Treatment FAQ

what happens if you give a cat too much flea treatment

by Marina Wolff Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Common signs of toxicity from flea products containing organophosphates are diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling. Organophosphate toxicity can be rapidly fatal, depending on the ingredients and dose the pet is exposed to.Aug 17, 2018

Full Answer

What happens if you overdose a cat on flea treatment?

There are usually no long-term effects from overdosing if the cat receives immediate treatment. If you used a pyrethrin containing flea and tick product that was formulated for cats and you are sure that it was applied properly, and your cat still showed signs of toxicity, do not use a product that uses pyrethrins.

Why does my cat have a reaction to flea treatment?

That will result in flea treatment poisoning, or flea collar poisoning if you’re using a special serum-filled collar. Other times, your cat might simply have an adverse reaction to the serum because of a weak immune system.

Can I use flea treatment on My Dog and my Cat?

When in doubt, talk to your veterinarian about the safest type of flea and tick medications to use on your cats and dogs. If you own both species, you should separate your dog from his buddy cat until the spot-on product is completely dried so you can prevent chemical exposure to your cat.

Can cats recover from flea treatment poisoning?

In case of flea treatment poisoning, it is advisable to watch out for the signs to seek treatment. Cats can recover from fleas or worm treatment poisoning. But it’s better to avoid the problem altogether. Try using only products intended for cats only on the prescribed amount.

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Can you overdose cat with flea treatment?

If you are finding fleas on your pet even after applying your pet's topical flea treatment, you might consider reapplying it early. However, this solution is not always recommended and may lead to an overdose in some rare cases.

How long does flea medicine toxicity last in cats?

two to three daysThe symptoms typically last two to three days. The most common symptoms of flea and tick medicine poisoning in cats include: Tremors/muscle twitching/trembling. Ear twitching.

Can you give a cat two doses of flea medicine?

Never use multiple flea medications on your pet, unless directed to do so by your veterinarian. Fleas can be a very frustrating problem, and some medications may not produce immediate effects.

Why is my cat acting weird after flea treatment?

If your flea already has a flea infestation, then they might be acting irritable or annoyed because of the fleas. It might take a little time for the treatment to become effective. Another reason your cat might be acting weird is that you have had to take them to the veterinarian.

Can cats have bad reaction to flea treatment?

There are many types of safe flea treatments available on the market today; however they can still cause a reaction if not used properly or if your cat is allergic.

Why is my cat foaming at the mouth after flea treatment?

Toxic Ingestion Pyrethrin based insecticides, often used in flea and tick treatments for both cats and dogs, can be toxic to your cat if ingested and can cause excessive drooling and foaming at the mouth.

Can I double up on flea treatment?

It's not usually recommended to use more than one oral flea medication at the same time. However, Comfortis and Capstar can be combined. Another exception is Sentinel, which doesn't kill adult fleas, so it can be combined individually with either Comfortis or Capstar.

Can you give your cat too much frontline?

When used as directed, such products are safe and effective. However, dogs and cats can easily become sick if too much or the wrong flea product is applied, or the product is ingested post-application. Ingestion occurs if the dog or cat licks the treated area.

Can you give a cat flea medicine more than once a month?

can you use before 30 days is up. Under normal conditions this product is effective for one month. However, in cases of severe flea infestation, retreatment may be necessary earlier than 4 weeks. Do not retreat more often than once every 14 days for kittens or once every 7 days for small and large cats.

Can my cat sleep with me after flea treatment?

You can usually cuddle and pet your cat immediately after receiving an oral flea prevention medication. Topical products can take a few hours to soak into the skin layer. Avoid petting your cat for 24-48 hours in the spot where you applied a topical medication.

Do fleas jump off after treatment?

Flea larvae can remain dormant in your home for months, so new fleas may continue to emerge — even after treatment. These fleas will quickly die after hatching if you've treated your home and kept up with regular flea preventive for your pet, but it can take a while for all the existing fleas to hatch and be killed.

Why are cats more sensitive to fleas than dogs?

Cats are much more sensitive than dogs are to pyrethrins, and because the level of pyrethrins will be higher in a flea repellent that has been formulated ...

How old do kittens have to be to use flea and tick products?

In addition, all flea products have a minimum age for use, kittens must reach a certain age before they can be treated with any kind of flea or tick product. Most products also have a minimum weight. The amount (or dose) of pyrethrin used in a formula often will vary according to a cat’s weight.

What causes a cat to become toxic?

Toxicity can also occur as a result of ingestion, such as when a cat grooms itself or licks another animals (including dogs) that have been treated with a pyrethrin product.

Can pyrethrin be used in cats?

Because pyrethrins are so effective at insect control, products that are formulated for insect control in and around the home, including gardens, can also be found in the cat’s environment.

Do you have to separate cats after flea treatment?

Also keep in mind that because cats groom each other, you will need to keep them separated after applying a flea or tick product until the product has dried. Common synthetic pyrethroids: bifenthrin, permethrin, allethrin, tetramethrin, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin.

How do you know if your cat has flea and tick poisoning?

Symptoms of Flea and Tick Medicine Poisoning in Cats. You may notice the signs of flea and tick medicine poisoning within the first six hours of exposure. Take your cat to the veterinarian if you notice any of the following symptoms: Drooling. Vomiting.

Why do cats get fleas and ticks?

The causes of this condition are as follow: Sensitivity to the medicine. Medicine clinging to hair coats. Unusually low body temperature. Overdosing of medication. Ingestion of topical medication.

What to expect from a veterinarian for a cat?

Expect your veterinarian to order blood work as part of the physical exam. Your veterinarian will use your answers, the cat’s signs, and the test results to make an accurate diagnosis. It is vital to take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as you notice the signs of flea and tick medicine poisoning.

What to do if your cat is poisoned?

The best thing you can do for your cat in the case of poisoning is take them to the veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian will start by asking questions about their medical history and the signs they are displaying at home. You can also expect your veterinarian to ask about their exposure to the chemicals.

How long does it take for a cat to be released from the hospital?

The good news is your cat may be released from the hospital in just two to three days.

How long do you have to monitor a cat after poisoning?

Constant Monitoring. The medical staff will monitor your cat for several days to ensure they are recovering from the poisoning. This includes monitoring their blood glucose, body temperature, and kidney function. Your cat may need to remain hospitalized until their symptoms fade and their body is functioning normally.

Can ticks kill cats?

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.

How to treat a cat with fleas?

How to Perform the Treatment. Deworming and anti-flea treatments are crucial for your cat’s safety. Administering them is a bit uncomfortable for the cat, however. You have to take a pipette and apply the anti-flea serum onto the nape of your cat’s neck. The process is rather simple:

Why does my cat react to flea serum?

Other times, your cat might simply have an adverse reaction to the serum because of a weak immune system. You might be the one at fault, as well; if pet owners use dog flea medicine on cats, or adult cat medicine on kittens, their pets are likely to behave erratically after their treatment.

What do fleas eat?

For instance, flea larvae tend to feed on tapeworm proglottids. Each proglottid stays inside of the larva during the pupal stage. Once a cat ingests the pupa, the tapeworm can manifest inside the cat and continue its life cycle.

Why does my cat change his behavior?

A change in your cat’s behavior always causes concern. Your cat’s changing behavior may result from illness, injury, pain, stress, or fear, but before you can bring your cat comfort, you must get...

What is a flea?

Fleas are external parasites. They attach themselves onto the body of a host, usually a mammal, and bite their flesh. Most often, a flea will simply jump up from its natural habitat and attach itself to the host. However, animals (as well as humans) can also pick up larvae while walking through tall grass or wooded areas. The larvae will then develop on the host’s body until they mature into adult fleas.

Can cats get flea spray?

When you apply them onto the fur, the cat can ingest them by accident and get flea treatment poisoning. In fact, it doesn’t even have to do it consciously. For example, if I were to get an anti-flea spray, I could accidentally spritz some of it into my pet’s mouth. And it doesn’t end with ingesting the product, either.

Can a cat ingest flea medicine?

More often than not, the cat will ingest flea medication by accident, and its body will react. That will result in flea treatment poisoning, or flea collar poisoning if you’re using a special serum-filled collar. Other times, your cat might simply have an adverse reaction to the serum because of a weak immune system.

What to do if you accidentally put flea and tick medication on your cat?

If you accidentally applied dog flea and tick medication to your cat, contact your veterinarian, an emergency veterinarian, or an animal poison control center immediately . The sooner you treat it, the less poisonous it may be and the less expensive it may be to treat.

How do you know if your cat is poisoned?

Signs of poisoning in a cat can be severe and include the following: Drooling or vomiting (typically due to grooming the product off and tasting the bitter chemical) Gastrointestinal signs (such as inappetance, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.)

What is the best flea and tick medication for dogs?

Allethrin. Deltamethrin. Cypermethrin. Permethrin. Cyphenothrin. Many of these active ingredients are used in high concentrations in flea and tick topical spot-on medications for dogs without any problem; however, in certain species (like cats and fish), this high level of a concentrated pyrethroid can result in severe poisoning.

What is the best treatment for cat tremors?

Hospitalization. If your cat has clinical signs (e.g., tremors, seizures), hospitalization is a must to stop the tremors with muscle relaxants (e.g., methocarbamol) or antiseizure medication (e.g., phenobarbital, valium). These medications should only be administered by a veterinarian, unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian.

Can flea and tick spray be used on cats?

These chemicals are very safe for dogs, but should never be used for cats.

Is it safe to spray fleas on cats?

Other sources of these chemicals include household insect sprays and topical flea sprays and shampoos; however, these are typically in very low concentrations (<1% pyrethrins or pyrethroids) and are generally safe for cats and dogs.

Can you bathe a cat?

Keep in mind that cats are very hard to bathe at home, and when in doubt, you should never put yourself (or your cat) at risk of harm. If you can’t bathe your cat, seek immediate veterinary attention so they can bathe your cat to remove the topical spot-on medication. Note that since the flea and tick medication is very oily, it will not come off if you're only using water or a dog/cat shampoo alone. Your cat should be bathed with a mild liquid dish soap (used specifically to wash the dishes in the sink) such as Dawn.™

Here Is What Will Happen If A Cat Licks Flea Treatment

Your cat may vomit or experience diarrhea after licking flee treatment off her coat. These symptoms usually go away within 24 hours, but some cases last longer than this.

What Happens If My Cat Licks Frontline?

Frontline poisonings are very rare in cats. The main active ingredient in Frontline is fipronil, which is not lethal if ingested.

What Happens If My Cat Licks Worm Medicine?

When you suspect that your furry friend is suffering from worms or any other parasite) it would be best if you dewormed it as soon quickly as possible.

What Can You Do If Your Cat Licks Flee Treatment?

If your cat has ingested any poisonous substance, there are several ways to treat this situation. The first thing that you should do is contact your vet immediately.

Final Thought

In case of flea treatment poisoning, it is advisable to watch out for the signs to seek treatment. Cats can recover from fleas or worm treatment poisoning.

How to apply flea treatment?

How to Apply Each Brand of Topical Flea Treatment 1 Hold the tube upright and turn the cap one full turn. 2 Make sure the seal is broken but DO NOT remove the cap. 3 Cats: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin. You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow. 4 Dogs: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply to the skin; do this in one or more spots depending on the size of your dog. For larger dogs, choose two or three spots along the spine to continue the application.

How many active ingredients are in flea prevention?

Flea preventions typically use one or two active ingredients to do the job of preventing fleas. Each brand will use different active ingredients, and these ingredients will work in different ways to prevent fleas. An overdose for most flea preventions could result in the following: Profuse drooling. Vomiting.

How long do fleas live in the environment?

Flea eggs and larvae can live in the environment for days or weeks. It is best to regularly vacuum all the locations of your home where your pet spends time, wash all bedding in hot water, and keep your pets on flea prevention.

How to apply Bravecto to cat?

Bravecto. Hold the tube upright and turn the cap one full turn. Make sure the seal is broken but DO NOT remove the cap. Cats: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin. You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow.

Where to apply hair spray for dogs?

You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow. Dogs: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply to the skin; do this in one or more spots depending on the size of your dog. For larger dogs, choose two or three spots along the spine to continue the application.

Can you treat fleas in your home?

Your Home Hasn’t Been Treated for Fleas. In conjunction with topical flea treatments, you need to treat your home to provide the best defense against fleas. Most flea preventions do not repel fleas. Flea preventions kill fleas either by direct contact with the fleas or from the fleas feeding on your pet.

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