Treatment FAQ

what if i used the wrong flea and tick treatment

by Dr. Darrin Cummings V Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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If you apply a flea treatment as recommended, you shouldn't have any problems. However, if the medication is applied excessively, or if a dog is exposed to them in some other product (such as insect sprays and fertilizers), the toxins can affect the dog's nervous system and cause a range of problems.

Yes the medicine will work on her and she should be after receiving the wrong dose. This medications is reported to have more toxic effects when ingested than when applied topically. Things you can consider is to bathe your dog if you believe she is feeling unwell to wash the medication off her coat.

Full Answer

Why should you practice Flea and tick prevention with your pets?

One more reason to practice flea and tick prevention with your pets is to help keep your home and family safe from an infestation. “Fleas and ticks also serve as vectors that spread a large number of diseases between animals,” says Dr. Klein.

Why won’t my flea treatment work?

Here are four common reasons why this might be happening. Incorrectly applying topical flea prevention is the most common cause for its failure to work. Flea prevention is expensive, and you don’t want to waste a dose.

How do Flea and tick medications work?

Most flea and tick medications are topical drugs that can be applied to the skin and contain pyrethrins or pyrethroids.

Can I use multiple Flea and tick products on my Dog?

Don't use multiple flea and tick products on your dog as this increases the risk of overdose. Make sure you choose a medication and dosage that's appropriate for a dog in your pet's weight range. Never treat your pet with a product that isn't intended for use on animals.

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What happens if you use the wrong flea treatment?

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.

What happens if you give your dog the wrong flea treatment?

This can result in repetitive nerve discharges, or twitches and tremors, in affected dogs. So if a dog has a mild overdose of flea medication, symptoms, you may notice include twitching, excessive salivation, paw flicking, vomiting and diarrhea, and depression.

Can you overdose on 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.

Will frontline work if applied incorrectly?

If you are still seeing fleas after treatment with Frontline, this could mean one of 4 things: You've applied the solution incorrectly. Frontline is ineffective for your pet.

What if I accidentally gave my dog two NexGard?

The good news is that Nexgard is a very safe drug. No adverse reactions were observed in healthy Beagle puppies over 8 weeks of age when treated with 5 times the maximum dose repeated 6 times at intervals of 2-4 weeks. She should be fine!

What happens if I give my dog the wrong frontline?

Yes the medicine will work on her and she should be after receiving the wrong dose. This medications is reported to have more toxic effects when ingested than when applied topically. Things you can consider is to bathe your dog if you believe she is feeling unwell to wash the medication off her coat.

Why does my dog act weird after flea treatment?

The ingredients in a flea medicine can be an allergen to certain dogs and behaving weird could be due to an allergic reaction. Wounds: if the dog has a wound on their skin near where the pipette has been administered, it is possible the toxicity can cause a reaction.

How long does flea medicine toxicity last?

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

Can I reapply flea treatment early?

Yes, if after two weeks the flea preventive you applied isn't working, you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand. I recommend using Advantix or a chewable prescription product from your vet, like Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. This recommendation is unrelated to Petco or PetCoach.

Can you use Frontline sooner than 30 days?

There is no single answer for this frequently asked question. The known safe answer is to wait the period of time the product is supposed to work, typically 30 days, before reapplying. An alternative is to bathe the pet in a detergent shampoo (meant to strip off skin oils) and reapply after 24 hours.

Why do you put flea treatment on the back of the neck?

The reason you apply it to the back of their neck is to prevent them itching it away, this is important for its even distribution. Use the recommended dose on each dog, don't share pipettes if you have more than one dog. Wait 24 hours before bathing your dog to ensure the solution is distributed properly.

Does Frontline enter the bloodstream?

Fipronil, marketed under the brand name Frontline, doesn't work primarily by entering the bloodstream, although a minute amount does end up there. Instead, it settles in the animal's sebaceous glands beneath his skin.

What happens if a cat eats permethrin?

When a cat has a reaction to a permethrin product, the nervous system is affected. Depending on the dose and the cat, signs can be anything from mild tremors to seizures and coma. Medications are used to control the tremors and seizures, and supportive care is given until the toxin is cleared. At the first sign of any strange neurologic signs in ...

Is a cat more sensitive to fleas than a dog?

February 4, 2019. Cats are more sensitive to flea products than dogs. By: alisonpostma. It’s flea and tick time again, folks. Much is written every year about the best products to use for prevention. Controversy abounds about the safety and efficacy of these products. Today I’d like to talk specifically about cats, ...

Can flea medicine harm cats?

How Using the Wrong Flea Meds Can Harm Your Cat. Make the mistake of putting certain DOG flea products on your cat, and you could cause neurologic signs, seizures, coma, even death. Cats are more sensitive to flea products than dogs. By: alisonpostma.

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.

Why do veterinarians recommend flea and tick treatment?

Ticks are potentially disease-carrying parasites that attach to pets as well as people. That's why veterinarians recommend regular flea and tick prevention treatment. While it's important to keep these pests off of your animal, care should be taken when dealing with treatments containing potentially harmful pesticides.

How to prevent fleas on pets?

The best way to prevent fleas on pets is to make sure you regularly and thoroughly clean pet resting areas, including pet beds, furniture, carpeting, and vehicles. Regularly vacuum areas where your pet spends any time to remove food, larvae and eggs.

What are some examples of hot spots for fleas?

Outdoor examples of "hot spots" for fleas are dog houses, flower beds, gardens, and under decks or porches. Any location out of direct sunlight where the pet spends time can become flea infested and a source for re-infection.

Can you use dog treatments on cats?

Some products are for pets, while others are to be used strictly on carpets and furniture. The two types of products should not be used interchangeably. Do not use dog treatments on cats, or cat treatments on dogs.

Can a switch in a pet product be required?

A switch in product might not even be required. It could so happen that you the pet parent might have used the product in an incorrect manner. Incorrect usage of products can be of the following ways:

Is flea and tick treatment effective?

This does not mean that the flea and tick solution is ineffective because all treatments have great efficacy and it only varies from pet to pet.

What happens if a dog overdoses on flea medicine?

So if a dog has a mild overdose of flea medication, symptoms, you may notice include twitching, excessive salivation, paw flicking, vomiting and diarrhea, and depression. If the overdose is of a greater magnitude, the symptoms can be much more worrying.

How long does it take for a dog to stop taking flea pills?

Mild cases of flea medication overdose are often self-limiting, with symptoms gradually wearing off over a period of 24 to 72 hours.

What is the difference between pyrethroids and flea medicine?

The Science of Flea Medication Overdoses. Pyrethrin insecticides are derived from the chrysanthemum flower, while pyrethroids are the synthetic versions. They're commonly used in topical sprays and powders used to treat and control flea infestations.

What to do if my dog has a severe reaction to a syringe?

Dogs that have severe reactions need immediate emergency care, requiring hospitalization, fluid support, and temperature control. Once your pet has been stabilized, they can be washed with a liquid hand-washing detergent to remove the medication from their skin and fur.

How long does it take for a dog to die from fleas?

In some severe cases, death may result. Please note that symptoms may take up to 12 hours to appear after the flea treatment has been applied, as it can take some time for the insecticides to make their way into the dog's system.

Can flea medication be prescribed to dogs?

Other medications may also be prescribed to reduce the severity of your dog's symptoms, and blood tests will be taken so your vet can keep track of your pet's blood sugar levels and kidney function. If caught early and treated quickly, the prognosis for dogs who have suffered a flea medication overdose is actually quite good.

Can flea medication cause a dog to overdose?

Signs and Symptoms of Flea Medication Overdose. If you apply a flea treatment as recommended, you shouldn't have any problems. However, if the medication is applied excessively, or if a dog is exposed to them in some other product (such as insect sprays and fertilizers), the toxins can affect the dog's nervous system and cause a range of problems.

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But I Would Never Put Dog Stuff on A Cat!

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Sounds ridiculous, right? There’s a picture of a big dog on the box, so how could anyone put it on their cat? Well, it happens. Imagine you’re in a dark, overcrowded aisle in a PetSmart or a Walmart. Dogs are barking, kids are screaming, and you’re thinking about getting everything on your list before the kids get home from scho…
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Why So Many Toxic Mistakes?

  1. Now that these products are sold just about everywhere — online, at Walmart and Target, in hardware stores, at supermarkets — people are buying them without any supervision or information.
  2. These dog-onlyproducts are sold in close proximity to cat products.
  3. Product packaging and names look very similar. K9 Advantix sounds a lot like feline Advanta…
  1. Now that these products are sold just about everywhere — online, at Walmart and Target, in hardware stores, at supermarkets — people are buying them without any supervision or information.
  2. These dog-onlyproducts are sold in close proximity to cat products.
  3. Product packaging and names look very similar. K9 Advantix sounds a lot like feline Advantage.
  4. The “DO NOT USE ON CATS” text and icon are not prominent enough on the packaging.

Why Use Anything at All?

  • I wish fleasand ticks and mosquitoes didn’t exist. I wish they didn’t bite my patients and transmit disease and discomfort. But they do exist, and they are dangerous. So I need to guide my clients about risk versus benefit. What are the risks of the flea and tick preventives? What are the risks of the insects and diseases they carry? This should be a one-on-one conversation between you an…
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