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.