Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Freedom® for Dogs
- Why am I seeing more fleas after applying the Freedom® for Dogs?
Freedom®’s active ingredient permethrin is a contact insecticide, which means it kills on contact. It also has a contact repellent action. What this means is that a tick or flea has to actually get on the dog to contact the insecticide and be killed or repelled. While fleas and ticks normally will be found at the skin level on the body, hidden by the hair coat, the action of permethrin will work to drive them away from areas of high insecticide concentration (the skin). They may therefore be more readily visible as they seek an area of lesser concentration before they die.
- How often should I apply the Freedom® for Dogs?
As labeled, this product will provide control up to four weeks following application of the proper weight-related dose, depending on the parasite. All dogs will experience different pest challenges so it may be necessary to reapply more frequently to tailor the level of control desired. This may also depend on what is being done in the environment to help decrease exposure. Some may find once-a-month application to be all that is needed and on an especially large dog twice-a-month application may be necessary. The product should not be reapplied more frequently than every seven days.
- Do I have to wash my dog before applying your product?
No, if it is not necessary to kill an existing parasite burden, and the skin is clean, it is not necessary to bathe a dog prior to the use of this product. Bathing a dog prior to application does not enhance how well Freedom® works.
- After washing my dog, do I have to wait until the dog is completely dry (before applying)?
It is best for the dog to be dry (wait at least 24 hours) at the time Freedom® is applied so that the product can migrate optimally. Permethrin is hydrophobic which means that it is repelled by water.
- How soon after applying your product can I wash my dog?
Bathing will remove the product so it should be done prior to application. If frequent bathing is a routine for the dog, the economics of using a residual monthly product should be reconsidered.
- Is your product safe with children? Can my kids pet our dog?
Yes, if normal hygienic precautions are followed after application of this product, as would be followed with any other product applied to the dog, it should pose no concern. Allow the product to fully dissipate and dry on the body. Simply petting the dog should be fine, though prolonged cuddling or sleeping with the dog may cause irritation on the skin of particularly sensitive individuals. Children should always be taught to wash their hands prior to eating whenever an animal has been handled.
- Is Freedom® safe for use on pregnant or nursing dogs?
Yes.
- Will Freedom® product still work if my dog goes swimming?
The product will still work even if a brief swim takes place or if the dog gets caught in the rain for a short period of time. Prolonged and repeated swims will decrease efficacy necessitating that the product be reapplied. Insecticides can be harmful to aquatic creatures so if the dog is an active swimmer they may introduce insecticides into the water they swim in, which owners should be aware of in caring for the environment.
- How soon after applying Freedom® can my dog go swimming?
The product should be allowed to dissipate and dry. This will usually be complete in 24 to 36 hours. See information above in question 8.
- Can I use Freedom® on my CAT?
NO! This product should never, ever be applied to a cat. At this high concentration, permethrin is toxic to cats. Cats do not metabolize this insecticide as do dogs. This caution is listed several times on the product packaging.
- Can I use your product on my dog even though I also have a cat?
In the vast majority of cases it is perfectly fine to use this product on a dog residing in the same household as a cat. This is not the best choice of a product to use on a dog if the cat and dog engage in close physical contact such as would occur if the cat groomed the dog or slept in contact with the dog. The active ingredient in the product is not metabolized well at this high of a concentration by cats and can pose a toxicity risk if close contact occurs. Owners usually know if this type of activity occurs between their pets, but most dogs and cats probably do not have this type of relationship. Though most cases of toxicity have occurred following close contact during the first week after application, if you observe a cat grooming or sleeping with a treated dog, consult your veterinarian.
- What effect can the product have on a pregnant woman/unborn child?
While pyrethroids have generally been considered to have a wide margin of safety, it is recommended that a pregnant woman avoid all contact with all insecticides, not just Freedom®. She should consult her physician before using any such product.
- Freedom® states it can be used on puppies twelve weeks and older – Should I use the whole vial or just half of the vial?
The product was tested on puppies using the entire vial. We are unable to recommend and support our claims of efficacy with any other dose. If an owner uses less than the 1 cc vial they must be aware that this is an undocumented use of the product and the efficacy may not be all they want it to be.
- Can my dog be vaccinated after applying Freedom®?
Yes, the use of this product has not been associated with any adverse affects on a dog’s vaccination protocol.
- How long after a tick or flea comes in contact with my dog (treated with Freedom®) will the tick or flea die?
The time needed for a parasite to die after exposure to a treated dog will depend on the “quality” of their exposure. Enough time must occur for the parasite to absorb a lethal does of the product which it will encounter on the skin and hair coat. The higher concentration of product they encounter, the faster the time frame for absorption of the dose. A parasite that is moving across the skin will have a greater chance of exposure in a shorter time frame than one that is attached in an area of low concentration. Time to death will therefore vary a great deal.
- Can I wipe or lightly wash the oily spot that developed at the application site?
No. It is not recommended that the “oily spot” be washed or wiped as this could possibly remove product and affect overall efficacy. It has been found that by pinching up the skin across the neck and tail head area and applying the product to the exposed skin this “spot” can be minimized.
- Can I brush the dog after applying Freedom®?
Allow the product to fully migrate for a few days. The coat can be brushed, but the brush should only be used on the same dog (i.e. not a cat) as some product may transfer to the brush. This has not been studied however, and any effect on efficacy is unknown.
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