Manufacturers of Advantix position the drug as one of the most effective in the fight against ticks. But many dog owners speak negatively about it: they note toxicity, frequent skin irritations, allergies, and indicate a weak antiparasitic effect.
In the article we will look at how effective Advantix is, how it works and how to use the drops correctly, whether it is worth overpaying for it or whether there are better and cheaper analogues.
At the end of the article you will find reviews from animal owners, answers to questions and recommendations for use.
Information and prices are current as of January 2022 and are constantly updated.
Composition and action
In the spring and summer, the dog is at risk of becoming infected with ticks, which are carriers of many dangerous diseases. Fleas attack your pet all year round. And even dogs that live indoors almost all the time are no exception, so regular prevention is necessary.
Advantix begins to act quickly: within a few minutes the itching stops, and within 12 hours after using the drug, all blood-sucking insects are almost 100% destroyed. The protection is valid for a month.
The effectiveness of the medicine is ensured by the two active components included in the solution. Imidacloprid is a chemical substance, a neonicotinoid, that acts on the central nervous system of the ectoparasite, causing blockage of nerve impulses. In small doses the substance is safe for pets, but if the dose is exceeded it is toxic.
Permitrin
– neurotoxin. By specifically acting on the nerve cells of the ectoparasite, it causes rapid paralysis and then the death of the insect.
Important! Low toxicity for dogs, permitrin is dangerous for cats. When treating dogs, contact of the animal with cats and puppies under 7 weeks should be excluded for at least a day.
General characteristics of the drug Advantage with the active pharmaceutical ingredient - imidacloprid
According to the instructions for use, imidacloprid
used for the treatment of flea infestations in domestic animals, in particular in cats and dogs.
This insectoacaricide causes damage to a key receptor in the flea's central nervous system, which leads to its death. Advantage
is not effective against ticks.
Imidacloprid
It is used by applying it to the withers of cats and dogs in the back of the neck, which ensures rapid distribution of the active substance throughout the body of domestic animals (dogs and cats) within 24 hours, using the sebaceous glands.
Imidacloprid preparations in the form of drops on the withers of Advantage (Advantage) should be used every 30 days, preferably on the same day every month for the treatment and prevention of diseases of cats and dogs caused by fleas and other parasites.
Do not give your pet imidacloprid medications (Advantage drops) orally! To prescribe and use Advantage drops, you must pierce the seal on the plastic ampoule using the cap. Then, at the withers, spread and part the hair on the back of your pet's neck above the shoulder blades so you can see the skin. Squeeze the plastic ampoule and apply its entire contents to the skin in the withers area. Do not massage into the skin or apply Advantage to wet or damaged skin.
Advantage
for warm-blooded animals it is a low-toxic substance; in recommended therapeutic doses it does not have a sensitizing, skin-resorptive, teratogenic, embryotoxic or mutagenic effect. The drug is well tolerated by cats, dogs and other types of animals at a standard therapeutic dose and even at 10 times its excess.
Purpose
Advantix is an effective protective and medicinal product that has an active effect:
- for fleas;
- lice;
- lice eaters;
- ixodid ticks;
- mosquitoes;
- midges;
- mosquitoes, etc.
A single treatment is enough to protect the animal for 4-6 weeks. The medicine is used both for regular treatment and for the treatment of flea infestations and allergic dermatitis caused by insects. In the latter case, it can be combined with other therapeutic drugs.
Owner reviews
Boris: “I used Advantix for 5 years, there were no problems. But it is financially expensive: I have 2 bullmastiffs weighing 60-65 kilos. In addition, our vet noted that the ticks began to get used to the drug and its effectiveness decreased. Last summer we switched to Frontline - it’s cheaper and works better.”
Sasha: “I have a one-year-old Jack Russell terrier. While he was little, they only used a collar. But this year we decided to choose a better means of protection. On the advice of the veterinarian we decided on Advantix. The drops showed only their best side: no side effects and not a single tick for the entire season. We will only take them."
Tatyana: “I took Advantix out of habit, but have already given it up. First, 2 dogs repeatedly caught ticks over the summer, one suffered from piroplasmosis. And the last time, one dog developed a terrible allergy: in the morning I treated him with a solution, in the evening his fur remained wet and greasy, in the morning the same picture. She ran her hand over her fur coat - it came out in clumps. I urgently bought the animal. Now I definitely won’t buy these drops.”
Flea dermatitis
Dermatitis is a skin lesion accompanied by severe itching and redness of the skin. Flea saliva is an allergen: it contains caustic substances. If the animal's skin is hypersensitive, itching begins immediately after the bite.
Dogs of short-haired breeds are most susceptible to dermatitis: Labradors, Rottweilers, boxers, bulldogs, German shepherds and others.
Signs of an allergic reaction are:
- severe itching, due to which the dog literally tears the skin. At the site of scratching, scratches and wounds appear, into which infectious agents can easily penetrate;
- dry skin, seborrhea, the appearance of crusts and scales on the skin;
- hair loss at the site of scratching;
- depression, irritability;
- loss of appetite up to complete refusal to eat;
- vomit.
conclusions
Advantix drops are generally a good product.
For many years it effectively protected against ticks and fleas. Unfortunately, in the last couple of years, the effectiveness of the drops has decreased: due to frequent long-term use, the parasites have become accustomed to the active substances of the solution. Therefore, owners using this drug are increasingly finding ticks on their pets’ bodies. In addition, I am increasingly experiencing side effects from Advantix. The most common skin reactions are: itching, irritation, eczema, ulcers, local alopecia.
If Advantix suits your dog and you don’t find a single tick during the season, continue treating your pet with it. Otherwise, I advise you to change the drops to Frontline, cheaper Bars, BlochNet, and even better Binacar - it has the lowest price and the greatest effectiveness among similar medications. If you need comprehensive protection, take Advocate drops: it helps against blood-sucking parasites and worms.
Interesting: Dogs suitable for children and apartments
Diseases transmitted by ticks
In early spring, as soon as it gets warmer, ticks become more active. A dog can “catch” them while walking – not only in the forest, but also in the city. Ixodid ticks are frequent carriers of dangerous diseases, including:
| Piroplasmosis | A disease whose pathogens enter the blood, where they destroy red blood cells responsible for the delivery of oxygen to the cells of various organs; |
| Borreliosis | aka Lyme disease. The pathology is dangerous due to its long incubation period: in a dog bitten in the summer, signs of the disease may appear only after several months, and not every owner will associate them with the ectoparasite. The disease most often causes inflammatory processes in the joints, but can affect parenchymal organs, causing myocarditis, nephritis, hepatitis, etc. When the central nervous system is damaged, meningitis and encephalitis are possible; |
| Ehrlichiosis | It is characterized by debilitating fever, weakness, sudden weight loss until complete exhaustion. Signs of the disease are blood in the urine, a decrease in the number of leukocytes and platelets in the blood, hemorrhages and bleeding, anemia; |
| Bartonellosis | Dangerous for both animals and humans. The disease causes high fever, weakness and drowsiness, and disruption of the cardiovascular system. The disease is dangerous because it can last a long time or cause sudden death. |
Veterinarians recommend using Advantix to protect pets from ixodid ticks, carrying out preventive treatment in the spring, about a month before warming (in February-March). The drug is active against ectoparasites at all stages of their development, which helps to quickly and effectively get rid of both adult insects and their eggs and larvae.
Important! The use of the drug causes the rapid death of parasites that remain on the skin. It is recommended to remove dead ticks manually.
Dosage
The manufacturer guarantees the safety of the drug subject to the rules of use and dosage. The medicine is sold in convenient pipette tubes. Having pierced the protective membrane of the nose, you need to apply the solution to the pet’s skin, first spreading the fur.
The dosage depends on the weight of the pet:
- up to 4 kg – 0.4 ml;
- 4-10 kg – 1.0 ml;
- 10-25 kg – 2.5 ml;
- 25 kg – 4.0 ml.
To treat small animals, it is enough to apply the medicine in one place - on the withers; for medium and large pets - in several places along the spine. It is recommended to avoid getting the product on the fur to avoid dripping and licking of the solution.
Important! The death of fleas and lice occurs within 12 hours, ticks - within two days. The effect of the medicine lasts for 1-1.5 months, so it is recommended to re-treat it no more than once a month.
Limitations and side effects
Given the minor toxicity of the drug, it should not be used for puppies under 7 weeks of age, as well as dogs weighing less than 2 kg. The prohibition on using Advantix without consulting a veterinarian applies to:
- on pregnant and lactating females;
- elderly animals;
- weakened pets.
In the first three days after using the insecticide, you should avoid bathing and getting liquid (rain, etc.) on your pet’s skin.
Complications after using Advantix are rare, however, with increased sensitivity to the components, negative manifestations are possible:
- redness and irritation of the skin;
- chemical burns (with an excessive amount of the drug on the skin);
- increased excitability;
- vomiting or diarrhea.
If symptoms do not go away within 1-2 days, you should contact your veterinarian. If the medicine enters the body, the pet requires immediate veterinary assistance from a specialist.
Precautionary measures
While working with Advantix, you are not allowed to smoke, drink or eat. When finished, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Do not wash, pet or allow the animal near small children for 24 hours after treatment with the drug.
If you accidentally get the drug on your skin or eyes, rinse it off immediately with a stream of water; if it gets inside, consult a doctor.
Empty tube pipettes containing the drug are prohibited from being used for household purposes; they are capped and thrown into waste containers.
Price and analogues
Advantix is sold in a veterinary pharmacy in a package of 4 pipettes. The price depends on what animals the medicine is intended for. Information about this is contained on the packaging. The average cost of packaging is 1400-2000 rubles.
Analogues of the insecticidal drug are:
- Frontline - available in several dosage forms;
- Practitioner - drops for treatment;
- Bravecto is a tablet that acts on skin and intestinal parasites.
Medicines similar in mechanism of action - table
| Name | Release form | Active ingredient | Indications | Contraindications | Adverse reactions | Can it be used to treat pregnant females? | Price |
| Leopard | Drops | fipronil | Infestation with fleas, ticks, lice and lice. | Weakened animals. | Allergy | No. | From 200 rub. |
| Celandine | Solution for external use |
| Prevention and elimination of fleas, lice eaters, scabies mites and other blood-sucking parasites. |
|
| No. | From 130 rub. |
| Advocate | Solution for external use. |
| Elimination and prevention of fleas, helminths and other parasites. |
|
| No. | From 300 rub. |
Drugs with similar effects - photo gallery
Bars drops can provoke allergic reactions
The drug Advocate also helps with helminthic infestations
The drug Celandine may contribute to digestive disorders
