Best flea and mites treatment for kittens about 7 weeks. Which one?..

floridakitty

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Hi

Which one would you recommend using on a small kitten: Revolution, Advantage, Frontline or something else?...

I have 10 foster kittens and 2 adult moms. I will take one mom and the worst looking kitten to the vet to see what is happening to their skin but I will have to probably buy meds myself because I foster for our animal control and I don't want to bring them in looking so bad.

It could be anything from flea allergy to mange/scabies as I suspect.

In case the vet wouldn't be able to definitively confirm scabies I consider buying Revolution in adult dosages and splitting it between kittens and moms plus of course my own cats who most likely got the same thing.

Im thinking administering 10 mg per kitten (they are under 2 lbs but close) and about 40 mg per mom.
I will squeeze the tube and then measure the dosage with a syringe and apply it to the skin.
I cannot afford kitten dosages, so please refrain from "follow the vet recommendation and proper instructions" kind of comments.

Has anyone ever done that?...

In case they do test positive for scabies do I have to administer it once or twice a month?...

Any experience?...Advice?...

Thank you
 

stephanietx

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At 7 weeks, they are probably too young for any topical flea treatment.  You can treat the moms, but not the babies.  For the babies, you can comb them with a flea comb dipped in some blue Dawn water.
 

alyssam

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You can use regular baking soda for the kittens as a flea treatment when they are still too young for the actual stuff. Baking soda is proven to dry out and kill fleas and flea eggs... not as effective, but no harm to the young ones! Just pour a little on their fur and gently rub it in with your hand. I use this method on all of my kittens when then are too small for flea baths. We also use baking soda in our carpets to manage an indoor flea problem if and when it occurs. Simply pour it all over your floors and brush it in. Wait 3 days and then vacuum it up! This should dry out, kill, and prevent other fleas from hatching. 
 
At 7 weeks, they are probably too young for any topical flea treatment.  You can treat the moms, but not the babies.  For the babies, you can comb them with a flea comb dipped in some blue Dawn water.
^^^^ This as well. But make sure your kittens are no longer nursing if you are going to give the moms a flea bath. The flea shampoo or poison can be absorbed through the skin and taint the milk. This can poison the kittens. It is best to wait until you are positive they are no longer nursing, or trying to nurse. 

I use Adams or Hartz flea shampoo, powder and topical treatment on all of my animals. 

Best of luck!
 

stephanietx

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Just thinking....at 7 weeks old, you could just give them a bath in Dawn water.  Be sure it's diluted well and keep them warm after the bath. 
 

peaches08

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I think you can give Capstar at this age, but please double check with a vet before giving.  It only lasts about 24 hours but it kills fleas!  The Dawn dish soap will be of help too.

PLEASE do not use Adams or Hartz products for flea control.  They are neurotoxic and have been known to kill.
 

alyssam

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I think you can give Capstar at this age, but please double check with a vet before giving.  It only lasts about 24 hours but it kills fleas!  The Dawn dish soap will be of help too.

PLEASE do not use Adams or Hartz products for flea control.  They are neurotoxic and have been known to kill.
Really? I had no idea. Could you post some evidence of this like a website link or something? I have used Adams and Hartz for years and  have not had a single problem.
 

peaches08

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alyssam

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Thank you, peaches08. Much appreciated! What do you use or recommend as a different flea treatment? 
 

peaches08

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I forgot to include this article for @FloridaKitty http://www.thecatsite.com/a/bathing-small-kittens-tips-that-can-save-a-kittens-life
 
Thank you, peaches08. Much appreciated! What do you use or recommend as a different flea treatment? 
And here's a poll that may or may not be of help for you http://www.thecatsite.com/t/275621/fleas-what-works-in-your-area

Advantage is really hit or miss, Frontline Plus seems to work for more people, Revolution is awesome but $$, and Capstar is reliable but only 24 hours.  What I did was Capstar them (it's a pill) and apply the topical in the same day.  I no longer use any flea control, since going on raw my cats don't need it.  I've *heard* that it has to do with B-vitamins which I do add to their homemade raw, but I cannot find one thing on the internet that defends it.

I'm in GA too, BTW.
 

mydaddysjag

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Capstar is safe for over 2lbs and atleast 4 weeks.  We use advantage II here, fleas seem to have become immune to frontline in my area, but its different everywhere.  You could always bath them in dawn and let it sit sudsy for 5 minutes to kill the adult fleas.
 
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floridakitty

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Thank you so much for your replies!!!!

A lot of info and different views, so it is very helpful and appreciated!

Since my concern was also a possibility of scabies/mange I went ahead and did the Revolution for all.
I went to the vet of course and the scabies scraping test was negative but the vet STRONGLY agreed with scabies possibility but because it might be in its initial stage the testing is unreliable until it gets more "mangey" in appearance...

Since my kittens are animal control owned I cannot risk their lives by letting it progress to really bad condition when they might choose to put them to sleep (they said they wouldn't if I foster but who knows?..)

So I went ahead and bought 8 adult Revolution tubes which is enough according to my calculations to treat ALL two weeks apart and is enough for two applications. So it is $90 but I think it's a steal for 10 kittens and two moms.
If you read their manual carefully you will realize that the concentration is the same in kitten and adult, so in one adult there are 3 kitten dosages. The minimal effective is 2.7 mg/lbs, so for a two pound kitten 6 mg is enough and if measured with a syringe it is 0.1 ml per kitten.
And one adult tube will cover 7 kittens!!!

So, I know it is NOT what they tell you to do but if you are in crisis mode I think it is excusable to follow your logic.

Its been three days and no fleas of course but the ones that looked like they had scabies still look the same.... Crap... I guess it takes time...

I did flea bathed moms before and then let the kittens nurse... Stupid... I used Sentry or something... Maybe that's why their skin started to look like crap?.. I poisoned them?...
Omg... I thought if I rinse it off thoroughly it's fine...

Well... What's done is done then...

Thank you all for responding!!!
 

peaches08

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Remember that it takes time to grow skin/hair.  I don't remember the dosages, but so long as you followed recommended dosages then I'd say you're fine.
 
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