How to choose between generic and a brand name product

Q: I saw a generic flea product at a department store that claimed to be the same thing as Frontline. Is it really just as good?

A: The short answer is I don’t know. The active ingredient in Frontline is fipronil. There are now generic pet parasite products with the same active ingredient. However, that does not mean it is will work as well or be as safe as Frontline. At this point, these products have not been out long enough for me to make a personal determination.

My general rule of thumb is to wait for a year after a new product has been released before I will make a recommendation for my clients. I want someone else’s pets to be the guinea pigs. Several times in my career this cautionary approach has kept me from recommending something that was later pulled from the market for safety reasons. If these generics prove to be just as safe and effective as Frontline over a year or more, then I will feel more comfortable with them.

The active ingredient is only one factor in the effectiveness of a topical flea and tick preventive. There are ant and roach baits at your local hardware store that use fipronil as their active ingredients. I would never suggest it would be alright to cut one open and put it onto your dog. 

The product’s carrier makes a difference in how well the compound spreads over the body and how waterproof the protection will be. In addition, a significant percentage of adverse reactions that I have seen to top topical pesticides appear to be the result of the carrier more than the active ingredient.       

The real question should be, “is trying a new generic product worth the savings?” The least expensive generic I have seen was $28 plus tax for three doses. That works out to $9.80 per dose. In my office, we sell eight doses of genuine Frontline for as little as $10.74 per dose. In my personal opinion, I don’t think ninety-four cents a month is a significant enough savings to make my dog or cat the guinea pig for a new generic pesticide.    

Finally, Frontline is made in France and backed by your veterinarian and Merial, one of the world’s leading drug manufacturers. Check those generic product boxes to see where they are manufactured and who is backing them. The ones I have seen are all made in Asian countries with histories of product recalls due to safety issues. It is unclear to me what if any support will be available for adverse reactions or effectiveness complaints.

For now, I’ll stick with Frontline or one of the other veterinary products that I have come to trust.

Q: Do shampoos rinse off flea and tick control?

A: It depends on the flea and tick product you are using and the shampoo you choose. The most waterproof products are veterinary-quality flea and tick monthly spot-ons. However, even these products will become less effective unless proper shampooing products and techniques are utilized. 

These products should be applied to a dry pet, preferably at least twenty-four hours before or after a bath. When bathing the pet, it is important to use a “soap-free” formulation. These specially designed pet shampoos wash away dirt and debris without significantly diminishing the natural oils on the skin. Since many spot-on flea and tick products rely on this oil layer, regular pet shampoos and soaps can reduce their ability to kill fleas and ticks.

Most veterinarians will stock at least one general soap-free shampoo that is safe to use with their recommended parasite control products. Be sure to ask your veterinarian for a recommendation of a specific combination of parasite preventive and shampoo.

Dr. Watts is a companion animal general practitioner and owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care. He can be reached through ClevengersCorner.com or by calling 428-1000.