Dos & Donts To Using Flea Control Products In Cats And Dogs
- Consider using a veterinarian-prescribed flea control product for safer, more effective treatment.
- Read label directions carefully to ensure the flea control product is appropriate for your pets species, age, and weight.
Do NOT
- DO NOT apply a topical flea control product to skin that is red, irritated, scratched, or broken.
- DO NOT use more than one flea control product on your pet at a time, unless directed by your veterinarian. Even two safe flea control products can be dangerous when used together.
- DO NOT EVER apply a flea control product for a dog to a cat without the approval of your family veterinarian.
Flea Poisoning In Cats: Causes Symptoms And Treatment
Flea poisoning in cats. How many times has our cat been close to disgrace. Lets see what the causes, symptoms and treatment are.
The dream of all of us animal lovers is to build a house that is proof of four-legged friends. This is somewhat difficult but not impossible.
The desire arises from the fact that cats in particular, and whoever has one knows it, are animals that very often put themselves in danger.
What happens when our home is a source of risk for our furry friends, could be quite dangerous or at least harmful to the life of the cat.
Our carelessness, such as leaving around toxic products for the animal could endanger the life of our cat.
For example, flea poisoning in cats could occur. This is the topic that we will deal with in the next paragraphs.
About Dr Sarah Wooten Dvm Cvj
A 2002 graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Sarah Wooten is a well known international speaker in the veterinary and animal health care spaces. She has 10 years experience in public speaking and media work, and writes for a large number of online and printanimal health publications. Dr. Wooten is also a certified veterinary journalist, a member of the AVMA, and has 16 years experience insmall animal veterinary practice. To learn more, visit drsarahwooten.com.
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About Flea And Tick Medication Poisoning In Cats
Pet owners often choose to prevent fleas and ticks in cats and dogs using regular medication, which makes sense, but its important to remember that the active ingredients of these products can have a toxic effect on cats in certain circumstances. These products are often available over-the-counter without veterinary supervision, so its up to pet owners to read the label carefully to ensure that they use topical flea and tick treatments safely.
While poisoning is unlikely to happen if flea and tick products are used according to manufacturers recommendations, mishaps can happen, and its common for cats to become ill and even to die following exposure to flea and tick medication when its used wrongly.
Exposure may happen via ingestion or via absorption . Its important to remember that cats are not small dogs: their metabolism works in an entirely different way, making them more vulnerable to certain toxicities compared to dogs.
Toxic reactions are sometimes referred to as side effects, but if the products are used correctly, the risk of side effects is minimal.
Treating Fleas At Home
Although it is still possible for fleas to try and take over your home if you have your cat on an effective flea preventative such as one prescribed by your veterinarian year-round, the chance of this occurring is much less likely.
Additionally, your veterinarian may use these preventatives in combination with other products to treat fleas should you miss a dose and an unfortunate flea infestation occurs. Furthermore, it is important if you have additional pets in your home to make sure they are all on safe and effective flea preventatives as well.
Speaking about other pets, if your cat has fleas, likely, your other pets do too, so they will all need to be treated.
To get rid of fleas at home, youll need to:
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What Is Flea And Tick Medicine Poisoning In Cats
Some pet flea and tick medicationsincluding topical sprays, dips, and shampooscontain pyrethrin and/or pyrethroid. Pyrethrin and pyrethroid may also be found in insecticidal agricultural and home products.
Pyrethrin is an insecticide derived from Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium flowers. Pyrethrins are safe to use in cats if administered at appropriate doses. Pyrethroid is the synthetic version of pyrethrin, designed for enhanced stability and potency. Pyrethroids are not safe to use in cats. The most common pyrethroid is called permethrin, which is found in over-the-counter spot-on products labeled for dogs and is metabolized in the liver.
Your cats liver is very inefficient at processing permethrin, which causes it to build up, leading to poisoning or toxicity.
If your cats symptoms are not treated, this toxicity may lead to seizures and death within a few hours. Permethrin toxicity may also occur in dogs, but it is rare and typically only at very high doses.
Why Flea And Tick Preventatives Should Be Used All Year Long
The older school of thought was that fleas and ticks werent as active in the winter months. Therefore, it wasnt necessary to use preventatives during these periods, with saving money as the only real benefit.
However, with more recent climate changes, we have seen warmer winters, cooler summers, and a surge in bugs during these months when we normally wouldnt see any. Because we cant predict these parasites behavior, it is not recommended you skip any preventative doses anymore, even when it may be cold outside.
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Pet Talk: Veterinarians Urge Caution When Using Over
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Cats are much more sensitive to chemicals than dogs and can have severe reactions to some topical flea medications. Veterinarians urge owners to exercise caution when applying flea preventatives and read the packaging carefully before applying.
Fleas are problematic enough, but the treatments owners often use to kill these pests can sometimes be equally harmful or even deadly to pets.
Some local veterinarians caution clients to be extra careful when they’re applying topical flea medications, which can cause severe reactions in some pets if they’re not administered correctly.
Medications associated with the most issues are the topical “spot-on” treatments available over the counter in many stores, rather than the oral medications that typically require a prescription.
It’s not uncommon for veterinarians to treat cases of toxicity to flea medications even during the wintertime, since fleas can survive year-round in the Pacific Northwest.
At DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital, incidences of flea treatment toxicity occur about two to four times a week in the summertime, says staff veterinarian Dr. Christy Michael, “but we still see it in wintertime because fleas survive.”
Application errors
The primary issue with the topical pesticides seems to be that people inadvertently use them incorrectly.
Others include a stronger, synthetic derivative of pyrethrins called pyrethroids.
Why Trust The Spruce
Adrienne Kruzer is a Registered and Licensed Veterinary Technician in three states and has been writing on pet and vet topics for over a decade. She loves researching, learning, and problem solving in order to better help pet owners. Her years of working in various animal hospitals, alongside her formal college education and elective continuing education classes, have provided her with a wealth of experience and knowledge to benefit cat owners.
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How Do You Get Rid Of Fleas On An Old Cat
To get rid of fleas on an old cat, you can use a variety of methods, including shampoos, sprays, and powders. You can also use a flea comb to remove the fleas from your cats fur.
You can infect your pet and home with up to 250,000 fleas in just 30 days by getting 10 fleas per day. Fleas are extremely small, only about 12 to 16 inches long and weighing about 1 pound. If your cat exhibits symptoms of flea-related problems, consult with a veterinarian as soon as possible. A passionate group of professionals from Petcos ACE team is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. The following are a few things you can do to keep flea infestations at bay and new ones at bay. Flea prevention products from Petco can be used to quickly and easily remove these little creatures.
Because of their ability to lay eggs on any warm-blooded animal, including humans, flea populations have grown. If you have a pet with fleas, you can control them by using a dish soap designed for fleas. The solution for applying dish soap to your pets fur is to wet it with dish soap and generously apply it to its coat. After youve rubbed the soap on the coat, rinse it out. If your pet is infested with fleas, you will have to repulse him several times a day. Adding brewers yeast to your dogs food will also help to repel fleas. Citrus scent repels fleas, so dont leave your house without cleaning it and avoiding pests.
When To Call The Vet
Your cats symptoms may last for up to three days. If the milder ones such as twitching, itching and drooling persist, schedule time with a vet. In case your cat develops severe symptoms such as frequent vomiting and diarrhoea, tremor and seizures, call the vet immediately.
Depending on the situation, the specialist might recommend diluting the drug by giving your pet a bath or keeping the feline in the clinic until they are back to normal.
The prognosis for early and aggressive treatment is excellent, PetMD writes. However, if your cats severe neurological symptoms are untreated or are treated very late, the drug toxicity in cats can be fatal within a few hours.
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Best Shampoo: Dawn Dish Soap
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Does not kill all flea life stages
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Difficult to bathe most cats
While you may be thinking that this isnt a flea shampoo, the truth is that shampoos designed to kill fleas can be very dangerous to cats. Even shampoos labeled as all-natural often contain oils that can be toxic or harmful to cats and the traditional flea shampoos contain pyrethrins which can be extremely dangerous. Dawn Ultra dish detergent is safe for animals, as many people may already know from advertisements that show wildlife being bathed with the soap. It’s effective in killing fleas, and also in getting your cat clean. As a bonus, many homes already have a bottle of it under the kitchen sink.
Is Flea Treatment Poisonous For Cats
Is Flea Treatment Poisonous for Cats?
Its no secret that cats and dogs dont always get along. But did you know that something as simple as flea treatment can be poisonous for cats?
Licking a permethrin-based spot-on flea and tick product for dogs is toxic to cats. If your cat has brushed up against or licked a dog within 24 hours of a spot-on flea and tick medication application, call your vet immediately.
Symptoms of permethrin toxicity in cats include drooling, vomiting, seizures, and tremors. If left untreated, permethrin toxicity can be fatal.
Luckily, there are plenty of safe and effective flea and tick treatments available for cats. So theres no need to put your feline friend at risk.
Additionally, If your cat has brushed up against or licked a dog within 24 hours of a spot-on flea and tick medication application, call your vet immediately. This is because licking a permethrin-based spot-on flea and tick product for dogs is toxic to cats.
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Other Reasons Your Cat Acts Weird After Flea Treatment
While poisoning is the most worrying reason your cat might act weird after flea treatment, it is not the only one. If your flea already has a flea infestation, then they might be acting irritable or annoyed because of the fleas. It might take a little time for the treatment to become effective.
Another reason your cat might be acting weird is that you have had to take them to the veterinarian. Even the most gentle vet might have to restrain a cat which is already nervous due to being taken out of their home. This anxiety might not stop after they get home. They will show signs of irritation which may include vocalizations and even slight aggression. However, these behaviors should stop eventually once they have calmed down.
This is why it is very important to know the symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in cats. You will need to determine the difference between being annoyed and toxic shock from poisoning.
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to My Cat is Acting Weird After Flea Treatment, we recommend you visit our First aid category.
1. Dobler, G., & Pfeffer, M. . Fleas as parasites of the family Canidae. Parasites & vectors, 4, 139. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-4-139
Preventing Fleas In Cats
Preventing fleas in cats is much easier than treating a flea infestation, and the best form of medicine is always prevention. You can use one of the medications discussed above to help aid in the monthly prevention of fleas. A veterinarian can help you determine the best option for your cat depending on its lifestyle, so it is safe from future flea infestations. Your cat will thank you for it.
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What Should I Do If I Suspect My Cat Has Been Poisoned
As soon as you suspect that your cat may have been poisoned, immediately contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital.
If you suspect that your cat has been poisoned do not wait: call your local veterinarian during normal business hours or your local emergency veterinary hospital.
Many people will wait until their cat shows signs of sickness, but if you know your cat has been exposed to a toxin, or if your cat is showing any signs of poisoning, the best thing you can do is call your vet immediately.
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The reason for this is your vet may be able to safely remove the toxic substance from your cats body, thus avoiding the signs of poisoning altogether. If you dont have access to a local veterinarian, call the pet poison helpline or your local poison control.
If you know what your cat has been exposed to, bring a sample of it or a picture of it with you to the vet. Make sure to include the ingredient label if applicable. This is important because it will give your vet the information she needs to possibly save your cats life.
Even if you have googled and know how to induce vomiting in your cat, never induce vomiting in a cat without the supervision of a veterinarian or poison expert, either in person or over the phone. Some substances, such as bleach, can burn the esophagus in a cat that has been induced to vomit, and inducing vomiting is not the right choice in all cases of poisoning.
How Are Affected Cats Treated
If you think you may have applied a flea product containing permethrin you need to contact your vet IMMEDIATELY. The same applies if you think your cat has been in contact with a treated dog.
The vet will initially try and prevent the cats from absorbing more permethrin through its skin by washing the cat with dilute washing up liquid. Further treatment depends on how badly affected the cat is, but medication often needs to be given to stop the tremors or fits. Cats often have to remain in the veterinary clinic for several days. In very severe cases the cat has to be given an anaesthetic to stop the fits and a tube put into its throat to help it breathe. A relatively new treatment is available which helps to mop up the permethrin from the cats system and may offer a better chance of survival for severely affected cats.
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What Flea Treatment Is Safe For Pets
Its hard to pretend that theres a way to beat a serious flea infestation without the use of insecticides. Nonetheless, pet owners shouldnt rely on topical flea control products but rather employ a holistic approach.
Combine the use of flea drops with a weekly scrub and vacuum of carpets, furniture, pet bedding, as well as laundry. In acute situations, flea treatment may be applied to your property, with your pet outside of the property for at least 2 hours.
This kind of treatment lets the pesticide dissolve and clear out before it comes into contact with any living beings, unlike topical flea treatments with fat-soluble compounds like permethrin, which absorbs into the pets skin.
Prevention Of Flea Control Product Toxicity In Dogs And Cats
Most flea control product toxicities are a result of not following label directions. Prior to using a flea control product, always consult with your family veterinarian as well as confirm the product is appropriate for the species, weight, and age of your pet. Cats are more sensitive to the toxic effects of pyrethrums and organophosphates than dogs, so take care when using flea control products of any type on a cat, and never use a product intended for a dog on a cat.
Additionally, since kittens and puppies are more sensitive than adult cats and dogs, be sure to use flea control products approved for kittens and puppies, as many have age restrictions and are not approved for use at young ages.
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