Imidacloprid

Why has my veterinarian prescribed this medicine?

Imidacloprid is a topical insecticidal agent prescribed by your veterinarian to treat fleas on dogs, cats and rabbits. It can also help in control of allergic skin disorders due to fleas. You may also need to use a product to kill fleas in the animal’s environment.

How does this medicine work?

Imidacloprid interferes with receptors in the nervous system of lice and fleas, which leads to their subsequent paralysis and death.

How do I give this medication?

- Apply this medication to your pet as directed by your veterinarian. READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY.

- DO NOT apply more medication than directed and DO NOT apply more often than directed.

- Keep the product away from your and your pet’s mouth and eyes.

- Have a reminder system in place to indicate when the next dose should be given.

- Recently treated animals should not groom each other.

- Wash your hands after handling the medication and do not stroke or groom animals until application site is dry (about 1 hour).

What if I miss giving a dose?

Apply the dose as soon as possible. Contact your veterinarian if you have missed applying the dose by more than a few days. Do not apply two doses at once.

How do I store and dispose of this medicine?

Keep this medicine out of reach of children. Store this medicine in a cool, dry place at less than 25°C. Store away from heat, open flame, direct sunlight, food and drink. Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink or in damp places. The medicine may break down if exposed to heat or moisture. Dispose of empty packaging in your household waste.

Potential side effects

- The drug is very bitter and your pet may salivate (drool) if the animal licks the area where the medication was applied immediately after treatment.

- Tell your veterinarian if your puppy or kitten is less than 8 weeks of age or your rabbit is less than 10 weeks of age.

- Although a drug has possible side effects, it does not mean that there is necessarily a high risk of any of these occurring. If you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinarian.

Possible drug interactions

- Make sure to tell your veterinarian what other medication you are giving to your pet.

- Quite often your veterinarian may prescribe two different medications, even if a drug interaction may occur. In this case, your veterinarian may vary the dose and/or monitor your pet more closely.

- Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences any unusual reactions when different medications are given together.