The drug Simparika for fleas and ticks in dogs

A popular drug for dogs is Simparica. Composition and active substances. Mechanism of action on the parasite. Are tablets dangerous for animals? Side effects, overdose. How to give medicine to dogs correctly. Customer reviews. Recommendations for use.

Our faithful friends need protection from all kinds of parasites, which not only bring discomfort to dogs, but are also carriers of various diseases. Manufacturers now offer a huge range of drugs that can provide protection against parasites.

All of them have features, advantages and disadvantages, as well as contraindications, so before purchasing you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the product in detail. One of the remedies that is now quite popular among pet owners is Simparica.

general description

Simparica is a drug for internal use in the form of chewable tablets with a flavoring additive. Manufacturer: USA.

According to the manufacturer's instructions (https://simparica.ru/), Simparica's action is directed against 9 types of ticks and against fleas. The death of ticks occurs within 8 hours, and of fleas within 3 hours from the moment of consumption. Simparika's action is also aimed at reducing the risk of contracting diseases carried by parasites.

Compound

Active ingredient: sarolaner (dosage 120, 80, 40, 20, 10 or 5 mg).

Excipients:

• lactose monohydrate;
• sodium carboxymethyl starch;
• magnesium stearate;
• colloidal silicon dioxide;
• flavored granular base.

Active substance

Sarolaner is a compound of the isoxazoline group (similar to pesticides) that has an active effect on ticks and fleas that parasitize dogs.

As the manufacturer indicates, this compound is not dangerous for animals, since the dog receives it in very small doses. However, more and more often, there are discussions about this drug and its analogues about the possibility of harming the pet with systematic use of the drug.

Process of action of the drug

After the dog eats the tablet, the active substance is absorbed into the blood. The maximum concentration is reached after 3 hours. After this period, sarolaner penetrates most tissues and organs. Parasites, feeding on the blood of an animal, receive a “dose” of sarolaner, which affects their neuromuscular synapses. Next comes paralysis and death.

The half-life of the substance from the body occurs within 10–12 days along with bile and feces.

Spectrum of action of Simparica

The product is effective against many external parasites (demodectic, sarcoptoid, psoroptoid, ixodid ticks, fleas). The drug is not able to fight internal parasites (for example, helmites).

Tolerability of the drug by animals

According to laboratory and field studies presented on the manufacturer's website, when used in recommended doses, the tablet is well tolerated by dogs. However, there is often criticism of the quality and time of testing of the drug (research is biased), and there are also complaints about the drug from owners of even large breeds of dogs.

Can it be given to cats?

Based on the instructions, Simparika is prescribed only to dogs older than two months. The product is not certified for cats.

Analogs

There is a large selection of similar products on the market that have the same mechanism of action and contain the same active ingredients. These include Credelio, Bravecto, Nexgard. There are also a large number of drugs that contain other active substances, each of them has its own characteristics. They also differ in their spectrum of action, some are able to protect against external and internal parasites, some are aimed specifically at ticks, and others.

Regardless of what kind of protection you are looking for for your pet, the right thing to do is consult a veterinarian. This will allow you to avoid making mistakes when choosing, choose the most effective remedy and avoid dangerous situations for your pet.

Instructions for use

The tablet is taken orally - through the animal's mouth by ingestion. Dogs willingly eat the medicine from hand or mixed with food, as it has an attractive taste.

Dosage and application regimen

The drug is released in 6 different dosages of the active ingredient sarolaner: 120, 80, 40, 20, 10 or 5 mg. The required dose of sarolaner depends on the weight of the dog. The minimum ratio of the active substance to the weight of the pet is 2 mg per 1 kg (minimum dose).

Very important: when selecting a dose, you should not break or divide the tablets.

As a rule, the drug is used once, but during the parasite activity season it is recommended to give the dog the medicine monthly (the effect of the tablet lasts about 35 days).

When treating otodectosis, demodicosis or sarcoptic mange, Simparika is used 2 times with an interval of 30 days.

It is not recommended to violate the drug use regimen, because this affects the effectiveness of its action. If the regimen was nevertheless violated (a dose was missed), then use should be resumed according to the instructions.

Contraindications

Despite the fact that Simparika is a low-hazard substance in terms of its effects on the body (GOST 12.1.007: hazard class 4), there are still contraindications for use.

Contraindications for use:

• individual intolerance to components;
• severe liver dysfunction;
• renal dysfunction;
• infectious disease, including during the recovery period;
• weight less than 1.3 kg;
• less than 8 weeks old.

Side effects

Information from the instructions for the drug: If the medicine is used in recommended doses, then, as a general rule, it does not cause side effects.

However, cases of allergic reactions are known. In such a situation, stop using Simparica.

In case of overdose, symptoms are possible:

• decreased appetite;
• lack of weight gain;
• depressed state;
• copious flow of saliva;
• trembling;
• complete or partial loss of coordination;
• unsteady gait.

FDA Warning 9/20/18:

The main observed consequences of the use of drugs such as Bravecto, Nexgard and Simparica and Credelio are: tremors (trembling of the body, limbs, head), ataxia (impaired coordination of movements of various muscles) and neurological seizures and convulsions. Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, skin irritation and general lethargy are also quite common.

Contraindications

Like any other remedy, simparika has contraindications that must be taken into account:

• Not given to puppies less than 8 weeks old.
• Small dog breeds that weigh less than 1.3 kilograms.
• Individual intolerance to components, active substance.
• The presence of any infectious diseases.
• Kidney and liver diseases.
• Animals that have suffered from diseases are weakened.
• For pregnant and lactating females, the drug can only be prescribed by a doctor and only after a full examination.

No studies have been conducted on pregnant bitches or those nursing offspring.

Price

Simparika is produced in packages of 1, 3 or 6 tablets.

Below in the table we present the average prices for the drug depending on the indicated indicators for packages with 1 and 3 tablets.

It is recommended to buy the medicine at a veterinary pharmacy. Available without a prescription.

Scheme and method of administration

First, the dog is weighed. Then the drug is selected according to body weight. The components in the tablet are distributed non-uniformly, so it is not broken to select the dose.

For one dose, give 1 tablet by hand, regardless of feeding. The composition contains flavoring additives and aromas, so 90% of dogs swallow themselves without the owner’s tricks. For capricious pets, hide the drug in a piece of treat and make sure that the dog swallows it completely. If the animal only eats part of the tablet, it will not work.

Simparika can be used all year round. But to protect against ixodid ticks, it is enough to feed when the outside temperature rises above 5 degrees Celsius. Take a break during the cold season.

The first tablet is given in March or April, depending on the region. Then repeat the dose every month with an interval of 5 weeks.

For convenience, it is allowed to take on the same dates with a break of 30 days. Manufacturers assure that this will not harm the animal. If you accidentally miss the next dose, the dose is not increased. The last tablet is fed in September or October.

For the treatment of demodicosis, sarcoptic mange, and otodectosis, take 2 tablets of Simparika with a break of 1 month. Before each appointment, the animal must be weighed. Body weight may change over 5 weeks, especially in puppies. With a low dosage, the protective effect decreases.

Question answer

Can all dog breeds use Simparica?

According to the manufacturer, the effect of the drug has been studied on various breeds of dogs (>100 breeds, including sensitive ones such as border collies, shelleys, and collies). The dogs that participated in the studies tolerated the medication well at recommended doses.

Does Simparica help with demodicosis, ear mites, and dog scabies?

Yes

Can Simparica cause nausea in dogs?

No, since the dosage of the active substance is very small and is not capable of causing nausea, stomach irritation, and the excipients are also not components that can affect the dog’s gastrointestinal tract.

When does Simparica start to work?

Can I bathe my dog. Will shampoo wash away the protection?

The drug is absorbed into the blood and distributed through internal tissues and organs, so water, shampoo and other products do not affect the action of Simparika. You can wash your pet, walk with it in the rain, swim in ponds. The dog will remain protected from external parasites.

Is it possible to split the tablet into several parts?

No. This is expressly prohibited by the instructions.

Can Simparica be used by pregnant or lactating animals?

Only on the recommendation and under the supervision of the treating veterinarian.

What is it used for?

Simparica is used to treat and prevent diseases caused by parasites:

• The drug protects against vector-borne diseases that are spread by ixodid ticks: piroplasmosis, borreliosis, anaplasmosis. The arthropods die before the pathogens enter the dog’s bloodstream.
• Prevents the development and accelerates the treatment of flea allergic dermatitis.
• Simparica is used in severe cases of sarcoptic mange, demodicosis, and otodectosis.

The drug is contraindicated in other animals, including cats.

Reviews from dog owners

Regarding the destruction of parasites, Simparika has practically no negative reviews among dog owners and justifies its purpose (protects against ticks and fleas, acts for a long time, is easily accepted by the dog).

However, there are also negative assessments associated with the failure to fulfill the preventive function of the drug (after taking it, the dog still fell ill with a disease transmitted by a tick), as well as owners’ concerns about the negative toxic effect of the drug on the pet.

Reviews from veterinarians

Veterinarians note that Simparica, unlike similar drugs, causes virtually no side effects and is easy to use (due to the pleasant taste, dogs eat the tablet themselves). However, the drug does not give 100% results.

Regardless of what form of antiparasitic drug you choose for your pet, be it Simparic tablets, or a collar and shampoo, you must consult a veterinarian before use. Only a specialist will be able to give a recommendation that will take into account the characteristics of the breed and the individual characteristics of your pet.

Side effects, overdose

There is normal tolerability of the drug and no side effects are observed. Regarding sensitive breeds such as collies, shelties, and others in which a gene mutation is observed, no negative effects were found. In addition, the medicine does not contain any components or shell that could irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Allergic reactions are possible, in which case it is necessary to give the pet an antihistamine; in the future, it is prohibited to give simparica.

It is very important to follow the correct dosage, since an overdose is very dangerous for the health of the animal.

Symptoms of overdose include:

• The dog begins to feel sad, noticeably depressed, and loses interest in others;
• Salivation increases;
• There is a noticeable lack of coordination;
• Your gait may change;
• The paws, head and torso begin to tremble.

This is a very dangerous condition for the animal and measures must be taken immediately. If no more than 30 minutes have passed after taking it, you need to induce vomiting (vomiting can only prevent further poisoning; it is effective only in the first half hour after eating the tablet). To do this, you need to put a little pressure on the root of the tongue. Be sure to give a sorbent; if there are no veterinary drugs, for example, EnteroZOO, then regular activated carbon or enterosgel will do. Next, be sure to show it to a veterinarian. If you do not induce vomiting, take it to the clinic immediately.