we have a toy chihuahua - her coat is white, we have always used frontline or advantage between the shoulder blades her entire life - neither product discolors the coat, and the oiliness sometimes stays but only for the first 24 hours after the application.

I don't know why the breeder would say that-- the maker of the flea products always are very specific about where the product goes.

I have a white Pekingese with flea allergies.
I was always upset with the large amount of liquid used for Frontline, Advantix, etc. I'd never had any luck with anything but Frontline Plus, but it is soo expensive.

I decided to try Revolution, which topically treats once a month for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and heartworms. It is a prescription product, and I ordered on the Net because my vet didn't carry it. I've always treated between the shoulder blades, no different this time. Pleasant surprises:

1. A little less expensive than Frontline Plus, and eliminates buying Heartguard.
2. The amount of liquid is SMALL! Less than twenty drops' worth of liquid to treat my 15 lb. dog.
3. No fleas!
4. Cookie has had no skin issues of any kind since the switch. She always acted as if any of the flea treatments I've tried made her skin uncomfortable, and she didn't like being treated. Now she doesn't run from the treatment, and it's very easy to get it all in the right place. I gave her the third treatment this month.

Happy puppy, happy mom.
Good luck.

The breeder was also into showing dogs....maybe it ruins their coat or something. But I will apply it per the instructions. If the advantix does not work we might try the revolution.

I'd worry less about how"good looking" she is and more about killing off the fleas.

Are you showing her? Are you planning to breed? if not who cares?

I've never seen a dog or cat get discolored by any flea medication, not even the crappy OTC ones. I have seen a few dogs lose their fur in the area where the product was applied, but that is more common in cats in my experience. My dogs get a 24 hour grease streak sometimes where the product was applied (I use frontline plus, have for years without issues yet) but that goes away on its own.

You don't want the pet to be able to lick off the product before it has a chance to be absorbed and/or spread, which is why the back of the neck is the best place to apply it. I wonder if the dog had been licking off the frontline before it had a chance to spread. It wouldn't cause the dog any problems except to be infested with fleas.

Only reason I use frontline is because it does not get systemically absorbed like all the other products. I have seen some resistance to frontline, but in most cases where people claim resistance, they are applying the product incorrectly, using it after bathing the dog, or "only when they see fleas" or something like that. Once they start using it monthly year round correctly, the "resistance" goes away.

Meghane and everyone else thank you for responding. I have a bulldog and she can't reach to lick it off where we put it. AS for the resistance I spoke to our vet and they said that the immunity of the fleas to the meds is a problem in Florida. We also never bathe her after she has it on. As a matter of fact the last time we applied it a month ago she did not get a bath at all until yesterday. Runs I am not breeding her..she is fixed...I am a responsible pet owner and no better than to breed her. I am also not showing her because she is fixed I believe she is ineligible. I just did not want to ruin her coat because she is so soft and so white I did not know if the meds would mess with it, so I listened to the vet. From now on though we will as suggested. My old dog used to get the grease line too for a day or so. She looked like a little Rhodesian Ridgeback after the application. However she was red so I did not worry as the line would go away. I just thought the meds might stain her coat. As we live in Florida Toots is also on flea meds year round and she is also on worm prevention (interceptor). We have decided to take the vets advice and switch up the meds. We will go between Frontline plus and advantix. Thanks again for everyones advice.

You guys were all absolutely correct. I applied the advantix on her coat exactly how it said to. She had couple grease spots for a few hours but thats it. Today her coat is as shiny and healthy as it has always been.

trinigemini, just to let you know, my friend in Florida was having the same problem with fleas and Frontline there.

Yeah our vet says its a problem down here right now...the lack of rain and the humidity is like heaven for them. Tell your friend to switch up the meds....so far it seems to be working.

Try diatomaceous earth to get rid of the fleas completely. I live in Florida, too, and we used to have a terrible flea problem. I've only needed to apply it once in the house we live in now and once in our last house, and the fleas never returned. It's non-toxic for dogs and humans, fleas can't become resistant to it, and it works. Be very sure to get the food/garden grade DE (not the pool grade) for a safe and effective flea treatment.

Thanks Holligator.....we will be trying that as well....just in the house though and nematodes outsides.....don't want to kill all the good bugs too outside.