PupkeeperCaution
Dog flea and tick products used wrongly: what to do now
Too much dog flea product, or a dog licking or eating it, can cause drooling, vomiting, twitching and, rarely, seizures.
If your dog ate or touched this, call your vet or a pet poison line now
United States
Poison lines in other countries: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, JM, PR, Singapore, Switzerland, TT, VI
Dog flea and tick products used wrongly and dogs: key facts
- Verdict
- Caution · Call your vet or a poison line
- What it can do
- Drooling, vomiting or diarrhea, scratching, twitching or restlessness, shaking or shivering and tremors. All 8
- How fast
- 15 minutes to several hours after it goes on the skin
- What to do now
- Call your vet or a pet poison line now. All steps
- Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline, VCA Animal Hospitals, PDSA. Reviewed 9 October 2026.
What to do now
- Call your vet or a pet poison line now.
- Keep the package and bring it with you.
- For a skin reaction, bathe your dog with liquid dish soap and rinse well.
- Stop your dog from licking the spot until it has dried.
Don't
- Don't make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Don't use part of a bigger dog's dose or several small doses.
- Never use a dog flea or tick product on a cat. Many contain permethrin, which can kill cats.
Symptoms to watch for
- Drooling
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Scratching, twitching or restlessness
- Shaking or shivering
- Tremors
- Low energy
- Skin irritation
- Seizures
When signs appear: 15 minutes to several hours after it goes on the skin
Why
Spot-ons, sprays and collars contain insecticides. Using part of a larger dog's dose or several small doses can cause an overdose, and a chewed collar can block the gut.
Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline: Flea and Tick Medication
- Pet Poison Helpline: Common Flea and Tick Toxicity Questions and Answers
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Pyrethrin/Pyrethroid Poisoning in Dogs
- PDSA: Permethrin Toxicity in Cats
Guide reviewed 9 October 2026. Page updated 7 November 2026.
General information from the sources above, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet.