does me.

I 'm just wondering if anyone else has a problem with this stuff as far as the dog being overly sensitive and unreasonable? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-Camille

[austin]

I went through the same thing a couple of years ago, and ended up calling in a behaviorist. We used a clicker to work on desensitizing her to our putting the medication on, and did other exercises related to dominance (without the clicker). It wouldn't hurt for you to bring someone in because, if your dog is exhibiting this behavior, you have some dominance issues. She is telling you, no, I don't want you to do that to me.

I can now put on her without incident.

[spidey]

She could be sensitive to the alcohol in it, and she remembers the discomfort from the last time you applied it - I always give the dog the benefit of the doubt when it comes to things like this, it's far too easy to just write it off as her being a "female" (whatever THAT means), when it seems far more likely to me, especially if she's good about other handling, that something about the product bothers her and she isn't being "dominant" or anything else. Personally, I'd choose another product if my dog reacted this way - but yes, you can probably desensitize her to it, and if you must keep using it, I would DEFINITELY work on desensitizing her (use a dropper with rubbing alcohol or something), rather than taking her in to the vet to get wrestled with.

[Ilovemypuppy]

I think Amanda is right..your dog could be trying to tell you something...she is well behaved otherwise and that product (chemical) could be causing her discomfort or harm(how else would she try to communicate that to you?). Check another thread here for natural products :)

[Burnsway]

camille

It could also be the smell. My dog is highly reactive to smells. Whenever she gets a hot spot my hubby has to hold her by the collar while I apply the hot spot medicine.

I would worry just as much about the fact your dog is willing to use her teeth as I would if she is reacting to the medicine. Dogs get beat every day and never raise a lip(I know sad but true). I'm not judging because I have one like you talk about here and its best to just do it and not try and coax them into it. They usually later figure out its easier to give in.

I never treat till after-wards (Except with nails, Then its a treat after each nail.....or now its each paw.......lol)or they may take in their mind that the treat was rewarding the negative behavior.

The medicine you are talking about is very fast to apply. Do what I have done....open it and have it in my hand and while watching TV and they are not paying attention I just reach over and do it. By the time they realized I wasn't petting them it was over.....

No need to pay the vet for something you can do, If she is over aggressive and you feel threatened then muzzle her for safety and just do it. But all the fighting, coaxing and making a 20 second job into 20 minutes is not doing either of you any good.

[camille]

I just wanted to thank everyone for the feedback. As always, you guys are just full of knowledge. I kept the empty Frontline applicator, and I've been introducing it to Daisy several times a day, touching it all over her back. We'll see if this helps to desensitize her. I may also try the idea with rubbing alcohol. My vet is a great believer in holistic/natural approaches to medicine so I may ask him for a recommendation on something as effective, but less harsh than the Frontline. Thanks again,

-Camille

[lblax]

Originally Posted by Burnsway

No need to pay the vet for something you can do, If she is over aggressive and you feel threatened then muzzle her for safety and just do it. But all the fighting, coaxing and making a 20 second job into 20 minutes is not doing either of you any good.

absolutly if you have to hog tie her just do it

[Judi W]

You say she's OK with all other touchings, but do a little check list. Do you trim her nails yourself on a regular basis? Do you bath her as well as brush her and do a finger check of all parts of her body including the withers? Do you clean her ears and examine her teeth? If the answer is yes to all of these, then here is an experiment. Put a bit of water and viniger in a squirt bottle or dropper and part the hair and apply it just as you would the Frontline.

Dogs have to experience things a lot more unpleasant than getting their Frontline applied if they are to be cared for properly without being knocked out every time or restrained by an army. Doesn't matter if it stinks or even if it stings a little. Remember, this is the same dog that blows off a collar correction when she wants to. Yep, I'd vote on the "unreasonable" that you posited. That being the case, I'd suggest that you get much more serious about her behavior.

[danyp1]

What I do when giving her frontline I make her down and put hot dog just far enough out of her reach and tell her to leave it. She will focus on the hot dog and I can just do with her what I want to. When it is done I release her and let her have the hot dog.
I also do the same thing at the vets but I hold it and she just stares at it unil they give her the shot and when its done she gets her treat.

Good luck.

[Brian_D]

This is almost exactly my Rotty's reaction to Advantage. A couple times she became lethargic for a couple days after application, and the next time she jumped sideways when I tried to put some on. Switched to Frontline and we've had no more problems. But she does like to give the medicine a sniff to make sure I'm using the right thing.
-Brian