Today we propose to pay attention to methods of combating insects that parasitize pets. This article will discuss various remedies: tablets against ticks and other parasites for cats and Comfortis dogs, drops on the withers, folk remedies, etc. Along the way, we will familiarize you with the instructions for using each drug and precautions for use.
Choosing a flea treatment for cats
Many cat owners are often faced with the problem of choosing an antiparasitic agent. How to choose the right flea drug and what criteria should be followed?
Basic criteria for choosing an anti-flea drug:
- high efficiency not only against mature individuals, but also larvae;
- long lasting result;
- low degree of toxicity;
- Possibility of use by kittens, pregnant and lactating cats;
- affordable price;
- ease of use;
- minimal risk of adverse reactions;
- availability on the shelves of domestic veterinary pharmacies and pet stores;
- low degree of absorption (absorption, dissolution) of the drug into the pet’s bloodstream.
The following dosage forms of antiparasitic drugs can be found on the veterinary drug market:
- drops on the withers;
- collars;
- sprays for external use;
- solutions for injections;
- shampoos;
- external powders;
- oral tablets.
Video: Anna Polumysnaya, veterinarian, about antiparasitic drugs
Why do cats need tick prevention?
More than once the opinion has been heard that cats are not afraid of tick attacks, especially single ones. This is true exclusively for piroplasmosis, which really does not threaten cats to the same extent as dogs and farm livestock.
Otherwise, cats should beware of ticks due to all other negative consequences, because piroplasmosis is not the only one of them.
Completely domestic cats that do not practice self-walking and spend their entire cat life within the confines of a human home or apartment are not at all immune from tick attacks.
For example, ixodid parasites can easily get into an apartment on the clothes or shoes of the owners themselves, who bring them directly from the street. Because the bloodsucker, having caught on the edge of clothing in the grass, is able to wander around the body for about an hour to find a place convenient for penetration.
In the same way - from the street - individuals of small mites that parasitize the body of mammals and humans and cause scabies of various localizations enter the apartment.
Therefore, damage to the health of cats and its severity depend on the type of tick that bit the animal.
- An ixodid tick has temporarily burrowed in to drink its fill of cat blood and then fall off.
- Scabies mite, which has entered for lifelong parasitism and reproduction in the cat’s body.
Serious health problems in cats after a tick bite can manifest in a variety of ways. It depends on the classification of the parasite and the infection it can infect the bitten cat with.
Therefore, a drug for treating the consequences of a tick bite is selected based on symptoms, tests and the resulting diagnosis. But the preventive agent is universal - it will protect the cat from attacks by any ticks, and as a plus - from fleas, lice, lice and other ectoparasites.
Important! Diseases caused by tick-borne attacks of any type of parasite are called acariasis. These are tick-borne infections that are dangerous not only for domestic and wild animals, but also for humans. Some are even deadly!
Tablets as a remedy for fleas
Oral forms of antiparasitic drugs are a fairly new type of medication for cats. The active substances of these products, entering the pet’s digestive tract, are quickly absorbed into the general bloodstream and distributed throughout the soft tissues. As soon as a flea feasts on the blood of an animal, inevitable death awaits it. First of all, the nervous system of the parasite is affected, which leads to muscle atrophy, tremors and death. The therapeutic effect after using the medicine lasts about a month. A single dose of the drug is usually calculated depending on the weight of the animal.
From the animal’s body, 80% of the active substance is excreted in the urine after two days; the body is completely cleared of the drug after 7–10 days.
Taking tablet forms of the antiparasitic drug leads to disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, tremors and further death of the flea
Advantages and disadvantages of anti-tick tablets for cats
When using anti-mite tablets for cats, it is useful to know their advantages and disadvantages. So, the advantages of using drugs include:
- onset of action within two hours after administration, achieving maximum effect after 8-12 hours and maintaining the effect for 1-3 months;
- through the bloodstream, the active components of the product penetrate into all parts of the body, leaving no weak points for parasites to penetrate compared to local sprays or shampoos;
- the dosage is calculated based on weight, the risk of overdose is minimal;
- do not cause resistance in ticks, exclude re-infection with fleas (they do not have time to lay eggs);
- medications with caution, but can be used during pregnancy or lactation.
The disadvantages of using tableted anti-tick medications in cats include the fact that they are taken after an insect bite. There is a risk that the infection has already entered the animal’s body and has begun to affect it, so taking the medicine is not able to slow down the development of the pathology.
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Table: brief overview of flea tablets
| Trade name of the product | Active composition | Distinctive features of the drug | Contraindications | Possible complications | Possibility of use in pregnant and lactating cats | Possibility of use in kittens | Storage conditions | Estimated cost | Country of Origin |
| Comfortis | Spinosad | Round chewable tablets of yellow-brown and brown color. | Individual intolerance to the components of the drug. | If the dosing rules are followed, no adverse reactions are observed. Overdose symptoms:
| Use under veterinary supervision. | Do not use on kittens under 14 weeks of age. | Shelf life: 3 years. Store in a dark place at a temperature of 5°C-7°C. | 6 tablets - 4000 rubles. | USA |
| Capstar | Nitenpyram | Chewable tablets that do not have a long-lasting residual effect. The active substance leaves the pet’s body within a day. | Modern science knows no cases of adverse reactions. | May be used under the supervision of a veterinarian. | Do not use on kittens less than one month old. | It is recommended to store drugs in a dark place at room temperature. | 6 tablets - 1700 rubles. | USA | |
| Lufenuron | Hormone lufenuron | After taking the drug, it takes a long time to achieve a therapeutic effect. Effective against parasite larvae and eggs, less effective against adult parasites. |
| Approved for use after consultation with a veterinarian. | Prohibited for use on kittens under 14 weeks of age. | 1 tablet - 600 rubles | USA |
Photo gallery: antiparasitic tablets
Capstar is not used on kittens younger than 4 weeks of age.
Comfortis is contraindicated in cats with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug
Lufenuron is a hormone-containing antiparasitic drug for cats.
Imported means of production
Advocate
Veterinary drug used for the treatment and prevention of nematodosis, demodicosis, entomosis and sarcoptoidosis, intended for external use. The product is characterized by a very wide range of effects against parasites - it allows you to effectively fight fleas, ticks, lice, lice, and even helps cope with worms and intestinal nematodes living inside the animal. The drug belongs to the group of moderately hazardous substances. If the dosage is observed, dogs and cats tolerate its effects well. These are products of the German company Bayer, which has been producing medicines for people and animals for many years. The solution is packaged in pipettes, the volume of which can vary from 0.4 to 4 ml. The main active ingredients here are moxidexin and imidacloprid; additional components are also present - propylene carbonate, benzyl alcohol and butylated hydroxytoluene. After application to the skin, the drug actively spreads throughout the animal’s body within a couple of hours without being absorbed.
The product is securely attached to the wool, which ensures a long exposure time. Moxidectin is absorbed into the skin, penetrating into tissues and the circulatory system. Its highest concentration in the animal’s body is reached on days 5-6 and is completely eliminated within a month. If you need to rid your pet of parasites living in the fur, then a single treatment will be enough; when you have to fight internal parasites, you will have to re-apply the drug - this is done after about 3-4 weeks. If the product is used for preventive purposes, the animal must be treated after bathing without shampoo.
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Advantages:
- Very effective;
- Has water-resistant characteristics;
- Extended spectrum of action.
Flaws:
- Not all animals tolerate it well;
- High price.
Advocate
Frontline Combo
Very effective drops, which are easy to use, can quickly get rid of blood-sucking insects. This product is produced by the French company Merial, which is known throughout the world for its discoveries in the field of veterinary medicine. The drug has unique properties; it penetrates under the chitinous cover of insects, acts at the cellular level, which initially leads to paralysis of the nervous system of fleas, and subsequently causes their death. In some cases, the larvae and eggs of bloodsuckers remain intact, which is why the animal's fur will need to be re-treated, which is carried out after eight weeks. It is not recommended to apply to the skin of a pet if its age does not exceed 2 months. The drops penetrate deep into the epidermis, making it possible to provide complete protection. The dosage is calculated based on the weight of the animal. After the treatment has been carried out, you should limit the pet’s contact with children, minimize exposure to the open air, and you should also not bathe it.
The drug also has a calming effect - it helps get rid of itching after bites, prevents flea dermatitis, and prevents infection of the apartment. The product copes with all types of ticks. It must be kept on the animal’s skin for about two days, after which the dog or cat is allowed to be bathed. Fipronil is used as the main active agent. The animal will be completely protected from fleas for the next three months.
Advantages:
- Widely used drug;
- Actively fights fleas and ticks, as well as the consequences of their bites;
- Long lasting.
Flaws:
- Cannot be used if the animal is under at least two months old.
Frontline Combo
Stronghold Pfizer
American-made products are based on selamectin, a chemical compound that not only kills adult fleas and ticks, but also blocks the incubation of their eggs. It is also suitable for combating ear and scabies mites, helps cope with heartworm, which can affect a pet’s heart, and can be used when treating an animal for roundworms and hookworms. The product dries very quickly, has no foreign odor, and is highly moisture resistant. Safe for pets if they are over 6 weeks old. Tests of its action were carried out even on the most sensitive breeds of dogs and cats - no allergic reaction was detected, although cases of individual intolerance to the drug were encountered.
The drug has an inhibitory effect on chlorine channel receptors. As a result, the normal transmission of nerve impulses in the synapses of the muscle tissue of the parasites is disrupted. Selamectin is absolutely safe for animals - after application, it is almost instantly absorbed into the skin and enters the circulatory system, without causing any harmful effects on the pet’s body. The maximum concentration is achieved one day after treating the cat and three days if the drug was applied to the dog's fur. The therapeutic concentration of the substance is maintained for a whole month. This product is also absolutely safe for people, so immediately after the drug is absorbed, the animal can be petted, picked up, bathed and played with.
Advantages:
- Absorbed into the blood very quickly;
- An expanded list of parasites that this drug can fight;
- The required concentration is quickly achieved.
Flaws:
- Not a very convenient form of release.
Stronghold Pfizer
Bravecto Spot On
It begins to act very quickly - after treating the skin, the product begins to rid the animal of fleas in just 4 hours, and after another 4 hours, about 98% of the insects living in the pet’s fur die. After about a day, the pet has a death rate of fleas and ticks that is close to 100%. This drug is a fairly effective solution in the fight against flea dermatitis. During the development of the drug, studies were carried out on all varieties of ixodid ticks, both on adults and on eggs and larvae. Ticks will die regardless of which part of the animal’s body they are attached to. This drug was developed specifically for cats and dogs, and its degree of toxicity is so low that it is allowed to be used if the animal is pregnant or nursing offspring. Adaptability in fleas to this drug is not observed.
The principle of action is as follows: the active substance penetrates under the chitinous cover of the animal, blocks the work of nerve impulses and the digestive system. The insects stop feeding, so literally immediately after application the animal’s level of discomfort decreases - it begins to itch less and hardly licks itself. The key ingredient here is fluralaner, which is a mammal-safe insecticide. It penetrates into the circulatory system, maximum concentration is achieved just a day after use.
Advantages:
- Easy to use;
- Begins to act almost immediately after application;
- Suitable for lactating and pregnant individuals;
- Actively fights fleas and ticks;
- Safe for animals and people.
Flaws:
- It's very expensive.
Bravecto Spot On
UltraGuard Plus Drops
The leader in this section of our review of the best drops for fleas and ticks is the product developed by a well-known American company that specializes in the production of various veterinary drugs. The composition can be used if the animal is at least 12 weeks old. It will have to be applied to dry and intact skin; it is advisable to cover the area from the withers to the root of the tail. Due to the fact that the animal can reach out and lick the product off, it is advisable to put a muzzle or a special collar on it. The composition should not be applied to the skin of sick or convalescent animals. If your pet is bearing or feeding offspring, you should definitely consult a veterinarian before use. If all these points are observed, there are no contraindications or side effects, however, there are cases of individual intolerance.
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The drops are absorbed quite quickly - it takes about two hours, after which the body of the dog or cat becomes completely invulnerable to parasites. As soon as a tick or flea tries to bite a pet, the insect immediately dies. In addition, the drug has a preventive effect, preventing pests from re-entering the wool over the next 30 days, after which the skin will need to be re-treated.
Advantages:
- One package is enough for three treatments, that is, for most of the summer season;
- Protects against ticks, mosquitoes and fleas;
- Penetrates deep into the skin and begins to act almost immediately after application to the animal.
Flaws:
- The need to use a muzzle or collar to prevent the pet from licking it off.
UltraGuard Plus Drops
Table: pros and cons of flea tablets
| Advantages | Flaws |
When using oral medications, there is no need to limit the animal's contact with children, and you can bathe your pet at any time. |
|
We picked up our pet on the street. He was very dirty and his body was infested with fleas. All the skin was covered in wounds and ulcers that were scratched until they bled. Naturally, we did not dare to treat ourselves and went to the veterinary clinic. The doctor recommended Comfortis oral flea tablets. But he immediately warned that we would have to work hard to find a drug. As it turned out, these tablets were not available either in veterinary pharmacies or in online stores. We had to wait about a week for it to be delivered to us. One tablet was enough for the pet’s body to be completely cleansed of parasites. The cost of the drug fully justifies its quality. At the moment, for the purpose of prevention, 4 times a year we use a more budget-friendly option - drops on the withers.
Collars to protect cats from tick bites
This is a protective method for lazy cat owners - put on a collar and for a long time, at least 3 months, forget about the problem of parasites and the negative consequences that infection with them entails.
The insectoacaricidal drug with which such a collar is impregnated has a prolonged release property and thereby kills ticks and other ectoparasites for a long time. However, this method of protection does not provide a 100% guarantee. Some cat owners additionally treat their pets with a spray, especially before going out into nature, to the country, or on vacation.
Collars are produced by many companies, and according to reviews from veterinarians, they work very effectively in accordance with their declared properties. Such a collar can completely protect an ordinary city and even rural cat. The only exceptions will be animals located in areas where ticks are rampant.
Putting on a protective collar is quite simple, the main thing is to follow simple rules and precautions.
- Open the package before putting it on to prevent the substances from escaping.
- Adjust the size so that the pet is comfortable, and at the same time so that the collar does not dangle around the neck. It is optimal to leave 1 finger of slack, cut off the rest of the tape and discard.
- If there are other pets or small children in the house, then you should not allow anyone to chew, lick or simply taste the collar - this can lead to poisoning!
- Since this is contact protection, at first it is better to check the cat’s neck to see if there is any irritation. If alarming signs appear, the collar should be removed, which means it is not suitable for the cat.
Important! In order for your pet to be constantly protected, the collar must be changed on time - its active period is indicated on the packaging.
Safety rules when using the drug
When using insecticidal preparations, it is necessary to follow the rules of personal hygiene and safety precautions. After finishing working with the medicine, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
For people with individual intolerance to the components of the veterinary drug, it is best to use sterile gloves. If adverse reactions occur, you should consult a doctor.
Empty boxes, blisters, and bottles of veterinary medications must be disposed of along with the trash. They cannot be used for household purposes.
What are the dangers of blood-sucking ixodid parasites for cats?
Bloodsuckers of the ixodic family, in addition to piroplasmosis, which does not threaten cats, actually transmit a lot of vector-borne diseases - about 200 forms! Ticks are carriers and distributors of various pathogens, which, when they pierce the skin layer with tick saliva, enter the victim’s body:
- pathogenic bacteria;
- dangerous viruses;
- parasitic rickettsia;
- harmful protozoa;
- helminths that undermine health.
In addition to these misfortunes, ixodid bloodsuckers are dangerous for cats by transmitting dermatobiasis, a dangerous infection caused by the penetration of gadfly larvae under the skin and causing severe suppuration. Any antibiotic is powerless against such subcutaneous abscesses - the pathogen is removed only surgically, cutting out along with the infiltrate. And then numerous, difficult to heal cuts remain along with scars that disfigure the pet.
But even with piroplasmosis, not everything is smooth for cats! In recent years, there have been cases of registration of cats in which Babesia, the causative agent of this deadly infection for animals, was detected in their blood. And although this is isolated data, it doesn’t hurt to be wary. This infection is not difficult to treat, and you can choose an effective drug, the main thing is to recognize the disease in the first 2 - 3 days, otherwise irreversible processes begin.
You should not miss the toxicity of the saliva of some ticks for cats, which sometimes causes specific poisoning:
- stiffness of the cat’s movements due to pain in muscles and joints;
- lethargy and refusal to feed;
- vomiting and stool disorders;
- increased body temperature in a cat;
- the appearance of a rash with or without itching;
- inappropriate pet behavior.
In many cats, mite saliva causes allergy attacks, which manifest themselves differently in each cat, from swelling and shortness of breath to dermatitis and even the appearance of bald spots. To neutralize allergic manifestations, any antihistamine is used, and in the presence of complications, symptomatic therapy is added.
Fleas in living quarters
The insect can live for about two years, laying about 2 thousand eggs. The incubation period lasts on average no more than a few weeks, after which mobile larvae hatch from the eggs and after fourteen days they enter the stage of adult insects.
Bloodsuckers mainly live in carpets and other fleecy products, in the kitchen under the sink and baseboards, in upholstered furniture, in linen closets, etc. There is one interesting way in which you can notice the presence of unwanted “guests” in the house. Place a sheet of white paper on the floor and wait a little. Black moving dots will begin to appear on it, then it is urgent to begin exterminating the blood-sucking parasites.
