Flea drops for cats - review of medications, application rules

Why drops?

Veterinary pharmacies offer a wide range of products designed to protect pets from fleas. They are available in the form of sprays, aerosols, shampoos and collars soaked in a special solution.

Despite this variety, veterinarians advise using drops. This form of insecticide is considered the most convenient and effective, since the drops are able to penetrate the skin of the animal and effectively protect it from parasites.

When using sprays, the composition is sprayed onto several sentiments around. At the same time, it can get into those areas that the animal will lick, which can provoke poisoning.

Licks himself

Flea collars also have disadvantages:

if worn incorrectly, it may rub your neck;
while wearing it, if the collar gets caught, the pet may be injured;
not every animal will wear a protective attribute.

As for the drops, their use will not cause discomfort to the pet. In addition, the owner can easily apply the drug to the pet’s withers without fear that the animal will lick the composition.

Why do drops work poorly or don’t help?

If after treating the animal it was not possible to get rid of fleas, there may be two reasons:

non-compliance with dosage. The dosage must be observed as strictly as possible: exceeding it is fraught with poisoning, and an insufficient amount of the drug will not give the expected effect;
violation of technology. You should not treat the animal's paws, or the animal's belly - only the withers, otherwise the animal will lick the substance, which can lead to intoxication and a sharp decrease in effectiveness.

Sometimes even expensive, proven drops do not work - this is explained by the fact that fleas develop resistance to a certain insecticide, in which case the drug should be replaced with another, which contains an insecticide of a different class.

Active components of flea drops

The composition of flea drops for cats and dogs differs slightly depending on the manufacturer. Typically the active components are:

Invermectin is a toxic substance that can destroy various parasites. The presence of this highly toxic component in the drug requires strict adherence to the dosage.
Permethrin is also a toxic substance. Does not pose a danger to warm-blooded animals.
Pyriproxyfen - most often used as a impregnation for flea collars. Some manufacturers use the substance as a base for flea drops;
Fipronil – prevents re-infestation by fleas.

Most of these substances not only poison blood-sucking insects, but also have a specific odor that repels parasites from pets.

AVZ drops against fleas in cats

"Four with a tail" with a repellent effect.
Drops are a prophylactic against sarcoptic mange, notoedrosis, entomosis and damage to animals by ixodid ticks. The drug contains a mixture of essential oils of schizandra, lavender, citronella, which have a persistent repellent effect on blood-sucking insects and ticks. If the recommended dose is followed, repellent drops do not cause irritation in the area of application and are safe for cats. The repellent effect of the drug lasts up to eight weeks after a single application to the pet’s withers.
"Bars Forte" against fleas and ticks for cats.
A drug prescribed for the prevention and treatment of entomosis, notoedrosis, sarcoptic mange, as well as when ixodid ticks are detected in an animal and its protection from attack by ectoparasites. The repellent effect of the drug enhances protection. Drops for cats "Bars Forte" destroy fleas, lice and lice, as well as their larvae and eggs. The use of the drug helps prevent diseases caused by tick and flea bites. The protective properties against attacks by blood-sucking parasites last for 1–2 months from the moment the drops are applied.
"Bars Forte" against fleas and ticks for kittens.
A drug used for the treatment and prevention of arachno-entomosis in kittens and cats with low weight. The drops are highly effective against fleas and their larvae, and also have a repellent effect. The product contains citronella essential oil, fipronil and diflubenzuron (insect growth regulator). The active substances are practically not absorbed into the bloodstream, but accumulate in the skin and hair of the animal. The principle of action of the drug is to damage the transmission of nerve impulses in arthropods, which provokes paralysis and subsequent death of fleas and ticks in cats.
"Bars" against fleas and ticks for cats.
A therapeutic and prophylactic agent that has been successfully used for many years to protect mustachioed pets. The drug is prescribed to cats starting from 8 weeks of age. Drops "Bars" prevent attacks by fleas and ixodid ticks and are effective for the treatment of sarcoptic mange, entomosis, cheyletiellosis, otodectosis, and notoedrosis. If the recommended doses are followed, the drops are well tolerated by cats and kittens of various breeds. After applying the drug, the active substances are distributed over the surface of the animal’s body, accumulating in the sebaceous glands.

Operating principle

To understand what effect to expect after treatment, you need to know how flea drops work. All drugs of this type work the same way. The active components accumulate in the skin, hair follicles and subcutaneous fat, but do not penetrate into the blood. The consequence of this is that after direct contact with these substances the following happens to fleas:

parasites have nerve impulses blocked;
coordination of movements is impaired;
paralysis occurs.

All this leads to the fact that some time after treatment the insects die.

Benefits of drops

In addition to fighting fleas, the drops also resist any ticks (ixodid, ear, subcutaneous and scabies), as well as lice-eaters. Flea drops can prevent your pet from becoming infected with heartworms.

Flea drops have proven themselves to be effective medications. In general, one application of the drug on an animal should be enough to protect it from fleas for a period of 1 or 2 months.

The effect of the drop begins 20 minutes after use. The drops are also safe if used correctly, but precautions should be taken to avoid overdosing.

Flea drops are convenient to use; as a rule, they are packaged in a small pipette, which is designed for one use. Using a pipette, you can freely apply drops to any part of the animal's fur.

Features of use

If you decide to treat a cat or dog with flea drops, the drug must be applied to the withers, where the animal cannot reach with its tongue. In order for the drug to be absorbed into the skin as much as possible and to act effectively, you need to first part the fur before applying it so that the drops get directly onto the skin.

Applying anti-flea drops

Afterwards, you need to hold the animal for several minutes so that the drug is absorbed into the skin. Another feature of using such drugs is that they are selected taking into account the weight of the animal, so as not to poison the pet with an excessive dose of the drug.

On a note! Before treatment, it is better not to bathe your pet for several days. During this period, a sufficient amount of sebum will have time to accumulate on the epidermis, which will absorb the insecticide.

Features of drops for puppies

Despite the effectiveness and positive reviews about the action of the drugs, not all dogs can use regular drops. Care should be taken when choosing a drug for nursing dogs, sick animals and puppies under 3 months.

When purchasing, be sure to check the age of the pet and talk about the animal’s health status. Otherwise, overdoses of active substances can poison the animal.

HELP : Flea infestation is especially dangerous in pregnant dogs. If the parasites are not removed in a timely manner, then in the future they will interfere with the development of the offspring and can even lead to the death of the puppies.

Read more about flea treatments for puppies in the article.

Rules for antiparasitic treatment

The method of using the drops is described in detail in the instructions supplied with them. To achieve the expected result and minimize the likelihood of side effects, be sure to familiarize yourself with it before starting to treat your pet.

Where to drip?

Flea drops should be applied at the base of the animal's neck, between the shoulder blades. If the animal is large, a few drops can be distributed further along the spine, but only in those places where the animal cannot reach and lick the drug. During the procedure, you need to make sure that the liquid gets on the skin. In order for the product to be absorbed into the epidermis faster, the drops can be rubbed in yourself, but this must be done with gloves.

How many drops should you apply?

The amount of the drug is calculated based on the attached instructions. The dosage depends on the size and weight of the pet. Most often, the drops are packaged in special pipettes of different capacities or ampoules, each of which is intended for one-time treatment.

In what cases does it not help?

Sometimes it happens that after treatment with flea drops, they do not have the desired effect. Possible reasons why the drops did not help and the parasites did not die:

the product was chosen incorrectly;
the rules for using the drug were violated during processing;
incorrect dosage;
using a product that has expired;
skipping preventative treatment.

Itches

If the treatment was carried out strictly according to the instructions and the drops did not help, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

How long does it take for them to start working?

When fleas disappear after using drops depends on the type of drug. Most of these products begin to work after 10-12 hours and continue to work for a month. Re-treatment is recommended after 4 weeks.

On a note! Modern flea drops remain active even after interaction with water. However, it is not advisable for your pet to take water treatments for a long time after treatment or to be exposed to the rain.

Why don't flea and tick drops work?

Drops may not work if you used a drug that is afraid of water and the animal was caught in the rain, for example, and the drops had not yet had time to be absorbed and spread throughout the pet’s fur and skin, or you used a smaller dose than recommended. Or these drops are simply not effective and you should try to use other brands, for example, those given in this article.

And you should not expect that all parasites will die in the first day after using the drops. Even despite the assurances of the manufacturers, all fleas can die only on the second or third day.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other medical product, flea drops intended for treating cats and dogs have strengths and weaknesses. The advantages include:

Easy to use. Treating your pet will not cause any difficulties and will take no more than 3 minutes.
Versatility. Such drops have a detrimental effect on most parasites. In addition to fleas, they repel lice, ticks and lice-eaters.
Efficiency. Repeated treatment will need to be carried out no earlier than in a month. Some remedies last even longer – up to 2 months.
Availability. You can purchase drops at all pet stores and veterinary pharmacies.

Disadvantages of drops:

most of these products cannot be used to treat pets under 3 months of age;
The effectiveness of the product may be reduced due to frequent swimming or excessive exposure to sunlight.

Another drawback is that if you treat a pet whose weight is less than 2 kg, there is a risk of side effects. The most common of them are:

increased salivation;
allergic reaction;
eye inflammation;
tremor;
loss of appetite;
vomiting, bowel dysfunction.

If the side effects are severe and do not go away within 2 days, you need to take your pet to a veterinary clinic.

Rules for applying the medicine

Before using the medicine, you need to weigh the animal to determine the dosage.
On the packaging of any drops you can find information for what age and weight the drug is suitable. It is better to carry out processing with rubber gloves. The animal is clamped, the fur is spread at the withers and the required number of drops is applied. After application, you need to gently massage your neck so that the drug is absorbed faster.

Do not use the product if there are scratches or redness on the skin. It is recommended to test the drug in advance - drop one drop on the animal’s skin and see if an allergic reaction occurs.

After treatment, the cat should not be allowed outside or bathed for several hours. If there are children or other animals in the house, you need to temporarily isolate the cat from them for the period specified in the instructions.

Drops are not suitable for all animals. They cannot be used for pregnant cats, kittens less than 2 months old, sick or malnourished animals. When treating a healthy adult animal, you need to make sure that the pet cannot reach the application site. Do not allow the medicine to get into the eyes or ears of the animal.

If after applying the drops signs of poisoning appear - vomiting, increased salivation, loss of orientation, you need to contact a veterinarian.

Precautionary measures

The amount of active ingredient in modern drops is quite small, and they are relatively harmless to pets, so even if the cat accidentally licked them, you shouldn’t worry too much. The situation can be critical for health if a cat licks all of its kittens that have been treated with an insecticide, which can lead to severe poisoning. There is also a danger in cases where a kitten licks the remains of the product from another; they can have a stronger toxic effect compared to an adult organism.

Regardless of the composition used, it is important to monitor the cat’s reaction and the condition of its skin. In some cases, it can cause allergic reactions, which are accompanied by itching, and even hair loss and dermatitis.

Important! To reduce the risk of an allergic reaction, veterinarians recommend using half the recommended dose upon first use, and the second half a day later.

If, after applying the composition, your pet develops nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, or an increase in body temperature and these symptoms do not disappear after 1-2 days, you should consult a veterinarian.

During the treatment of an animal, allergic reactions and irritations can also occur in humans, so the procedure should be carried out with gloves. If you experience a cough, sore throat, or irritation on your hands, it is recommended to drink as much water as possible and wash your hands thoroughly.

Overdose

Poisoning of dogs and cats with flea drops is extremely rare (3-5% of cases); the risk group includes sick, elderly, weakened animals, puppies and kittens.

Symptoms:

drooling, increased sweating;
vomiting (more often in dogs), nausea, diarrhea;
uncontrolled eye movements, constriction of the pupils;
trembling, shortness of breath, lethargy;
frequent urination, fecal incontinence.

At the first manifestation of alarming symptoms, it is necessary to show the animal to a veterinarian. If it is not possible to do this immediately, you should give your pet a sorbent (activated carbon) to drink. Dosage: 1 tablet per 10 kilograms of weight. Plain water will help alleviate the severity of intoxication; it should be poured into the mouth every 15 minutes, 5-10 milliliters. There is no point in gastric lavage or enema - the drops are absorbed through the skin. If the condition worsens or dangerous symptoms increase (convulsions, shortness of breath), a visit to the clinic is essential to avoid the death of the animal. In a hospital setting, the doctor administers intramuscular or intravenous steroids to eliminate allergic manifestations, and prescribes IVs to promptly remove toxins, which improves the condition of the animal.

Flea drops are the drugs of choice for protection against blood-sucking parasites. They are effective, safe and affordable. The main thing is to adhere to simple rules: strictly adhere to the dosage, frequency and application technology. To enhance the effectiveness of the drops, it is recommended to use an anti-flea collar as an additional means.

General recommendations for use

Information on the use of flea drops is described in detail in the instructions for each drug. Despite the fact that each has its own application features, there are recommendations common to almost all means:

Do not bathe your pet several days before and after treatment.
It is better to carry out the procedure in cloudy weather or in the evening to avoid direct sunlight.
The composition should be applied to the withers, closer to the base of the skull, to prevent poisoning of the body from toxic substances getting inside. The composition is applied directly to the skin, pushing the fur apart. If it is recommended to apply the drug along the spine (usually this applies to domestically produced products), this should be done no lower than the middle of the body so that the cat cannot lick the medicine.

Important! Do not drop insecticides onto areas around the eyes or mouth, or allow them to get into the ears, mouth, or nose. In this case, rinse the affected area with plenty of water.

Rub the composition into the skin to ensure even distribution and greater effectiveness.
Do not comb your pet for 2-3 days.
Handle and touch the cat less for a couple of days after the procedure to avoid toxic substances entering the human body.

How to determine availability

You can suspect the presence of fleas based on known signs:

Itching;
Scratching on the skin;
Presence of fleas upon examination. The insects are quite large, so it is not difficult to see them visually. The flea's body has a vertically flattened shape, the color usually matches the color of the animal's skin.

It is easier to notice fleas when bathing, then they become more active and try to leave wet areas of the skin. To identify them, you can use a sparse comb and comb out the insects over a spread newspaper or a sheet of white paper.