Pets often suffer from parasites. Fleas can live and actively reproduce in the fur of all mammals. Several small insects can significantly worsen the life of an animal, affect its behavior, the condition of the skin, and are carriers of dangerous diseases. Specialists at veterinary clinics can recommend an effective remedy for treatment – Stronghold for fleas.
The drug is safe for cats and dogs, and is used as a complex drug to get rid of other external and internal parasites - ear mites, lice mites, their larvae, helminths (round, tape). Before starting use, veterinarians advise studying the instructions for use in detail, learning about precautions and side effects.
- Description of the drug and its composition
- Purpose of the product and action
- Processing rules - detailed instructions
- Pros and cons of the drug
- Drug safety assessment
- Side effects
- Reviews
What is "Stronghold"
“Stronghold” for worms, ticks and fleas is a liquid, colorless or yellowish solution. The content of the active substance Selamectin in the drug is 60 mg/ml, which is reflected on the packaging. For cats, a 6% Selamectin solution is required, and for dogs, a 12% solution containing 120 mg/ml Selamectin. Medicine for cats is available in pipettes sealed with caps of various colors:
- 6% solution in an amount of 0.25 ml - purple cap;
- 6% solution in an amount of 0.75 ml - blue cap;
- 6% solution in an amount of 1 ml - brown-gray cap.
Each cardboard pack of the drug contains 1, 3 or 6 pipettes of a substance against internal and external parasites. By the way, a 6% solution can be used for dogs of small breeds (weighing no more than 2.5 kg), but for cats a 12% Stronghold solution is not used, regardless of weight.
Selamectin, which is contained in the veterinary drug, is an antiparasitic agent. The substance has acaricidal, insecticidal and anthelmintic effects. In addition, Selamiktin and preparations based on it can destroy eggs and larvae of mosquitoes and flies. After taking the medicine, the muscle and nerve cells of the parasites are destroyed, which leads to the death of the pests. The period during which the effect of Selamectin lasts is 3-4 weeks.
Security measures
Despite the fact that the substance is not dangerous for people and pets, some safety precautions must be observed:
- After use, be sure to wash your hands with soap.
- When the medicine is applied to the body, do not let your pets lick or scratch themselves for an hour.
- Also, do not let animals play with children for an hour.
If the substance was used to treat furniture or other things, it must be completely dry. Make sure that the stronghold does not get into the oral cavity.
It is advisable to purchase the medicine immediately before use, since storage conditions are very important. It should not be stored in the light, and in order to be exposed to sunlight, the temperature should not be higher than +3°. Avoid contact with food and animal feed.
What is the drug for?
Stronghold drops for cats with Selamectin are used to prevent and treat the following diseases:
- Entomosis
is a disease caused by fleas, lice and lice. If an animal continually scratches and chews itself, refuses food, sleeps restlessly, then the problem may lie precisely in entomosis. Although even without these symptoms, the presence of bloodsuckers can be seen with the naked eye. If the disease is not treated, cats may develop anemia, allergies, and exhaustion. Parasites are carriers of a number of infectious diseases (for example, distemper, rabies, brucellosis, and many others); - Dirofilariasis
is a disease caused by the nematode Dirofilariasis. The eggs and larvae of the parasites enter the lungs, heart and veins of the cat after a mosquito bite. Symptoms of dirofilariasis are shortness of breath, disheveled and falling out hair, bluish mucous membranes, lethargy. Very often, when a cat gets sick, it is diagnosed with myocardial dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Unfortunately, if treatment is untimely, the cat dies from intoxication with waste products of worms; - Otodectes
is a disease caused by the bite of the ear mite Otodectes cynotis. The parasite lives not only in the cat’s ear, but also in the ear canal and reaches the eardrum. Signs of the disease are fever, severe itching, purulent discharge from the ear. If timely treatment is not received, the tick penetrates the brain, which leads to the death of the pet; - Sarcoptosis
is an infection of the cat's body by the subcutaneous Sarcoptes mite. Symptoms of the disease are dry, inflamed skin with hard crusts, itching, scratching up to deep wounds, alopecia, refusal to eat. Often, against the background of sarcoptic mange, a cat develops sepsis; - Hookworm infection
is a helminthic infestation caused by the worms Ancylostoma tubaeforme and Ancylostoma braziliense, which parasitize the intestines of cats. Symptoms of hookworm infection include weight loss, inflamed skin, and unkempt coat. In young individuals, the disease can cause anemia; - Toxocariasis
is the presence of worms of the genus Toxocara cati in the intestines, gastrointestinal tract, liver and even the heart of a cat. Symptoms of toxocariasis are cough, increased or absent appetite, perversion of taste preferences, intestinal disorders, dull, brittle coat. If there are too many worms, the animal may have a very bloated abdomen.
Features of Stronghold drops
Before using Stronghold drops, the cat owner must consider the following facts, which are reflected in the instructions for use:
- The shelf life of the drug is 36 months. Storage temperature – from 3 to 30 degrees;
- The product is contraindicated in kittens under 2.5 months;
- Stronghold is applied to expecting offspring and lactating individuals after an interview with a veterinarian;
- "Stronghold" should not be applied to a wounded or wet surface of the body;
- The medicine is completely absorbed into the skin and blood of the animal half an hour after application. After 2 hours, the cat can be bathed with shampoo;
- In case of an accidental overdose, your pet may experience increased salivation, vomiting, and tremors. In such cases, you should rinse off the product with plenty of running water and give the cat an antihistamine;
- Occasionally, a bald patch will form at the site where the drops were applied, which does not pose a threat to the animal;
- “Stronghold” should not be combined with other antiparasitic agents to avoid intoxication of the cat’s body.
Contraindications
Of course, like all other drugs, Strongholde has contraindications that must be taken into account, otherwise the medicine will not be beneficial, but rather will harm your health.
Do not use in the following cases:
- If the dog is very weakened;
- If you have other infectious diseases;
- Other diseases;
- Malnutrition;
- Puppies that are under 2 months of age;
- Intolerance to components.
Instructions for use
The drug "Stronghold" against ticks, fleas and helminths should be used as follows:
- To prevent and treat flea infestations, it is necessary to apply drops to the animal’s withers 1 month before the expected period of bloodsucking activity (usually fleas are most aggressive from May to September). That is, if the problem is not too acute, then “Stronghold” is used from April to September. In other cases, drops are used monthly;
- For ear mites, drops are applied once, and if necessary, repeat the procedure after a month. Before application, it is necessary to clean the cat’s ear canal from crusts, plaque, wax and pus (if any);
- For subcutaneous mites, drops are applied twice (with an interval of 1 month) to the cat’s withers. To prevent disease, Stronghold is recommended to be used monthly;
- Helminthic infestations of hookworm and toxocariasis are treated with a single use of the drug. For prophylaxis, the drug is used monthly;
- For the treatment and prevention of dirofilariasis, “Stronghold” is applied a month before the period of mosquito activity (from late spring to early-mid autumn). During the cold season, the use of drops is not intended.
Download in pdf format
:
“instructions for using Stronghold drops for cats”
Purpose of the product and action
In addition to the most common indication - getting rid of fleas, for cats - Stronghold is recommended in other cases:
- as a prophylactic against dirofilariasis;
- to get rid of round or tapeworms;
- for the treatment of otodectosis (ear mites);
- to get rid of microscopic sarcoptes subcutaneous mites;
Veterinary clinic specialists prescribe Stronghold to destroy lice and lice.
Dosage of the drug for cats
- Cat weight less than 2.5 kg:
0.25 ml dose of the drug and purple color of the pipette cap; - Cat weight 2.5 - 7.5 kg:
0.75 dose of the drug and blue color of the pipette cap; - Cat weight 7.5 - 10 kg:
1 ml dose of the drug and gray-brown color of the pipette cap.
If the animal's body weight is more than 10 kg, it is necessary to use several pipettes of different volumes simultaneously. For example, if a cat weighs 11 kg, drops from pipettes with purple and gray-brown caps (0.25 ml + 1 ml) should be applied to its withers.
Reviews of the drug "Stronghold"
Most of the feedback from the Internet about the drops is good. However, the drug also has its drawbacks. Among the disadvantages are usually the high cost of the drug "Stronghold" and the appearance of minor side effects after using the medication. The following are reviews from cat owners who used Stronghold for the prevention and treatment of flea, tick and helminthic infestations:
Review No. 1:
“By the will of fate, I became the owner of an already adult 5-year-old cat, which the neighbors wanted to take outside the city as unnecessary. The cat was obedient, very affectionate, but she had a lot of fleas, and there were probably worms too. At the veterinarian's store I asked for the best remedies for parasites. The seller advised me to buy “Stronghold” (drops that eliminate fleas, worms and ticks). On the same day I dropped a drop on the withers of Malvina (the cat’s name) and within two days I was convinced that there were much fewer fleas. On the fourth day, the fleas disappeared completely (dead ones were lying on the litter). The cat became happier and stopped scratching all the time. I think that the worms also died (there seemed to be no ticks)..."
Review No. 2:
“I like the drug “Stronghold”: it is easy to apply, quickly absorbed, and does not leave a greasy sheen. My Barsik came out with worms in his feces the very next day after applying the drops. The only disadvantage of the drug is the side effects. The cat was somehow sad and ate worse than usual. But maybe that’s how it should be, it’s chemistry...”
Review No. 3:
“Before, I didn’t attach any importance to which means to choose for the prevention of parasitic infestations. I bought whatever was cheaper, until one day I almost lost my cat (after one domestic drug I had terrible diarrhea with blood, I was foaming at the mouth). Now I don’t save money: it’s better to overpay than to lose a friend. I buy Stronghold every month and apply it to my cat’s withers. A little expensive (500 rubles per piece in our pet store), but effective. The cat has no fleas or worms. Mishka tolerates “Stronghold” normally, never had diarrhea, refusal to eat, or vomiting...”
