Finding out that your cat has a flea infestation is bad enough, but learning that your cat suffers from a side effect of the flea medication you gave them is even worse. Popular flea medications such as Frontline or Advantage are certified to be generally safe to use. However, you still may wonder what the side effects of flea medications for cats really are. Side effects from flea medications range from the more common skin irritations to changes in appetite or even in rare cases, neurological effects.
Skin Irritations
The most common side effect to flea medication is mild and often temporary skin irritations as described by VetInfo.com. This can come in the form of itchiness or redness at the application site. To make matters worse, cats will often scratch the application site, causing the irritation to become a lesion, which can potentially become infected. The flea medication can also cause hair loss on or around the application site, which again, can be irritated further if the cat persists in scratching. Hair loss is usually a one-time event, and the hair normally grows back.
Appetite Changes
If the flea medicine is applied in an area the cat’s mouth can reach, the cat will often lick the application site, therefore, ingesting the medication. The ingestion of flea medication can cause excess salivation and drooling or even an upset stomach and loss of appetite. Due to the bitter taste of the flea medication, it is unlikely that your cat will lick the application site for very long. A careful cat owner will always monitor their cat’s eating habits for unusual behavior that could lead to more serious side effects..
Rare and Serious Side Effects
Although uncommon, other rare side effects that can occur after the application of flea medication include trouble breathing, neurological and psychological effects, allergic reactions, vomiting and diarrhea, seizures and trembling. If your cat exhibits any of these symptoms, bring them to your veterinarian immediately.
How to Prevent Side Effects
While it is impossible to 100 percent prevent all possible side effects, you can greatly reduce the risk of your cat having a side effect from the flea medication by following the application directions closely. By applying the flea medication between the shoulder blades, it is difficult for the cat to reach that area to lick and swallow the flea medication. Additionally, only apply the correct amount of flea medication according to the directions and do not repeat applications if not necessary. Adding more flea medication can cause even further skin irritations, yet will not increase the efficacy of the medication. According to MyHealthyCat.com, conventional flea medications are essentially insecticides, which are harmful to the flea, but harmless to your cat. If the thought of putting an insecticide on your pet bothers you, there are other options.
Natural Flea Medications
If the side effects of a chemical flea medication concern you, then try a natural flea medication. Products such as Diatomaceous earth powder are made from fossilized remains of hard-shelled algae and work by making tiny cuts in the coats of fleas, causing fleas to dehydrate and die. This natural flea medication does not cause any side effects to the pet except for a rare allergic reaction. Although there are fewer side effects to such a natural flea medication, it can take up to two days to work.
When purchasing the next flea medication for your cat, make sure to consider the side effects of flea medications for cats. More common side effects range from mild skin irritations and hair loss, while more serious side effects can be respiratory or neurological effects. Choosing a natural flea medication can eliminate the possibility of these side effects, but these often take longer to work.
References
VetInfo, “Side Effects of Popular Flea Treatments,” http://www.vetinfo.com/side- effects-flea-treatments.html