Flea Control Products part 2

Question 1

How does the mechanism of action of afoxolaner (active ingredient in Nexgard) differ from fluralaner (active ingredient in Bravecto)?

Answer 1

Both are non-competitive GABA receptor antagonists, but afoxolaner is more selective for insect GABA receptors

Question 2

What is the mechanism of action of organophosphates?

Answer 2

Cholinesterase inhibitors

Question 3

True or false: Organophosphates are toxic to cats and no longer recommended.

Answer 3

True. Atropine and antihistamines can be used as antidotes.

Question 4

Products containing carbamates are used for which stage of a complete flea control program?

Answer 4

Environmental control

Question 5

What is the mechanism of action of spinosad?

Answer 5

Activates nicotinic ACh receptors, leading to hyperexcitability and death

Question 6

What is the major side effect of spinosad?

Answer 6

Vomiting

Question 7

Spinosad (Comfortis, Trifexis) should not be given to animals receiving high doses of which drug? Why?

Answer 7

Ivermectin

Lowers the threshold for seizures

Question 8

What are the advantages of using Comfortis (active ingredient spinosad)?

Answer 8

Can be used in dogs and cats
Kills 100% of fleas in 4 hours
Kills fleas for 30 days

Question 9

What are the advantages of using Comfortis (active ingredient spinosad)?

Answer 9

Not a repellent
No IGR
Major side effect is vomiting

Question 10

What is unique about the mechanism of action of spinoteram (Cheristin)?

Answer 10

Works on GABA receptors but uses different sites compared to other products

Question 11

What is one of the fastest acting flea adulticides for cats? Why might this be useful?

Answer 11

Spinoteram (Cheristin)

Good for cats with flea allergies

Question 12

What is the mechanism of action of imidacloprid (Advantage)?

Answer 12

Stimulates nicotinic ACh receptors in insects

Question 13

What are the advantages of using Advantage (active ingredient imidacloprid)?

Answer 13

Can be used in dogs and cats
Effective flea adulticide
Safe (not teratogenic or mutagenic)

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of using Advantage (active ingredient imidacloprid)?

Answer 14

Removed during bathing/swimming
Not effective against ticks
Not a repellent
No IGR

Question 15

What are the advantages of using Advantix II (imidacloprid, permethrin, pyripoxyfen)?

Answer 15

Kills fleas within 12 hours
Repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes
Water-resistant

Question 16

What are the advantages of using Seresto collars (flumethrin, imidacloprid)?

Answer 16

Can be worn during bathing
Lasts 8 months
Kills fleas (not a repellent)
Repels ticks

Question 17

In which cases is nitenpyram (Capstar) useful?

Answer 17

Clinics, boarding facilities, dogs that go to public places
Severe infestations
Animals during food trials

Question 18

Methoprene acts as a:
Repellent
Adulticide
IGR

Answer 18

IGR

NOT an adulticide or repellent

Question 19

Pyriproxifen acts as a:
Repellent
Adulticide
IGR

Answer 19

IGR

May have delayed adulticide activity

Question 20

Pyriproxifen affects what stages of the flea life cycle?

Answer 20

Eggs and larvae

Question 21

True or false: pyriproxifen quickly loses efficacy when used for environmental flea control.

Answer 21

False. It is effective for many months in the environment and is not inactivated by UV light.

Question 22

Luferuron acts as a:
Repellent
Adulticide
IGR

Answer 22

IGR

Inhibits reproduction

Question 23

True or false: luferuron is safe to give to cats.

Answer 23

True. They require a higher dose than dogs.

Question 24

True or false: luferuron is sufficient as flea control by itself.

Answer 24

False. It has a lag phase of up to 3 months when used alone and is usually combined with other ingredients.

Question 25

True or false: Ivermectin (Heartgard) has efficacy against fleas and ticks.

Answer 25

False. It has no efficacy against fleas or ticks.

Question 26

Off-label, ivermectin can treat which ectoparasites?

Answer 26

Demodex and Sarcoptes

Question 27

What feature of Revolution (selemectin) helps it to retain efficacy after bathing?

Answer 27

It is systemically absorbed

Question 28

True or false: Amitraz collars are safe to use in dogs and cats.

Answer 28

False. It is toxic to both cats and horses.

Question 29

Certifect (amitraz and fipronil) acts as a: Repellent Adulticide IGR

Answer 29

Adulticide and repellent | Effective against fleas and ticks

Question 30

Which products should only be used on dogs? Why?

Answer 30

Advantix II, Effitix, Activyl Plus, Vectra 3D | Contains levels of permethrin toxic to cats

Question 31

What three concepts are essential in environmental flea control?

Answer 31

Focus on shaded, moist areas Repeat every 3 weeks at the peak of the season Use a combination of an adulticide and an IGR

Question 32

What are some "natural" approaches to flea control?

Answer 32

Diatomaceous earth Nematodes Sodium polyborate

Question 33

Which "natural" approach can be used both indoors and outdoors?

Answer 33

Diatomaceous earth

Question 34

If your client chooses nematodes, in what environment will they be most effective?

Answer 34

Shaded and moist | Both UV light and draught harm them

Question 35

True or false: sodium polyborate can only be professionally applied to carpets.

Answer 35

False. The owner can do it themselves, but a professional application lasts longer (up to 1 year).