General Product Information
Bio Spot is a flea and tick control medication for dogs intended for monthly application. In addition to killing and repelling fleas and ticks, it also helps keep mosquitoes at bay. The main active ingredients in Bio Spot is an effective insect growth regulator that can prevent the hatching of fleas for up to one month. It also protects dogs from reinfestation for a few weeks afterwards. Bio Spot is intended only for dogs that are six months or older.
The main active ingredients in Bio Spot are Permethrin and S-Methoprene. These substances kill ticks upon contact and prevents flea eggs from hatching respectively.
Bio Spot For Dogs
As with all medications that can potentially affect your dog’s health, it is important to consult with a veterinarian before using Bio Spot. Particular care should be taken on pets that have previously been injured, older pets, or dogs that are currently pregnant and/or nursing. Keep in mind that certain pesticides can interact negatively with Bio Spot, so you should ask your veterinarian if it is okay to use the product beforehand.
Bio Spot is manufactured by Farnam, and contains 45% Permethrin, 3% (S)-Methoprene, and 52% other ingredients.
Possible Side Effects As Acknowledged By The Manufacturer
As with all pesticide products, you may notice certain side effects when you use Bio Spot on your pets. The most common side effect associated with the use of Bio Spot is sensitivity to the medication, particularly immediately after application. If you see any signs of adverse effects in your pet, try to see if bathing your dog with mild soap and plenty of water will be enough to ease his or her symptoms.
If this does not cause any improvement, you may have to take your dog to a veterinarian for consultation. Keep in mind that repeated exposure to certain ingredients in Bio Spot can cause irritation in humans as well. If this happens, make sure that you wash away the product with soap and plenty of water.
Customer Reviews
Many customer reviews of Bio Spot seem to be fairly positive positive, with many customers opting to use this over other more expensive flea and tick prevention medications. Aside from the considerably lower price of Bio Spot, many customers have been encouraged to use this for its quick and effective results. That being said, there are also several reports of negative reactions that can be quite severe, and some of these have caused many customers to move over to other types of medication.
There are actually quite a few users that have reported negative effects from using Bio Spot, claiming that it results in more severe side effects than other similar products. That being said, many of these reports are probably due to an allergic reaction from the dying fleas as opposed to an actual reaction to the product itself.
One particularly disturbing report comes from a pet owner who used Bio Spot only once, only to be awakened late at night by an obviously distressed dog. The dog in question was shaking uncontrollably, and the pet owner immediately brought him to the veterinarian for emergency consultation. It only took a quick bath in mild dishwashing soap before the dog was back to normal, although the experience was traumatic enough to cause this customer to choose another product instead.
Conversely, one pet owner reports using Bio Spot on a dog without any adverse reactions, and has in fact noticed a considerable improvement and a lot less fleas detected. It appears that Bio Spot seems to be hit and miss for certain dogs.
You said:
“…many of these reports are probably due to an allergic reaction from the dying fleas as opposed to an actual reaction to the product itself.”
What? Where did you get that information? This is completely inaccurate. Permethrin can cause local skin reactions as well as penetrating into the nervous system causing incoordination, stumbling, and seizures. Dying fleas have no effect on the immune system of dogs or cats.
A couple words of wisdom as well: Permethrin and other pyrethroids have become much less effective over time due to developing resistance in fleas, especially in the south. There is also very little residual activity with these products – there is no way they will keep fleas away for a month. With so many safer, MUCH more effective products on the market, why take the risk? Buyer beware: you get what you pay for.
Also: any product containing permethrin is EXTREMELY toxic to cats, and should NEVER be used on a cat or on any dog that a cat is likely to be in close contact with and be grooming.