Flea Treatment for Dogs & Cats

Flea Allergy Dermatitis is one of the most common causes of pruritus or “itchiness” in dogs and cats¹. Flea bites expose pets to flea saliva – which some pets become allergic to over time – resulting in Flea Allergy Dermatitis or FAD.

FAD is an allergic skin condition that mostly affects pets aged over 1 year and commonly occurs in dogs and cats with underlying skin diseases like atopic dermatitis^1,2 Pets with FAD can damage their skin by constantly scratching, nibbling or licking, and this damage can lead to secondary infection.

What does FAD look like?

The most common sign of FAD in dogs and cats is intense itchiness but there are others.Look out for the following symptoms and behaviours in your pet to help spot FAD:

• Appearing restless and uncomfortable
• Spending a lot of time grooming, chewing, nibbling, licking and scratching themselves or rubbing their skin against objects
• Hair may be stained brown from licking – especially obvious in white pets
• Skin changes in dogs:hair loss, rash, reddened or darkened skin, thickened skin, scratches or wounds from self-trauma, typically along the lower back and base of the tail, then thighs and belly
• Skin changes in cats: hair loss and rash typically involving the back half of the body (belly and back), hind legs (inner and back surfaces), back of the neck, and less commonly on the head

It's also important to look out for damage to your pet’s skin that can lead to secondary bacterial or fungal infections (reddened, moist areas called “hot spots”) that will exacerbate the itching.^1,2

What to do if you think your pet has FAD

We understand you don’t want your pet to suffer. So if you do suspect Flea Allergy Dermatitis, take your pet to your vet – they will look for evidence of fleas and may perform an insect elimination trial, skin tests or blood tests on your pet.

Did you know adult females fleas begin laying eggs 36-48 hours after they start feeding on your pet’s blood? Did you know a single flea can bite up to 400 times a day? Did you know 1 female can lay up to 50 eggs per day and 10 adult fleas can become an infestation of 250,000 in 30 days?

Bites from just one flea can be enough to trigger intense itching in a pet with FAD and your vet may diagnose FAD even if fleas or flea dirt (flea faeces) aren’t visible. Year-round flea control with an effective, fast-acting product to minimise the number of flea bites is the most important part of managing FAD and needs to include all pets in the household.

We understand you want the best flea protection

Treating FAD is easy with the AAA parasite protection of Advocate, Advantix or Advantage thanks to imidacloprid – the super active ingredient in The Advantage Family range. Imidacloprid:

• Kills fleas on contact kills fleas on contact so that there’s no need for them to bite to die³
• Boasts the fastest-acting speed of kill of any product – killing reinfesting fleas within 1 hour³
• Stops fleas biting within 3-5 minutes of jumping on your pet³
• Kills flea larvae in your home⁴
• Is easy to use – convenient spot-on applied monthly
• Is waterproof* – won’t wash off

Talk to your vet about FAD management

As well as using a fast-acting, effective flea control to minimise flea bites, your vet may also advise the following treatments to help heal your pet’s damaged skin, eliminate bacteria and alleviate the itching:

• Topical (applied directly to the skin) or systemic (given orally or by injection) antibiotics
• Topical or systemic anti-inflammatories
• Medicated shampoos and conditioners
• Always consult your vet when using a medicated shampoo and/or conditioner with products from The Advantage Family – only apply The Advantage Family products to a completely dry coat*.

* See product label for details. References: 1. Noli, C, Foster, A and Rosenkrantz, W, Veterinary Allergy, 2013; 1st edn, Wiley Blackwell, New Jersey. 2. Miller, WH, Griffin, CE and Campbell, KL, Muller and Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology, 2013; 7th edn, Elsevier Mosby, Missouri. 3. Mehlhorn, H, Hansen, O and Mencke, N, Comparative study on the effects of three insecticides (fipronil, imidacloprid, selamectin) on developmental stages of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis Bouche 1835): a light and electron microscopic analysis of in vivo and in vitro experiments, Parasitology Research, 2001; 87(3): 198-207. 4.Mehlhorn, H, Mencke, N and Hansen O, Effects of imidacloprid on adult and larval stages of the flea Ctenocephalides felis after in vivo and in vitro application: a light- and electron-microscopy study, Parasitology Research, 1999; 85(8-9): 625-637.