Fly spray for dogs?

[Ambrey]

I have noticed that some fly sprays say "for horses" and some say "for horses and dogs," but can't make a pattern out of it. Are there some fly spray ingredients that are bad for dogs?

I don't know why, but for some reason my geriatric dog is being pestered by biting flies (neither dog has ever had flies before!). I got Swat for her ears, but wanted a spray as well. I use Pyranha for my horses, and it does not say "for dogs." Do I need to get another one or is the Pyranha ok?

Mostly I want to know what to look out for.

[MunchkinsMom]

Perhaps you can compare the ingredients and %'s from a spray that says it can be used on dogs (like Absorbine Ultrashield) with what is in the Pyranah?

[IFG]

I got an all natural "Neem" and citronella pet spray at Whole Foods. Not quite sure how well it works because I keep forgetting to put it on him. They said it was ok for humans too.

[Horsegal984]

how safe they are is based usually on the percentages of pyrethrins and permethrins. Too much can cause neurologic signs including tremors, seizures, even coma. So compare the ingredients, as most of them are probably as safe as the others, but it costs the company extra to get the product labeled for dogs too, so some comapnies may not have wanted to spend the extra.

DO NOT APPLY IT TO CATS!! Any permethrin/pyrethrin products are very toxic to cats, hence the warnings on K9 Advantix

Katherine
Vet Tech

[BuddyRoo]

how safe they are is based usually on the percentages of pyrethrins and permethrins. Too much can cause neurologic signs including tremors, seizures, even coma. So compare the ingredients, as most of them are probably as safe as the others, but it costs the company extra to get the product labeled for dogs too, so some comapnies may not have wanted to spend the extra.

DO NOT APPLY IT TO CATS!! Any permethrin/pyrethrin products are very toxic to cats, hence the warnings on K9 Advantix

Katherine
Vet Tech

Ditto.

And there's a gel you can get called "Pet Guard Gel" that works pretty well and doesn't irritate the sensitive skin around their ears/belly.

[Ambrey]

Thank you, Horsegal :) Poor girl is much happier with the swat on her ears, that's where the flies were the worst. I don't know why they have to pick on her now that she's old :(

[Donna D]

I have noticed that some fly sprays say "for horses" and some say "for horses and dogs," but can't make a pattern out of it. Are there some fly spray ingredients that are bad for dogs?

I don't know why, but for some reason my geriatric dog is being pestered by biting flies (neither dog has ever had flies before!). I got Swat for her ears, but wanted a spray as well. I use Pyranha for my horses, and it does not say "for dogs." Do I need to get another one or is the Pyranha ok?

Mostly I want to know what to look out for.

First of all Pyranha is nothing but poson. Another thing Pyrethrin is harmless to warmblooded animals. Its the Permethrin and resmethrin that you need to stay away from. Now that said, I will say that FLIXX is the safest spray for Dogs ,Cats and horses and Humans. There was a large thread about it. I know, me telling about it is a lost cause. Nobody will listen anyway. I can't even tell you how to get it here because it will be advertiseing. Sooo just keep useing the poison

[Horsegal984]

First of all Pyranha is nothing but poson. Another thing Pyrethrin is harmless to warmblooded animals. Its the Permethrin and resmethrin that you need to stay away from. Now that said, I will say that FLIXX is the safest spray for Dogs ,Cats and horses and Humans. There was a large thread about it. I know, me telling about it is a lost cause. Nobody will listen anyway. I can't even tell you how to get it here because it will be advertiseing. Sooo just keep useing the poison

OK... Quick correction. Pyrethrin IS toxic to mammals as well as insects. It however is usually not as commonly found in products anymore because insects have started to become resistant, so they are temporally paralyzed but not killed. Hence the use of permethrins and other pyrethriods.(Source below, C&P from veterinary reference)

Sorry, don't want anyone to read that and be overly relaxed about using pyrethriods on their animals. I use fly sprays on the horses and Advantix on my dogs, and I don't worry that I am poisioning them, because it's being used as directed. However caution should be taken that cats aviod any contact with the products, especially the possibility of ingestion.

Katherine
Vet Tech

Pyrethrin Toxicity
Last updated on 3/8/2006.
Contributors:
Linda Shell, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

Synonyms:
Permethrin
Pyrethroid

Disease description:
Pyrethrins are commonly used insecticidal products derived from the chrysanthemum plant. Type I pyrethrins include the 'naturally' derived ones as well as the synthetic pyrethrin derivatives called pyrethroids (e.g. resmethrin, allethrin, and permethrin). Type II are those compounds that have an alpha cyano group.

MECHANISM OF ACTION
The natural pyrethrins are contact poisons which quickly penetrate the nervous system of insects. Within minutes after application, the insect cannot move or fly away. But this paralysis is sometimes short-lived since enzymes within the insect may degrade the pyrethrin resulting in recovery of the insect. Pyrethroids tend to be more effective than natural pyrethrins at killing insects. However, to delay the enzyme action so a lethal dose is assured, other ingredients are sometimes added: organophosphates, carbamates, or synergists (e.g. piperonyl butoxide or MGK-264). Piperonyl butoxide is a cytochrome P-450 inhibitor used frequently in combination with pyrethrins because it inhibits pyrethrin metabolism and therefore may prolong toxic activity.

Pyrethrins alter the activity of sodium ion channels of nerves reversibly prolonging sodium conductance producing increased depolarization after potentials resulting in repetitive nerve firing. Type II pyrethroids act as antagonists of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamic acid at the receptor-ionophore complex.

TOXICITY
Signs of toxicity can occur when:

-they are used excessively topically
-they are ingested accidentally. Ingested permethrins are absorbed very rapidly. Much of the dose is rapidly broken down in the liver following oral ingestion which results in a low oral toxicity in most species.
-the animal is overly sensitive i.e. an adverse reaction
-a permethrin-based product is applied to a cat or if a cat comes in close contact with a recently permethrin-treated dog.
-When used correctly, pyrethrins are seldom toxic in dogs as there is a wide margin of safety range. Most products contain low levels of pyrethroids and are relatively safe for mammals. An exception is the use of spot-on type flea products that contain 45-65% permethrin. These products are labeled only for dogs; even small amounts on cats can cause tremors and seizures because cats are exquisitely susceptible to the toxic effects of permethrins.

CLINICAL SIGNS OF PYRETHRIN TOXICITY
Depression, hypersalivation, hyperexcitability, muscle tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia, and anorexia are commonly seen. Other signs are hyperthermia, hypothermia, weakness, seizures, contact dermatitis, and dyspnea. In most cases signs are mild and respond to simple therapeutic procedures. Recovery usually occurs in twenty four hours. Death is a rare sequela to pyrethrin exposure.

It is important to distinguish historically between organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethrin exposure because while the signs are similar, their clinical management differs. Presumptive diagnosis is made by the clinical signs, dose, and exposure to pyrethrins or pyrethroids.

Etiology:
Allethrin
Fenvalerate
Permethrin
Pyrethrin
Resmethrin
Sumethrin
Cypermethrin
Deltamethrin


Clinical findings:
AFEBRILE
ANOREXIA, HYPOREXIA
ATAXIA, INCOORDINATION
BRADYCARDIA
Cachexia, weight loss
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) SIGNS
CONVULSIONS, SEIZURES, FITS
Cutaneous hyperesthesia
Dehydration
Depression
DERMATITIS, CUTANEOUS INFLAMMATION
DIARRHEA
FEVER
GAIT ABNORMAL
HYPERESTHESIA
Hyperpnea
Hypersalivation
Hyperventilation, tachypnea
Hypothermia
Malaise
Mucous membranes hyperemic
Muscle fasciculations
Muscle tremors
Nausea
PRURITUS
Pyrethrin or pyrethroid exposure
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS
TACHYCARDIA
TREMORS
Urticaria, wheals
VOMITING
Walking difficulty
WEAKNESS
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