How Long Does Frontline Plus for Dogs Take to Work?

Frontline Plus kills ticks.
Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

Frontline Plus is a topical product -- which means it's applied to the skin rather than ingested or injected -- used to kill fleas and ticks. Frontline Plus kills adult fleas and ticks as well as flea eggs and larvae, and lice.

Fleas

Frontline Plus begins killing fleas as soon as four hours after being applied to the skin, according to a study published in the "The International Journal of Applied Research." The study shows that 100 percent of fleas were dead 12 hours after application.

Ticks

Frontline Plus takess a little longer to kill ticks -- up to 48 hours after application. That's because ticks are killed after translocation is finished. Translocation is the process whereby the medication is absorbed into the skin and then spreads and collects into the skin's oil glands.