Parasite Control to Overcome Every Owner Objection

Compliance issues may stem from owner forgetfulness, a mistaken belief that the problem is resolved, dissatisfaction with the price or convenience of available preventives, and/or owner perception that preventive application or pilling compromises the human–animal bond. Medical concerns (eg, food allergies, sensitive stomachs) may also limit preventive options for some pets. Seresto® is one treatment option that can help overcome these obstacles while also maintaining the efficacy needed to combat diseasecarrying fleas and ticks.

Seresto® is a slow-release imidacloprid/flumethrin collar marketed for both dogs and cats that kills and repels fleas and ticks for 8 continuous months, with multiple laboratory and field studies demonstrating its efficacy.^2-5 It does not contain permethrin, deltamethrin, or amitraz, ingredients contraindicated in cats.⁵ Its slow, controlled-release technology ensures the active ingredients are distributed over the skin and hair in low yet effective doses, avoiding peak concentrations.^2,5,6

Due to the 8-month duration of protection, pet owners are not required to make monthly preventive purchases or remember timely monthly preventive administration. Imidacloprid/flumethrin can also alleviate potential owner concerns regarding the characteristics of some topical preventives (eg, oils, odor).² In addition, imidacloprid/flumethrin is labeled for both cats and dogs and does not have drying time requirements or any restrictions regarding separating animals after application as with some other preventives.²

Imidacloprid/flumethrin provides an important additional option against fleas and a wide variety of tick species. Imidacloprid/flumethrin is labeled to kill and repel the 4 major tick species that infest dogs and cats in the United States, including Amblyomma americanum, the vector of Cytauxzoon felis.⁷ In a study of cats, imidacloprid/flumethrin was shown to be 100% effective against Cytauxzoon felis-infected A americanum ticks and is the only flea and tick preventive for cats specifically labeled to kill and repel this tick species.⁷

Unlike oral and topical isoxazolines, which circulate systemically in the bloodstream, imidacloprid/flumethrin spreads over the surface of the pet’s skin, killing fleas and ticks through contact.^2,5,8 Because isoxazolines distribute ingredients in the bloodstream, fleas and ticks must break skin first and feed on blood before they can be killed. As fleas and ticks encounter imidacloprid/flumethrin, however, they become irritated and ataxic, attempting to leave the pet before dying.⁶ In addition to killing fleas and ticks, imidacloprid/flumethrin also repels them. Repellency is important because if a flea or tick is repelled, it cannot bite and subsequently transmit diseases such as borreliosis, anaplasmosis, and cytauxzoonosis.

Imidacloprid/flumethrin has a fast speed of kill, killing and repelling fleas within 24 hours of application, with new or reinfesting fleas being killed and repelled within 2 hours thereafter.^6,7,9 This speed kills fleas before they can lay eggs, a critical component to eliminating flea infestations.^6,9 Imidacloprid/flumethrin also kills and repels ticks within 48 hours of application, with new ticks being killed and repelled within 6 hours thereafter, killing ticks through contact often before they have a chance to bite.

Seresto® enables objectives of flea and tick prevention—including cost efficiency, ease of application, efficacy, speed of kill, and duration of effect—to be met, thereby meeting the needs of more owners and patients and making flea and tick prevention a viable option for every owner.

©2020 Bayer, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201. Bayer and Seresto are registered trademarks of Bayer. S20264