About Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are more than just annoying. They can cause several health issues.

Fleas

A single flea can feed on your pet for over 3 hours.

Fleas can also lead to potentially serious health risks:

• Skin problems
  Flea bites can cause flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), an allergic reaction that can lead to constant scratching, severe itching and hair loss.
• Intestinal parasites
  Ingestion of an infected flea can transmit tapeworms, one of the most common intestinal parasites seen by owners.
• Anemia
  May occur with severe flea infestations. Heavy flea infestations can even cause death.

Fleas are not just a “dog problem”

You or your dog can bring fleas home to infest your cat without you realizing it. This, plus any outside exposure can put a cat at risk for fleas.

Ticks

Repelling and killing ticks is important:

The mouth parts of a tick act like a tiny harpoon, ready to anchor into the dog or cat's skin. After they are attached and are feeding a number of organisms can enter a dog or cat's bloodstream. If a tick is repelled or killed, it cannot attach and transmit organisms that may cause disease.

1. When a tick attaches to your dog or cat, it cuts blood vessels under the skin, causing blood to pool.
2. Tick saliva contains an anticoagulent to keep the blood pool from clotting.

Ticks may also carry organisms that can cause:

• Lyme disease
  Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, and may take less than 24 to more than 48 hours from the time the tick feeds to infect the host. Most infected dogs do not develop clinical disease, but if they do signs may include: inappetence (or anorexia), arthritis, fever and swollen lymph nodes. In some cases, this disease can lead to kidney failure.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
  Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. It can be contracted 4–48 hours after being transmitted.4 Clinical signs include: lethargy, anorexia, fever, vomiting and bleeding disorders.
• Ehrlichiosis
  Generalized transmission time for Ehrlichia bacteria is 4-48 hours. There are several types of ehrlichiosis, but symptoms in dogs can include: fever, depression, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes and abnormal bleeding, such as nose bleeds.
• Cytauxzoonosis
  This cat-specific disease can kill cats within one week of the first symptoms. Treatment is rarely successful. This disease is transmitted by ticks, which is why repelling and killing ticks is important. Learn more about cytauxzoonosis here.

How Seresto works

An effective combination

Inside the unique polymer matrix of Seresto are two active ingredients:

• Imidacloprid has been used in products recommended by veterinarians for years to control flea infestations.
• Flumethrin effectively repels and kills ticks, and kills larvae and nymphs.
• Flumethrin works together with imidacloprid to provide dual action against fleas and ticks. No other treatment has this combination of ingredients.
  The active ingredients spread from the site of direct contact over the skin surface of the cat or dog.

Sustained release technology

Seresto works similarly to a monthly topical, but as the active ingredients wear off over time, a new supply is continuously replenished in low concentrations. The active ingredients spread from the site of direct contact over the skin surface.

Bayer's polymer matrix technology is designed to slowly and continuously release the active ingredients over eight months, a duration that makes it clearly different from other collars.

Seresto is water resistant

The active ingredients of Seresto are contained within the Bayer Polymer Matrix, making it water-resistant. Therefore it is unnecessary to remove the collar before the pet is immersed in water. Seresto remains effective following a shampoo treatment, swimming, or after exposure to rain or sunlight. Under normal conditions, effectiveness lasts for eight months. In order to maintain an 8-month duration, dogs must not be bathed more than once per month. For dogs that swim once a month or more, the control duration is reduced to five months.

How to Apply

Monthly flea and tick treatments can be time-consuming to apply. Plus, remembering to apply them monthly can be a hassle. Seresto takes just minutes to adjust on your dog or cat, and provides treatment that lasts eight months against fleas and ticks.

Application is easy

1. Remove collar from protective bag immediately prior to use.
2. Unroll collar and make sure that there are no remnants from the plastic connectors inside the collar.
3. Insert end of the collar through the buckle. Adjust the collar around the dog or cat’s neck without tightening it too tight (as a guide, it should be possible to insert two fingers between the collar and the neck).
4. Pull excess collar through the loop(s) and cut off any excess length extending 1 inch (2 cm) beyond the loop(s).
5. Seresto comes with three optional reflector clips that can be attached to the collar for additional visibility at night. The reflector clips should be evenly distributed on the non-overlapping part of the collar.

Make sure Seresto fits securely

As a guide, it should be possible to insert two fingers between the collar and the neck. Make sure the collar is not loose enough for the cat to put its leg through.

If your dog or cat is not used to collars

Please carefully observe your dog or cat when it’s wearing a collar for the first few days, especially when the pet is not used to wearing a collar. Try using a tasty treat, toy or other activities to distract your dog or cat’s attention from the new collar. Occasionally slight itching may be observed in animals that are not used to wearing collars in the first few days of fitting. Ensure that the collar is not fitted too tightly.

Safety-Release Mechanism

Because some pet owners may be concerned that a cat or small dog could get stuck while wearing a collar, Seresto is designed with a safety release mechanism. In the unlikely event of the cat being trapped, the cat's own strength is sufficient to widen the collar to allow for quick release.

A hard pull causes the ratchet-release mechanism to allow a widening of the collar.

The small dog and cat collars are equipped with a predetermined breaking point. A harder pull triggers the breaking of the collar at this point.

If your cat is not used to collars

If the collar feels foreign, the cat especially may scratch at it initially but should adapt in time. Offering a treat or toy after applying Seresto may be enough of a distraction to end this behavior.

Slight hair loss and mild skin reactions due to the mechanical irritation of the collar may occur at the application site, which usually recover within a week or two without the need for collar removal.

Note: Please see Product Label for important Precautionary Statements and proper Storage and Disposal.