I wasn't sure which forum to post this in, so if it's in the wrong forum, let me know.
Our apartment is flea-ridden, as are our two dogs and three cats. Two weeks ago we applied some treatment to the dogs, cats, and apartment, but they were OTC products (which I didn't realize could be harmful, especially to the cats).
I'm going to wait two more weeks before applying a better treatment to my dogs, but I was wondering what was safe to use on them that wouldn't affect the cats (learning that some OTC products for dogs have harmful ingredients to cats)? Are products like Frontline and Advantage safe for everyone?
I realize this sounds like a cat question, but the whole point is that, while I want my cats to be safe, I don't want to give my dogs ineffective products if compromises are going to be made.
Also, we used a spray on the carpets of the apartment, but we didn't vacuum enough, and just didn't do an overall good job. Should I also wait 30 days before applying another spray? Is constant vacuuming all I can do now?
Dog and House Flea Treatment (That's Safe For Cats...)
Re: Dog and House Flea Treatment (That's Safe For Cats...)
What exactly was the product, and brand name, please?
You should NEVER re-apply a flea product sooner than 30 days after the last product. Since OTC products are never safe and contain ingredients that absorb dermally, systemically, etc, these toxins must be rid from the body before applying any other product, irregardless if it is one of the safer ones or not (Frontline or Advantage). As a matter of fact, at least for the cats, I would bathe them completely with a small amount of Dawn dish soap (blue type only) and room temperature water, rinse completely and dry the fur thoroughly with a towel. Too late to prevent the product from entering the system, but you can at least rid the skin/fur of residue from the product.
The best thing to do is get them examined by your vet, tell him what product exactly you used, request only Frontline for Cats or Advantage for Cats, and have him apply it himself. Buy ONLY from your vet, since buying these products anywhere but your vet VOIDS the gaurantee of safety/quality or if an adverse effect occured, you'd have no recourse unless you bought strictly from your vet.
Also, NEVER use a dog product on a cat, irregardless of brand, type, ingredient, etc. The concentration is always larger in a dog product than it is a cat product, and many OTC dog products contain permethrin and it's derivatives, which are toxic and oftentimes fatal for cats. Do not use any dog product and reduce the dose for cats, this is often seen on internet forums and the advice given is WRONG. If you apply products for the dogs, do NOT allow the cats near the dogs until the product has completely dried (don't allow the cats to groom/lick the dogs, etc)
As for the house, vacuuming on a daily basis is essential to rid the environment of fleas and larvae. If the environment is too infested, then consider the use of a flea-bomb, but you MUST take your pets and yourself out of the home when you do this, read any instructions carefully, or ask your vet for advice/tips. What is the spray product you used in the home? Did it contain permethrins? If so, you need to keep the cats away from the areas, and if the product contained harmful ingredients, I would try to get rid of residue on your carpet, etc.
You should NEVER re-apply a flea product sooner than 30 days after the last product. Since OTC products are never safe and contain ingredients that absorb dermally, systemically, etc, these toxins must be rid from the body before applying any other product, irregardless if it is one of the safer ones or not (Frontline or Advantage). As a matter of fact, at least for the cats, I would bathe them completely with a small amount of Dawn dish soap (blue type only) and room temperature water, rinse completely and dry the fur thoroughly with a towel. Too late to prevent the product from entering the system, but you can at least rid the skin/fur of residue from the product.
The best thing to do is get them examined by your vet, tell him what product exactly you used, request only Frontline for Cats or Advantage for Cats, and have him apply it himself. Buy ONLY from your vet, since buying these products anywhere but your vet VOIDS the gaurantee of safety/quality or if an adverse effect occured, you'd have no recourse unless you bought strictly from your vet.
Also, NEVER use a dog product on a cat, irregardless of brand, type, ingredient, etc. The concentration is always larger in a dog product than it is a cat product, and many OTC dog products contain permethrin and it's derivatives, which are toxic and oftentimes fatal for cats. Do not use any dog product and reduce the dose for cats, this is often seen on internet forums and the advice given is WRONG. If you apply products for the dogs, do NOT allow the cats near the dogs until the product has completely dried (don't allow the cats to groom/lick the dogs, etc)
As for the house, vacuuming on a daily basis is essential to rid the environment of fleas and larvae. If the environment is too infested, then consider the use of a flea-bomb, but you MUST take your pets and yourself out of the home when you do this, read any instructions carefully, or ask your vet for advice/tips. What is the spray product you used in the home? Did it contain permethrins? If so, you need to keep the cats away from the areas, and if the product contained harmful ingredients, I would try to get rid of residue on your carpet, etc.
..........Traci
Re: Dog and House Flea Treatment (That's Safe For Cats...)
Thanks for the advice.
What I was worried about is whether a treatment placed on my dogs would affect the cats that live with them. I guess I need to keep them apart when I do do that (the little cat likes to get friendly with the dogs...).
I don't remember the exact name/brand of the products (they're at home, I'm at work, plus it was my girlfriend who bought them), so I'd have to get back to you on that one...
What I was worried about is whether a treatment placed on my dogs would affect the cats that live with them. I guess I need to keep them apart when I do do that (the little cat likes to get friendly with the dogs...).
I don't remember the exact name/brand of the products (they're at home, I'm at work, plus it was my girlfriend who bought them), so I'd have to get back to you on that one...
Re: Dog and House Flea Treatment (That's Safe For Cats...)
If you use Frontline or Advantage for the dogs, the active ingredients are approximately the same as for cat product of same, but, the concentration of the ingredients is stronger in the dog products. Therefore, you need to allow the product to dry thoroughly on the dogs before allowing the cat contact with the dogs. Oral ingestion is not intended in ANY flea product for pets, so please remember that. Apply or have your vet apply, the products, appropriately, as specifically instructed on the labelling. That's why they have the label and specific instructions/location on the body noted for application, so that ingestion is prevented, but it is up to owners to make certain the pets do not come into contact with each other until the product has dried, and to not allow pets to groom each other for some time after the product is applied and allowed to dry.
..........Traci