Advantage drops: an effective remedy in the fight against fleas

Advantage – drops against fleas and other ectoparasites, intended for cats and kittens over 10 weeks old. The product applied to the withers effectively destroys insects and begins to act within 5 minutes.

The composition is safe for animals, so it can be used to prevent invasion. More information about the features of action and technology of application later in the article.

Composition and release form

Advantage drops for cats contain a strong insecticide – imidacloprid. To ensure a long shelf life, the drug contains artificial preservatives:

• phenylcarbinol (inhibits bacterial growth);
• butylated hydroxytoluene (prevents premature oxidation of the drug);
• propylene carbonate (a low-toxic solvent that enhances the effect of imidacloprid).

The drug is available in only one form - a solution for application to the withers. To make Advantage convenient for use for kittens and adult animals, there are 2 dosages on sale: 0.4 and 0.8 ml. The first is designed for pets whose weight does not exceed 4 kg, the second is for larger animals.

The drops are placed in a cardboard box. The standard package contains 1 or 4 pipettes.

Safety precautions and storage rules

According to the instructions for use, Advantage is safe for cats and people, but you still need to take basic precautions when using it:

1. When carrying out insecticide treatment, use rubber gloves, especially if you have hypersensitivity and a tendency to allergic reactions.
2. Upon completion of the procedure, wash your hands thoroughly.
3. Do not stroke the animal with your hands until the preparation is completely dry.
4. In the first 1-2 days, contact between the cat and small children should be avoided.
5. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the fresh air or in a ventilated area.
6. Empty pipettes should not be used for household purposes or allowed to be played with by children. They must be disposed of.
7. If you accidentally ingest the drug into your body, you should immediately go to the hospital. Don't forget to take your packaging with you.

The drug should be stored in its original packaging in a place protected from the sun and excessive humidity. The air temperature should be between 0 and 25˚C. Pay attention to expiration dates; do not use Advantage for cats after they have expired.

Indications for use

The drug is intended to get rid of and prevent infection with ectoparasites. According to the instructions, Advantage drops are indicated for fleas, lice-eaters, and ticks.

Drops from this series help fight only external parasites. Against worms and scabies there is another product from Bayer - Advocate. Due to low toxicity, the simultaneous use of two drugs is allowed, but it is better to first consult with a veterinarian about the safety of combining two drugs for a particular animal.

Indications: what helps

This drug, having an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect, relieves patients from such unpleasant symptoms as itching, burning, swelling, and redness.

Advantan carefully takes care of the skin, eliminating roughness that is caused by constant scratching of problem areas.

The drug is prescribed:

• for eczema (microbial, occupational);
• for atopic dermatitis (as well as seborrheic and contact);
• with photodermatitis;
• with neurodermatitis;
• for pityriasis rosea;
• for psoriasis;
• with hemangioma.

Advantan is successfully used for burns caused by various reasons: contact with hot surfaces, chemicals, hogweed juice and nettles.

Reputable children's doctor Evgeniy Komarovsky believes that Advantan works more effectively for diathesis than many other drugs (a number of sites provide convincing photos of babies before and after treatment).

The secret of this drug is that, being a new generation pharmaceutical product, it is practically not absorbed through the skin, but it actively works in the places where it was applied.

The doctor emphasizes: the purpose of Advantan is to eliminate the external symptoms of the disease, but in parallel with this, a course of treatment should be carried out to eliminate the causes of the disease.

Mechanism of action

The principle of action of imidacloprid is based on blocking the transmission of nerve impulses of parasites. Once the substance comes into contact with a parasitic insect, it causes complete paralysis and death. The drug affects adults and larvae. The insecticide cannot penetrate the chitinous covering of eggs.

Application

Drops on the withers of Advantage quickly spread throughout the entire coat and after 12 hours destroy all fleas. Pairs of active compounds are able to penetrate the pores and accumulate in the fat layer and sebaceous glands of the cat. This ensures a long period of action of the drug.

The animal remains protected from ectoparasites for 4 weeks after using the medicine. Thanks to this, one treatment will destroy all pests, including larvae that hatch from the remaining eggs later.

Composition Advantage

"Advantage" contains:

1. Imidacloprid is the main component that has a therapeutic effect.

Imiacloprid disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses in insects, causing the death of parasites. The substance kills both adult insects (insecticidal action) and parasite larvae (larvicidal action of the drug).

1. Benzyl alcohol. Added to the drug as a preservative. Prevents contamination of the drug during the shelf life.
2. Propylene carbonate. Acts as a solvent.
3. Butylated hydroxytoluene. An auxiliary substance that inhibits the oxidation of the drug.

Instructions for use

The method of using Advantage is not much different from other anti-flea drops. It is enough to correctly calculate the dosage for the cat and apply the product so that the animal cannot lick it off.

How to calculate the dose of the drug?

The dosage of Advantage anti-flea drops for cats is calculated based on the weight of the animal. The manufacturer recommends following the following instructions:

• kittens over 10 weeks and adult animals up to 4 kg – 0.4 ml of Advantage;
• cats 4-8 kg – 0.8 ml;
• 8-12 kg – 1.2 ml (hereinafter several tubes are used at once);
• 12-16 kg – 1.6 ml.

For animals larger than the specified weight, the dosage can be increased to 2 ml.

Features of application

Before you start using the drops, you need to remove the protective layer from the pipette. This can be done easily with the back of the cap. Application technique:

1. Spread the fur at the base of the skull.
2. Place the pipette tip against the prepared area.
3. Press the tube so that its contents spill onto the skin of the withers.
4. Record the date of treatment in order to repeat the procedure in a month for preventive purposes.
5. Wait 2 days to wash the cat after treatment. Water reduces the effectiveness of the drug.

Attention! Advantage drops should not be applied to skin with signs of damage or inflammation. If there are several animals in the house, they must be isolated from each other for at least 24 hours until the droplets are completely absorbed.

Advantage is also suitable for use in cats for preventive purposes. In this case, the processing frequency is once every 3 months.

Step-by-step application instructions

It happens that the owner is no less worried about the manipulation than the animal. In such conditions, it is easy to apply the drug incorrectly or mix up the dose. Step-by-step instructions will help minimize the possibility of error.

1. The animal must be weighed immediately before the procedure.
2. The next step is to calculate the dose (see point above).
3. Before using, you need to put on gloves. The drug may cause an allergy if it comes into contact with human skin.
   

   Important! Do not start the procedure if the cat is irritated or frightened. The restless animal spins around and does not allow the drug to be applied correctly. If applied incorrectly, the medication may not work or may end up in an area where your cat can lick it off.

4. Remove the cap from the pipette and hold the pipette vertically. Use the back of the cap to pierce the tip of the pipette. After this you can start applying.
5. Before applying, make sure that the cat’s skin is not damaged: there are no scratches or scratches. If you apply the solution to damaged skin, the drug will enter the bloodstream and cause symptoms of poisoning.
6. The drug is applied to the area where the cat cannot lick the drug: between the shoulder blades or at the base of the neck.

   
   

7. Before starting the procedure, spread the fur and apply the solution only to the cat's skin.
   

   Helpful advice! If the pet resists, hold the cat behind its back with your left hand.

8. After completing the procedure, move the fur. Do not massage or pet your cat until the product is completely dry.
9. It is advisable not to wash the animal for 48 hours after application.
10. It is not recommended to play with the cat or pick it up until the drug has completely dried. Residues of the drug in contact with human skin may cause an allergic reaction or irritation.

Important! The child can put the remaining drug into his mouth with his hands. If you have children, explain that they cannot play with the cat today.

What to do if the cat licked the drops?

Advantage flea remedy is not intended for internal use. Once in high concentrations in the digestive tract, it can cause poisoning. To make the animal feel better, if symptoms are severe, they are given sorbent preparations (activated carbon, Smecta) and provided with plenty of fluids. However, in healthy animals with strong immunity, licking of droplets most often occurs without consequences.

If you licked the drops...

Beneficial features

Advantage has many good qualities, thanks to which it has received many positive reviews. Here are some of them:

1. This medicine is distributed over the skin without being absorbed into the blood. Thanks to this quality, Advantage is used to treat small kittens, pregnant females, nursing cats, and to treat weakened or sick individuals. It is completely safe for human health.
2. The death of parasites occurs within 12 hours after using the drug.
3. The drops have a larvicidal agent. That is, the liquid is capable of destroying insect larvae in the place where the cat lives. This occurs directly during contact of the treated animal fur with the body of the larva.

The result is obvious: the entire flea population is destroyed without any additional medications.

4. The protective properties of the liquid last for a month. An adult flea dies after a bite, that is, after direct contact with the pet’s skin.
5. The drops are waterproof. They are not afraid of dew, rain or other precipitation. Therefore, after treating the fur and skin of your pet, you can bathe it without worrying that the effectiveness of the drops will decrease, and let it go for walks.
6. When treating a nursing female, the solution will protect not only herself, but also small kittens from blood-sucking pests. In this case we are talking about the so-called umbrella effect.

Contraindications and side effects

There are not many contraindications to using the product. It is forbidden to apply it to animals suffering from allergies to the components of the drug and to kittens under 10 weeks of age.

If there are errors in calculating the dosage, Advantage can cause a complex of side effects:

• local itching and redness;
• loss of activity;
• increased salivation;
• dilated pupils;
• convulsions (occurring with severe overdose).

If the listed signs are clearly manifested, the drops are washed off and contact a veterinarian, although usually the unpleasant symptoms go away on their own within 1-4 days.

ADVANTAGE 40K drops for cats weighing up to 4 kg against fleas, lice and lice 1 pipette of 0.4 ml BAYER

Advantage is an insecticidal preparation for cats containing 10% imidacloprid as the active ingredient, as well as auxiliary components.

Advantage is an effective flea remedy:

• Kills 98 – 100% of fleas within 12 hours.
• Kills fleas on contact before they have time to bite an animal and lay eggs.
• Destroys flea larvae in animal habitats.
• Retains its effect after a single treatment for 4 weeks.
• It is not absorbed into the animal’s blood, but is distributed throughout the fur.
• Can be used by kittens and puppies, pregnant and lactating females, weakened and sick animals.
• Safe for people.
• Retains its effect after your animal has been exposed to rain, swam in water, or after walking on wet grass.
• It has an “umbrella effect”, that is, it provides protection for the entire litter when treating a lactating female with the drug.

Advantage is a simple, convenient and economical product to use:

• Available in pipette form
• one package contains 4 pipettes and is designed for 4 months

The drug is used once a month by applying the contents of one pipette to the animal’s skin in places inaccessible to licking: in cats - on the back of the head, in dogs - between the shoulder blades.

Advantage is an insecticidal preparation for cats containing 10% imidacloprid as the active ingredient, as well as auxiliary components. The drug is a transparent liquid from yellow to brown with a slight specific odor.

I. General information:

Trade name of the drug: Advantage®.

International nonproprietary name: imidacloprid.

Dosage form: solution for external use.

Advantage in 1 ml contains imidacloprid - 100 mg as an active ingredient, as well as excipients: benzyl alcohol - 832 mg, propylene carbonate - 165 mg and butylated hydroxytoluene - up to 1 ml. In appearance it is a transparent liquid from yellow to light brown.

Advantage is produced packaged in 0.4 and 0.8 ml in polymer pipettes, sealed with a protective cap.

The shelf life of the medicinal product, subject to storage conditions, is 5 years from the date of production. It is prohibited to use Advantage after the expiration date.

Store the drug in the manufacturer's sealed packaging, in a dry place, protected from direct sunlight, separately from food and feed, at a temperature of 0°C to 25°C.

Advantage should be stored out of the reach of children.

Unused drug is disposed of in accordance with legal requirements.

II. Pharmacological properties:

Advantage belongs to the insecticidal preparations of the chloronicotinyl insecticide group.

Imidacloprid {1-(6-chloro-3-pyredylmethyl) - N-nitro-imidazolidine-2}, which is part of the drug, has a pronounced insecticidal and larvicidal effect on fleas, lice, and lice that parasitize cats.

The mechanism of action of imidoclaprid is based on interaction with acetylcholine receptors of arthropods and disruption of the transmission of nerve impulses, which causes the death of insects.

After applying the drug to the skin, imidocloprid is gradually distributed over the entire surface of the body and, practically without being absorbed into the systemic bloodstream, accumulates in the epidermis, hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the animal, providing a long-term (up to 4 weeks) contact insecticidal effect.

In terms of the degree of impact on the body, Advantage is classified as a low-hazard substance (hazard class 4 according to GOST 12.1.007-76), when applied to the skin it does not have a locally irritating, resorptive-toxic, embryotoxic, teratogenic, mutagenic or sensitizing effect, if it gets into the eyes causes mild irritation.

III. Application procedure:

Advantage is used to kill insects (fleas, lice, lice) that parasitize cats.

A contraindication for use is the animal’s individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug (including a history of it).

Advantage should not be used on kittens under 10 weeks of age.

If necessary, treatment of pregnant and lactating cats should be carried out with caution under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Advantage is administered to animals once by drop (“spot-on”) application to dry, intact skin. Before use, remove the protective cap from the pipette and, positioning it vertically, pierce the protective membrane of the pipette nose (putting the cap on the back side), then remove the cap again and, spreading the fur, apply the drug to the animal, squeezing it out of the pipette, onto the skin in places inaccessible to licking (for cats - on the back of the head).

Depending on the weight of the animal, Advantage of various packaging is used in the doses indicated in the table:

For cats weighing more than 8 kg, use combinations of pipettes of various packaging at a rate of 0.1 ml/kg.

The death of insects parasitizing a cat occurs within 12 hours. The protective effect of the drug after a single treatment of the animal lasts up to 4 weeks. Repeated treatments of animals during the season of parasite activity are carried out according to indications, but not more than once every 28 days.

When treating allergic dermatitis caused by insects, it is advisable to use the drug in combination with drugs for pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy.

In case of an overdose of the drug, some animals may experience a depressed state, dilated pupils, increased salivation, and muscle tremors. In this case, the drug is washed off with water and detergent and general measures are used to remove it from the body.

No specific effects of the drug upon first use or upon its discontinuation have been identified.

Violations of the drug use regimen should be avoided, as this may lead to a decrease in effectiveness.

As a rule, there are no side effects or complications in cats when using Advantage in accordance with these instructions. In rare cases, after using the drug in animals, individual skin reactions (redness, itching) are possible, which spontaneously disappear within 1-4 days and do not require the use of medications.

Licking the drug can cause increased salivation (salivation) in the cat, since the drug has a bitter taste, which is not a sign of poisoning and goes away spontaneously after a few minutes.

If allergic reactions occur in an animal sensitive to the components of the drug, the drug should be thoroughly washed off with soap and water and the fur should be rinsed with plenty of running water, and, if necessary, antihistamines and symptomatic agents should be prescribed.

Advantage should not be used simultaneously with other insectoacaricidal drugs.

Advantage is not intended for use in productive animals.

IV. Personal prevention measures:

When working with Advantage, you should follow the general rules of personal hygiene and safety precautions provided for when working with medicines. While working with the drug, smoking, drinking and eating are not allowed. When finished, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Do not pet or allow the animal near small children (until the area where the drug is applied becomes dry) for 24 hours after treatment.

In case of accidental contact of the drug with the skin or mucous membranes of the eyes, they must be rinsed with plenty of water. People with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug should avoid direct contact with Advantage.

If allergic reactions occur or if the drug accidentally enters the human body, you should immediately contact a medical facility (bring with you the instructions for use of the drug or the label).

Empty drug packaging must not be used for household purposes; they must be disposed of with household waste.

Quantity per package: 4 pipettes x 0.4 ml.

Country of origin: Germany.
Information about the composition and ingredients, color scheme, technical and other characteristics, country of origin, appearance and delivery package of the product is for reference only and is based on the latest information available at the time of publication. Delivery of this product is carried out to all regions of the Russian Federation.

Advantages and disadvantages

The drug has a huge range of advantages, the main one of which is its low hazard class. Thanks to this, the drops are approved for use in the treatment of weakened, young or pregnant animals. Other benefits of the medicine:

• long period of activity (Advantage instructions guarantee protection against re-infestation for 1 month);
• high performance;
• convenient packaging that facilitates dosage calculation;
• increased moisture resistance (after absorption, the drops are not afraid of rain and frequent bathing);
• ease of use;
• The effect of the drug is not limited to the cat, but extends to the places where it often stays (bedding, etc.).

Among the disadvantages of drops, cat owners note the only disadvantage is the high cost.

Description of the drug

Advantage consists, first of all, of an active ingredient.
It is 10% imidacloprid. The solution is used for the purpose of preliminary prevention and treatment of entomotosis in cats. The appearance of these parasites is an indication for the use of the medication. In appearance it is a yellowish liquid with a slight specific odor. Available in the form of a solution with a volume of 0.4 or 0.8 milliliters. Drops are poured into polyethylene pipettes. Pipettes are packaged in blisters, usually 4 pieces.

The average price of one pipette in Russia is 160 rubles or more. Consequently, packaging will cost from 650 rubles. You can buy medicine a little cheaper through online stores. The optimal ratio of active ingredients in the solution provides it with contact and systemic effects, which have a detrimental effect on all stages of development of insect pests.

This product has a bitter taste. Therefore, if an animal licks a freshly treated area, it may drool.

The latter is not any sign of intoxication. Drooling does not require treatment and goes away in just a few minutes.

Use of the drug for infants, pregnancy and breastfeeding

Many mothers whose children suffer from skin diseases are concerned with the question of at what age can such an effective (and, according to numerous reviews, not the most dangerous) drug as Advantan be used.

For newborns who are not even a month old, the drug is prohibited, even if there are medical indications for its use (depending on the circumstances, the pediatrician may recommend Bepanten, Skin-cap, or some other remedy for the baby).

From the age of 4 months, Advantan can be prescribed, but it must be borne in mind that for children under one year of age, any drug is selected by a doctor; amateur activity in this case is unacceptable.

Parents do the right thing when, even after a year, they adhere to the recommendations of the pediatrician, and not the advice of friends and colleagues who “had similar illnesses, and they treated them this way and that way.”

This drug is not prescribed to pregnant women in the 1st trimester, and in the 2nd trimester it is done only in exceptional cases, on small areas of the skin. As a rule, pregnant women use some analogue of the drug that is less dangerous for the expectant mother and baby.

During pregnancy, many women “wake up” old sores, however, if you use Advantan, for example, for herpes or some other viral diseases, the medicine will only increase the rate of spread of the disease.

A similar exacerbation can occur if the drug is used for rosacea, a chronic disease of the facial skin.

When breastfeeding, always take into account what effect the medicine may have on the baby. During lactation, the doctor analyzes the expected therapeutic effect of using the drug and why it is dangerous for the young mother and baby.

If Advantan is still used, it cannot be applied to the mammary glands during breastfeeding.

Cheap analogues and substitutes and which one is better

There are no direct analogues of Advantan. Based on the characteristics of the development of the disease and the age of the patient, the doctor can recommend to the patient the remedy that will solve his problem faster and more effectively. It can be:

• Akriderm (ointment, cream), Belogent - prescribed to children after one year (we wrote about the use of Belogent);
• Beloderm, Cutivate, Lokoid, Afloderm - suitable for six-month-old infants and older children; You will find indications and instructions for using Lokoid ointment and cream.
• Elidel - for babies from three months, when hormonal drugs are contraindicated;
• Elokom (cream, lotion, ointment), Momat - used for patients at least two years old;
• Pimafukort, Triderm - are most effective for fungal and bacterial dermatitis, as they contain antimicrobial components;
• Sinaflan - copes well with itching due to psoriasis, from insect bites, allergies, for which Sinaflan ointment is also used, you will find out in this article;
• Celestoderm - has a strong anti-inflammatory effect due to the presence of antibiotics in the ointment;
• Fenistil - used for urticaria, reduces external manifestations of allergies, has analgesic properties;
• Clotrimazole - helps against pathogenic fungi of various types, for example, with thrush;
• Candida – relieves itching, effective in treating fungal infections;
• Hydrocortisone (ointment) – treats itching, relieves inflammation, is often prescribed to patients diagnosed with contact dermatitis; You can find out what else Hydrocortisone ointment is used for in this article;
• Flucinar - used against various types of dermatitis, age restriction - a ban on the use of the medicine for children under 2 years of age; We wrote in more detail about the indications for the use of Flucinar ointment;
• Fluorocort is a drug with a wide spectrum of effects, prescribed (under the supervision of a doctor) to expectant mothers;
• Comfoderm - for eczema and dermatitis, for patients over 18 years of age.

Many people are usually concerned about the cost of the medicine recommended to them. If there is an opportunity for an adequate replacement, the doctor, of course, will suggest purchasing cheaper analogues of Advantan (its cost is from 330 to 500 rubles from different suppliers and sellers).

However, if the “understudy” is not able to solve the problem as effectively as Advantan, the cost of the drug should fade into the background; health is still more expensive.

Here's how much some relatively inexpensive ointments and creams cost (for 15-gram tubes):

• Akriderm -119 rub.,
• Beloderm – 195 rub.,
• Cutivate – 268 rub.,
• Momat – 242 rub.,
• Flucinar – 182 rub.,
• Celestoderm – 208 rub.

Reviews

Anna V.: “Advantan helped me, probably in the most unusual situation. The hair on my head began to fall out. For alopecia (as the doctors called my problem), Advantan is not used, at least in the instructions for the drug there is nothing said about the treatment of “balding” people, but my attending physician had a similar practice, and he recommended this remedy to me. I also applied it to hair that was on the border with a bald spot. The first success - the process was stopped, I don’t lose any more hair. The next stage – stimulating new hair growth – is also already underway.” Lyubov T.: “I used unsuccessful cosmetics and ruined my skin - spots began to appear. The dermatologist said that Advantan worked well for pigmentation and suggested that we try starting treatment on a small area of ​​skin first. Everything worked out! After just three days, not a trace of pigment spots remained.” Daria O., dermatologist: “Quite often I prescribe Advantan to patients. Reviews from doctors - my colleagues - and my own experience confirm the effectiveness of the drug for treating patients with psoriasis and various dermatitis. Regeneration of damaged skin occurs quickly.” Timofey Sh., dermatologist: “When I write out a prescription for Advantan, some patients ask to replace it with some inexpensive drug. Many Russian substitutes, indeed, will be cheaper, but for me, as a specialist, the country of origin is not of fundamental importance, whether the medicine was manufactured in Russia, Croatia or Germany, what is important is the result. And Advantan’s product, be it a cream, emulsion or ointment, is very good.”

Advantan for cats