Quote:
Originally Posted by
CGinJCMO 
My understanding is that the Frontline (and other's like it) are topical only and if you give your dog a bath, you've washed off the medicine. I read that recently but can't remember where now to post the link.
No, I know that's not the case. As lovingchickypoos said, it does enter and remain in the sebaceous glands (essentially the animal's skin oil glands) for a period of time. As the oils from these glands come to the surface of the skin and get distributed by the animal through it's coat, the pesticide goes with it and kills the nasty pests when they come in contact. It works great. I've used it on dogs and cats for years, but not on chickens. I know it works on chickens and does not appear to harm them, but a chicken's body isn't a dog or cat, or even a mammal. It seems unlikely that it'd get into the reproductive tract and then into eggs, but who knows? However, if it works like it does on dogs/cats, then I don't know how it would not affect the skin/meat and therefore the carcass of a meat bird. So then, you have to wonder what the withdrawal period would be so that you're not eating Frontline when you eat a bird treated with it, or if it even really gets out of the bird's system (some treatments, even those for chickens, are specific in stating that they may not be used on meat and/or egg birds because of residues).
At least with the Poultry Dust (listed for animal and food vegetable use) and Sevin (listed for food vegetable use), it's topical and has been studied with regards to use on food products. Though to get right down to it, I really loathe using any chemicals/pesticides and won't unless I really have to (e.g. infestation).
