Imidacloprid is the active ingredient in Advantage and K9 Advantix flea treatments for dogs. The recommended dosage is once a month, and the product is applied to skin on the back of the dog's neck. These prescription flea-killing medications are only available from your pet's veterinarian. Although no dog owner wants his pet to have fleas, some side effects can occur following Imidacloprid use.
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Irritation
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Following application, the site may become red and irritated. The irritation of the skin should subside shortly after application.
Drooling
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If your dog licks the site within 30 minutes of the medication being applied, profuse drooling may occur. This will happen because of the extremely bitter taste of the medication. The drooling is short-term and usually will subside within an hour of the dog ingesting the medication. However, pet owners should try to prevent their dogs from licking the medication.
Coat Condition
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The application site will appear oily and wet after application. This is temporary, and the dog's coat will return to normal 1 to 2 days after application.
Reproduction
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Lab studies on rabbits have shown that use of Imidacloprid on pregnant animals may result in miscarriages or animals being born with skeletal deformities. For this reason, medications containing Imidacloprid should never be used on pregnant dogs.
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