still a bit confused about fleaing and worming

bindiboo

ok i have got frontline and drontal at the ready but when do I do cookie (kitten by the way!)

She is 15 weeks old now. At 9 weeks the vet applied flea n worm treatment. (like spot on). At 12 weeks she was given a worming tablet by the vet.

What are the approx timings for flea treatments and for worming?????

Can anyone enlighten me?

wuno

Where did you get the frontline and drontal from?

bindiboo

wuno wrote: »

Where did you get the frontline and drontal from?

from petmeds online

bagpuss_fan

bindiboo wrote: »

from petmeds online

this is why web sites like this shouldn't be allowed! didn't they give you clear instructions? are you SURE they gave you the kitten strength ones.

I always get mine from the vets, you don't need an appointment, just go in and ask the receptionist.

fannyadams

but the point is that OP HAS got them and now needs advice on how to use them.
OP - have you been to the drontal and frontline websites? what do they recommend?
maybe call the veterinary surgery and ask them...

bindiboo

bagpuss_fan wrote: »

this is why web sites like this shouldn't be allowed! didn't they give you clear instructions? are you SURE they gave you the kitten strength ones.

I always get mine from the vets, you don't need an appointment, just go in and ask the receptionist.

err thanks for that.

wuno

Ok. If you had bought it from the vet, it would have cost you more, but you would have been given the information you need, and future support. No-one at Petmeds will be prepared to help you because they don't have the appropriately qualified staff (which are expensive) or the appropriate insurance if they make a mistake (which is expensive).

That's just a general point for eveyone to see given the purpose of this forum is not to give advice about pets' illnesses, etc......

However, to stop you making a mistake, I'll also answer your question.

I think what you mean is that she was given Frontline Combo at 9 weeks - this is a flea/tick/louse treatment, then a wormer at 12 weeks.

Presumably, you now have non-prescription frontline spot-on?

Worming is usually every 3 months. So no need to do it until 6 months old in her case. Unless she is going to start doing a lot of hunting - in which case, make it 2 monthly intervals. Or if you doubt that her mother was wormed properly - in which case bring it forward by a month.

Frontline is 4-12 weeks depending upon the weather and other factors like how often she associates with other animals that might have fleas. Peak flea times are early summer and early winter (when the central heating comes on and wakes the fleas up again). I would aim to give her a dose end of July and end of October. If she shows any signs of ichyness, bring it forward. Never apply it more frequently than 4 weeks.

If she's just going to be a housecat, as she get's older you can probably reduce the worming to 6 monthly, and the flea treatment to two doses, in May/June and October/november. In this case I would strongly suggest using Frontline Combo (which is prescription only) since it stops fleas breeding, and laying eggs in your carpet.

bindiboo

fannyadams wrote: »

but the point is that OP HAS got them and now needs advice on how to use them.
OP - have you been to the drontal and frontline websites? what do they recommend?
maybe call the veterinary surgery and ask them...

frontline has got the full instructions enclosed and drotal I have found detailed info on the petmed site. I just wanted to know from more experience cat owners what sort of timings they suggest.

spookylukey

The current advice on worming kittens has actually changed recently and monthly worming is advised until the kitten is 6 months old. Below is taken directly from the Drontal website and I was also advised the same thing by my vet when I took my two kittens in for their jabs.

Profile: Kitten
The kitten can be wormed from 6 weeks’ of age (when he/she should also be seen by a vet for a check-up) and then at age 9 and 12 weeks’ thereafter. Monthly worming should then be undertaken until the kitten is 6 months’ old.
http://www.stopwormsdead.co.uk/index.html

Now my kittens are all grown up I worm them at 3 monthly intervals as they are not the hunting type, well unless you count flies and spiders!

bagpuss_fan wrote: »

this is why web sites like this shouldn't be allowed! didn't they give you clear instructions? are you SURE they gave you the kitten strength ones.

I always get mine from the vets, you don't need an appointment, just go in and ask the receptionist.

Frontline spot on is suitable for kittens over 8 weeks and 1kg in weight, there is no kitten version. There's no kitten version of Drontal either, it's dosage is given by the weight of the animal. I don't use petmeds but the site I use (vetuk) always supplies full instructions on dosage of non prescription items like Frontline and Drontal.

I think sites like petmeds, vetuk, bestpetpharmacy etc are fantastic. They encourage many more owners to give their pets proper, veterinary quality, flea and worming treatment due to prices being much more reasonable than if purchased from the vet, the alternative is the owners buying rubbish from a petshop or supermarket.

wuno

Actually, the FAQs on the Drontal website say this:

http://www.stopwormsdead.co.uk/faqs.html

Q: At what age should I start worming my puppy/kitten?

By contrast, kittens are not born with worm larvae already present, so worming does not need to start until 6 weeks old, with further treatments every 3 weeks, until 4 months old. Thereafter, worming at 3 monthly intervals should be adopted.




Confused anyone?

spookylukey

If you follow the link and click 'profile my pet' that is the information given for a kitten. It was also what my vet told me when I took my kittens in so I'm happy that it is the most current advice.

A few years ago they (my vets) used to advise 3 monthly worming for hunting types and 6 monthly for non hunters, that has now changed to monthly for hunters and 3 monthly for non hunters.

Edit to add:

I see you are a vet Wuno, obviously different vets are advising different dosing schedules. Do you think this is down to the drug companies promoting their products more heavily nowadays? ie The latest doisng advice for adult cats has increased in frequency according to both my vet and the Drontal website.