Cypermethrin: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antiparasitic

Also known as

Clinar, Cypermil, Ectopor

Species with doses

Dogs, Cattle, Goats and Sheep

Routes

Topical

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Tick / lice / fly control in cattle, sheep, goat
• Flea & tick infestation in dogs (Clinar Pet shampoo)

Cypermethrin dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Fleas / ticks / lice (Clinar Pet shampoo): Label-sourced (Clinar Pet shampoo 1%) — cypermethrin has no Papich 5e or Plumb’s monograph. Wet the coat, lather, leave 5–10 min, rinse 2–3 min. Never use on cats or where cats can groom the dog while wet.

Cattle

• Ticks / flies (dip): Dilute per label.

Goats

• Ticks / lice / flies (topical): Pyrethroid pour-on/spray/dip for goats; follow product concentration and milk/meat withdrawal.

Sheep

• Lice / keds (dip): Dilution and immersion time are set by the product label — cypermethrin sheep dips are sold at several strengths. No cypermethrin monograph exists in Plumb’s or Papich; this row follows the Virbac catalogue entry. Observe the label meat withdrawal and do not dip wet or stressed sheep.

Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

• Ticks / flies (dip): Dilute per label.

Contraindications

CATS — pyrethroid toxicity (seizures, ataxia, death) reported. Hypersensitivity. Avoid contact with eyes / mucous membranes.

Species-specific warnings

Cats: Cats are highly sensitive to pyrethroids — never apply cypermethrin / permethrin products to cats.

Adverse effects

• Mild local irritation
• Hypersalivation, tremors, seizures in cats
• Hypersensitivity (rare)

Drug interactions

• Other pyrethroids (permethrin, deltamethrin): additive — DO NOT stack
• Organophosphates: additive cholinergic effects from accidental skin absorption
• Other CNS-active drugs: minor interaction
• No significant systemic drug interactions at topical doses

Pregnancy and lactation

Generally considered safe at label dilutions in pregnant cattle, sheep. Limited canine topical pregnancy data. Avoid in pregnant cats regardless of dose (cat contraindication is absolute).

Monitoring

• Dilution accuracy per product label
• Cats nearby: SEPARATE for at least 48 h after dog treatment, especially spot-on products
• Owner education: never apply DOG products to CATS, never let cat groom recently-treated dog
• Withdrawal periods (cattle): per label — typically 7–14 d slaughter
• Aquatic disposal: never into waterways — extremely toxic to fish, daphnia, aquatic invertebrates

Toxicity and overdose

CATS — UNIVERSALLY TOXIC at dog-product doses. Permethrin / cypermethrin spot-on application to cats causes: severe tremors, seizures, hyperthermia, death. Even SECONDARY exposure (cat grooming a recently-treated dog, or sleeping next to one) can cause toxicity. Dogs: at label dose, generally well tolerated; high topical doses or oral ingestion → tremors, hyperaesthesia, ataxia. Cattle / sheep / goats: well tolerated at label dilutions; accidental whole-body immersion can cause neurotoxicity. AQUATIC TOXICITY: extremely toxic to fish — never dispose of dipping fluid into waterways.

Management: NO SPECIFIC ANTIDOTE. Cats: emergency intensive care — methocarbamol 55–220 mg/kg IV slow for tremors (drug of choice), diazepam for seizures, IV LIPID EMULSION (20% intralipid 1.5 mL/kg IV bolus then 0.25 mL/kg/min × 30–60 min) effective for severe cases, IV fluids, active cooling for hyperthermia, bathe with mild detergent. Atropine if cholinergic signs. Prognosis grave if seizures established; recovery possible with intensive care over 24–72 h. Dogs: usually less severe — bathe, methocarbamol, supportive.

Clinical pearls

• Cattle / sheep dip: 0.01–0.05% (1:1000 to 1:200 from 10% concentrate) — per label
• Canine shampoo (Clinar Pet): wet coat, apply, contact 5–10 min, rinse 2–3 min
• NEVER APPLY TO CATS — even SECONDARY exposure (cat sleeping next to treated dog) can be fatal
• Owner counselling: SEPARATE cat from treated dog × 48 h; never use dog flea products on cats
• Cats with pyrethroid toxicity: IV LIPID EMULSION (intralipid) + methocarbamol = standard ER protocol
• Methocarbamol 55–220 mg/kg IV slow is the drug of choice for pyrethroid tremors
• AQUATIC TOXICITY: extremely toxic to fish — never dispose of dipping fluid into ponds / rivers
• Some "natural" products (chrysanthemum oil) contain pyrethrins — same cat toxicity risk

Mechanism of action

Type II synthetic pyrethroid insecticide / acaricide. Binds voltage-gated sodium channels on arthropod neurons in the OPEN state → prolonged channel opening → repetitive nerve firing → paralysis and death. Mammalian sodium channels are less sensitive (rapid hepatic metabolism via esterases) — wide mammalian-arthropod selectivity. CATS LACK the glucuronyl transferase needed to detoxify pyrethroids → severe / fatal toxicity at standard dog doses. Effective against ticks, fleas, lice, keds, and many flying insects.

Formulations and products

• Clinar 10 % w/v dip concentrate (Virbac)
• Clinar Pet shampoo 1 % w/w (Virbac, 100 mL)
• Clinar (Virbac) — 10 % w/v, Dip concentrate
• Clinar Pet (Virbac) — 1 % w/w, Anti-tick shampoo
• Clinar-M (Virbac) — Cypermethrin 1 % + Miconazole 2 %, Medicated shampoo (skin + fungal)
• Tikkil Shampoo (Indian Immunologicals (IIL), Hyderabad) — Cypermethrin High-Cis 1 % with conditioner, Anti-tick / anti-flea shampoo
• Tikkil Liquid (Indian Immunologicals (IIL), Hyderabad) — Cypermethrin High-Cis (Emulsifiable Concentrate), Emulsifiable concentrate — dilute for dip/spray
• Tikkil Powder (Indian Immunologicals (IIL), Hyderabad) — Cypermethrin High-Cis 10 % (Wettable Dispersible Powder), Wettable dispersible powder — dissolve in water

Storage

Concentrate: 15–25 °C, protect from light, keep tightly closed. Shampoo: 15–25 °C, sealed bottle. Diluted dip: use immediately, discard after 24 h. Aquatic disposal STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other antiparasitics

• Atovaquone
• Buparvaquone
• Clorsulon
• Closantel
• Decoquinate
• Deltamethrin
• Dichlorvos (DDVP)
• Diclazuril

Frequently asked questions