Distinguishing pipettes!
Among the many antiparasitic pipettes available on the market, it is necessary to differentiate:
- parasite pipettes that do not fall under veterinary drug legislation. They usually contain essential oils and/or plant extracts and are available over the counter. They can be found in supermarkets, specialized organic stores, pet stores or online. Their effectiveness has not been validated or documented by a marketing authorization (AMM).
- parasite pipettes that fall under veterinary drug legislation.They contain medicinal molecules that are active and effective against external and/or internal parasites of dogs which have been the subject of an MA. Some of them are only available on prescription and are only delivered in veterinary practices or pharmacies. Only certain active pipettes against fleas, lice and/or ticks are exempt from this veterinary prescription and are therefore available over the counter. These can be found in veterinary clinics, pharmacies, pet stores and supermarkets.
How do pipettes work?
Although similar in appearance and despite the fact that they are applied in the same way, not all pipettes act in the same way on parasites.
A distinction is thus made between surface action pipettes and systemic action pipettes.
Surface action pipettes
Surface action pipettes, also known as topical action pipettes, diffuse on the surface of the animal's skin within 24 to 48 hours after application and exert a contact antiparasitic activity by shock effect, effect anti-gorging or repellent effect.
Certain active ingredients remain stored in the sebaceous glands of the skin to be released over time.
Over-the-counter pipettes, whether medicated or not, generally exert a surface action.
Systemic pipettes
After application to the animal's skin, the active ingredients of these pipettes pass through the skin and are distributed, via the blood, throughout the body, where they act as internal and external parasiticides.
Some pipettes can combine these two actions, topical and systemic.
Are pipettes dangerous for my dog?
As medicinal pipettes contain toxic substances for parasites, it is quite normal to wonder about the danger of these products for the he alth of our pets.
You should first of all know that these antiparasitics contain products that act specifically on the nervous system of the parasites, on their growth hormones or on the cellular ion exchanges of the latter.These products have very strong affinities for parasites but very weak for mammals so that dogs generally have a very good tolerance for these products. But, as with all medicines, sometimes side effects can occur. Among these most common side effects are skin reactions of hypersensitivity to the product applied, which are generally transient.
Some of these products may also have contraindications that prohibit their use in:
- certain breeds of dogs related to the Collie, which are at risk of presenting an MDR1 mutation which would make antiparasitic molecules neurotoxic for them. This is particularly the case for pipettes that contain ivermectin or related molecules,
- sick or convalescent animals,
- very small dogs or puppies.
The best thing is to always ask your veterinarian for advice before applying an antiparasitic pipette to your dog for the first time, even if it is available over the counter.
Antiparasitic pipettes: are there any risks for the dog's entourage?
Yes. Pesticides can be dangerous for aquatic fauna, for other pets in the house (cat, rabbit, ferret) and for children. For these reasons, the application of a pest control pipette must be accompanied by precautions for use which are indicated on the product packaging. It is therefore advisable not to wash or bathe the animal within 48 hours of application, not to use a pest control product that is toxic for another animal in the house and not to touch the dog's coat within 48 hours. its app.
Essential oil pipettes: be careful!
The so-called "natural" pipettes do not contain synthetic insecticides, but they are not without danger.The essential oils they contain can also be toxic to other animals in the household as well as to pregnant or nursing females and very young animals.
How to properly apply a pipette?
Applying eyedropper content is simple. Simply remove the cap from the pipette or cut off its tip, part the dog's hair well at the level of its shoulder blades or at the base of its neck and deposit the entire contents of the pipette at the level of the animal skin. For dogs with very thick undercoats, it is sometimes necessary to mow the application area in order to properly access the skin.
Some large dogs will need several eyedroppers to be well protected. In this case, it is necessary to separate the application points well, between the shoulder blades and several points on the dorsal line.
Of course, you have to avoid getting product on your butts during application. It is best to put on single-use thin gloves to apply the product to your dog and to wash your hands very carefully with clean water and soap after application.
Mistakes to avoid:
- apply the product to the dog's hair. The product would then not be able to stream properly.
- apply the product to a place accessible to licking. This type of product, if swallowed by the dog, could seriously poison it.
- choose a pipette not suited to your pet's weight or species.