As far as flea treatment goes in my opinion there is one brand that you can always count on to work effectively and tackle the problem, that brand is Frontline and since using it I can honestly say that we will never consider using anything else. Dogs are prone to picking up fleas, it's a fact of life and can get annoying as what started as a slight scratch one day rapidly turns into an infestation of the little blighters the next! We've tried different treatments over the years with little success (yes Bob Martin, this is aimed at your products!) but thankfully, since discovering Frontline and trying it out we have found a brand that exterminates the parasites that can so easily plague your home and take up refuge in your carpets as well as your pooch!

So how does the product work? Well directly according to the makers of Frontline: "FRONTLINE Spot On is non-systemic. FRONTLINE Spot On has a non-systemic mode of action. FRONTLINE Spot On kills parasites through contact, not via the pet's bloodstream. From where you apply the product, FRONTLINE Spot On spreads all over the pet's body. It concentrates into the sebaceous glands of the skin and is constantly replenished over the pet's skin and coat. This 'store' gives the product its prolonged efficacy - even after bathing, swimming and grooming. FRONTLINE Spot On kills fleas and ticks by affecting their nervous system.It causes hyperexcitation in these parasites. Disoriented, dying fleas rise to the surface of the pet's coat - which is why you might actually notice more fleas after applying the product."

So there folks, incase you were interested you now know. Aside from the technical, scientific jargon is a product that is very easy to use. Firstly I can't stress enough how important it is that you weigh you dog beforehand in order to determine the pipette size you require, you don't want to overdose your pooch by accident. Applying the product involves breaking the top off across the scored line, parting the hair between your dog's shoulder blades and then squeezing out the contents of the pipette. Once applied it begins to work straightaway, killing fleas within 24 hours and ticks within 48 hours; it's also useful to note that your dog can swim or be bathed 48 hours after application. The nifty thing about Frontline as a product is the fact that it is so longlasting, offering protection for up to 2 months against fleas, and ticks for up to a month before another dose is needed.

So to the million dollar question, does it work? Yes it does! A day after application we always notice that our own dog is virtually flea free, her itching will have near enough stopped completely and the dead fleas are often lying visible on the top of her coat so you know the product has worked successfully. A point to know with Frontline is that you can use it just as a preventative measure and this will stop your dog from catching fleas in the first place. Unfortunately it's a rather pricey product, for instance 3 pipettes of Frontline for a 20kg-40kg dog will set you back at least £15; but as far as I'm concerned you do get what you pay for as it does everything it promises.

For more Frontline information, please check out: http://uk.frontline.com/Pages/default.aspx