question re Stronghold/Advocate

[Kay and Penny]

thanks Gill - that's what I'll do then - once Tosker is done that will be an end of it, as he doesn't go further than 10 ft from the enclosure fence, so should stay mite free afterwards

it's going to be expensive though

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Yes stronghold can be applied safely every month, thats the normal period of application 

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Don't really have a view about Advocate V topical treatment as it's more to do with the 'can I be  ' factor than effectiveness of treatment, but I can tell you - from painful experience  - that the creeping up while they are asleep to apply a spot on doesn't work.  They feel the alcohol on their skin the moment it hits and it certainly wakes them up alright. You won't get the full phial onto him by the stealth method.

[Kay and Penny]

thanks everyone

is it safe to apply Stronghold every month, perhaps for several months ? don't think there are any fleas or worms to be zapped in any of them

or would it be better to ask the vet for  a topical treatment for mites for Trigger and Tiffany?

i'm so tempted to creep up on Tosker when he's sleeping in his kennel, usually with the back of his neck facing out - but he's come so far up to now that it just isn't worth risking undoing all the good work for a few mites - his ears aren't full of gunk so I don't think the problem is urgent - not yet anyway

I'd risk it if I had someone to help, but he would take off immediately if a stranger came anywhere near him

[Millys Mum]

Ear mite life cycle takes 3 weeks so i would give a stronghold for 2 months to make sure it gives enough cover, upto 4 weeks could miss some. But as Julie points out they will just reinfect so id opt to treat them monthly until tosker can be done.
Its also important to clean out the black yuk in their ears regularly

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Yes trigger they should and cats dont always pass them on...........hit or miss

[Kay and Penny]

it does say that it is a preventative as well as a cure, so surely that means the two treated cats should be OK for a bit?

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Just reread your question, Trigger.

Mites will reinfect another cat if they are still present in once. So you need to treat ALL of your cats at once. 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

With stronghold it should be just once a month

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

I think the standard treatment time for ear mites is two week intervals for a total of 3 treatments, but that depends on the product used. I'd have a chat with your vet. 

[Kay and Penny]

Tosker has ear mites, but I cannot get near enough yet to treat him

Trigger and Tiffany have now started scratching their ears too, so have treated them today

but am not sure how long this treatment will protect them from re-infection - does anyone know, please?