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Treatment

Adverse reactions such as salivation, paw flicking, and ear twitching are often mild and self-limiting. If your dog has been saturated with spray products, dry it with a warmed towel and brush. If mild symptoms continue, bathe your dog at home with a mild hand-dishwashing detergent.

If symptoms continue and progress to tremors and incoordination, your dog will require immediate veterinary care and hospitalization. Dogs that are seriously affected will need to be stabilized, including fluid support and maintenance of a normal body temperature. Once your pet is stable, a bath with liquid hand-dishwashing detergent and warm water is critical.

Your veterinarian may also prescribe medications to lessen the severity of the symptoms and to help detoxify the dog's body.

Living and Management

Hypersalivation may recur for several days after use of a flea-control product on an animal. Most mild to severe clinical signs resolve within 24 to 72 hours.

Prevention

Proper application of flea-control products greatly reduces incidence of adverse reactions; directions must be followed closely. The correct dose for most sprays is one to two pumps from a typical trigger sprayer per pound of body weight.

Spray the Pyrethrin or Pyrethroid onto a grooming brush, and evenly brush through the hair coat. Be careful not to accidentally spray the product into the dog's mouth.

If you are using these products in liquid form, commonly called dips, never submerge your pet into the liquid. Instead, pour the liquid over the body, using a sponge to cover the dry areas.

With house and lawn products, do not apply topically (to the skin). After treating the house or yard, do not allow your pet in the "treated" area until the product has dried and the environment has been ventilated.