≡ Menu

How Long After Applying K9 Advantix Can I Touch My Dog?

You may wonder how long you need to wait to pet your dog after applying K9 Advantix II flea and tick treatment.

After all, if the chemical is powerful enough to kill and repel fleas and ticks, you should probably avoid touching it, right?

Photo of Tick Treatment

Ideally, with any topical flea-and-tick treatment, manufacturers recommend you wait until the product is dry before petting your dog.

Of course, different products come with different recommendations on how you should handle all-things-canine when it comes to your dog.

Let’s take a deeper look at K9 Advantix II in particular and how best to handle the product.

What Makes Fleas So Terrible?

We all know ticks can cause diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, so it’s no surprise we’d want to keep them away. But why fleas?

Fleas aren’t all that dangerous…right?

Well, no, on their own fleas aren’t dangerous right out of the box, but they are of the worst kind of pests imaginable because of the damage they cause.

For one thing, fleas can go 100 days without feeding. That’s a long time to sit around and wait for a host in your home.

And when a flea does feed, it can pinch and itch both you and your pet – no one wants to go through that.

Even more serious is that some animals can suffer anemia as a result of a particularly severe flea infestation, which can cause more serious problems like organ failure.

Heartworm is another serious problem that can result from a dog ingesting an infected flea, which is why heartworm medication is just as important as flea and tick prevention.

Some animals are even allergic to flea bites, which creates a whole new catalog of skin-related problems.

What is K9 Advantix II?

K9 Advantix II is a topical insecticide product meant for canine use only.

The purpose of K9 Advantix II is to both treat and prevent your dog from suffering an infestation of dermatological parasites.

K9 Advantix II targets such parasites as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, as well as chewing lice.

K9 Advantix II takes about 12 hours to take effect. Once it does, it kills all the fleas that are on the dog.

From there, any new fleas that jump on the dog from the floors, bedding, etc. die within two hours of contact with the dog.

From there, you’ll need to apply K9 Advantix II every four weeks, as this is the maximum duration of the strength of each topical application.

Oral vs. Topical Flea and Tick Treatments

Both oral and topical flea and tick treatments have their pros and cons.

For one thing, with oral treatments you don’t have to worry about petting your dog right after, or a child ingesting the chemicals.

However, oral treatments do not kill or prevent ticks, and they do not have longevity whatsoever.

Ideally, oral treatments are good if your dog is seriously covered in fleas.

You give him the treatment, the fleas on his skin all die, and then you go ahead with a more long-term, topical plan.

The downsides to topical medications are that some of the cheaper ones can injure your pet’s skin and perhaps even cause long-term effects.

There is also the whole “wet chemicals” thing that you need to avoid touching – something made all the more difficult with children.

Overall, though, you really cannot go wrong with a topical treatment.

And for severe infestations, an oral treatment combined with a topical treatment can do wonders for your pet and home.

Dog Collars

Dog collars are also incredibly effective at preventing fleas and ticks, and the good ones last even longer than the best topical treatments do.

The downside to dog collars, though, is that you have to be careful about touching it for even longer, since it releases medication over several months into your dog’s skin.

Photo of Portuguese Podengo Pequenos Portrait With Blue Collar

Flea collars are much easier to apply than topical treatments, and they typically come with less side effects than topical treatments do.

Tips for the Safe Application of Topical Treatments

Before applying K9 Advantix II, or any topical flea and tick medication, to your dog, it is important that you read the instructions thoroughly.

Only use the amount indicated for your dog, which typically goes by weight.

Never use more than one product at the same time unless you have express consent from your vet, and never use more than required, no matter how severe the infestation.

Also, never increase the frequency of how often you give the product to your dog.

If you have noticed the product you’ve chosen isn’t working as well as you would have liked, talk to your vet about what you should do next.

During Application

When you apply the medication, you can use disposable gloves to prevent yourself from accidentally touching the product.

Even so, and especially if you do not use gloves, you should always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the medication.

Refrain from petting your dog, and prevent your children from touching him, until after the product absorbs into the skin or dries on the fur.

Also, make sure you properly dispose of the cartridge once you are through with it by consulting the instructions for proper guidance.

If you have a multiple-pet home, you can quarantine your pets while the product dries so they don’t lick it off of each other while grooming each other.

And be sure not to bathe your dog for at least two days after application to give his skin enough time to properly absorb the product.

Side Effects

One thing you especially need to keep an eye out for, especially if you’ve never used a specific topical treatment before, is that your pet does not suffer a reaction.

You will need to monitor your pet for several hours after applying the product to ensure he doesn’t develop sensitivity or an adverse reaction to it.

Ideally, it is best if you apply the product when you’ll be home and awake for several hours so you can keep an eye on your pup.

Do not throw out the packaging as soon you are done with the application.

You may need the information for both the ingredients and the manufacturer if your dog does, in fact, suffer a bad reaction.

Some of the signs to watch out for include:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Drooling or foaming at the mouth
  • Stumbling
  • Seizures
  • Poor appetite
  • Lethargy

If your dog starts showing any of these signs after you apply the product, call your vet ASAP and bathe your dog immediately and thoroughly with soap.

Common Misconceptions about Topical Flea and Tick Treatments

Some people complain that both topical and oral flea and tick treatments are not effective against stopping the infestation of fleas on their dog and in their home.

However, both veterinarians and treatment manufacturers say that many times people are simply not applying the product correctly or assume the products can do magic.

For instance, the reproduction cycle of fleas is incredibly quick.

So, by the time you apply the treatment to your dog, the second round of eggs is getting ready to hatch. And the third round is probably already snuggled deeply into your carpet, waiting its turn.

It can take months to finally be rid of every last pest in your home, which is why a regular, scheduled topical application is so important.

You should also make sure your vet approves of where you’re buying your medication.

Many folks turn to places like Amazon to save a few dollars, only to learn the only thing they’ve applied to their pet is a very convincing fake.

These counterfeit products can (and often do) cause skin irritation, and they don’t last as long as the real thing.

If you’re not sure where to turn insofar as what products to use and where to get them, your vet is always there to help you.

Removing Fleas in the Home

It’s one thing to remove the fleas from your dog, but how do you make sure you’ve eliminated the fleas in your home, too?

After all, fleas can live and lay eggs in your carpet year-round. All it takes is for you to miss a dose of your dog’s meds, and he’s right back to becoming infested all over again.

Chihuahua Scratching from Fleas

The best way to get all the fleas and larvae out of your home is to do a thorough vacuuming job.


This doesn’t just mean the carpets either. Vacuum your hardwood or tile floors, as well as your upholstery, and throw any area rugs into the washing machine.

You should wash any items that your dog lays on, like his or your bedding, with the hottest possible washer and dryer cycles.

You can also have your yard sprayed and your house “bombed” to further eliminate any trace of these pests.

However, a thorough cleaning combined with a scheduled application of topical medication should be all you need to keep fleas and ticks at bay.

And always talk to your veterinarian if there are any other questions or concerns you may have.