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It can be difficult to choose the best flea and tick treatment for your furry companion from the variety of options available on the market these days. This is why doing some research before deciding what is best for your dog is important. In this blog, we have compared two popular choices of flea and tick protection: Simparica and Frontline Plus.

Difference between Simparica and Frontline Plus for Dogs

Although these two top flea treatments share many similarities, the major difference between them lies in their modes of administration. Simparica is an oral chewable tablet, whereas Frontline Plus is a topical product. They are both once-monthly treatments, and they both protect against fleas and ticks efficiently. Let’s go through the main features of both products to get a better insight.

Simparica for Dogs

Simparica by Zoetis is a monthly oral treatment for your dog. It is a liver-flavored, chewable tablet indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations and the treatment and control of tick infestations. Simparica for dogs is the only monthly chewable approved to kill five types of ticks, including the lone star tick, Gulf Coast tick, American dog tick, black-legged tick, and brown dog tick. Simparica is also approved to kill deer ticks that may cause Lyme disease in dogs. 

Furthermore, this great-tasting chewable shows no drop-off in effectiveness at the end of the month. And, since fleas and ticks are well-known for their fast reproduction, fast-acting protection ensures that these bugs are killed before they infest further. Simparica contains sarolaner as its key ingredient, which is known to start killing fleas within 3 hours and ticks within 8 hours of administration.

Frontline Plus for Dogs

Manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim, Frontline Plus is a trusted name in flea and tick protection. It is a monthly spot-on treatment indicated for dogs as young as 8 weeks of age. Frontline Plus for dogs covers adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, adult ticks, and chewing lice. Frontline Plus also kills ticks that may transmit Lyme disease, just like Simparica. Moreover, Frontline Plus is a waterproof treatment, so it remains effective even after your dog comes in contact with water.

Frontline Plus is very easy to administer. You just have to empty the contents of the applicator tube between your dog’s shoulder blades as directed on the pack, and your dog is safe for the next 30 days. Frontline Plus contains fipronil and (s)-methoprene as its key ingredients. These neurotoxins are proven to kill fleas within 24 hours and ticks within 48 hours of administration. Hence, it is a highly recommended shield for fleas and ticks on dogs.

Which one is better, Simparica or Frontline Plus?

Since we have compared two top-of-the-line products, Simparica and Frontline Plus, it is nearly impossible to determine which one is better. Simparica is an oral treatment, while Frontline Plus is a topical treatment, so the better one for your dog can only be chosen as per your convenience and your dog’s lifestyle. If your dog is a fussy eater, a spot-on might be the better option for you. On the other hand, you may need a chewable like Simparica for the ease and lack of mess of Spot-On products.

Moreover, despite their many similarities, you should also consider the key differences. Simparica can only be started at the age of 6 months, whereas Frontline Plus is safe for pups as young as 8 weeks old. So, if your dog is younger than 6 months of age, Frontline Plus should be your best pick.