Frequently Asked Questions

Leave the area undisturbed for two hours. Remove all people and pets (mammals, birds, reptiles, etc.) for the amount of time specified on the label. Cover fish bowls or tanks with plastic wrap and turn off aerators. 

The collars are waterproof. Even if the collar becomes wet, it does not lose its effectiveness. Even so, most people find it helpful to remove the collar when bathing to get the animal fully clean, and then reapply when the animal is dry.

The mist products come in both alcohol and water-based formulas. Some contain adulticides only, while others contain both an adulticide and Precor® IGR, which kills the eggs and causes the female flea to lay sterile eggs. The water-based formulas are slower drying (alcohol speeds up drying process because of evaporation) but are the choice for irritated skin. The water-based formulas contain coat conditioners. The alcohol-based formulas dry quickly and the alcohol has a flushing effect on the fleas, which tends to create a faster kill. As can occur with the use of any pyrethrin-based product, some cats may drool upon tasting the bitter ingredient on their coat. This may occur with alcohol- or water-based products. This response is non-harmful and generally self-limiting.

NOTE: NEVER use flea and tick control products for dogs on cats. Cats need special formulas. Only use products labeled for cats on cats. Cats and dogs can have adverse reactions to certain ingredients in each other’s products, including death. Adams™brand tailors the products to fit the needs of each animal, and includes ingredients appropriate to each pet.

Spot On^® treatments can take up to 24 hours to dry. Refraining from bathing your pet during this time is recommended. If you do choose to bathe your animal prior to adding Spot On^® products, wait until your pet is completely dry to apply the product.

No, Spot On^® products are only to be used every 30 days. You may use other treatment methods such as shampoos and dips.

Adams™ Home Flea & Tick Spray is designed for use on all fabrics. Leave the area undisturbed for the amount of time allotted on the label. Avoid wetting or saturating carpets or furniture. An evenly-applied fine mist spray is sufficient.

Yes, you can use Adams™ Flea & Tick Spray if you are pregnant. However, you should avoid breathing the mist, swallowing or inhaling it. As always, wash hands with soap and water after using.

It is not recommended to use multiple pesticides simultaneously. Always follow package-labeling instructions when applying to animal.

Adams™ products are not systemically active and have no known adverse interactions with systemic medications.

Consult a veterinarian before using this product on debilitated, aged, pregnant, nursing, or animals on medication.

The product can be used after bathing, but bathing is not necessary. Once the liquid has dried completely, it’s okay for children and all family members to have normal contact with treated dogs. For maximum safety and effectiveness, we recommend minimizing direct contact with the treated pet until the pet has dried, usually within about 24 hours.

Some collars require that you stretch the collar to activate the insecticide generator. Always read the instructions before using. Collars tend to fit larger, and the excess should be trimmed. Consider leaving 1”-3” extra to allow for some growth of the pet if it is not already full size.

Turn off ALL ignition sources such as pilot lights (shut off gas valves), other open flames or running electrical appliances that cycle off and on (i.e., refrigerators, thermostats, etc.). Call your gas utility or management company if you need assistance with your pilot lights. For use only when building has been vacated by human beings and pets. Ventilate area for 30 minutes before re-entry.

Leave the area undisturbed for two hours. Remove all people and pets (mammals, birds, reptiles, etc.) until the spray has dried. Cover fish bowls or tanks with plastic wrap and turn off aerators. 

No, flea & tick products do not carry expiration dates. Our products will remain effective long after their date of manufacture when they are stored according to label directions. For best results, we recommend using any flea and tick product within 2-3 years of purchase.

After your pet is initially treated, Adams™ Spot On^® Flea & Tick Control is an effective maintenance product, which kills and repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes for up to 30 days. In addition, it contains an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to kill flea eggs and prevent reinfestation.

When applying an Adams™ product that requires adult skin contact, such as shampoos and dips, always wear gloves. Other products, such as mists, topicals and Premise Control Products do not require skin contact with the pet. Always wash hands with soap and water after applying any Adams™ products.

Do not allow children or pets to come in contact with treated surfaces until spray has dried.

 INDOORS: Thoroughly vacuum all carpeting, upholstered furniture, along baseboards, under furniture and in closets. Seal vacuum bag and dispose of it in outdoor trash. Spray from a distance of 2-3 feet from surface being treated. Apply with a smooth back-and-forth motion to carpets, drapes, rugs and upholstered furniture. Avoid wetting or saturating carpets or furniture. An evenly applied, fine mist spray is sufficient. Do not spray wood furniture, floors or trim, as water spotting may occur. Repeat treatment if necessary to control fleas and ticks. Apply directly to exposed insects: roaches, ants, spiders, crickets, silverfish, carpet beetles and sowbugs.

PET BEDDING: Treat pet bedding and resting places. Apply a uniform spray to nearby cracks and crevices, along baseboards, window and door sills and localized areas of floors where fleas or ticks may be present as these are primary hiding places for these pests. Removal and replacement of pet bedding after treatment is not necessary.

Place collar around pet’s neck, adjust for fit, and buckle in place. The collar must be worn loosely to allow for growth of the pet and to permit the collar to move about the neck. Generally, a properly fitted collar is one that, when fastened, will snugly slide over pet’s head. Leave 2 or 3 inches for extra adjustment. Cut off and dispose of excess length. Wash hands after installing collar on pet. Under normal conditions, replace dog collars every 5-7 months and cat collars every 8 months. Under conditions of severe infestation and where continued rapid kill is desired, collar may be replaced more often.

Cover animal’s eyes with hand and with a firm, fast stroke to get a proper spray mist, spray head, ears and chest until damp. With fingertips, rub into face around mouth, nose and eyes. Then spray neck, middle and hindquarters, finishing legs last. For best penetration of the spray to the skin, direct spray against the natural lay of the hair. On longhaired dogs and cats, run your hand against the lay of the hair, spraying the ruffled hair directly behind the hand. Make sure spray thoroughly wets ticks.

SHAKE WELL BEFORE EACH USE. DOGS AND CATS: To kill fleas, ticks and lice thoroughly mix ½ oz. (1 tablespoon) of Adams™ PYRETHRIN DIP with 1 gallon of warm water. For outdoor animals in areas of severe infestations, 2 oz. (4 tablespoons) per gallon may be used. Make fresh solution daily. If animal’s coat is very dirty, bathe first with an Adams™ shampoo. Dip should be applied to dry or damp (not wet) coat. Sponge or dip animal with diluted Adams™ PYRETHRIN DIP making sure all areas are soaked to the skin. Let drip dry on animal. Do not rinse off! Repeat treatment every 7 days if necessary.

Thoroughly soak animal with warm water taking 2-3 minutes to wet hair. Apply on head and ears and lather, and then repeat procedure with neck, chest, middle and hindquarters, finishing legs last. Let animal stand 3-5 minutes (this is an important part of the grooming procedure), then rinse animal thoroughly. For extremely dirty or scaly animals, the above procedure may be repeated.

Adams™ Flea & Tick is an extensive line of products specifically designed to treat your cat or dog for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and several other pests listed on the package label. Always read the entire product label before each use. It is a violation of federal law to use any Adams™ product in a manner that is inconsistent with its labeling.

It is very important to treat the home environment with Premise Control Products, such as carpet powders, carpet sprays, room foggers and home sprays the same day the pet is treated in order to maintain proper flea control. All areas the pet frequents must be attended to including the home, garage, finished basement (or basements where the pet spends a lot of time), kennel and yard. In situations where the infestations remain a persistent problem even after initial treatments, treatment of attics or crawl spaces should be considered.

Vacuuming is a very important part in gaining control of a flea infestation. Vacuuming before the initial treatment, and daily (or every other day) thereafter for the next few weeks, is very effective at removing the newly emerged fleas and flea dirt, eggs and some larvae from the carpets. The efficacy of the actives is not compromised by the vacuuming process. Steam cleaning, as a regular household activity, should be done before treatment, since it removes the products’ active ingredients.

Foggers save labor by providing broad coverage of each room in which they are set. However, the foggers do not fumigate, nor are they crack and crevice aerosols. They do not penetrate enclosed spaces, under/over doors or around walls. The ingredients are propelled upwards until they come in contact with a surface (usually a ceiling). They then bounce off that surface until reaching another surface (a wall), and then settle downward, similar to an umbrella distribution. Any surface (such as a wall, counter, furniture, etc.) will cause an obstruction. During settling, the actives will travel to a degree under items that have adequate clearance (6 inches or more), but will not get under things that are close to the ground (dust ruffles around furniture or beds, etc.). In order to ensure maximum effectiveness of mist distribution, select a fogger appropriate for the square footage of each room/area being treated, rather than the overall dimensions of the whole house.

Handheld products will prove more effective than foggers when treating rooms that have vaulted or extended ceilings, rooms with indoor pools or fountains, or multi-level rooms.

Directions for use:

1. Use appropriate-sized fogger for each room/area in the entire house. If no obstruction (wall) divides two rooms, one fogger may be adequate.
2. To maintain an even distribution of ingredients, all fans, air conditioning units, heaters, etc. should be turned off and all windows closed before activating fogger.
3. Turn off ALL ignition sources such as pilot lights (shut off gas valves), other open flames or running electrical appliances that cycle off and on (i.e. refrigerators, thermostats, etc.). Call your gas utility or management company if you need assistance with your pilot lights.
4. Remove all people and pets (mammals, birds, reptiles, etc.) for the amount of time specified on the label. Cover fish bowls or tanks with plastic wrap and turn off aerators.
5. Regular green houseplants can be left in the treatment area. Exotic, tropical or in-bloom plants can be covered or removed during treatment, in order to avoid affecting the blooming.
6. All open food should be covered. Open all cupboards and drawers and remove contents.
7. The fogger should be placed on a few pieces of newspaper, either on the floor or on an elevated surface (depending upon label instructions).
8. Leave area undisturbed for 2 hours. Check label for further instructions.
9. Dishes, counter tops and tables should be washed off with soapy water.

With over 30 different product items in the Adams™ product line, there are numerous combinations which the products can be used. Some of the most common combinations include:

• Dips/Shampoos/Sprays: For severe infestation problems, dips are commonly used to provide instant, short-term control. Shampoos are used to cleanse and fight infestation problems and provide instant, short-term control while also acting as a grooming agent. Adams™ shampoos may provide such grooming benefits as detangling and adding luster and a fresh scent to your pet’s coat. Sprays, dips, shampoos and other products can be used in conjunction to help combat an infestation problem until the problem is under control. Generally, collars or topicals can be applied after bathing or dipping to provide longer residual control.

• Flea & Tick Collars and Topicals: Offer residual control. Flea & tick collars or topicals can be used after bathing or dipping an animal although it is not recommended to use multiple pesticides simultaneously. Always follow package-labeling instructions when applying to animal.

• Indoor and Outdoor Sprays and Foggers: Provide premise control. If experiencing an infestation, it is sometimes necessary to treat the yard and house to prevent reinfestation. Always follow label and package directions before use.

• Never use any Adams™ product in any manner that is inconsistent with the package labeling. Always consult a veterinarian before using any product on debilitated, aged, pregnant or nursing animals or animals on medication.

Do not bathe or dip the animal within the first 24 hours after the product has been applied.

In general, most Adams™ Flea & Tick products kill fleas, ticks, lice and mosquitoes and will continue working for up to 3-4 weeks. Some products last up to 18 weeks.

Keep your pet from getting wet until the application appears dry. Drying time can take up to 24 hours. During this time, please keep objects away from the area which has been treated.

The duration of the products effectiveness varies from product to product. Always read labels carefully and follow label instructions before reapplying.

Once the liquid has dried completely, it’s okay for children and all family members to have normal contact. For maximum safety and effectiveness, we recommend minimizing direct contact with the treated spot until it has dried, usually within about 24 hours.

Keep products out of reach of children. The ingredients may be hazardous to humans and animals if ingested or absorbed through the skin.

First Aid:

SKIN CONTACT: Remove contaminated clothing and wash exposed area with soap and water. Obtain medical assistance if irritation or unusual symptoms occur.
EYE CONTACT: Wash eyes with water for at least 15 minutes then obtain immediate medical assistance.
INGESTION: Call a physician or Poison Control Center immediately for treatment advice. Drink 1 or 2 glasses of water. Do not induce vomiting unless a physician or the poison control center directs you to do so. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

We recommend you bathe your pet with an Adams™ Flea & Tick Shampoo prior to using our mist products. Once the shampoo is rinsed off the pet, the residual activity of the insecticidal ingredient is gone, so it is important to follow up with a maintenance product to protect the pet from new fleas emerging from within their cocoons in the infested environment. Pets must be completely dry before the mist application.

Most Adams™ products kill and prevent fleas, ticks, lice and mosquitoes. Products can be applied as a preventive or as a maintenance program. Repeat applications may be necessary to treat severe infestations. It may be necessary to wait before reapplying. Always refer to the product label before reapplication.

The main ingredient in Adams™ Spot On^® Flea & Tick Control for dogs is Insect Growth Regulator (IGR). Fleas have a naturally occurring substance called juvenile hormone which normally directs development of flea eggs and larvae. Precor® IGR is a synthetic analogue (almost an exact copy) of this substance. When Precor® IGR is applied to these eggs and larvae, it instantly short-circuits their development. The end result is dead eggs and larvae. In fact, adult female fleas exposed to Precor® IGR lay dead eggs.

Adams™ mists can be used as a complement to your pet’s regular flea and tick control maintenance program. Mists are applied directly onto the animal to kill and repel fleas, ticks, lice and mosquitoes. Shampoos are gentle formulas that allow pet owners to cleanse and deodorize and add luster to their pet’s coat while killing fleas, flea eggs, ticks and lice.

Handheld sprays take 5-10 minutes to dry. Do not allow children or pets to come in contact with treated surfaces until the spray has dried.

Each Adams™ product treats for specific problems. It’s best to choose the product which best fits your pet’s needs. In general, most Adams™ Flea & Tick products kill fleas, ticks, lice and mosquitoes and will continue working for up to 3-4 weeks. Some Adams™ products last up to 18 weeks.

Generally, after the application of our products, you will see more fleas, but this is because the products make the fleas hyper-excited, drawing them to the top of the hair coat before dying. If after 24 hours you don’t see a decrease in infestation, please consult a veterinarian.

No, Adams™ Home Flea & Tick Spray fast–acting formula kills fleas, ticks, ants, cockroaches, earwigs and silverfish. In addition, the spray kills eggs and larvae to control reinfestation for up to 7 months.

When adding chemical-based treatments for care, follow the label’s instructions carefully and contact your vet with any questions. Prevent your pet from licking itself for 24 hours. As can occur with the use of any pyrethrin-based product, some pets may drool upon tasting the bitter ingredient on their coat. This may occur with alcohol- or water-based products. This response is non-harmful and generally self-limiting.