What is the tolerability of advantix in dogs and in pups?

advantix was evaluated in studies on tolerability in domestic animals both in adult dogs and in pups. Adult dogs and pups of over seven weeks of age and younger were treated weekly for four weeks with topical applications of advantix at doses equal to five times that indicated initially. Even after application of such excessive doses, no adverse effects were observed. However, the use of advantix is recommended in animals weighing over 1.5 kg.

Might there be problems of tolerability with the combined use of imidacloprid and permethrin in dogs?

The safety studies have shown that in general there are no adverse reactions when imidacloprid is used in association with permethrin in dogs.

In rare cases, linked to individual sensitivity, cases of local irritation (paraesthesia) have been found in animals which were particularly sensitive to permethrin.
Local changes may be due to the excipients which also heighten the desired effects of the product.
Pyrethroids have been found to be toxic in cats.

Is permethrin toxic for dogs?

It has been demonstrated by scientific studies and certified by the clinical reports from experts that the permethrin contained in advantix is not absorbed through the skin and therefore cannot be detected in the bloodstream; it cannot therefore poison the animal.

Is permethrin toxic for humans?

The product should be applied to dogs in the proper way. So contact between permethrin and humans or the domestic environment in which humans live is extremely limited.
However, the toxicity of this product is very low and in fact products based on pyrethroids are extremely widespread. Shampoos, cutaneous repellents and repellents which can be atomised are widely used, with no problems.

Can advantix be used in cats?

No, because of their peculiar physiology and inability to metabolise certain substances, advantix should not be used in cats.

How is permethrin metabolised, because it is toxic in cats?

While permethrin is very well tolerated in dogs, in cats it is toxic and may cause even fatal reactions.
The metabolism of the pyrethroids uses the hepatic pathway with glucuronidation and excretion as inactive metabolites via the urine. Cats are known to have an inadequate hepatic glycuronidation pathway which does not allow detoxification of molecules such as pyrethroids, leading to an accumulation of these and to poisoning.

After seven million doses sold in the USA there were in all eleven deaths in cats, ten of them as a result of direct application!!

How can permethrin poisoning in cats be treated?

If recognised and treated in time, the prognosis is generally favourable. After creation of stable peripheral vascular access, the primary treatment protocol should include:
- Decontamination with washing
- Monitoring of neurological signs
- Regulation of temperature
- Stabilisation of vital organs.
Support treatment and stabilisation of the sick cat should then be established.

Can advantix not be used in dogs and cats which live together?

advantix can be used in dogs which live with cats, as reported in the study by Knoppe (2002), where no adverse effects were found in the cats. In animals which live in close proximity and at any rate basically for the owner's peace of mind, it is a good rule to avoid contact in the first few hours after application, to apply the product in the evening, and to keep the animals separate during the night.

What type of adverse reactions or irritations should we expect from treatment with advantix?

In view of the large number of doses already sold in the USA, the frequency of appearance of adverse reactions has been extremely limited. In some particularly sensitive animals, cases of cutaneous sensitisation have been found with loss of coat or erythema or pruritus. All these - generally transient - cases were located at the site of application and were problems of individual skin allergy.
In some rare cases, phenomena which could be traced to what is termed paraesthesia occurred.