Fleas, worms, ticks - our pets are subject to the attacks of these ectoparasites every minute. Even dogs and cats, which never go outside, are no exception. Although the chances of contracting bloodsuckers are not great, they still have. Therefore, such a problem is urgent for every caring owner. Many reliable antiparasitic agents are available today. Stronghold flea drops for dogs are very popular with veterinarians and owners of four-legged friends, instructions are attached to each package.
Contraindications
The drug is safe for pets, but this does not mean that it has no contraindications. It is worth listing the main cases when it is not recommended to apply drops. Do not use the composition:
- by mouth or by injection;
- with increased sensitivity of the pet to the substances contained in the medication;
- for a cat with damp skin and kittens that are not yet 6 weeks old;
Transparent, colorless or pale yellow solution for external use containing 6% or 12% selamectin.
Properties
- Proven efficiency 99% within 30 days
- The drug destroys adult fleas, has a larvicidal and ovocidal effect
- Effective in the treatment of sarcoptic mange and otodectosis
- Effective for the prevention of dirofilariasis
- Active against nematodes
- Safe for animals and humans
Dosage and method of administration
Stronghold is prescribed to dogs and cats with the aim of eliminating fleas and preventing re-invasion in animals, for the treatment and prevention of otodectosis, sarcoptic mange, hookworm disease and toxocariasis, as well as for the prevention of dirofilariasis.
The drug is applied to dry skin between the shoulder blades at the base of the neck. For the destruction of fleas (Сtenoseefalides spp) on the body of dogs and cats, Stronghold is used once, and to prevent re-infestation, once a month during the entire season of insect activity. Possessing insecticidal, ovocidal, larvicidal action and interrupting the cycle of insect development, Stronghold, already a month after the first application, provides a sharp decrease in the number of fleas in the animal's habitats.
For allergic dermatitis caused by fleas, Stronghold is prescribed in the same doses.
For the prevention of dirofilariasis in the regions where Dirofilaria immitis is recorded, Stronghold is prescribed to animals on a monthly basis, starting one month before the beginning of summer, the vectors of the pathogen - mosquitoes and mosquitoes and ends no earlier than one month after the end of their summer. Stronghold does not kill sexually mature D. immitis, but it reduces the number of circulating microfilariae, and can be safely applied even to infected animals. If the monthly interval between the use of Stronghold has been exceeded, it is necessary to apply the drug as soon as such an opportunity arises. When replacing chemotherapeutic agents in the program for the prevention of dirofilariasis, the interval between the appointment of Stronghold and the previously used drug should be at least one month.
For the treatment of dogs and cats with otodectosis (ear scabies) caused by O. synotis, Stronghold is used once.In the course of treatment, it is recommended to clean the ear canal from exudate and scabs, and in cases of complications of otitis media, prescribe antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs.
If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated after 1 month. For the treatment of dogs with sarcoptic mange caused by S. sabiei, Stronghold is used twice with an interval of 1 month. In order to prevent possible invasion, the drug is recommended to be used once a month. For deworming dogs and cats with toxocariasis caused by Toxocara cati, Toxocara sanis, and with ankylostomiasis caused by Ansylostoma tubaeformae, the drug is used for therapeutic purposes once, for prophylaxis - monthly.
Stronghold (Europe)
At the end of the last millennium, the American one made two revolutions. First, Viagra appeared, which made a revolution in the treatment of one well-known disease. A year later, the veterinary drug Revolution began to be sold in the United States. Russians are just beginning to learn about this second revolution in the treatment of cats and dogs: last fall, the drug first entered our country.
But do not try to find "Revolution" with us: in Russia and Europe, the drug was registered under the name "Stronghold". But this did not change its revolutionary essence. The drug revolutionized the elimination of fleas and some other parasites from cats and dogs. In the pre-revolutionary era, in order to destroy fleas, a pet was first washed with a special shampoo, then a collar was put on it, scaring off new fleas, and the apartment was meticulously sprayed in order to destroy the larvae even in the most secluded corners.
Now one drop of "Stronghold" applied to the skin of the animal in the withers area is enough. After 30 minutes you can play with your pet, and after 2 hours, if necessary, you can redeem the animal. Already on the first day, the animal gets rid of fleas and for a whole month has protection from re-infection. Selamectin (this is Stronghold's active ingredient) destroys mature fleas and eggs, preventing the emergence of a new generation of parasites.
But that's not all: flea larvae and eggs, hidden in crevices, under baseboards, carpets and in other secluded places of your home, die from it. This is the flea reserve that constantly re-infests your pets. And it is very large. The animal is home to no more than 5% of the entire flea population. The remaining 95% are pupae, larvae and eggs, which are spread throughout the dwelling.
To make sure that one drop of Stronghold replaces an entire anti-flea army made up of different means, let's follow its fate. The drug, applied to the withers, is quickly absorbed and begins a journey throughout the animal's body, which will last for a whole month - all this time, the therapeutic concentration of selamectin will remain in the blood. The substance will constantly enter the sebaceous glands, and already from them "come out" to the surface of the skin and hair. This is enough to kill all parasites and stop the development of fleas from eggs.
Stronghold for cats. Part of selamectin leaves the animal and, by chance, meets with larvae and eggs, abundantly strewn over the dwelling. For them, this meeting is the last. A single Stronghold pipette is usually sufficient to destroy a domestic parasite population. The medicine is applied to the withers of a cat or dog at intervals of one month. On the 60th day after the start of treatment, more than 97% of fleas die indoors, on the 90th day - more than 98.4%.
Stronghold is also fatal to ticks that cause ear itch in cats (otodentosis) and itch in dogs (sarcoptic mange). These diseases are not uncommon, and to cope with them, cats and dogs only need a drug from one pipette. In this case, "Stronghold" is prescribed in the same way as for the fight against fleas - one drop per month is applied to the skin at the withers.If at the same time your pet also has internal parasites - toxocaras, hookworms, then they will also end.
Why is Stronghold fatal to such different parasites and safe for humans, cats and dogs? Nature has decreed that the receptor that blocks selamectin is present in all of these parasites, but absent in mammals. "Stronghold" acts like curare - causes paralysis and death of the parasite. But humans and animals do not have this receptor - and selamectin has nothing to cling to, it travels through the body as if incognito, without causing side effects.
Stronghold for dogs instructions for use
The method of administration for a dog is the same as for a cat. The weight of the animal should also be considered:
In general, when using drops for a dog or cat, a proportion of 0.1 ml of the drug per one kilogram of body weight of the animal is fair. If the treatment regimen is violated, the effectiveness of the drug decreases.
At the site of application of the substance it is forbidden to perform massage procedures
s. Small children should be kept away from the treated animal within two hours. Also, a cat or dog should not be bathed at this time. When using "Stronghold" it is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene and general recommendations when working with preparations for animals. Empty pipettes should not be used for domestic purposes: they should be collected in a plastic bag and disposed of with non-food waste.
When treating with Stronghold, the instructions below will help you effectively get rid of a number of diseases:
Prevention of dirofilariasis
The disease is caused by Otodectos cynotis, a species of armored mites. Single use recommended
Stronghold. It is necessary to clean the ear canal from scabs and exudate. In case of complications in the form of otitis media, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
Deworming
To get rid of the animal from helminths (worms), the drug is used once. Preventive use
permissible no more than once a month.
Pharmacological properties of Stronghold
Selamectin has a broad spectrum of systemic antiparasitic action against nematodes, insects and sarcoptic mites parasitizing dogs and cats.
Stronghold has a detrimental effect on the larvae of round helminths, and also has ovocidal properties. The drug does not affect sexually mature nematodes Dirofilaria immitis, but reduces the number of microfilariae circulating in the blood, and it can be safely used even in previously infested animals.
The mechanism of action of the drug lies in the ability of selamectin, by binding to the receptors of the cells of the muscle and nervous tissue of parasites, to increase the permeability of the membranes for chlorine ions, which leads to the blockade of the electrical activity of the nerve and muscle cells of nematodes and arthropods, their paralysis and death.
Stronghold for cats. Due to the fact that in mammals these receptors are localized only in the central nervous system, and selamectin does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier, the drug is safe for dogs and cats in recommended doses. Stronghold is well absorbed from the application site.
Selamectin remains in the blood for a long time at a therapeutic concentration, ensuring the destruction of parasites and protection of animals from reinvasion for a month.
Stronghold belongs to compounds with low toxicity for warm-blooded animals (LD50 of selamectin for mice when administered orally is 1600 mg / kg). The drug is well tolerated by dogs of different breeds (including collies) and cats.
How to drip correctly
Medicine "Stronghold" for cats, the instructions for the use of which are necessarily included in the package, is used only externally.Before applying the product, the pipette is removed from the blister and then, holding it vertically, press on the cap in order to perforate the foil covering the pipette. Then the lid is removed. The medication is applied to the dry skin of the animal without any preliminary preparation. To do this, the wool on the withers moves apart, the contents of the pipette are completely squeezed out. In this case, it is necessary to carefully manipulate so that the drug does not fall on your hands. You do not need to massage the site of application. Drops "Stronghold" for cats, the instructions for use of which are quite understandable, are prescribed taking into account the weight of the animal. So, this medicine for furry pets weighing up to 2.5 kg is taken in a dose of 45 mg. For babies up to 1.5 months, the medicine is not used. And for adult cats weighing from 2.6 to 7.5 kg, the dosage is 15 mg.
Packaging and dosage of drops
Stronghold Pet Insecticide
Stronghold drops are sold as small, disposable pipette tubes, and the amount of insecticide in cat and dog drops differs in volume. Inside there is a transparent liquid of light yellow color. Polymer pipettes are packaged in a dosage of 0.25 to 2 ml, there are 3 of them in a box. The content of selamectin in a serving also depends on the weight of the animal and ranges from 6 to 12%. All preparations differ in the color of the cap.
Stronghold for dogs and cats what is the difference
There is no particular difference in the preparations. They have one active ingredient, but there is no information about the auxiliary components. It is possible that the difference is precisely in them. However, Stronghold is produced directly for cats with a solution of 0.75 ml. The instructions for this type of drug are absolutely identical to those for dogs.
Another type of medicine is called “For puppies and kittens”. The whole difference is in the weight of the animals. If you do not have a cat remedy, you can use Stronghold for dogs. The only thing to do is to correctly calculate the dose according to the cat's weight. If you cannot do this yourself, it is best to see your veterinarian.
Release form
Stronghold is produced by the German company Pfizer, and this tool was patented back in the early nineties of the last century. The main active ingredient is selamectin, which is a macrocyclic lactone that effectively destroys various parasites. The high cost of Stronghold in Russian pharmacies is due to the fact that its patent term has not expired yet, so there are no official generic analogues on the market.
Pharmacies offer different types of this drug:
- spray Stronghold for puppies up to three months old;
- for small breeds weighing no more than 5 kg;
- for medium breeds of dogs weighing from 5 to 10 kg;
- for large animals weighing up to 20 kg;
- for really huge dogs weighing more than 20 kg.
Stronghold is produced in the form of a ready-made solution. However, if for some reason it is not possible to purchase ampoules with the correct concentration of this antiparasitic drug, the manufacturer himself allows a combination of several ampoules at once with a dosage of no more than 7 milligrams of selamectin per kilogram of animal weight.
In pharmacies you can find Stronghold, made with 6 and 12% solution of the active substance. At the same time, it is strictly prohibited to treat puppies with a concentrated 12 percent solution.
Indications for use
Rules for the use of drops "Stronghold":
- Drops are applied to dry skin of the dog with a pipette.
- The place where the drops were applied should not be accessible for licking; the base of the animal's neck (between the shoulder blades) is best suited.
- Before applying the product, the wool is inflated, the long one is pushed apart by the hands and the contents of the pipette are squeezed onto the skin.
- Drops are not rubbed in, the skin is not massaged.
- The drug is used once.
- To apply drops, use personal protective equipment: rubber gloves and a mask.
If the product gets on your hands and mucous membranes, immediately rinse your eyes with plenty of running water, rinse your mouth, wash your hands with detergent.
Ticks.
Stronghold should not be dripped into animal ears; it is applied to the skin at the base of the neck. When treating otodectosis, doctors recommend constantly cleaning the auditory canals and
if necessary, conduct antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy in parallel
... Both scabies and ear mites disappear completely within a month after treatment.
General information
The Stronghold flea remedy, produced by the well-known company Pfizer Animal Health (USA), is also designed to kill scabies and ear mites, lice, round helminths and other parasitic insects. The drug is a colorless, odorless solution that is available in convenient polymer bottles. The presence of the dispenser makes it possible to use drops in the required quantity and in the right place.
Selamectin acts as an active ingredient - an insecticide that is harmful not only for adults, but also for larvae and eggs of pests. The mechanism of action of the solution is based on blocking the transmission of nerve impulses, which leads to paralysis in muscle fibers, and subsequently to the death of bloodsuckers.
Instructions for use
Stronghold is used exclusively externally. Immediately before application, the pipette with the drug is removed from the blister, after which the foil covering the pipette is broken by pressing and the cap is removed.
The drug is applied to the dry skin of the animal in the area at the cervical base and between the shoulder blades. Stronghold is prescribed once, and the dose is selected taking into account the weight of the animal, but strictly at the rate of 6 mg of the active ingredient per kilogram.
Standard doses of the agent:
- puppies and dogs weighing less than 2.5 kg - one 0.25 ml pipette with a purple cap;
- for animals weighing in the range of 2.6-5.0 kg - one pipette with a volume of 0.25 ml with a purple cap;
- for animals weighing in the range of 5.1-10.0 kg - one pipette with a volume of 0.5 ml with a brown cap;
- for animals weighing in the range of 10.1-20.0 kg - one pipette with a volume of 1.0 ml with a red cap;
- for animals weighing in the range of 20.1-40.0 kg - one pipette with a volume of 2.0 ml with a dark green cap.
For the prevention and treatment of dogs weighing more than twenty kilograms, a combination of pipettes is used. For the purpose of eliminating fleas, as well as for the prevention of re-infestations, stronghold is applied once a month throughout the entire season of flea activity. Monthly use of the drug contributes to the direct protection of the animal from infection and destroys residual flea populations in the home.
For the treatment of ear scabies (otodectosis), Stronghold is applied once with regular cleaning of the ear canal from the accumulation of exudates and scabs. If necessary, the treatment course is repeated in a month. Therapy for sarcoptic mange requires twice the use of the drug with a monthly interval.
In order to prevent possible invasion, a modern and effective veterinary remedy is used once a month. Prevention of dirofilariasis involves the use of the solution once a month throughout the entire season of active flight of mosquito vectors.
Drops "Stronghold": reviews for and against
The drug "Stronghold" has a fairly detailed instruction, which indicates that the tool allows you to prevent the appearance of parasites for a whole month. The manufacturer promises that in most cases dogs tolerate the drug's effects on the body without side effects. What do dog owners think of Stronghold? Having studied the reviews on the Web, we highlight the following dignity
antiparasitic drops:
- The complexity of the drug.The tool heals and protects dogs from external and internal parasites at the same time;
- Stronghold almost never causes allergic reactions in dogs;
- The drops are easy to use: easy to apply, quickly absorbed, the dog does not need to be isolated from children for a whole day;
- Stronghold is suitable for puppies over 6 weeks old, while many products can be used for puppies over 8-12 weeks old;
- Stronghold doesn't smell too bad;
- The owner does not need to calculate the required dose of the drug, it is enough just to purchase the necessary pipette, knowing the weight of the dog.
Despite the apparent advantages, the Stronghold drops have and limitations
, mentioned by owners who have already tried the drug on their pets:
- Stronghold is excellent at eliminating fleas, but not always effective against ticks;
- The drug relieves only of nematode worms. If there are cestodes or trematodes in the dog's body, Stronghold will not help. Unfortunately, not all owners know what type of helminths spoil a pet's life. In addition, Stronghold does not always help against nematodes, if there are a lot of them in the body;
- Drops do not last a month in all cases. It happens that fleas or ticks appear on the body of an animal within 2-3 weeks after using Stronghold;
- "Stronghold" is a rather expensive drug in comparison with domestic medicines of the same orientation;
- Stronghold is a popular veterinary drug that, unfortunately, is often counterfeited. Wanting to save money, some owners stumble upon low-quality drops that cause severe poisoning in dogs. Of course, the reputation of the original drug suffers from this.
special instructions
Cat owners should read the specific instructions. They will help to avoid undesirable consequences and achieve the maximum result from applying the medication:
- After applying the drops, keep the animal away from a fire or working stove. The coat should be completely dry.
- When processing the skin, do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, do not eat food - the substance is poisonous.
- After applying the drops, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Within 2 hours after using the medicine, the animal should not come into contact with small children. Prohibit babies from stroking, washing and kissing the cat.
- If the product comes into contact with human skin, rinse the affected area thoroughly with clean water.
- After using the product, empty pipettes must not be used in everyday life. Discard containers.
Side effects
When using Stronghold flea drops, there are usually no complications or side effects. Very rarely, pet owners pay attention to the fact that a small bald patch has formed at the place where the solution is applied to the withers. In most cats, hair grows back quickly in such a place. If the coat is not restored, you should contact the veterinarian.
Another undesirable effect is hypersensitivity, an allergic reaction to the components of the drug. Redness of the skin, the appearance of a rash, swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, tongue of the pet, the appearance of nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing are the main signs of allergies. If they appear, you may need emergency assistance.
Flea stronghold can be dangerous to humans in several cases:
- if rubber gloves were not used to protect hands;
- hands were not thoroughly washed after applying flea medicine;
- at the time of the procedure, the owner of the cat was drinking, eating or smoking.
An empty Stronghold solution pipette cannot be used for any household needs, it must be disposed of with household waste.
