What About Dog Flea Treatments
Do you have both a dog and a cat? Knowing how to apply flea treatment to both animals is pretty simple. Both dog and cat flea treatments work the same way. You need to wait for any topical treatments to dry completely before petting your dog, wash your hands after petting a dog with a flea collar, and read the instructions thoroughly.
Additionally, separate any pets, dogs, and cats for 24 hours after applying any topical flea treatments. Furthermore, talk to your veterinarian if you have any issues regarding your dogs flea treatment.
Treating Additional Problems Related To Fleas And Ticks
Fleas and ticks can cause itching, skin irritation, and inflammation just by their presence on the body. The greater the number of these pests, the more irritation. Many dogs are allergic to flea spit, which can cause a skin condition called flea allergy dermatitis, where a dog may develop inflammation, itching, open sores, scabs, and hair loss secondary to the allergic reaction to the flea bite. The loss of fur and skin irritation most commonly appears around the lower back, tail, or hind legs.
Treatment depends on the severity of the dermatitis and may include use of medicated shampoos, medicated wipes, oral antibiotics, or anti-inflammatories.
In large enough numbers, fleas and ticks can cause anemia in dogs as they ingest a blood meal from our pets. If that happens, your pet may have pale gums or be lethargic. Treatment may be as simple as giving your pet an oral iron supplement, or if the anemia is serious enough, it may require that your pet get a blood transfusion.
Cat And Kitten Flea Treatment Advice
The only way to be certain that your cat does not have fleas is by using regular, good quality flea control which is recommended by your vet. A single application of any product is not sufficient.
Not only can fleas make your pet uncomfortable, sore and itchy – they also pose a serious health risk. Flea infestations can cause anaemia due to the amount of blood a cat can lose to the parasites, and it can be fatal – especially in kittens.
A cats lifestyle makes prevention difficult. Fleas only spend limited time on the animal and their eggs tend to build up in cracks and crevices, such as down the sides of armchairs surviving for up to six months. So as well as treating your pet, the home and other areas such as garages need to be treated with an aerosol spray, or with products that stop fleas from developing.
Cats that go out may have hidey holes in garden sheds which will also need treatment. In the summer, fleas and eggs can survive in piles of garden refuse, so make sure these are tidied away and cannot be accessed by your cat. Even so, it can take a long time to get rid of them. Other pets in the household, such as rabbits and dogs will need treatment but ask your vet’s advice about different species, as products effective in cats may be toxic and dangerous to dogs, and vice-versa. But some of the same products can be used.
Our cat and kitten flea treatment advice below, covers a range of remedies.
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How Often Should I Apply Flea Prevention
It depends on which formulation you decide to use for your cat. Most oral medications are used every 1-3 months that can vary by brand. The standard time frame for applying topical medications is usually every 30 days, but this can depend on the brand used.
Climate and lifestyle play a large role in determining how often you should use a flea prevention or flea treatment. Warm and humid climates tend to have a higher risk of fleas. In general, most cats should be on flea prevention year round.
If your cat frequently goes outside, interacts with other cats, or hunts rodents, they may be at risk of catching fleas more than indoor cats, although indoor only cats are still at risk. A Hello Ralphie veterinarian can help you decide the frequency of which you should be applying flea treatments to your cat as well as provide you personalized flea product recommendations.
Oral Flea Control Products For Cats
Oral flea control products are also available. Nitenpyram is good for heavy flea infestation. A single oral dose of nitenpyram will kill all of the adult fleas on a cat. It has no residual effect, however. Spinosad is an oral formulation that kills 100 percent of adult fleas on a cat by 24 hours after administration. Spinosad has residual effect it continues to kill adult fleas for 30 days before the next oral is required.
Lufenuron is an insect growth regulator. It works by interfering with the growth and development of fleas but has no effect on adult fleas. It is given orally once a month however, an injectable form is available that is effective for six months. When a female flea ingests blood from a cat treated with lufenuron, the eggs she produces will be infertile.
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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.
Fact Checked By A Hello Ralphie Expert Veterinarian
Fleas are a common external parasite that feed off your cats blood. Although they can create some health concerns, itchiness and allergic reactions on your cats skin is a common symptom. Some fleas even carry certain species of tapeworms, which make your cat susceptible to contracting parasitic infections.
The good news is there are many available products that can help protect your cat from getting new flea infections, as well as treat any pre-existing infections.
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Does Seeing Fleas On My Cat Mean That Cheristin Isn’t Working
Not at all. Cheristin kills adult fleas in 30 minutes after contact. If you see fleas on your cat, they are most likely new adult fleas that will die very quickly.
If there are any fleas in your cat’s environment, it can take weeks or even months for flea larvae to emerge and grow into adults. Cheristin kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs, breaking the flea lifecycle.
All cats in the household should be treated with an approved flea protection product to minimize the likelihood of flea re-infestation. It may also be necessary to apply an approved flea treatment product to your carpet and furniture in an attempt to remove the presence of fleas in your cat’s environment. Low volume dosage is one-size-fits-all for cats or kittens 8 weeks of age and older that weigh 1.8 pounds or greater.
Maintain consistent monthly application of Cheristin to provide continual flea protection for your cat and prevent future infestations.
Flea And Tick Medication: Oral Vs Topical Treatments
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Fleas and ticks are not just a nuisance, they’re also a real threat to your pet’s health. Dogs and cats not treated with flea and tick medication, either in the form of a topical treatment or a flea and tick pill, can suffer everything from flea allergy dermatitis to tapeworms.
Since a single female flea can produce up to 2,000 eggs in her three-week lifespan, a dog can become infested quickly. Tick bites are even more dangerous. A single tick bite can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, ehrlichiosis and other diseases. Signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses may take anywhere from 7 to 21 or more days to appear, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Luckily, there are many types of flea and tick medications available to stop these tiny terrors from making their home on your dog or cat. The most popular kind of effective treatment is a topical medication generally applied once a month. A newer preventive measure is a flea and tick pill. Are you curious about which of the two methods might work best for your pet? Here’s a look at the pros and cons of each type of treatment.
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When Can I Pet My Cat After A Flea Treatment
The length of time you wait to pet your cat depends on the flea treatment you selected. If you chose a flea spray or drops, let them dry completely before petting your cat. Although the exact time will differ from brand to brand, it is safest to wait 24 hours before petting your cat, even though most topical options dry within 45 minutes.
As for a flea collar, you need to be a bit more careful. You can technically pet your cat when they are wearing a flea collar, even immediately after putting it on, but you should wash your hands after since the collar releases treatment every time you touch the cat.
If you selected an oral medication, then you do not have to wait at all between petting your cat and the treatment. You also do not have to wash your hands after every time you pet your lovable cat. This makes oral methods ideal in terms of the waiting period.
For a bit more clarity on this issue of petting your cat, it is best to read the instructions of whichever flea treatment you select. That treatment should tell you exactly how long you must wait before petting or touching your cat after flea treatment.
Flea Treatments Available For Cats
There is a vast array of flea treatments available from vets, pet shops and supermarkets for use in and on cats. It may not be obvious, but these products vary markedly in their compositions, mode of action, effectiveness and safety.
Many older products contain products that may be less effective or less safe . It is important to always read and follow instructions carefully, and wherever possible, talk to your vet first and seek their advice they will have access to the best and safest products for use in cats.
Many newer products are available as spot on preparations that only have to be applied every few weeks. Again, it is important that instructions for use are followed carefully for the products to be both safe and effective. Never be tempted to use a dog product on a cat some of these can be highly toxic to cats .
Some flea treatments are also available as tablets, which may be easier for some owners to give, and some effective flea collars are also available. However, many of the products available from pet shops or supermarkets may have very poor efficacy. These are generally not the same as you would get from your vet, and veterinary advice is always best. Some sprays and powders should not be used near fish tanks because they are toxic to fish.
Always check if a product is safe to use on kittens, and pregnant or suckling cats if treating such animals.
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Why Should You Use Flea Medicines On Pets
Fleas make the lives of your pets very difficult.
They can cause itching, rashes and also pass on several types of diseases to your pet animals. The worst thing is that they can also transmit diseases to humans when you get in close contact with an infected pet animal.
For this reason, you should control fleas and ticks effectively by choosing suitable medicines.
Depending on the species of your animal and their overall behavior, you can choose the appropriate flea medicine available in the market.
What Is Flea And Tick Medicine Poisoning
Some flea medication contains ingredients that can be harmful to cats, such as pyrethrins, pyrethroids and permethrins. Cats are more sensitive to these ingredients than dogs, but the poisoning can be harmful to both types of pets.
The effects range from mild to severe, depending on the amount of exposure and condition of your cat. Flea and tick medicine poisoning can be fatal if it is not treated by a veterinarian.
Flea and tick medicine poisoning occurs when your cat has a negative reaction to the medication. The chemicals from the medication disrupt the nervous system and can lead to serious health problems. It is usually found in topical medication that is applied to the neck and back. The chemicals may also be found in medicated power and collars.
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How To Know If Your Cat Has Fleas
Diagnosing fleas is easy if live fleas are seen in the haircoat. Sometimes, fleas may not be seen, but flea dirt is present. Flea dirt looks like pepper. Combing this dark material out of the haircoat onto a moistened paper towel will re-suspend the digested blood in the feces, leaving a red stain on the paper towel. This is a simple test, and it confirms the diagnosis.
At the very least, fleas will make your cat itchy and uncomfortable. But they can do more harm than that. Fleas can transmit conditions such as flea allergic dermatitis and tapeworms. They can also transmit Bartonella, the organism responsible for cat-scratch disease in humans. Heavily infested cats, especially kittens, can develop anemia due to blood loss from multiple flea bites.
Does Flea Treatment Still Work If On Fur
This treatment is so quick, in fact, that it can work in as little as 30 minutes. If you pet your cat immediately after applying the flea treatment, you are rubbing the treatment off your cat and rendering it ineffective. When it comes to ticks, both oral and topical options should cause tick death in 24 to 48 hours.
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How Do I Know If My Cat Has Fleas
If your cat is scratching themselves persistently, or seems to be over-grooming, it might be because theyre feeling the itch of a flea infestation. If your pet has a flea allergy, you might also see red, sore areas of skin.
To check if your cat has fleas, look closely at their coat. Cat fleas are usually 1-2mm long and are dark brown in colour, so they might be tricky to spot if your cat has similarly dark fur. Flea dirt is usually easier to spot than the flea itself look out for black specks in your pets coat. If youre unsure, dont hesitate to take your pet to your local vet for an expert second opinion.
What Are The Guidelines For Separation Time
It takes most topical flea treatments around 45 minutes to be dry to the touch, so this is a good amount of time to separate your cat for.
Although some people say it takes 1-2 hours, so its wise to isolate them for that range of time if possible.
And if you want complete certainty, which is a good idea if there are young children in the house, you should leave the area untouched for 24 hours.
Even if the manufacturer doesnt specify this, its best to be safe rather than sorry.
Often the manufacturer will instruct you to wait until the flea treatment is dry, but this isnt very specific.
Thats why 24 hours is often chosen instead its the best way to get that certainty.
Alternatively, you can contact the manufacturer directly, but many people dont have the time for that.
Another point to make is that if you plan on brushing your cat or giving them a flea bath, youre going to have a lot of physical contact with them.
In that case, its better to wait for 48 hours but that really should be long enough.
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Determining Whats Safe When It Comes To Flea Treatments For Cats
In an effort to tap into the lucrative flea-control market, some manufacturers have produced over-the-counter flea control products that mimic the veterinary products in appearance. These are not safe for cats. They usually contain permethrin, an insecticide commonly found in low concentrations in some canine and feline flea sprays and shampoos. Cats can tolerate low concentrations of permethrin however, these small single-dose tubes contain concentrated permethrin . Concentrated permethrin spot-on products are labeled for use in dogs only and may cause severe and often fatal toxicosis if applied to cats.
Fleas have been a source of much misery for pet cats and dogs. Fortunately, modern flea control products are very effective. Different products offer different benefits, so consult your veterinarian to determine which product is best for you and your cat.
How Do Flea Collars Work
The way that flea collars work is either to emit a toxic gas that kills or repels fleas or to release a substance that dissolves and spreads throughout the fatty layers of the animals skin so fleas are killed anywhere on the animals body. As you can imagine, the first way can be very ineffective as only fleas in close proximity to the collar are affected. This is usually how the cheaper collars work. Some contain active ingredients that can be toxic to some animals, for example, some dog flea collars can cause illness or death in cats that come into contact with the collar. The second way is much more effective and contains safer ingredients.
A new revolution in the world of flea and tick control has now been introduced to pet owners. A non-prescription treatment ‘Seresto® flea and tick control collar’ is available for cats & dogs. Seresto keeps your pet protected for up to eight months at a time, which is certainly something to consider when purchasing your next flea and tick treatment. For further information please contact one of our qualified SQP’s on 0203 6750870.
Seresto flea and tickcontrol collars are able to kill ticks and fleas through contact – so they don’t have to bite your pet to become infected. This means reduced irritation and also reduced risk of these parasites transmitting diseases, which gives you peace of mind that your furry friend is well protected.
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