Pesticide
Permethrin Spot-On Flea Products
Emergency. Seizures can begin within hours and can be fatal without treatment.
Life-threateningCats
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What to do right now
- 1.Wash the cat with lukewarm water and mild dish soap
- 2.Go to an emergency vet immediately
- 3.Take the product packaging with you
Symptoms
- Muscle tremors
- Twitching
- Seizures
- Hypersalivation
- High body temperature
Details
- Category
- Pesticide
- Toxicity
- Life-threatening
- Species affected
- Cats
- Routes of exposure
- Applying a dog flea treatment to a cat, or a cat grooming a recently treated dog
- Urgency
- Emergency. Seizures can begin within hours and can be fatal without treatment.
Veterinary notes and prevention
Treatment includes decontamination, muscle relaxants and intravenous lipid emulsion. Always check that flea products are licensed for cats and keep treated dogs separated until dry.
Quick answers
- Is permethrin flea treatment safe for cats?
- No. Dog spot-on flea products containing permethrin can cause serious tremors and seizures in cats, even from close contact with a recently treated dog. Use only products labelled for cats, and contact a vet urgently if exposure occurs. International Cat Care
Prepare the information your vet needs
- For Permethrin Spot-On Flea Products, report the exposure route: Applying a dog flea treatment to a cat, or a cat grooming a recently treated dog. Tell the clinic the time, possible amount and your pet's species and approximate weight.
- Photograph the packaging, ingredient list or plant if safe. Do not handle contaminated material without protection or delay the call to identify it perfectly.
- Keep other animals away from the source. An animal may appear normal before signs develop; do not wait for symptoms or calculate a home 'safe dose'.
- Follow the clinic's transport instructions. Do not give food, medicines or home remedies unless instructed, and take packaging with you if available.
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Guidance libraries and further reading
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