Signs of Flea Control Product Toxicity in Cats and Dogs
Signs of flea control product toxicity can occur from one to 12 hours after application and may vary depending on the type of flea control product poisoning.
The most common signs of toxicity from pyrethrum-based flea products are muscle tremors and excessive salivation. Common signs of toxicity from flea products containing organophosphates are diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling. Organophosphate toxicity can be rapidly fatal, depending on the ingredients and dose the pet is exposed to.
What to Do if Your Dog or Cat has Flea Control Product Toxicity
If you notice any signs of toxicity, contact your veterinarian. It is generally recommended that you immediately wash your pet with warm water and a mild detergent, such as Dawn® dishwashing liquid. Pets can chill easily so dry thoroughly after bathing and keep your pet warm. After bathing your pet, proceed to your family veterinarian. If unavailable, find your closest veterinary emergency clinic.
Frontline Plus is a drop-type topical flea treatment applied monthly between your dog’s shoulder blades. The active ingredients in Frontline Plus work together to control the fleas on your dog and in your home. The first of these, fipronil, kills any adult fleas that hop on your dog for the entire month. The second ingredient, (S)-methoprene, breaks the flea life cycle by killing existing eggs, preventing fleas from laying fertile eggs and by stopping flea larvae and pupae from developing.
The ingredients in Frontline Plus have a good safety record; the treatment is safe enough to use on puppies as young as 8 weeks of age as well as on pregnant dogs, as long as dosage is correct — smaller dogs get smaller doses. Unless your dog is highly sensitive to the ingredients in Frontline Plus, the worst that’s likely to happen to him if he licks it while it’s fresh is that he’s going to drool a lot because it doesn’t taste too good. Don’t use it if you know that your dog is allergic or reacts poorly to alcohol or insecticides.