Pets need care and preventive procedures to prevent infection with ectoparasites.
To solve these problems, BayerAnimalHealthGmbH (Germany), a subsidiary of the Bayer concern, offers a highly effective insecticide of the latest generation - Advantege®. The manufacturer is a world leader in this field.
Advantage for cats, the instructions for use of which contain detailed information on the drug, received a large number of positive reviews confirming its high rating by users.
Instructions for use
In veterinary pharmacies, Advantage is sold in the form of drops. The product has a yellowish, slightly brownish tint and a slight odor. The insecticide is packaged in polymer bottles, each with a single dose of 0.4, 0.8 or 1 ml.
Before use, you should bathe your pet. After complete drying:
- gently spread the fur at the withers;
- apply drops;
- distribute them along the spine and on the back of the head where the cat cannot lick them off.
Do not use if there are wounds, scratches or other injuries.
When using the drug for several pets, you need to isolate them from each other (to avoid licking the medicine).
When processing, use rubber gloves, do not pet your pet until the product has completely dried, and limit her contact with children for a day.
Release form
"Advantage" is available in the form of a solution for external use. The solution should be transparent, from yellow to light brown.
The drug is packaged in plastic pipettes of different volumes: 0.4 and 0.8 ml. The package may contain 1 or 4 pipettes.
"Advantage" is easy to find in large chain stores and small veterinary pharmacies.
Average price for a package of 4 pipettes:
- 0.4 ml. – 800 rub.;
- 0.8 ml. – 980 rub.
Buy Advantage for cats
Average cost of 1 pipette:
- 0.4 ml. – 200 rub.;
- 0.8 ml. – 220 rub.
How to understand that this drug is necessary
The insecticide is used to kill parasites or for preventive purposes. You can suspect the appearance of fleas, lice, lice by the following signs:
- the pet becomes restless;
- the cat scratches the bite area;
- the fur becomes dull.
The cat's appetite may worsen and it may look depressed. When bitten by fleas, the cat begins to itch sharply and tries to catch parasites on the skin.
Even pets that have never been outside in their lives need regular preventative treatment. A person can bring parasites on his clothes and shoes, and in a cat their presence often causes severe allergic reactions.
For preventive purposes, Advantage is used every 3 months.
Application of the drug
FAQ
To avoid problems when using the insecticide, cat owners need to study the answers to common questions about Avantage:
- What features of using the drug should you know about? The technique for applying drops is described above, but there are some nuances that cat owners need to know about. To make the liquid flow out of the pipette faster, you need to press the tip to the skin and press it several times from the back side. It is necessary to record the date of the procedure so that you know when to perform the next treatment.
- What is better – Advantage or flea tablets? When taking the tablets, the components of the drug penetrate the bloodstream; in order for the fleas to die, they must bite the animal. Advantage acts externally, the flea dies before it bites the cat. In addition, the risk of negative reactions when taking tablets is higher than when using drops.
- Can kittens be treated with insecticide? Yes. Treatment and prevention can be carried out from 10 weeks after birth.
- When can you bathe a cat after treatment with drops? Bathing can be done no earlier than 48 hours after applying the solution. After 2 days, the therapeutic effect will be quite stable even after getting wet.
- How often can the treatment be carried out? This depends on the number of parasites on the cat and in the environment. The optimal frequency of use of Advantage is once every 4 weeks. But treatment cannot be carried out more than once a week.
- How long after swimming should I wait to apply the drops? After washing, you need to wait at least 48 hours.
- Is it possible to combine the drug with other veterinary drugs? The veterinarian will give you the exact answer to this question.
- Do I need to use Advantage if my cat doesn't leave the house? Yes. Ectoparasites enter the house on other pets, rodents, clothes or shoes of the owner.
- Do I need to treat if there are only a few fleas on my cat? Yes. Approximately 95% of fleas, as well as their larvae, eggs, and pupae, are hidden in carpets, furniture, or on bedding.
- Should I carry out treatment if only one of my pets is infected? Yes. Fleas spread and multiply quickly.
- Can I use 1 dropper for several cats? No. It is recommended to apply the drug in the specified dosage, otherwise it will be ineffective.
- Do I need a prescription to buy Advantage drops? No. The drug is available without a prescription.
When interacting with the drug, you should wear rubber gloves. Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth. After treatment, wash your hands with soap.
Important! Do not touch the cat's fur or allow children near it for 24 hours after applying Advantage. This measure will help avoid intoxication.
If drops get on the skin or mucous membranes, rinse them thoroughly with running water. It is better for allergy sufferers not to come into contact with the insecticide. If you have an allergy or accidentally swallowed the solution, you should visit a doctor. You must have the packaging or instructions for the drug with you.
How it works
The main effect of the product is the destruction of fleas, lice and lice. 98-100% of skin parasites die within 12 hours of treatment, before they bite and lay eggs. The product causes paralysis in fleas and lice eaters, and is effective against both adult parasites and larvae.
The drug remains effective for a month. The insecticide is safe for a pet: it is not absorbed into the blood, therefore it has no prohibition:
- for kittens;
- for pregnant and lactating cats;
- for weakened and sick animals.
The effectiveness of Advantage for cats does not decrease when moisture comes into contact with the animal’s skin and fur. An additional advantage is that it destroys insects and their larvae, which are found not only on the skin of the animal, but also in its habitat, including on the litter.
Scratch behind the ear
Composition Advantage
"Advantage" contains:
- Imidacloprid is the main component that has a therapeutic effect.
Imiacloprid disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses in insects, causing the death of parasites. The substance kills both adult insects (insecticidal action) and parasite larvae (larvicidal action of the drug).
- Benzyl alcohol. Added to the drug as a preservative. Prevents contamination of the drug during the shelf life.
- Propylene carbonate. Acts as a solvent.
- Butylated hydroxytoluene. An auxiliary substance that inhibits the oxidation of the drug.
Side effects, overdose
Even with the combined use of Advantage with other veterinary drugs, no side effects were identified. The only contraindication for use is early age of kittens up to 8 weeks.
The product has low toxicity, but can cause allergic reactions if there is an individual intolerance to the components. In very rare cases, skin irritation and redness may occur.
When using Advantage, you should follow the dosage. If it is exceeded, the following are possible:
- muscle tremors;
- depressed state;
- dilated pupils;
- increased salivation.
In these cases, you should immediately wash your pet. If the drug enters the body, the following may occur:
- general weakness;
- nausea and vomiting;
- loss of appetite.
Give your pet any sorbent (for example, activated carbon) and contact a veterinarian.
Advantage's analogues
An analogue of the drug Advantage is the drug Advocate, which contains the same active ingredient – imidacloprid.
You can also replace the drug with other means:
- The pyrethroid permethrin . Recommended not only for use in veterinary medicine, but also in medicine and everyday life. It is an effective remedy against all types of blood-sucking insects, as well as arthropods (ticks, fleas, lice);
- Pyrethroid deltamethrin . Belongs to the group of pyrethroids that have an immediate repellent effect against ticks and fleas, as well as a rapid killing (insecticidal/acaricidal) knockdown effect on all parasites;
- Fipronil. Belongs to the group of phenylpyrazoles. The mechanism of action of the drug is to block gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which regulates the passage of nerve impulses through chloride ion channels into the membranes of nerve cells, thereby disrupting the functions of the parasite’s nervous system.
- Frontline and Frontline Combo . Frontline Combo contains s-metroprene, an analogue of juvenile hormone that blocks the transition of young forms of parasites into adults.
- Prac-tic . Developed on the basis of pyriprole (an analogue of fipronil), and also contains auxiliary synergistic components: butylhydroxytoluene and diethylglycol monoethyl ether.
- Ivermectin. It has a pronounced contact and systemic antiparasitic effect on mature and larval forms of fleas, lice, lice, ear mites and gastrointestinal nematodes that parasitize cats.
Based on avermectins, complex products for cats Multix are produced, as well as IN-AP Complex preparations for cats and dogs, Foline spray, Fiprex drops, Inspector.
The veterinarian must choose a drug from the possible options, taking into account the age, body weight, breed and general health of the pet. You cannot replace the drug with another drug yourself, as this can lead to negative reactions from your beloved pet’s body.
You may be interested in: Flea drops for cats
Storage conditions
Although the drug is low-hazard, it should be stored in a locked cabinet. It can be dangerous for children and animals if ingested. Advantage should be stored in a dark place at a temperature of 0°-25°C. Depending on the dosage, the shelf life can be 4 or 5 years. When determining the period of possible use of an insecticide, you need to focus on the production date. Carefully carrying out the animal treatment procedure in compliance with the dosage specified in the instructions will save your furry pet from infection with blood-sucking parasites.
Advantage anti-flea drops for cats. Video review from the manufacturer.
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Advantages and disadvantages
The drug has a huge range of advantages, the main one of which is its low hazard class. Thanks to this, the drops are approved for use in the treatment of weakened, young or pregnant animals. Other benefits of the medicine:
- long period of activity (Advantage instructions guarantee protection against re-infestation for 1 month);
- high performance;
- convenient packaging that facilitates dosage calculation;
- increased moisture resistance (after absorption, the drops are not afraid of rain and frequent bathing);
- ease of use;
- The effect of the drug is not limited to the cat, but extends to the places where it often stays (bedding, etc.).
Among the disadvantages of drops, cat owners note the only disadvantage is the high cost.