Spot on flea how does it work

Consequently, if a product doesn't work and there is no reason to believe that it is due to incorrect administration, the best is just to try another product with an active ingredient of a different chemical class. There are no yet reports on confirmed resistance of fleas to the newest insecticides used in spot-ons such as fipronil , imidacloprid , metaflumizone , pyriprole , selamectin or spinetoram.

However there are "rumors" in the USA that fipronil products do not work against fleas as well as they did 20 years ago when they were introduced. There are a few reports on resistance of the dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus to synthetic pyrethroids.

For other ticks that infest dogs as well as for mites and lice there are so far neither reports nor rumors of resistance to the parasiticides used in spot-ons. Pet spot-ons administered to the pets bear no significant safety risks for pet owners. Obviously they must be kept away from children, as any other medicines. And it is advisable that children avoid close contact with the pets during days after administration of a spot-on.

It is obvious that such veterinary medicines are not intended for and should never be used on humans!!! Believe it or not: I've been recently asked for advise on the adequate dose of a dog spot-on to be used on children! Most spot-ons are well tolerated by pets. This is not unproblematic and the risk of adverse reactions and side effects is real, especially for cats and kittens, puppies, small breed dogs and generally for sick or otherwise weak animals. The experience with topical ready-to-use cattle pour-ons very similar to pet spot-ons shows that some active ingredients, especially synthetic pyrethroids are often irritant, especially for calves and dairy cows.

Such pour-ons for cattle contain similar active ingredients e. A comparable situation occurs with amitraz for cattle and for dogs. There are no amitraz pour-ons for cattle, because cattle just don't tolerate it in high concentrations. It is therefore not surprising that more than a few dogs show serious adverse reactions to such spot-ons. Never treat a cat with a product that is approved only for dogs and vice versa : many dog products contain active ingredients such as amitraz or permethrin and other synthetic pysrethroids that are toxic for cats.

Never use vials for dogs of a specific weight on smaller dogs the same applies to cats. Such vials contain too much product for a smaller dog, and in some products the concentration of active ingredient may be also higher.

There is a considerable risk of severe adverse reactions especially for small dog breeds. Consequently it is not a good idea to save money buying large-size vials for multiple-use on small dogs. Spot-ons contain ingredients that are neurotoxins specific to adult parasites.

Some products also contain ingredients to prevent larvae from developing. The oily liquid in which the medication is dissolved helps spread the product over the surface of the skin to the sebaceous glands.

May kill as well as repel parasites. Part the fur over the area where the treatment will be administered so it is applied directly to the skin. Make sure to follow instructions as to where the product should be given. Make sure the entire volume is squeezed out of the tube, as most of these treatments contain different volumes depending on the weight of the pet.

Most are administered once a month, though some products are safe to administer more frequently. Check with your veterinarian if the product seems to wear off towards the end of the month. Long lasting Kills fleas for up to 5 weeks in cats and up to 2 months in dogs. Kills ticks for up to a month in cats and dogs. Water resistant Your pet can swim or be bathed as usual from 48 hours after application.

How and when to apply. Treatment schedule. For further details please refer to the leaflet within the packaging. Seeing fleas on a treated pet If you see fleas on your cat or dog after treating them, you might think the flea treatment isn't working.

Why am I seeing fleas on my treated pet, and what can I do about it? No product stops newly hatched adult fleas from jumping onto a treated pet. Most products kill an adult flea between 12 and 24 hours of it landing on a treated pet.

You will see fleas during this period whenever your pet has been in an infested environment. The key to flea control products is that they kill fleas before they can lay eggs that would be shed from your pet's fur into your home.

This prevents a home infestation from developing, providing all pets in your home are treated throughout the year at the intervals specified on product packaging. Any gaps in treatment mean that the product will start to wear off and, at some point, newly arriving fleas will survive long enough to lay eggs that will infest your home. Find out the easiest way to buy Advantage spot-on treatments here. Parasitol Res , information is regarding mode of action and is not intended to imply parasites can be completely stopped from biting.

Home Parasites How do spot-on flea treatments combat fleas in cats, dogs and rabbits? Master Brand. Share on. Intro Text. Find out how Advantage flea treatment helps to protect cats, dogs and rabbits against fleas.