Chewie is afraid of his flea preventive!

[Laura & Chewie]

The last couple months I have had the most difficult time applying the Frontline Plus on Chewie.  He's never been thrilled with it...has been challenging, but I always managed.  The last two months, he runs when I come anywhere near him with it.  The only thing that has worked, is elevating him (on the washing machine with a non-skid rug under him) and using treats.  Even still, the minute he feels it on him, he is not happy, but with some additional treats, I am able to apply the rest of it...I always said, he'll do anything for a treat!

 

I'm not getting the impression it hurts/burns him and he is perfectly fine as soon as I put him down...just seems fearful for some reason.  H acted in a similar way recently when he got a shot (vaccines) at the vet.  He wanted nothing to do with it while on the floor and someone bending over him, but once they put him on the exam table, he did much better.

 

Anyone else's dood act this way with their flea/tick preventive?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Neither of my guys is crazy about it. I "sneak up on them". I hide it in my hand, and catch them while they're sleeping. They do get annoyed with me after....and they usually have the zoomies.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

R&B hate it too. I have to get DH to help me. I too worry that it burned them but I have been assured that it doesn't.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack is the same way. At first I thought it must sting or burn him, but I've since determined that isn't the case. He's the same way with taking pills. He doesn't run away, but he gets himself into a corner where it's very hard for me to get at him. Doesn't matter, he must have the meds and he must have the preventative, so I have to be the mean doodle mom.

[Anna and Achilles]

Houdini used to do the same thing. It was a big production. I thought maybe it felt cold or funny. I would have to chase him around the house and corner him. Achilles doesn't even flinch, he could care less. Go figure.

[Laura & Chewie]

Well, while it doesn't make it easier, it is a relief to know this isn't an unusual problem and I'm not hurting him. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

My 2 beagles don't like it either. They hide under the bed if they see it so I have to sneak up on them too.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Same here and it did make me wonder

[Adina P]

I'm still trying to figure out how to put it on Boca if Clark isn't available to hold her still! She doesn't run off but won't hold still and then I can't keep her fur parted while she's wiggling..I'm guessing last time we put it on her most of it went to waste on her fur :(

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Adina, this is the type of think husbands are especially handy for! As puppies, none of mine held still, but they seem to get better with age - like wine. I treat Clancy as a puppy in this regard because he obviously is having many new experiences, and flea preventive application is one. I do not envy those of you with 60+ pound puppies you are dealing with. Except for Clancy, by the time the big dogs were 60 pounds they knew the ropes.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Darwin never reacts much when I approach him, but as soon as he can feel it squeezed on him he gets wiggly and tries to see what I'm doing.

The thing I worry about with Darwin is that he'll lick his back end because he can feel something there. I always try to keep him distracted for a few minutes afterwards. Can they get sick from licking the stuff off of them?

[Adina P]

Can he really REACH back there? I always thought the reason it's put between the shoulder blades was because dogs can NOT reach that spot. I make Rosco down stay during and a couple minutes afterward--I'm always afraid he'll shake and make the stuff fly off and poison my kitchen :-O

[Camilla and Darwin]

My flea and tick medicine says to apply it all the way from between the shoulder blades down the back to the base of the tail...? In a straight line down the back.