Credelio for cats is a product against fleas and ticks that can be administered once a month. Although antiparasitics are used regularly by caregivers without consulting professionals, the truth is that they are still drugs with indications for use and contraindications that make their prescription by the veterinarian essential.
In this article on our site we explain how credelio works and what to consider before using it.
What is credelio?
Credelio for cats is a veterinary medicine whose active ingredient is lotilaner It is a pure enantiomer of the isoxaolin class. It has activity against fleas and ticks and this manifests itself four hours after its administration, which is when it achieves a peak concentration in the blood. Therefore, it is a drug that is included within the broad group of antiparasitics.
In this case, it is an ectoparasiticide for systemic use, which means that it manages to eliminate external parasites, those that survive on the skin or in the hair of animals, after ingestion of the drug. Fleas on the cat will die within 8 hours. For their part, ticks are eliminated within 18 hours of adhesion.
The duration of its effect against these parasites is one month, so, after that period, its administration must be repeated and it must be maintained throughout the year or, at least, for the duration of the season with the highest incidence of the parasites against which it acts.
The active ingredient in credelium works when parasites feed, as they ingest it with the cat's blood, killing them by affecting their nervous system. This gets out of control, paralyzes and ends up causing death. The advantage it offers is that it kills fleas before they can lay eggs, which serves to reduce environmental contamination by breaking the life cycle of the parasite. On the contrary, ticks could transmit diseases to the cat, given the time it takes for the product to eliminate them and the need for them to feed in order to ingest the credelium. Fleas could also spread pathologies to the cat when they feed.
What is credelium used for in cats?
Credelio can be prescribed by the veterinarian when the cat is infested with external parasites, specifically fleas of the Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis species or Ixodes ricinus ticks. Therefore, credelium for cats with mites is only useful if the infestation is due to ticks. For other mites, consult your veterinarian.
Due to its anti-flea effects, it can be part of the treatment against these parasites when the cat suffers from DAPP, which is flea-bite allergic dermatitisFor the product to have an effect, we insist, the parasite must bite the cat and feed on its blood.
Don't miss our articles on how to identify the presence of fleas and ticks in cats and eliminate them:
- How to get rid of fleas on cats?
- Ticks on cats - Symptoms and how to remove them
Dose of credelium for cats
Credelio is marketed in chewable tablets for oral administration that can be offered to the cat with food or within thirty minutes afterward. It is very important that this administration schedule is followed, otherwise the medication may not be as effective as it should be.
They are round, brownish-white tablets with brown spots. They come in various formats depending on the weight of the cat, since the dosage depends on this information. Thus, we can find credelio of 12 mg for cats weighing between half a kg and 2 kg. For larger cats, weighing between 2 and 8 kg, there is credelio 48 mg. If the cat weighs more than these 8 kg, the dose will be adjusted by combining several tablets to get as close as possible to its weight, taking into account that the recommended dose ranges between 6 and 24 mg per kg
It will be the veterinarian who establishes the most appropriate dose for our cat, so we do not recommend administering credelio, or any other drug, without his consent
Contraindications of credelium for cats
Administration of credelio is not recommended for tick infestations in kittens less than five months old of age, as no available Sufficient data to support its effectiveness. In any case, the product cannot be given to cats less than eight weeks old or less than half a kilo in weight, unless the veterinarian, assessing the risks and benefits, decide what's right for you.
There are also not enough studies to support the safety of using credelio in cats that are pregnant or lactating. Therefore, if we take care of a cat in these circumstances, we must refer to the decision made by the veterinarian. Of course, credelio cannot be given to cats that have previously shown hypersensitivity to the active ingredient lotilaner.
Side Effects of Credelium for Cats
To date, no adverse secondary reaction attributable to the consumption of credelio has been identified. It is therefore considered a drug with high levels of safety. It has also not been determined to react with any veterinary medicinal product.
