Commonly
Asked Questions about BIO SPOT®
Spot-On Flea and Tick Control for Dogs
How
does Bio Spot Flea & Tick Control
for Dogs differ from other flea and tick
control products?
Bio Spot for Dogs contains both an insecticide (permethrin) to kill and repel
adult fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, AND a long lasting insect growth regulator
(Nylar®) to prevent flea eggs and larvae from developing
into biting adults. It has activity against BOTH adult fleas and flea eggs,
as well as ticks and mosquitoes, all in an easy to apply, spot-on dispenser.
How
does permethrin work?
Permethrin is a synthetic relative of natural pyrethrins; however, it is much
more stable on your pet and more active on insects. Both permethrin and natural
pyrethrins work by disrupting the insect's nervous system. Products containing
permethrin should NEVER be used on cats or ferrets as they are sensitive to
this compound.
How
does Nylar work?
Nylar mimics an insect hormone involved in egg hatching and maturation of the
immature insect to the adult stage. When exposed to Nylar, insect eggs fail
to hatch and larvae fail to molt properly; therefore, they die before becoming
biting adults. Nylar does not kill adult insects.
How
does Bio Spot for Dogs break the flea life
cycle?
Other spot-on products kill only one life stage. Bio Spot for Dogs kills flea
eggs, larvae, and adults. Since the eggs are killed, fleas will not develop
into biting adults and the life cycle is broken.
How
effective is Bio Spot for Dogs? How long
will it last?
Bio Spot for Dogs kills and repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitos. Test results
show that 92% of adult fleas are controlled within 24 hours of application,
with control rising to nearly 100% within a few days. Bio Spot for Dogs kills
and repels adult fleas, brown dog ticks, and American dog ticks for up to four
weeks. It kills and repels deer ticks (carrier of Lyme disease) for up to four
weeks. It prevents blood feeding by mosquitoes (vector of heartworm) for up
to four weeks. It also kills flea eggs and larvae for up to 123 days!
How
is Bio Spot for Dogs applied?
Bio Spot for Dogs comes in convenient 1 and 3 month packaging. Holding tube
with notched end pointing up and away from face and body, snap off narrow end
of tube at notches. Invert tube over dog and use open end to part dog's hair,
squeeze tube firmly to apply all of the solution to the dog's skin. For dogs
15 lbs. and under, apply one tube (1 mL) as a spot or stripe between the shoulder
blades. For dogs between 15 and 33 lbs., one tube (1.5 mL) should be applied
as a spot or stripe between the shoulder blades. For dogs 33 Ibs.and over,
half of the 3 mL tube (1.5 mL) should be applied between the shoulder blades
as a spot or stripe; apply the rest of the 3 mL tube's contents (1.5 mL) to
the dog's back as a spot or stripe directly in front of the base of the tail.
Or, apply the entire tube (3.0 mL) as a continuous stripe on the dog's back,
starting between the shoulder blades and ending directly in front of the base
of the tail.
How
is Bio Spot for Dogs distributed over the
dog's body?
The ingredients in Bio Spot for Dogs dissolve into the natural oily layers
of your dog's coat and skin. They move around your dog's coat by several processes
including diffusion and capillary action, and transfer from hair to hair as
your pet moves. Efficacy trials show that Bio Spot for Dogs spreads quickly
enough through a dog's coat to produce 92% control of adult fleas within the
first 24 hours following application.
Is
Bio Spot for Dogs a potential hazard to
other pets?
Unlike
dogs, cats and ferrets tend to be sensitive
to permethrin at the dosage level found in
Bio Spot for Dogs. DO
NOT USE BIO SPOT FLEA & TICK
CONTROL FOR DOGS ON CATS OR FERRETS or animals
other than dogs. Cats which actively groom
(lick) or engage in close physical contact
with recently treated dogs may be at risk of
toxic exposure. Nearly all dogs tolerate Bio
Spot for Dogs well. But, as with any pesticide
product, drug, or food, rare individual dogs
may be sensitive to one or more of the ingredients.
If your dog shows signs of irritation or sensitivity
to the product (redness or itchiness at the
application site), discontinue use and bathe
the dog with a mild, non-insecticidal shampoo;
seek veterinary advice.
What
about dogs with Heartworm?
Bio spot for Dogs will not kill heartworms already infecting your dog. Bio
Spot for Dogs protects against blood feeding by mosquitoes for up to four weeks.
Dogs become infected with Heartworm when infected mosquitoes bite them and
take a blood meal. So, using Bio Spot for Dogs every four weeks throughout
mosquito season aids in preventing mosquitoes from infecting or reinfecting
your dog with Heartworm.
Can
Bio Spot for Dogs be used at the same time
as other flea control products?
Bio Spot for Dogs is not a cholinesterase
inhibitor, so it is not expected to increase
the toxicity of cholinesterase inhibiting
pesticides. But, as with all on-animal
insecticides, it is advisable to consult
a veterinarian before using this product
with any other pesticide or drug. Bio Spot
for Dogs should be used as part of a program
aimed at reducing flea populations in the
dog's environment (bedding, carpets, kennel,
yard). Consult your retailer for program
recommendations. Farnam offers a full-line of Adams™ Flea & Tick Control
products to fill these needs.
How
can a few drops of Bio Spot for Dogs protect
my dog from fleas?
Bio Spot for Dogs is a concentrated formula.
It contains 50% active ingredients in a
handy "spot on" application method,
rather than nearly all water or other carriers
as in dips and sprays. Bio Spot for Dogs'
ingredients move through the lipid (oily)
coating of your dog's coat and skin surface
to kill and repel fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
What
if my dog swims or gets wet in the rain?
The ingredients in Bio Spot for Dogs are not soluble in water, so rain and
swimming have a minimal effect. Bio Spot for Dogs remains in the natural, water-repelling
oily layer of your dog's coat and skin surface.
Will
shampooing my dog have any effect on Bio
Spot for Dogs' efficacy?
Soaps wash away part of the natural oils on your dog's coat and skin and will
also remove some of Bio Spot's active ingredients, thus reducing efficacy.
Bio Guard® Shampoo from Farnam has been developed
to wash up your pet without washing out his flea control protection.
Should
my dog be clean before I apply Bio Spot
for Dogs?
Bathing your dog is not required before applying Bio Spot for Dogs. However,
because bathing removes some of Bio Spot for Dogs' active ingredients, bathing
your dog before treatment is preferable to bathing your dog soon after treatment.
How
often should I use Bio Spot for Dogs?
It is recommended that Bio Spot be applied monthly. If you live in an area
where ticks and mosquitoes may also potentially be biting your dog, Bio Spot
for Dogs may be reapplied as often as once every three weeks for maximum protection,
or after shampooing your dog.
Can
I use Bio Spot for Dogs year-round?
Yes, Bio Spot for Dogs may be used any time of the year that your dog needs
protection from fleas, ticks, or mosquitoes. Applying Bio Spot for Dogs to
your dog in late winter is an excellent way to prevent fleas from infesting
your house in the spring.
Will
Bio Spot for Dogs take care of all my flea
problems?
As with all flea and tick control products, Bio Spot for Dogs should be used
as part of a program aimed at reducing flea populations in your dog's environment
(bedding, carpets, kennel, yard).
Can
I use Bio Spot for Dogs on puppies?
Bio Spot for Dogs should only be used on puppies older than 12 weeks of age.
Can I use Bio Spot Flea & Tick Control
for Dogs on cats and kittens?
NO! Unlike dogs, cats do not tolerate high concentrations of
permethrin. Do not treat cats or animals other than dogs with
Bio Spot Flea & Tick Control
for Dogs.
Does
sunlight affect the efficacy of Bio Spot
for Dogs?
Unlike natural pyrethrins and some insect growth regulators, permethrin and
Nylar exhibit good photostability and are only minimally affected by sunlight.
Can
I use Bio Spot for Dogs instead of a flea
collar or dipping my dog?
Yes. Bio Spot provides an easy to use alternative to collars and dipping.
Can
I use Bio Spot for Dogs on nursing bitches?
Bio Spot for Dogs should not be used on sick, aged, medicated, pregnant, or
nursing dogs without consulting a veterinarian.
Is
there a difference in the way Bio Spot
for Dogs works on long and short-haired
dogs?
No. Bio Spot for Dogs moves through the oily coating of the dog's hair and
skin surface. Fleas and other pests contact Bio Spot for Dogs as they infest
your dog and are repelled or killed.
®Nylar
is a registered trademark of McLaughlin Gormley
King and Co.