Foresto

Foresto is available as a grey, odourless antiparasitic collar, designed for the controlled release of the active ingredients onto the animal’s skin and coat.

• Foresto collar for large dogs (>8 kg) – a collar approximately 70 cm in length, containing 4.5 g of imidacloprid and 2.03 g of flumethrin.
• Foresto collar for small dogs (≤8 kg) and cats – a collar approximately 38 cm long, containing 1.25 g of imidacloprid and 0.56 g of flumethrin.

The Foresto collar is indicated for the treatment and prevention of ectoparasite infestations in dogs and cats, specifically:

• the prevention and treatment of flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis);
• control of tick infestations, including species such as Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus spp.;
• protection against flea larvae in the animal’s environment;
• use as part of a treatment strategy for flea allergy dermatitis.

Administration of the Foresto collar involves placing the collar around the animal’s neck, following a few simple rules to ensure the treatment’s efficacy and safety.

The Foresto collar is fastened around the animal’s neck without being pulled too tight; ideally, there should be enough space to fit two fingers between the collar and the neck. The loose end of the collar is threaded through the buckle, and any excess length exceeding approximately 2 cm can be trimmed.

The use of the Foresto collar for dogs and cats is contraindicated in certain specific situations:

• in puppies under 7 weeks of age;
• in kittens under 10 weeks of age;
• in animals with known hypersensitivity to imidacloprid, flumethrin or any of the product’s excipients.

The Foresto collar for cats and dogs is designed to ensure uniform distribution of the active substances across the animal’s skin and coat via the skin’s lipid film.

The cat version includes a safety mechanism that allows the collar to open if it becomes snagged, thereby reducing the risk of strangulation.

Like any veterinary medicinal product, the Foresto collar may sometimes cause side effects, which are usually mild and temporary:

• itching or mild redness at the application site;
• temporary hair loss around the neck;
• mild skin irritation.

To date, no significant interactions have been reported between the Foresto antiparasitic collar and other veterinary medicines or food.

However, in the event of concomitant use with other topical or systemic antiparasitic products, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian to avoid overlapping pharmacological effects or the risk of adverse reactions.

Due to the method of administration and the controlled release of the active substances, the risk of overdose with the Foresto dog collar is low.

However, accidental ingestion of the collar or excessive exposure to the active ingredients may cause symptoms such as hypersalivation, gastrointestinal disturbances or skin irritation. 

Foresto for cats and Foresto for dogs should be stored in the original packaging, in a dry place away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children.

The optimal storage temperature is room temperature, and the product should be kept in the protective pouch until use to prevent premature evaporation of the active ingredients. 

• PubMed, Evaluation of the long-term efficacy and safety of a polymeric matrix collar containing 10% imidacloprid/4.5% flumethrin (Seresto®) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks, in multicentre field clinical trials conducted in Europe
• PubMed, Efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas, ticks and tick-borne pathogens in dogs
• ResearchGate, Efficacy of modern antiparasitic collars for animals
• Springer Nature Link, Determination of the effect of collars containing 10% w/w imidacloprid and 4.5% w/w flumethrin (Seresto®) on the incidence of Leishmania infections and other pathogenic infections transmitted by canine vectors in Greece