Stronghold drug for dogs. Composition and active substances. Use against external and internal parasites. Efficiency in the treatment of diseases. How to use it correctly. Is it dangerous for people and animals? Tips and recommendations for use.
Pets really need the care of their owners. We try in every possible way to please our pets, we look after them, feed them, show love and affection. But a pet also needs protection, since we cannot protect them from various parasites. It is necessary to use modern means that will protect cats and dogs while walking. A fairly well-known remedy is Stronghold, which can help every owner of furry friends.
Description of the product "Stronghold"
- A fairly well-known antiparasitic drug, which is known as an effective and efficient remedy. Used to protect animals from internal and external parasites. A big advantage is the ability to have a detrimental effect on adult parasites, as well as larvae and egg laying.
- It is very popular among buyers and has many positive reviews. If we analyze the reviews, many note the effectiveness of the drug and safety for both animals and humans. Thanks to this, it is possible to use the product on your pet and treat household items.
- The drug is produced by Pfizer. The product is intended for treating dogs and cats. You can buy it in the form of a solution. Various dosages and concentrations of the solution are available for sale. The dosage and concentration are intended for a specific type of animal, and weight is also taken into account. Available in pipettes, which are very easy and convenient to use.
- The destructive effect on parasites is due to selamectin. In addition to the active substance, the composition includes additional components that contribute to the effectiveness of the drug.
- The lowest concentration of the solution is intended for small animals, it is 6%, and a 12% solution is used for larger breeds of dogs. Regarding the cost of the drug, the price depends on the volume of the pipette and the concentration of the solution. For example, a 0.25 ml pipette. with the lowest concentration will cost 490 rubles, and the highest - 525 rubles.
Dosage by pet's weight
Stronghold is available in different packages, respectively, and their dosage is different, since the drug is suitable not only for cats, but also for dogs. In other words, depending on the weight category, each pet has its own dosage. Each dose has its own color for the convenience of the owner:
- from 2.5 15/20 mg, pink color;
- from 7.5 45/50 mg, color blue;
- from 8 or more combination of pipettes, has no color.
You should not rely on experience with other similar medications. Before applying the medicine, make sure your cat is of a certain weight category.
Dosage table
Application and mechanism of action
The active substance has a fairly wide spectrum of action, which allows it to be used against fleas, ticks, and helminths. It is used to treat diseases such as sarcoptic mange and otodectosis, and can also be used as a prophylactic substance.
Remember that only a veterinarian can diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment; it is prohibited to treat it yourself.
Important! This substance does not affect ixodid ticks!
The active substance has a detrimental effect directly on parasites. When applied to the skin of the animal, the drug is quickly absorbed and begins its effect within a day. It does not pose a danger to the animal itself, as well as to people. But you should always follow the instructions for use and observe safety precautions.
The mechanism of action is as follows: the active substance penetrates the parasite’s body and instantly affects its nervous system. This leads to paralysis of the insect, and then its death occurs.
The drug has a prolonged effect. After it is applied to the skin, the activity of the substances remains for a month. This allows you to protect the animal during this period. The activity of the substances decreases gradually.
Precautionary measures
When using Stronghold drops on the withers for cats, safety precautions are required.
- Smoking, eating and drinking water during treatment are strictly prohibited.
- If the insecticidal solution gets on the mucous membranes or skin, it must be washed off with plenty of water.
- Hand washing at the end of the process is mandatory.
- It is necessary to limit the contact of the treated pet with children within two hours from the moment of applying the insecticidal solution.
- The use of used bottles for domestic purposes is contraindicated. Empty containers can only be disposed of.
Stronghold anti-flea drops will not lose their properties if storage rules are followed. The drug should be kept in a place protected from light, at temperatures up to 30 °C. Do not store the product near food or animal feed. The drops are valid for 3 years from the date of release.
Advantages
The drug Stronghold for dogs has several advantages, which can be considered below:
- High level of efficiency. The use of the substance on infected dogs allows you to get rid of parasites in one treatment. In case of severe infections, a repeat procedure is possible; it is carried out no earlier than a month later.
- Safety. The drug is safe for humans and animals. The thing is that the active component affects the insect at the cellular level, and since people and animals have a completely different structure, it does not pose a danger. The only thing to avoid is getting the medicine into your mouth. This can cause negative consequences in the form of diarrhea.
- Versatility. One medicine can rid and protect your dog from many external and internal parasites.
- Prolonged action. This way you can protect your dog from harmful insects for a month.
- Without smell. It’s also a big advantage because you don’t have to worry about your dog rubbing against clothes or furniture and leaving an unpleasant odor trail.
- Easy to use. The medicine is packaged in pipettes, which are easy and convenient to use. There is no need to prepare any solutions, force them to swallow pills, which they don’t like so much, or give vaccinations, which are very scary for dogs.
Regarding the disadvantages, it is certainly worth noting that the medicine is ineffective against the ixodid tick. Another disadvantage is the cost, which cannot be called low, but the effectiveness and reliability of the drug absolutely justify it.
Pros and cons of flea drops for dogs
Insecticidal drops applied to the withers have the following advantages:
- eliminate parasites 2 days after application;
- give the pet protection from re-infestation for 4-6 weeks;
- combine disinsection with deworming;
- repel ixodid ticks, which are carriers of infectious diseases;
- cure ear scabies, sarcoptic mange, demodicosis;
- protect humans from zooanthroponotic diseases.
Dog breeders note the following disadvantages of insectoacaricidal drops:
- high price;
- For a large dog, the drug should be applied to 3-4 places;
- You cannot treat several animals at once: they will lick each other and get poisoned.
The advantages of insectoacaricidal drops on the withers for dogs outweigh the disadvantages.
Application of the product
The drug is accompanied by instructions for use, which provide complete information regarding the disease and use.
The medicine allows you to quickly and effectively get rid of:
- Ear scabies. One application is enough to get rid of pathogens.
- Sarcoptic mange. This disease is caused by ticks; in its treatment, the medicine is used 2 times. Already after the first application, positive results are noticeable; reapply a month later.
- Dirofilariasis. The carrier of this infection is mosquitoes, which through their bite infect the animal with heartworm nematodes. The medicine kills not only adults, but also gets rid of larvae and eggs.
The medicine has also proven its effectiveness in the treatment of toxocariasis, a disease that is also dangerous for humans, hookworm infection, and entomosis.
The medicine does not contain essential oils, which in this case is an advantage. Because it allows it to be absorbed into the skin much faster, which means it begins to act faster.
Proper Use
The procedure for using the medicine, namely its application to the skin, is a rather important step. The first thing to remember is that you should not let the animal lick the drug. Second, it is applied only to those areas of the skin that the dog cannot reach with his tongue.
So, this is done as follows. To avoid any difficulties during the procedure, it is advisable to carry it out with someone, especially if the dog is very mobile. One simply controls her movements, preventing her from running and spinning. With the second, with one hand, in the area of the withers and further along the ridge, unrolls the fur and with the other hand applies drops directly to the skin. It is applied from the head down the ridge to a place that the dog cannot reach.
If the drug is used as a treatment for a disease, it is used according to the instructions and recommendations of the doctor, once or twice with an interval of at least 1 month. Application as a prophylactic agent is carried out every month.
When using the drug, the weight of the dog must be taken into account. If you use a medicine of the wrong concentration, for example, less than required, then the desired effect will not be achieved. If, on the contrary, you use a higher concentration than required, you can harm the animal itself.
What is the drug for?
Stronghold drops for cats with Selamectin are used to prevent and treat the following diseases:
- Entomosis
is a disease caused by fleas, lice and lice. If an animal continually scratches and chews itself, refuses food, sleeps restlessly, then the problem may lie precisely in entomosis. Although even without these symptoms, the presence of bloodsuckers can be seen with the naked eye. If the disease is not treated, cats may develop anemia, allergies, and exhaustion. Parasites are carriers of a number of infectious diseases (for example, distemper, rabies, brucellosis, and many others); - Dirofilariasis
is a disease caused by the nematode Dirofilariasis. The eggs and larvae of the parasites enter the lungs, heart and veins of the cat after a mosquito bite. Symptoms of dirofilariasis are shortness of breath, disheveled and falling out hair, bluish mucous membranes, lethargy. Very often, when a cat gets sick, it is diagnosed with myocardial dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Unfortunately, if treatment is untimely, the cat dies from intoxication with waste products of worms; - Otodectes
is a disease caused by the bite of the ear mite Otodectes cynotis. The parasite lives not only in the cat’s ear, but also in the ear canal and reaches the eardrum. Signs of the disease are fever, severe itching, purulent discharge from the ear. If timely treatment is not received, the tick penetrates the brain, which leads to the death of the pet; - Sarcoptosis
is an infection of the cat's body by the subcutaneous Sarcoptes mite. Symptoms of the disease are dry, inflamed skin with hard crusts, itching, scratching up to deep wounds, alopecia, refusal to eat. Often, against the background of sarcoptic mange, a cat develops sepsis; - Hookworm infection
is a helminthic infestation caused by the worms Ancylostoma tubaeforme and Ancylostoma braziliense, which parasitize the intestines of cats. Symptoms of hookworm infection include weight loss, inflamed skin, and unkempt coat. In young individuals, the disease can cause anemia; - Toxocariasis
is the presence of worms of the genus Toxocara cati in the intestines, gastrointestinal tract, liver and even the heart of a cat. Symptoms of toxocariasis are cough, increased or absent appetite, perversion of taste preferences, intestinal disorders, dull, brittle coat. If there are too many worms, the animal may have a very bloated abdomen.
Contraindications
Of course, like all other drugs, Strongholde has contraindications that must be taken into account, otherwise the medicine will not be beneficial, but rather will harm your health.
Do not use in the following cases:
- If the dog is very weakened;
- If you have other infectious diseases;
- Other diseases;
- Malnutrition;
- Puppies that are under 2 months of age;
- Intolerance to components.
Owner reviews
Most dog owners have left positive reviews of the flea drops.
Buyers who gave a negative rating noted the following shortcomings:
- Stronghold, Advantix, Advocate, Frontline are expensive;
- Inspector drops did not eliminate skin itching;
- IN-AP is not effective against ticks;
- Dana Ultra and Bars do not help, side effects occur after their use.
Reviews from dog owners about the effect of insecticides are subjective, but the most complaints are made against the drugs Bars and Dana Ultra. There are no complaints about the drugs Stronghold and Advantix, except for their high cost.
If you really love your dog, then we recommend reading about the use of fish oil for dogs on the advice of veterinarians or finding out what holistic food is and the rating of these foods.
Side effects
If mistakes were made when using the medicine, when contraindications were not taken into account, or the dosage and concentration were incorrectly selected, the drug can cause:
- Severe itching;
- Unpleasant, painful sensations appear at the application sites;
- The appearance of allergies;
- Salivation increases, foam appears;
- Pupils enlarge;
- Breathing is impaired;
- The appearance of seizures.
If your dog exhibits any symptoms, immediately contact a veterinary clinic.
special instructions
Cat owners should read special instructions. They will help to avoid unwanted consequences and achieve maximum results from applying the medication:
- After applying the drops, do not allow the animal to be near a fire or operating stove. The wool must be completely dry.
- When treating leather, do not smoke, drink alcohol, or eat food - the substance is poisonous.
- After applying the drops, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
- Within 2 hours after using the medicine, the animal should not come into contact with small children. Prohibit children from petting, washing or kissing the cat.
- If the product comes into contact with human skin, rinse the affected area thoroughly with clean water.
- After using the product, empty pipettes should not be used in everyday life. Containers should be thrown away.
Security measures
Despite the fact that the substance is not dangerous for people and pets, some safety precautions must be observed:
- After use, be sure to wash your hands with soap.
- When the medicine is applied to the body, do not let your pets lick or scratch themselves for an hour.
- Also, do not let animals play with children for an hour.
If the substance was used to treat furniture or other things, it must be completely dry. Make sure that the stronghold does not get into the oral cavity.
It is advisable to purchase the medicine immediately before use, since storage conditions are very important. It should not be stored in the light, and in order to be exposed to sunlight, the temperature should not be higher than +3°. Avoid contact with food and animal feed.
How should it be stored?
There are no instructions in the middle of the drug itself, so all important information can be found on the packaging. How to store this medicine:
- storage in a dark, non-humid place;
- without removing from the box;
- a very important point is to store away from food;
- temperature regime - from 3 to 30 degrees;
- out of the reach of children.
Shelf life is about 3 years.
Stronghold
Answers on questions
Write questions in the comments, the section is constantly updated with information.
How long does the drug last?
The effect of Stronghold lasts for a month.
What analogues are there?
Analogs are better than Stronghold*:
| A drug | Why is it better? | Price, rub |
| Inspector | Can be used from 3 weeks. Works against internal and external parasites, including ixodid ticks. Great option! | From 300 to 500 per pipette depending on weight. |
| Advantix | A wide range of protection against external parasites - in addition to fleas and ticks, ixodid ticks, mosquitoes and mosquitoes are added to this list. This is the best choice if you want to treat your animal only for ectoparasites. Does not work against helminths. | 350-550 |
| Advocate | It differs from stronghold only in more modern active ingredients. | 450-700 |
| Frontline Three Act | Protects against 18 types of external parasites, is safe when licked and overdoses more than 5 times. A good product if you want to focus on flea and tick treatment. Does not work on helminths. | 480-730 |
Required reading:
Review of 30 drugs for ear mites
Review of 17 deciduous for dogs
Analogues are worse*:
| A drug | Why is it worse? | Price, rub |
| Fiprist Spot it | Does not affect internal parasites; the spectrum of action on external parasites is very narrow. | 250-500 rubles per pipette depending on weight |
| Celandine Bio | It contains a composition of essential oils, which does not work against parasites in principle; the purpose of this drug is to calm the owner. | 80 |
| Dironet Spot it | Despite a fairly wide spectrum of action on internal and external parasites, we do not think it is a safe drug, since it contains outdated active ingredients. | 95 |
* subjective opinion based on personal work experience.
When can I wash it?
Stronghold acts through the systemic circulation and is not distributed throughout the lipid layer of the skin. Approximately 30 minutes after application, the drug is completely absorbed into the blood, so you can safely wash your dog or cat without losing the effect of the product after two hours.
