Target Species
Cats.
Indications for Use, Specifying the Target Species
For the treatment of infestations by fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). The product shows immediate insecticidal effect and persistent insecticidal activity against new infestations by adult fleas for up to 5 weeks.
The product shows acaricidal efficacy with killing effect against ticks (Ixodes ricinus) within 48 hours.
The product has persistent acaricidal efficacy for up to 2 weeks against ticks (Dermacentor reticulatus). If ticks of this species are present when the product is applied, all ticks will not be killed within the first 48 hours but they may be killed within a week.
The product can be used as part of a treatment programme for Flea Allergy Dermatitis where this has been previously diagnosed by a Veterinary Surgeon.
Contraindications
In the absence of available data, the product should not be used on kittens less than 8 weeks old and/or weighing less than 1 kg.
Do not use on sick (systemic diseases, fever…) or convalescent animals.
Do not use in rabbits, as adverse drug reactions and even death could occur.
Do not use in cases of known hypersensitivity to fipronil or to any of the excipients.
Special Warnings for Each Target Species
The product does not prevent ticks from attaching to the animals. If the animal has been treated prior to exposure to the ticks, the ticks will start to be killed in the first 24-48 hours after attachment. This will usually be prior to engorgement, minimising but not excluding the risk of transmission of diseases. Once dead ticks will often drop off the animal but any remaining ticks may be easily removed by a gentle pull.
For optimum control of flea problems in a multi-pet household, all dogs and cats in the household should be treated with a suitable insecticide.
Avoid frequent swimming or shampooing of the animal because the maintenance of effectiveness of the product in these cases has not been tested.
There may be an attachment of ticks. For this reason transmission of infectious diseases cannot be completely excluded if conditions are unfavourable.
Fleas from pets often infest the animal’s basket, bedding and regular resting areas such as carpets and soft furnishings which should be treated, in case of massive infestation and at the beginning of the control measures, with a suitable insecticide and vacuumed regularly.
Special Precautions for Use
(i) Special precautions for use in animals
Avoid contact with the animal’s eyes. In the case of accidental eye contact immediately and thoroughly flush the eyes with water.
It is important to make sure that the product is applied to an area where the animal cannot lick it off and to make sure that animals do not lick each other following treatment.
Do not apply the product to wounds or damaged skin.
(ii) Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to the animals
This product can cause mucous membrane and eye irritation. Therefore, contact of the product with mouth and eyes should be avoided.
In case of accidental eye contact, immediately and thoroughly rinse eyes with plain water. If irritation to the eyes persists contact your doctor immediately and bring with you the package leaflet.
Avoid contents coming into contact with the fingers. If this occurs, wash hands with soap and water.
Wash hands after use.
Do not smoke, drink or eat during application.
People with a known hypersensitivity to fipronil or excipients, (see section "Pharmaceutical Particulars") should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
Treated animals should not be handled until this application site is dry, and children should not be allowed to play with treated animals until the application site is dry. It is therefore recommended that animals are not treated during the day, but should be treated during the early evening, and that recently treated animals should not be allowed to sleep with owners, especially children.
Keep pipettes in original packaging and dispose of used pipettes immediately.
This product is flammable. Keep away from heat, sparks, open flame or other sources of ignition.
(iii) Other precautions
The alcohol carrier may have adverse effects on painted, varnished or other household surfaces or furnishings.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
If licking occurs, a brief period of hypersalivation may be observed due mainly to the nature of the carrier.
The following adverse reactions are reported very rarely:
•Transient cutaneous reactions at the application site (skin discoloration, local alopecia, pruritus, erythema)
•General pruritus
•Alopecia,
•Hypersalivation,
•Reversible neurological signs (hyperaesthesia, depression, nervous signs),
•Vomiting,
•Respiratory signs
The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention:
•Very rare ( less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports)
Use During pregnancy, lactation or lay
Laboratory studies using fipronil have not shown any evidence of teratogenic or embryotoxic effects. Studies have not been carried out with this product in pregnant and lactating animals. Use in pregnancy and lactation only in accordance with professional veterinary advice and a benefit/risk assessment.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
None known.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
For external use only.
Route of administration: By topical application to the skin.
Animals should be weighed accurately prior to treatment.
Dosage: 1 pipette of 0.5 ml per cat (approximately 7.5 – 15 mg/kg).
Method of Administration: Hold upright. Tap the narrow part of the pipette to ensure the contents are within the main body of the pipette. Break back the snap-off top from the spot-on pipette along the scored line.
Part the coat between the shoulder blades until the skin is visible. Place the tip of the pipette on the skin and squeeze gently to empty its contents onto the skin, preferably at two spots, one at the base of the skull and a second 2-3 cms further back.
It is important to ensure that the product is applied to an area where the animal cannot lick it off, and to make sure that animals do not lick each other following treatment.
Care should be taken to avoid excessive wetting of the hair with the product since this will cause a sticky appearance of hairs at the treatment spot. However, should this occur, it will disappear within 24 hours post application.
For optimal control of flea and/or tick infestation the treatment schedule can be based on the local epidemiological situation.
In the absence of safety studies, the minimum treatment interval is 4 weeks.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
The toxicity of the product administered to the skin is very low. The risk of experiencing adverse effects, (see section "Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)") may however increase when overdosing, so animals should always be treated with the correct pipette size according to bodyweight.
No adverse effects were observed in target animal safety studies in 8 - 12 week old kittens, weighing 1- 2kg treated at up to five times the recommended dose. The risk of experiencing adverse effects, (see section "Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)") may however increase when overdosing, so animals should always be treated with the correct pipette size according to bodyweight.
Withdrawal Period(s)
Not applicable.