Every day, our cats and dogs are susceptible to attack by parasites such as fleas, ticks, mites, lice, flies and mosquitoes which, in addition to causing direct mechanical-irritative damage and allergic dermatitis to the bite of the In the case of fleas, they can also cause indirect damage through the transmission of microorganisms and internal parasites responsible for diseases such as leishmaniasis, ehrlichiosis, heartworm disease, intestinal taeniasis, feline infectious anemia, Lyme disease or anaplasmosis, among others.
Continue reading this article on our site to find out pipettes, collars and antiparasitic sprays as preventive antiparasitic methods in dogs and cats and know which one to choose.
How do worm collars work?
The antiparasitic collars are presented in the form of a collar for dogs and cats, which can be used together with their usual collars and can even get wet occasionally. Its effect is produced after the constant absorption of small doses of active ingredients that are diffused through skin fat and hair, allowing transmission throughout the body surface. In this way, our pets will be protected for several months.
Deworming collars, at a minimum, release a repellent or insecticide product, such as imidacloprid, which treats and prevents fleas and allergic dermatitis that they can produce, as well as lice. They can also carry a pyrethroid such as flumethrin, with acaricidal and preventive activity against mites and ticks. Another product is deltamethrin, with a broad spectrum and great repellent action against mosquitoes that transmit leishmaniasis (Phlebotomus perniciosus) and heartworm disease or dirofilariosis (Culex pipiens complex).
How do antiparasitic pipettes work?
The antiparasitic pipettes contain an antiparasitic liquid that must be applied to an area where the animal cannot reach, such as the skin of the neck or from the interscapular area, where the product will penetrate the skin and be distributed for a few weeks to repel ectoparasites, including mosquitoes. It is important not to bathe them two days before and two days after of applying the product to guarantee its effectiveness.
These pipettes can combine active ingredients such as:
- Fipronil: which alters the nervous system of insects and fights all ectoparasites.
- Methoprene: which inhibits the growth of fleas.
- Permethrin: which is used only in dogs as an insecticide and repellent and is not used in cats due to its high toxicity and imidacloprid that we have discussed before. If you want to know more, don't hesitate to read this other article about Permethrin in dogs: its uses, dosage and side effects.
How do deworming sprays work?
Antiparasitic sprays are the most immediate, since the liquid is sprayed against the grain by gently massaging the entire surface with gloves of the dog or cat to kill the existing parasites at that time. In cats, it is better to spray it in our hands and caress them against the grain, since the sound tends to stress them out.
It is common that they carry fipronil, a broad-spectrum insecticide that acts by contact, producing hyperexcitation of the neurons of ectoparasites such as fleas, lice and ticks with great residual power after application. Here you can find more information about Fipronil for cats.
Comparison between pipettes, antiparasitic collars and sprays
The longer duration of the preventive effect is given by the antiparasitic collars, which can even reach 8 months, depending on the product and the parasite. On the other hand, pipettes last from two to six weeks, although some can last up to three months, and antiparasitic sprays can prevent flea infestation for up to two months and ticks and lice for only one month, as well as being more expensive to apply.
However, Deworming sprays are the only that can be used on young puppies, from the second day of life, while collars should not be used in dogs under two months and pipettes in those under nine months, but keep in mind that sprays do not end with larvae, requiring the use of pipettes or collars.
We must bear in mind that if we live in areas where there is a higher incidence of leishmaniasis or heartworm disease, it would be very useful to place an antiparasitic collar or a pipette with good action against mosquitoes transmitters.
Depending on the time of year an antiparasitic collar alone or combined use with monthly pipettes will suffice, as occurs in spring and summer. This factor must be considered especially in dogs that spend a lot of time in fields and outdoors due to the presence of a greater number of parasites.
Although they do not leave the house, in cats we must also prevent parasitization with collars or pipettes at least every three months. If the cat goes outside, prevention should be more exhaustive, with collars along with pipettes monthly or every two months.
