Every season, Pet Poison Helpline receives a lot of calls about popular flea and tick products. Many of these inquiries are similar in nature, so I’d like to answer a few of them to be of assistance in a potential toxicity situation.
I recently treated my dog and cat with a topical flea medication, but they managed to lick some of it off. Will this be toxic to them?.
A: Flea squeeze-on medications include an active ingredient or ingredients and a carrier that keeps the medication on the skin. The bitter taste of the product can cause an animal to salivate, foam at the mouth, feel queasy, or vomit if they are able to lick it while it is wet on their fur or if they scratch the area and then lick their foot. Additionally, some cats have a history of acting agitated and pacing the house. Systemic toxicity is not anticipated and is only a result of the taste. Feeding the animal a delectable treat and encouraging it to sip water or rinse its mouth with room temperature water would be the standard course of action. You can feed cats wet cat food, tuna, or tuna juice. Treats or water flavoringed with chicken or beef broth may assist dogs in clearing their mouths. The symptoms should be mild and self-limiting. Try to keep the animal from licking the product until it has completely dried. It shouldn’t have the same effect when licked after it has dried. If the item is still causing you concern, you can fully bathe the pet in liquid dish soap three times back-to-back to get rid of it.
NOTE: Because cats are extremely sensitive to Permethrin products, if a dog has been treated with one and a cat licks the wet dog product off the dog or brushes up against the dog and then licks their fur, this could result in toxicity. Contact a veterinarian right away, the emergency number listed on the product package, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 if a cat has come into contact with a dog flea product.
My pet chewed off the flea collar I put on them, ingesting some of the product. Should I take them to a clinic?.
A: First and foremost, consuming flea collar pieces can result in a foreign body obstruction in which the collar pieces end up lodged in the stomach or intestines. If obstruction occurs, it is a medical emergency. The majority of collars are visible on X-rays, allowing your veterinarian to determine how many, how big, and where in the body the collar pieces are inside the animal’s digestive system.
When it comes to toxicity, the majority of flea collars only result in stomach discomfort, such as diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Deltamethrin-containing collars, however, can also result in neurologic symptoms like ataxia, hind limb weakness, tremors, or hyperthermia. It is advised to call a veterinarian, the emergency number listed on the product package, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 if your pet has consumed some flea collar.
A: My pet is scratching, panting, and acting agitated after I gave him an oral flea treatment containing nitenpyram. What is wrong with my pet?.
Products containing nitenpyram start killing fleas within 30 minutes of administration. The movement of the fleas on the animal can produce a “tickle effect” as they start to die off. Common symptoms of this are vocalization, agitation, scratching or panting. It is anticipated that these symptoms will be minor, self-limiting, and unrelated to toxicity. If this happens, you can gently brush the animal to help with flea removal and reduce the sensation of fleas on the skin. Once the fleas have died off, this sensation will typically go away, usually within a few hours. A veterinarian should be contacted if the symptoms persist or if other symptoms appear.
My dog rubbed on the floor and furniture, his skin twitched, he jumped like something bit him, and he was scratching after I used a flea treatment. Should I remove the product?.
A: Some animals are sensitive to Permethrin-containing flea medications. Any active ingredient ending in -thrin is a Permethrin product. Some animals have a response to Permethrins called paresthesia. Paresthesia is a “pins and needles” or tingling sensation that affects the skin and can make a person tremble, twitch, become agitated, bite at their feet and tails, or rub their body against the ground or furniture. Sometimes these symptoms are minor and go away on their own without any medical intervention. Additionally, some of the same symptoms mentioned can be brought on by fleas dying on the pet; these symptoms will go away once the fleas have died off. In severe cases, you can fully bathe the dog three times back-to-back in liquid dish soap to get rid of the substance. Other treatments include applying Vitamin E oil to the application site to soothe the skin, gently brushing the animal to help with the sensation on the skin, and applying a cool compress for up to 10 minutes at a time to the application site. If cool compresses are applied, the animal must be completely dry before doing so, and ice or an ice pack should be wrapped in a towel to prevent the skin from getting too cold. Contact a veterinarian, the emergency number listed on the product package, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 for advice if you are unsure of the symptoms you are observing.
A: Some dog products, mainly Permethrins, are toxic to cats. You can bathe the entire cat in liquid dish soap up to three times back-to-back to remove the product if this is discovered quickly, within a few minutes of application, and the cat is not exhibiting any symptoms. Then, contact your veterinarian for further advice. The cat should be taken right away to a veterinary facility for treatment if it exhibits symptoms like trembling or seizures.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that assistance is available if you find yourself in a potentially toxic situation. An emergency phone number should be printed on the package of each flea product. Pet Poison Helpline is open 24/7/365 to take your calls, and your primary veterinarian or emergency veterinarians are available. Even though severe adverse product reactions are uncommon, they can happen to any dog or cat. Consult your veterinarian before treating your pet with a flea product to learn about any possible side effects, dosage requirements, and the ideal flea treatment for both you and your pet. For more information, you can also speak with the product’s manufacturer. We wish you a safe and flea-free year with your pet!
A: Some dog products, mainly Permethrins, are toxic to cats. You can bathe the entire cat in liquid dish soap up to three times back-to-back to remove the product if this is discovered quickly, within a few minutes of application, and the cat is not exhibiting any symptoms. Then, contact your veterinarian for further advice. The cat should be taken right away to a veterinary facility for treatment if it exhibits symptoms like trembling or seizures.
A: First and foremost, consuming flea collar pieces can result in a foreign body obstruction in which the collar pieces end up lodged in the stomach or intestines. If obstruction occurs, it is a medical emergency. The majority of collars are visible on X-rays, allowing your veterinarian to determine how many, how big, and where in the body the collar pieces are inside the animal’s digestive system.
When it comes to toxicity, the majority of flea collars only result in stomach discomfort, such as diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Deltamethrin-containing collars, however, can also result in neurologic symptoms like ataxia, hind limb weakness, tremors, or hyperthermia. It is advised to call a veterinarian, the emergency number listed on the product package, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 if your pet has consumed some flea collar.
Every season, Pet Poison Helpline receives a lot of calls about popular flea and tick products. Many of these inquiries are similar in nature, so I’d like to answer a few of them to be of assistance in a potential toxicity situation.
I recently treated my dog and cat with a topical flea medication, but they managed to lick some of it off. Will this be toxic to them?.
Will frontline wash off in a bath?
The active ingredient in Frontline products, fipronil, kills adult fleas on dogs. Fipronil penetrates the hair follicles and becomes trapped there by the sebaceous or oil glands, making it difficult to remove with bathing.
What happens if I give my dog too much frontline?
Muscle tremors and excessive salivation are the most typical symptoms of pyrethrum-based flea product toxicity. Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over are typical symptoms of organophosphate toxicity from flea products.
FAQ
How long should I not pet my dog after flea treatment?
Pets that have been treated shouldn’t be handled or petted until the application area has dried (usually after about 24 hours). Please be mindful of children. Until the application area is completely dry, keep every treated pet apart from the others. You don’t want your animals to groom one another and consume topical medications.
How long does it take for flea medicine to dry?
It may take up to 24 hours for spot-on flea and tick treatments to dry. After administering a spot-on medication to dogs that contains permethrin for 24 hours, it’s crucial to keep cats and dogs apart in the home.
Is dog flea treatment harmful to humans?
The Bottom Line. Lufenuron is used to control fleas on dogs and cats. Although humans do not use it, they may inadvertently consume an animal’s medication or come into contact with it through an agricultural spray. If that occurs, minor side effects like GI upset and sleepiness could happen.
How long does flea medicine take to dry on dogs?
Keep your pet dry until the application appears to be finished. Drying time can take up to 24 hours. Please keep objects away from the treated area during this time.