Do they help against worms, fleas and ticks?
Advantage is an insecticidal antiparasitic drops that have a pronounced lauricidal effect, allowing you to quickly destroy lice, fleas, lice and a number of other parasites.
The German manufacturer of medicines, , enjoys a good reputation throughout the world. Experts from the Bayer Animal division are constantly improving the production of veterinary drugs.
Relatively recently, they launched the production of effective drops against fleas, Advantage, which quickly competed with the most popular antiparasitic agents.
Advantage has the following advantages:
- All parasites begin to die immediately after the first treatment, so there is no need for repeated application.
- The product does not dissolve and is not washed off under a stream of water, so the kitten can be bathed immediately after distributing the drops.
- The effectiveness of the drug has been proven by the experience of many veterinarians and pet owners. According to the latter, the parasites begin to die after 10-12 hours.
- The drug protects the cat from fleas and ticks for a month. This eliminates the need for regular application.
- Advantage is not hazardous to human skin. In this case, the drug does not penetrate the pet’s bloodstream and does not harm its health.
- The product suppresses the activity of not only parasites, but also larvae. When interacting with the active ingredients of Advantage, they instantly die.
Advantage insecticidal drops are widely used in veterinary practice to get rid of cat fleas, ticks, lice and other ectoparasites, including lice. In addition, the product is used to combat harmful blood-sucking insects that often parasitize pets.
In this case, not only adult cats, but also older kittens are treated with Advantage. Particular attention is paid to individuals who often walk outside and come into contact with other living beings.
The effectiveness of the drug is due to the complex interaction of active substances with acetylcholine receptors of arthropods with subsequent transmission of nerve impulses and paralysis of parasites.
After applying the drug, the active components are evenly distributed throughout the coat, practically without penetrating into the systemic blood circulation. Imidacloprid accumulates in the hair follicles, providing a long-lasting insecticidal effect.
How to choose the right dosage and what to choose – Advantage 80 or Advantage 40?
For ease of use and correct dosage, the German company produces insectoacaricide in two forms - Advantage 80 and Advantage 40. The drug with the indicated packaging 40 means that there is 0.4 ml in a tube and is designed to treat cats weighing less than 4 kg. Accordingly, Advantage 80 is intended for cats weighing more than 4 kg.
The drug acts very quickly, destroying ectoparasites in cats 12 hours after application. During this period, about 97-100% of fleas on the pet’s body are destroyed.
Treatment with Advantage 80 and Advantage 40 during the breeding season of fleas and ticks should be carried out only as directed by a veterinarian and no more than once every 28 days. Failure to follow the instructions leads to an overdose and possible poisoning of the cat.
Note! Using only the insectoacaricide Advantage in the treatment of flea dermatitis is not advisable. Treatment should be comprehensive, including pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy.
Composition and storage conditions
The main active ingredients in Advantage are chloro-3-pyredylmethyl and N-nitro-imidazoline (imidacloprid). The composition contains auxiliary additives that increase the effectiveness of the main components. Among them:
- Butylated hydroxytoluene.
- Benzyl alcohol.
- Propylene carbonate.
The product is yellowish-brown, transparent, and has a slightly thick consistency.
You can purchase the drug in sachets of 0.4, 0.8, 1, 2.5, 4 ml. Each package is closed with a protective cap.
Advantage should be stored in a dry place, protected from direct sunlight and out of the reach of children. Do not place packaging with Advantage near food or kitchen utensils. The optimal temperature for storing the drug varies from 0 to +25 °C.
The shelf life, subject to all manufacturer's requirements, is at least 5 years. In the event of depressurization, Advantage must be disposed of in compliance with legal requirements.
Instructions for use
How to apply drops to the withers?
The instructions for use of Advantage mention that the drops are distributed over the pet’s clean, dry withers, which are free of damage.
Before applying the product, you must wash the cat with a disinfectant. If the active substances come into contact with exposed or affected areas of the skin, they can enter the systemic bloodstream and cause harm to the central nervous system.
The medicine should be distributed over those areas of the skin where the pet cannot lick it off. In most cases, veterinarians do this in the area between the shoulder blades near the base of the skull.
The drug is distributed gradually, 1 drop at a time. Once the area is completely treated, you should stop bathing your pet for several hours. It is also not recommended to pet the cat in the treated area.
Dosage for pets up to 4 kg or more
Experts adhere to strict dosages when using Advantage drops. For individuals weighing up to 4 kg, the product is used 1 time with a dosage of 0.4 ml. If the weight exceeds 4 kg, the dose is increased to 0.8 ml. In this case, the procedure is carried out once, and if fleas appear again, it can be performed again after 30 days.
If the pet's weight exceeds 8 kg, you will need to distribute 0.1 ml drops per 1 kg of weight.
General recommendations
When working with the drug, you should adhere to a number of precautions and personal hygiene rules:
- Do not smoke, drink or eat while applying drops. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the penetration of active substances into the body.
- If Advantage gets on the skin or mucous membranes, they should be washed off immediately. If the drug gets into your eyes, but the burning sensation does not go away within 24 hours, you will need to consult a specialist and rinse the mucous membranes.
- Tubes are disposed of in accordance with all requirements. They cannot be used for further purposes.
- Advantage can provoke allergies in humans. If symptoms of individual intolerance occur, you must make an appointment with an allergist, and entrust subsequent care for your pet to a veterinarian.
- When the procedure is completed, you should wash your hands using shampoo or soap.
- To apply drops, wear rubberized gloves.
Advantages
Adventage deserves the attention of cat owners for the following reasons:
- imidacloprid acts on parasites within 3–5 minutes;
- the insecticide acts by contact, so the pests die even if they do not bite the animal;
- the drug is safe, therefore suitable for adult cats and kittens;
- provides protection against ectoparasites for 4 weeks;
- the active substance is practically not absorbed into the blood and spreads throughout the body;
- affects sexually mature parasites (imago) and larvae;
- easy to use, just apply drops to the withers;
- the therapeutic effect of Advantage persists even if the cat gets wet;
- It is easy to calculate the appropriate dose for a cat.
Advantage has few contraindications and rarely causes adverse reactions.
According to reviews from cat owners who have already tested the insecticide on their pets, this drug is effective, safe and relatively inexpensive.
Side effects of the drug
A negative reaction of the body to Advantage occurs when the dosage is not observed or there are contraindications for use. Thus, experts recommend avoiding applying drops to the body of cats that are light in weight. In addition, there are age restrictions - the drug is contraindicated for kittens under 2 months.
It is forbidden to use the product for pets with hypersensitivity to the active substances. It should not be used on sick animals or cats with mechanical skin damage.
No significant side effects from the use of the drug were identified. Sometimes your pet experiences symptoms such as:
- Allergy.
- Gag reflex and nausea.
- Redness and itching of the skin.
- General weakness.
In such cases, symptomatic treatment is carried out.
Reviews about the product
Yuri, veterinarian: “Advantage is a proven antiparasitic agent that has many advantages. Among them are maximum effectiveness in the fight against ectoparasites, a long-lasting effect and prevention of the appearance of fleas, lice, ticks, lice and other organisms for 30 days.”
Yulia, the cat’s owner: “Noticing that the cat had red spots all over its body, I went to the veterinary clinic for help. There they determined that the pet was attacked by fleas. The vet prescribed Advantage. I applied the drops to my cat for several days. I was pleased with the result. I recommend it to anyone looking for an effective remedy for parasites in pets.”
Personal precautions
When treating your pet, it is important to follow personal hygiene and safety rules for working with chemicals.
When treating a cat, it is forbidden to eat or drink drinks. After work, you must wash your hands thoroughly using laundry soap and warm water. For 24 hours after treatment, it is recommended to isolate the animal from children. If the drug comes into contact with open mucous membranes of the nose or eyes, they must be rinsed with plenty of water.
Note! After treating the animal for fleas is completed, it is necessary to dispose of the empty container and wash your hands thoroughly under running water and soap.
If a person accidentally swallows a medicine, it is necessary to take enterosorbent (white activated carbon, Polysorb, Smecta) and seek help from your doctor.
Analogs
The list of Advantage analogues is small. It includes the following drugs:
- Leopard. Fipronil-based drops that effectively fight fleas, ticks, lice and lice. Contraindications include a weakened body or individual intolerance to the active substances. The cost of packaging is from 200 rubles.
- Celandine. An effective solution for external use containing fipronil and permethrin. Intended for preventive purposes, combating lice, lice-eaters, ticks and other parasites. Package price - from 130 rubles.
- Advocate. A product for external use based on moxidectin and imidacloprid. You can buy it for 300 rubles.
Advantage is a good antiparasitic drop with a wide spectrum of action. They effectively destroy various parasites.
