Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
  • 24-HR ER: 518-785-1094
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Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
  • Our Services
    • Dermatology
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Emergency/Critical Care
  • For Your Pet
    • Client Registration Form
    • Curb-Side Procedures
    • When Your Pet is a Patient
    • Client Portal
    • Pet Insurance
    • Payment Options
    • End of Life Arrangements
  • For Veterinary Teams
    • Referral Forms and Portal
    • Our Referral Process
    • At a Glance
    • Ethos Materials for Clinics
    • Continuing Education
    • VetBloom CE
  • About Us
    • Our Hospital
    • Our Team
    • Donate to AVMF
    • Why Ethos
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Our Blogs
    • PAWEDcasts
  • We’re Hiring!
    • Apply Today
    • Ethos Job Fairs
    • Benefits and Perks
    • Veterinary Training Programs
  • 24-HR ER: 518-785-1094

Our Blogs

Can Flea Control be Toxic?

February 23, 2017
cats can suffer from flea control toxicity learn more

In winter, keeping up with flea prevention for your pets may be the last thing on your mind. The winter months however, are the perfect times for those crafty little parasites to rally, mainly because fleas are hardier than you may think – surviving temperatures as low as 37 degrees Fahrenheit! Depending on the species of tick and the life-cycle stage, they can become dormant, or latch onto the soft warm fur of a passing host (such as a deer, or a dog). With that being said, using year-round flea control is definitely in your pet’s best interest, but safety considerations are important, as there are concerns for toxicity in pets.

Pyrethrin, a toxin derived from the chrysanthemum flower, and its synthetic kin permethrins, are both commonly found in flea control products. These toxins work by attacking the nervous system of insects. While these insecticides are relatively harmless to most mammals, cats however tend to become severely affected by this neuro intoxicant, likely because they lack certain enzymes that help them metabolize the toxin. Essentially their sodium channels become disrupted causing prolonged and repetitive nerve firings, or seizures.

Pyrethrin toxicity in cats often occurs because they were given flea control products that were intended for use in dogs.

In some cases, cats can even receive a toxic dose through grooming another pet shortly after a topical treatment was applied. If your cat exhibits any of the following symptoms after being medicated, (or has come into contact with) any sort of flea products, medical intervention will likely be required.

  • Ataxia (wobbly gait)
  • Hypersalivation
  • Muscle twitching
  • Seizures
  • Fever
  • Dilated pupils
  • Agitation

The best thing you can do to ensure that your pet won’t be overdosed with pyrethrins, is to properly read all labels before you use them. Also, talk with your family vet about products that are both safe to use on your pet(s), as well as effective at keeping these disease spreading parasites at bay.

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Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
518-785-1094 | 222 Troy Schenectady Rd, Latham, NY 12110
  • 24-HR ER: 518-785-1094
  • Our Services
    • Dermatology
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Emergency/Critical Care
  • For Your Pet
    • Client Registration Form
    • Curb-Side Procedures
    • When Your Pet is a Patient
    • Client Portal
    • Pet Insurance
    • Payment Options
    • End of Life Arrangements
  • For Veterinary Teams
    • Referral Forms and Portal
    • Our Referral Process
    • At a Glance
    • Ethos Materials for Clinics
    • Continuing Education
    • VetBloom CE
  • About Us
    • Our Hospital
    • Our Team
    • Donate to AVMF
    • Why Ethos
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Our Blogs
    • PAWEDcasts
  • We’re Hiring!
    • Apply Today
    • Ethos Job Fairs
    • Benefits and Perks
    • Veterinary Training Programs
© 2022 Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
Website Design by Jackrabbit

Emergency Hours

Due to a staffing shortage, we are temporarily reducing our Emergency/Critical Care service hours on Wednesdays.

Our Hours
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open until 6 p. m. Closed overnight
Thursday: Open from 7 a.m. onwards
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

If your pet needs emergency care during the window we are closed, the closest facility is:

Upstate Veterinary Specialties

152 Sparrowbush Rd, Latham, NY 12110

Phone: 518-783-3198

Please call them first to ensure they are open and accepting patients.