Fipronil is an external antiparasitic used against fleas, ticks and lice. It acts by contact and leaves a residual effect after its application. In cats it can be used from two months of age, if they weigh more than 1 kg, to treat external parasites, prevent them for a short period of time and as adjunctive therapy to allergic dermatitis to flea bites that occurs in some cats.
Continue reading to learn more about fipronil in cats, what it is, what it is for, its dosage and its side effects.
What is fipronil?
Fipronil is a drug from the group of phenylpyrazoles, it is a broad-spectrum insecticide that acts by contact and has a great residual power after application.
The mechanism of action of this active ingredient on the aforementioned parasites (fleas, ticks and lice) is based on the blockade of the chlorine channels that regulates GABA(gamma aminobutyric acid) from cells (neurons) of the central nervous system. GABA is a neurotransmitter that, together with taurine, acts against ion channel receptors, opening chloride channels and producing a decrease in neuronal activity due to membrane hyperpolarization. As a consequence of this blockage, the neurons do not decrease their activity, but on the contrary, a neuronal hyperexcitation is produced that ends with death. The great advantage of this drug is that it has a preference against the chloride channels associated with the GABAergic receptors of invertebrates, such as fleas and ticks. It does not produce this effect in vertebrates such as cats, making it a safe drug for these animals. That is why it is so effective in killing parasites in cats, which are invertebrates.
What is fipronil used for in cats?
Fipronil in cats serves as an external antiparasitic for the treatment and prevention of infestations by ectoparasites or external parasites such as fleas, lice and ticks. It is a non-systemic contact adulticide. It also has uses for the treatment of domestic and agricultural pests. It is sometimes used in combination with flea development inhibitors, such as pyriproxyfen or metroprene, to increase efficacy against immature fleas.
Intended for companion animals such as cats and dogs and bovine species. In cats it is always used topically in pipette or spray format to kill and prevent external parasites, not internal ones, so to completely cover the antiparasitic spectrum You should also deworm your cat internally.
In this video we talk about deworming cats, both internal and external:
Dosage of fipronil for cats
Fipronil for cats can be found in two formats: spray and spot-on (pipettes). So how to use fipronil in cats? In any case, the most advisable thing is to go to the veterinarian to tell us how to use it correctly. In general, the dose of fipronil in pipettes, found in concentration of 10% or 25%, is 1 pipette of 0.5 ml per cat in both preparations and is used against fleas, lice and ticks such as Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Dermacentor variabilis. By eliminating fleas from these animals, it also serves as an aid in the treatment of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), a dermatological problem that occurs in some cats.
In the case of spray of fipronil, it must be applied as a sprayThis product kills fleas with a single contact and protects for 2 months against fleas and 4 weeks against ticks and lice. Each spray of this spray dispenses 0.5 ml of product and about 3 ml/kg is needed for short-haired cats and up to twice as much, 6 ml/kg, for long-haired cats. The entire surface of the cat should be sprayed evenly and against the grain , keeping the bottle at a distance of 10-20 cm from the animal. After application, it must be rubbed so that the drug penetrates the skin and can carry out its action. It should be allowed to dry naturally without using hair dryers or towels. To prevent allergic dermatitis to flea bites, a monthly application of this product is recommended.
Fipronil side effects in cats
The use of fipronil in cats is safe and effective, however, side effects such as the following can occur very sporadically:
- Hypersalivation in case of licking due to the excipient is the most frequent side effect.
- Vomiting.
- Scale, itching, alopecia or erythema at the application site.
- Neurological signs (ataxia, tremors, lethargy, seizure, hyperesthesia).
- Respiratory signs after inhalation of the product.
Fipronil overdose in cats
Safety studies have been carried out to verify the use of doses of up to 5 times the indicated dose in cats for 6 months, not observing adverse reactions in cats over 9 weeks and weighing 1 kg. However, the side effects listed above may appear more likely. In higher dosages, fipronil poisoning in cats can be dangerous, requiring veterinary assistance in order to eliminate or neutralize the poison from the cat's body.
Fipronil contraindications in cats
Contraindications for the use of fipronil in cats are as follows:
- Do not administer the 10% pipettes in cats less than 8 months old or less than 1 kg of weight.
- Do not administer 25% pipettes to cats less than 9 months old or weighing less than 1 kg.
- Do not apply to sick animals with systemic pathologies, weak or febrile states.
- Do not use in rabbits because serious adverse effects, including death, may occur.
- Do not spray on damaged skin or wounds when using fipronil spray.
- Do not use if there is hypersensitivity to any of the product's excipients.
