Oral vs. Topical Flea and Tick Treatments
Both oral and topical flea and tick treatments have their pros and cons.
For one thing, with oral treatments you don’t have to worry about petting your dog right after, or a child ingesting the chemicals.
However, oral treatments do not kill or prevent ticks, and they do not have longevity whatsoever.
Ideally, oral treatments are good if your dog is seriously covered in fleas.
You give him the treatment, the fleas on his skin all die, and then you go ahead with a more long-term, topical plan.
The downsides to topical medications are that some of the cheaper ones can injure your pet’s skin and perhaps even cause long-term effects.
There is also the whole “wet chemicals” thing that you need to avoid touching – something made all the more difficult with children.
Overall, though, you really cannot go wrong with a topical treatment.
And for severe infestations, an oral treatment combined with a topical treatment can do wonders for your pet and home.
Dog collars are also incredibly effective at preventing fleas and ticks, and the good ones last even longer than the best topical treatments do.
The downside to dog collars, though, is that you have to be careful about touching it for even longer, since it releases medication over several months into your dog’s skin.
Flea collars are much easier to apply than topical treatments, and they typically come with less side effects than topical treatments do.
Tips for the Safe Application of Topical Treatments
Before applying K9 Advantix II, or any topical flea and tick medication, to your dog, it is important that you read the instructions thoroughly.
Only use the amount indicated for your dog, which typically goes by weight.
Never use more than one product at the same time unless you have express consent from your vet, and never use more than required, no matter how severe the infestation.
Also, never increase the frequency of how often you give the product to your dog.
If you have noticed the product you’ve chosen isn’t working as well as you would have liked, talk to your vet about what you should do next.
When you apply the medication, you can use disposable gloves to prevent yourself from accidentally touching the product.
Even so, and especially if you do not use gloves, you should always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the medication.
Refrain from petting your dog, and prevent your children from touching him, until after the product absorbs into the skin or dries on the fur.
Also, make sure you properly dispose of the cartridge once you are through with it by consulting the instructions for proper guidance.
If you have a multiple-pet home, you can quarantine your pets while the product dries so they don’t lick it off of each other while grooming each other.
And be sure not to bathe your dog for at least two days after application to give his skin enough time to properly absorb the product.
One thing you especially need to keep an eye out for, especially if you’ve never used a specific topical treatment before, is that your pet does not suffer a reaction.
You will need to monitor your pet for several hours after applying the product to ensure he doesn’t develop sensitivity or an adverse reaction to it.
Ideally, it is best if you apply the product when you’ll be home and awake for several hours so you can keep an eye on your pup.
Do not throw out the packaging as soon you are done with the application.
You may need the information for both the ingredients and the manufacturer if your dog does, in fact, suffer a bad reaction.
Some of the signs to watch out for include:
If your dog starts showing any of these signs after you apply the product, call your vet ASAP and bathe your dog immediately and thoroughly with soap.
What are the side effects of Advantix for dogs?
If this is the first time your dog has used Advantix, keep an eye on him in case he develops a reaction to the solution. Symptoms to watch for include:
Severe reactions are rare but you should watch for any changes in behavior and contact your vet if you believe your dog has had a reaction to Advantix.
How to Apply K9 Advantix® II to Your Dog
There are lots of flea and tick treatments on the market that offer protection. Applying treatments like Advantix can be done from home with ease, but they can take a while to absorb into the skin.