Leopard for cats is considered by some to be ordinary flea drops, but the spectrum of action of this medicine is much wider. It is used against mites, scabies parasites, as ear drops, and against lice. Bars drops are also an excellent means of preventing accidental infections of pets from ectoparasites.
Let's figure out how the product works and what dosage is required for cats.
Composition and pharmacological properties.
The drug contains fipronil, diflubenzuron - an insect growth regulator and excipients, including citronella essential oil. It has pronounced insectoacaricidal activity against larval and mature phases of development of fleas, lice, lice, ixodid and sarcoptic ticks, and also has a repellent effect.
After cutaneous application of the drug, fipronil and diflubenzuron, which are included in its composition, are practically not absorbed into the systemic bloodstream, accumulate in the epidermis, hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the animal’s body and have a long-term contact and intestinal insectoacaricidal effect.
The mechanism of action of fipronil is to disrupt the transmission of nerve impulses, which leads to paralysis and death of insects and ticks. The insect growth regulator disrupts the synthesis of chitin in parasites and thus breaks their life cycle.
How to use drops against ixodid ticks
Unlike other parasites, ixodid ticks are more likely to attach to dogs. However, cats are also at risk. The parasite gets onto the animal's fur and skin from grass or ground, sometimes from a tree or low bush.
Ixodid ticks are active from March to October. At this time, the ground is not covered with snow and has an acceptable temperature for the parasite. If the winter is warm, then this type of arachnid is active all year round.
To protect cats from ixodid ticks, insectoacaricidal treatment must be carried out every month. This applies to animals that go outside for walks. At home, infection with ixodid ticks is unlikely.
If prevention was not carried out on time, ticks can be found on the pet’s body. In this case, the use of Bars drops has its own peculiarities. It is necessary to carefully move the fur apart. A few drops of the medicine should be applied directly to the tick.
After half an hour, the parasite should die and fall off on its own. If this does not happen, you need to take special tweezers and unscrew the tick counterclockwise. It is important that the parasite comes out with the head. Otherwise, inflammation may occur.
After the tick has fallen off or been twisted out with tweezers, you need to contact a veterinarian. The cat could become infected with diseases carried by this parasitic arachnid species.
Doses and order of application.
Apply by droplet application to dry, intact skin once. The duration of the protective effect of the drug lasts for 1–2 months.
The drug is applied to places inaccessible to licking by animals: on the skin at several points in the back, between the shoulder blades or in the neck at the base of the skull in doses indicated in the table.
Taking into account the type and weight of the animal being treated, dropper pipettes of the required volume or combinations thereof are selected and the drug is used in the doses indicated in the table.
| Type of animal, weight | Dose per animal: drug, ml/active ingredients, mg Volume/number of pipettes used |
| Bars Forte drops for kittens against fleas and ticks: | |
| Up to 1 kg | 0.5 ml/5 mg fipronil, 0.5 mg diflubenzuron 0.5 ml/ 1 pipette |
Repeated treatments of animals are carried out according to indications, but not more than once a month.
In order to prevent re-infestation by fleas, the animals' bedding is replaced or treated with an insecticidal agent in accordance with the instructions for its use.
To destroy ixodid ticks on the body of an animal, the drug in the amount of 1 drop is applied to the tick and the place of its attachment to the skin. If within 20-30 minutes the tick does not fall off spontaneously, then it is carefully pulled out of the body with tweezers and destroyed.
You should not wash or bathe the animal in natural bodies of water for 48 hours after treatment, or apply the drug to wet or damaged skin.
Flea Drops Application Guide
The medicine is distributed throughout the fat layer, which is located on top of the skin.
Therefore, the animal cannot be bathed 3 days before and 3 days after treatment. Otherwise, the fat layer may be washed away, the drops will have nothing to distribute or they will be washed away.
For cats, flea treatment is applied in the following order:
- The pipette is opened. To do this, its tip is broken or cut off with scissors.
- The fur on the withers is parted with your fingers to provide access to the skin. In this case, the animal’s head should be fixed.
- The required amount of the drug is applied to the withers. For cats of large breeds, medicine is also dripped between the shoulder blades.
- The area to which the drug was applied is well massaged. This helps the drops absorb faster and distribute evenly.
Before applying the medicine, you need to make sure that the fur is dry and clean, and that there are no wounds, scratches, etc. on the skin. Otherwise, the pet will be in pain and allergic reactions are possible.
If it snows or rains, then the animal should not be allowed outside for 5 hours from the moment of treatment. The drops will not yet have time to be completely absorbed, so they may wash off.
For 3 weeks after treatment, it is not recommended to bathe the cat using shampoo, soap, etc. Washing may weaken the protective effect of the insectoacaricidal agent.
Types of insectoacaricidal drops Bars and their differences
This is a product for external use with an oily consistency and a yellowish color. Fights fleas, scabies and ticks, lice and lice and protects the animal from their attacks. Available in doses of 0.5 and 1.0 ml in plastic dropper pipettes, packaged in 1–4 servings.
The advantage of drops over other forms is their ease of use - for a lasting result, it is enough to treat your pet’s skin once. Drops are available in three varieties:
Leopard for cats
Active components: fipronil (10 mg/ml), diflubenzuron (1 mg/ml) and dicarboximide (MGK-264) (1 mg/ml), as well as excipients. The synergistic properties of dicarboximide make it possible to achieve high efficiency and safety with a low concentration of active substances.
Suitable for cats older than eight weeks. Different volumes of pipettes help to select the dose depending on the weight of the animal.
Bars Forte for cats
The composition includes fipronil, diflubenzuron and additional components, including zintorella essential oil. This is a repellent whose smell repels insects, including flying ones. It has a lower fipronil content - 0.5 mg/ml.
Available in 1 ml pipettes, the package contains 3 pieces. The individual dose is calculated based on the cat’s weight; 0.1 mg of the drug is required per 1 kg. Used from 10 weeks of age.
Bars Forte for kittens
A product with the same composition, but has a smaller volume of pipettes, which allows you to treat a kitten of small weight. Suitable for babies aged from two to ten weeks. One package contains 3 pipettes of 0.5 ml.
Precautionary measures
Bars drops cannot be called absolutely safe for humans. If you are hypersensitive to the components, skin irritation and allergic reactions cannot be ruled out. Before contacting insecticide, take care of your own safety.
- Do not smoke, eat or drink during the procedure.
- Avoid petting the treated animal and keeping it away from small children until the liquid has completely dried.
- After the procedure, wash your hands thoroughly.
- If you are hypersensitive to the components, wear gloves.
- Keep any remaining pipettes out of reach of children.
- It is prohibited to use empty packaging for household purposes; it must be thrown away.
- If you have a negative reaction to contact, consult a doctor, taking with you the instructions or packaging with a label.
special instructions
When handling the drug, you should use rubber gloves, especially if you have abrasions and other skin damage on your hands. During treatment, drinking, smoking and eating are prohibited. Do not pet the animal or allow it near small children for 24 hours after using the drug. If the product gets on the skin or mucous membranes, it must be washed off immediately with a stream of water or removed with a swab and then rinsed with water. At the end of the treatment, hands should be washed thoroughly with warm water and soap.
Indications for use
The drug is used for the treatment and prevention of cats of different ages. The manufacturer's line includes drops for adult pets and children. The last one must be more than 10 weeks old.
The condition of the animal can be assessed by observing it. Animals that suffer from ticks and fleas are restless. They wash themselves more often than usual, constantly scratch themselves and shake their heads. Traces of vital activity of parasites are found on the fur and undercoat.
Discomfort is not the only problem that parasites can cause. The use of Bars drops for cats is often due to:
- Anemia;
- Helminthiasis;
- Neurosis;
- Paralysis;
- Dermatitis;
- Otodectosis (ear scabies).
Insects often become carriers of these diseases. In their advanced form, they can be fatal. Prevention is required for all pets going outside.
“Bars” eye drops for cats treat and prevent keratitis, blepharitis and conjunctivitis.
Effect of the drug
Fipronil is an insecticide that has a destructive effect on the nervous system of pests. It blocks the functioning of nerve impulses. Paralysis occurs, resulting in the death of insects.
- Diflubenzuron slows down vital processes in the parasite's body, dicarboximide activates the insecticide.
- The drops easily penetrate the sebaceous glands, epidermis and hair follicles.
- It is impossible to detect the drug in the blood when taking a standard set of tests; it does not enter the blood.
Drops penetrate the body when biting the skin. Contrary to popular belief, pests do not die immediately. At least 7 hours must pass from the moment the composition is applied. "Leopard" destroys not only adults, but also larvae. The duration of the beneficial effect of the drug is due to the fact that it is not washed off with water.
Side effects
If you follow the dosage and follow the developer's recommendations, there are usually no negative reactions. In case of individual intolerance to the components of the drug, complications arise in the form of excessive salivation, lacrimation, decreased appetite, and vomiting.
The same symptoms are observed when the dosage is exceeded or liquid gets inside; there may be muscle tremors. If such phenomena occur, you cannot continue treatment; wash the cat with shampoo. After this, contact your veterinarian for treatment. In case of contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, rinse them with plenty of water.
Side effects and contraindications
If the owner follows the veterinarian's instructions and the recommendations listed in the instructions for use, the pet will not feel discomfort.
The risk of an allergic reaction to the components of the drug is minimal. This is confirmed by reviews of Bars drops for cats.
The presence of individual intolerance to the composition is indicated by the appearance of the following symptoms:
- Skin irritation;
- Tremor of the limbs;
- lacrimation;
- Excessive salivation;
- Nausea and vomiting.
In this case, the animal should be bathed. If his health does not improve, he will have to consult a specialist.
The list of contraindications is quite extensive:
- Last month of pregnancy;
- Serious damage to the skin;
- Lactation period;
- Allergy to components of the composition;
- Age up to 2 months;
- Weakened immunity.
The price of Bars drops for cats varies from 120 to 150 rubles per package. It usually lasts for a season. “Bars-Forte” for kittens is a little more expensive (from 250 rubles). The drugs from this line are not only affordable, but also highly effective. With their help you can protect your pets from various parasites.
