Imidacloprid products. Kills fleas in the larval and adult stages only. Original Advantage removed from US market in 2011 (is still available in many other countries). In 2014 Bayer released their Defense Care brand that contains only imidacloprid (cat version only). Treats fleas only.
Imidacloprid + pyriproxyfen. The IGR pyriproxyfen was added to Advantage II to prevents larvae from developing into adulthood. Should be avoided as some rabbits have shown a greater sensitivity to pyriproxyfen. At higher levels side-effects have been seen such as: premature delivery/abortions, soft stools, emaciation, decreased activity, and bradypnea. Treats fleas only. Do not use.
Imidacloprid + moxidectin. Advantage Multi is sold (registered under the trademark) as Advocate in several countries: US, Canada, New Zealand and Central America. The anthelmintic moxidectin was added and has been shown to be effective against psoroptic mange. Treats fleas & ear mites.
Imidacloprid + permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide in the pyrethroid family that can cause chemical burns on rabbits. Not sold in the US anymore. Do not use.
Imidacloprid + permethrin + pyriproxyfen. Do not use.
| As with any medication you must first talk to a rabbit savvy vet for the correct dosage for your rabbit and current situation. The information below is for reference only! The calculator will only show the dosing based on the data inputted. Talk to a rabbit savvy vet! The treatment of the environment is also extremely important. If not done, the problem can return. Talk to a rabbit savvy vet! Flea and mite drugs should be dosed, for rabbits, using a modern prototol! Dosing by kitten/puppy pipette should not be done as rabbits metabolize the chemicals much different. |
Advantage (imidacloprid): Imidacloprid is a safe 'spot on' treatment (not 'prevention') for fleas on rabbits when used correctly. It kills fleas in the larval and adult stages rapidly within 20 mins of direct contact, injestion (not by biting). Advantage (imidacloprid) only work on fleas. [How to say.]
Note: Bayer remove Advantage from the US market in 2011 and replaced it with Advantage II. Some rabbits can be more sensitive to Advantage II and some vets will not use it. In 2014 Bayer released a new brand line called "Defense Care." The *cat version* of Defense Care uses the same single ingredient as Advantage. Advantage is still available in many other countries and is regsitered for used with rabbits with fleas in the UK.
As with any treatment "it should be used with caution, especially on rabbits who are older or may have other health problems. Advantage should not be used for very young (less than six
months), elderly (six years or older), or compromised rabbits."
Dosing: Textbook of Rabbit Medicine recommends 10 mg/kg. MediRabbit recommends 3 mg/kg (or one cat dose). Overdose: "In rabbits, administration of 45 mg imidacloprid / kg body weight for 4 consecutive weeks (4 times the therapeutic dose) did not cause any adverse effects." - source
"Administration to the Cat/Rabbit: Part the hair on the pet’s neck at the base of the skull until the skin is visible. Place the tip of the tube on the skin and squeeze firmly several times to empty the contents directly onto the skin." - source
"The formulation is bitter tasting and salivation may be seen for a short time if licked immediately after treatment, so make sure to apply it on the neck at the base of the skull. Do not get this product in your pet's eyes or mouth. Advantage kills fleas on cats and rabbits within 24 hours of treatment and will continue to protect the animal from further flea infestation for up to four weeks on cats and one week on rabbits. Re-infestation from newly emerged fleas in the environment may occur for six weeks and longer after the treatment is initiated." - source
| UK Box | Product | Concentration | Amount of liquid | Amount of medicine | Weight range | UK box color | New Zealand |
 | Advantage 40 Small Cats Small Dogs Pet Rabbits | 100 mg/ml | 0.4 ml | 40 mg/tube | less than 4 kg (<8.81 lbs) | Green | Dark Orange |
| Advantage -- Small Dogs & Puppies | -- | -- ml | -- mg/tube | Up to 4 kg (8.81 lbs) | -- | Dark Green | |
 | Advantage 80 Large Cats Large Pet Rabbits | 100 mg/ml | 0.8 ml | 80 mg/tube | more than 4 kg (>8.81 lbs) | Purple | Violet |
 | Advantage 100 Dogs | 100 mg/ml | 1.0 ml | 100 mg/tube | 4 - 10 kg (8.81 - 22.04 lbs) | Teal | Turquoise |
 | Advantage 250 Dogs | 100 mg/ml | 2.5 ml | 250 mg/tube | 10 - 25 kg (22.04 - 55.11 lbs) | Red | Maroon |
 | Advantage 400 Dogs | 100 mg/ml | 4.0 ml | 400 mg/tube | 25 - 40kg (55.11 - 88.18 lbs) | Blue | Blue |
| North America - original Advantage discontinued in 2011 | ||||||
| USA Box | Product | Concentration | Amount of liquid | Weight range | Box color | |
 | Advantage 9 Cats & Kittens 8 Weeks & Older | 91 mg/ml | 0.4 ml | 9 lbs. & Under | Orange | |
| Advantage 18 Cats & Kittens 8 Weeks & Older | 91 mg/ml | 0.8 ml | Over 9 pounds | Purple | |
| Advantage 10 Dogs & Puppies 7 Weeks & Older | 91 mg/ml | ml | 10 lbs. & Under | Green | ||
| Advantage 20 Dogs & Puppies 7 Weeks & Older | 91 mg/ml | 1.0 ml | 11 - 20 lbs. | Teal | ||
| Advantage 55 Dogs & Puppies 7 Weeks & Older | 91 mg/ml | 2.5 ml | 21-55 lbs. | Red | ||
| Advantage 100 Dogs & Puppies 7 Weeks & Older | 91 mg/ml | 4.0 ml | Over 55 lbs. | Blue | ||
2000; "Evaluation of imidacloprid for the prevention of cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis) infestations on rabbits." Hutchinson, M.J., Jacobs, D.E., Bell, G.D., Mencke, N., Veterinary Record, 148, 695–696. [Paper]
2000; "Efficacy and safety of an imidacloprid spot-on formulation for treating flea infestations in domestic rabbits." Fukase T, Stanneck D, Mencke N, Proc WSAVA-FECAVA Congr. Amsterdam, 25-29 April 2000 []
2015; "A Three Generation Study with Effect of Imidacloprid in Rats: Biochemical and Histopathological Investigation" Prerna Vohra & Kuldeep Singh Khera, Veterinary Record, Toxicol Int. 2015 Jan-Apr; 22(1): 119–124. doi: 10.4103/0971-6580.172270. [Paper]
Advantage II - imidacloprid + pyriproxyfen: Pyriproxyfen was added to Advantage II to control the egg stage of the flea life cycle. Pyriproxyfen is a insect growth regulator (IGR). This prevents larvae from developing into adulthood and thus rendering them unable to reproduce.
K9 Advantix - imidacloprid + permethrin: Not sold in the US anymore. There are many reports that this product has caused chemical burns when not dosed and administered exactly correct! Rabbit savvy vets will not use this as there are better options.
Permethrin is class of pyrethroids, a synthetic pyrethrin compound. IT IS NOT reccomended to treat rabbits or cats with any product with pyrethrin or most classes of pyrethroids, in this case permethrin. There is a study that shows this combo is safe when applied and dosed correctly from a vet for rabbit. Advantix must be dosed very carfully by a rabbit savvy vet!
DO NOT USE ON YOUR OWN!! THERE ARE BETTER SAFER OPTIONS!! Many products that can be bought in a pet store will add a synergists in combo with pyrethrin/pyrethroids such as piperonyl butoxide making it even more dangerous.
K9 Advantix II - imidacloprid + permethrin + pyriproxyfen: Adds pyriproxyfen. Rabbit savvy vets will not use this as there are better options. DO NOT USE UNLESS PRESCRIBED by a RABBIT-SAVVY VET!! THERE ARE BETTER OPTIONS!! Many products that can be bought in a pet store will add a synergists in combo with pyrethrin/pyrethroids such as piperonyl butoxide making it even more dangerous.
Advocate - imidacloprid + moxidectin: Advocate is registered under the trademark Advantage Multi in several countries (US, Canada, New Zealand and Central America).
2010; "Plasma dispositions of ivermectin, doramectin and moxidectin following subcutaneous administration in rabbits"
2005; "Efficacy of a Formulation Containing Imidacloprid and Moxidectin Against Naturally Acquired Ear Mite Infestations (Psoroptes cuniculi) in Rabbits"
2000; "Field efficacy of moxidectin in dogs and rabbits naturally infested with Sarcoptes spp., Demodex spp. and Psoroptes spp. mites."
Moxiclear - imidacloprid + moxidectin.
2010; "Plasma dispositions of ivermectin, doramectin and moxidectin following subcutaneous administration in rabbits"
2005; "Efficacy of a Formulation Containing Imidacloprid and Moxidectin Against Naturally Acquired Ear Mite Infestations (Psoroptes cuniculi) in Rabbits"
2000; "Field efficacy of moxidectin in dogs and rabbits naturally infested with Sarcoptes spp., Demodex spp. and Psoroptes spp. mites."
Defense Care - imidacloprid
Advecta - imidacloprid based products by TruRx, LLC.
ZODIAC® Infestop™ for Cats - imidacloprid. This product is mainly only available in Canada. Zodiac is a registered trademark of Wellmark International. Infestop is a trademark of Farnam Companies, Inc
Advecta - imidacloprid based products by TruRx, LLC.