Virbac Effitix Tick & Flea Spot On for Dogs

Virbac Effitix (Fipronil 6.1% + Permethrin 54.5%) Tick and Flea Spot On for Dogs

Most tick and flea spot-ons stop at killing what is already on your dog. Virbac Effitix goes further — it also repels what has not landed yet.

Virbac Effitix spot on for dogs is a dual-action ectoparasiticide that combines two active ingredients — Fipronil 6.1% w/v and Permethrin 54.5% w/v — to both kill existing infestations and actively repel new parasites before they can bite. Fipronil handles adult fleas, ticks, and lice through contact kill. Permethrin adds a powerful repellent layer that deters ticks, mosquitoes, and sandflies — keeping them off your dog's coat before they can attach, feed, or transmit disease.

This repellent activity against mosquitoes and sandflies is what makes Effitix stand out from plain Fipronil spot-ons. Mosquitoes transmit heartworm. Sandflies transmit Leishmaniasis. In India's tropical and high-mosquito-density urban environments, a spot-on that actively repels these vectors adds a meaningful layer of protection that Fipronil alone does not provide.

The formula is water-resistant — remaining effective after bathing, swimming, and sun exposure. Application uses Virbac's drop-stop pipette technology for precise, mess-free delivery. Available in 3 sizes for dogs from 4 to 40kg, each pack contains 2 pipettes. 

(From Virbac Animal Health India Pvt. Ltd., Borivali East, Mumbai — the Indian arm of Virbac S.A., one of the world's leading dedicated veterinary pharmaceutical companies. Safe for dogs and puppies from 8 weeks of age)

Do not use on cats under any circumstances — Permethrin is highly toxic to cats, even at the concentrations used on dogs.

What Does Virbac Effitix Spot On Treat in Dogs?

Here is what Effitix fipronil permethrin spot on treats, prevents, and repels:

• Tick control — kills adult ticks, including Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick), Ixodes species, Dermacentor species, and Amblyomma species on contact, and provides residual protection for up to 4 weeks. Permethrin's repellent action also deters ticks before they attach — a meaningful advantage in heavy-tick environments where the volume of tick exposure is high

• Flea treatment and prevention — Fipronil kills adult fleas within 6 hours of application and continues to protect for up to a month. Monthly use prevents flea reinfestation and manages flea allergy dermatitis in hypersensitive dogs

• Lice control — kills both biting and chewing lice on contact, providing a full month of lice control with monthly application

• Mite control — aids in the management of mite infestations, including those causing sarcoptic mange

• Mosquito repellent — Permethrin actively repels mosquitoes and prevents blood feeding for up to 4 weeks. Mosquitoes are the primary vector for heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in India — repelling them reduces transmission risk in high-mosquito environments

• Sandfly repellent — Permethrin repels sandflies, the vector for Leishmaniasis — a serious and potentially fatal parasitic disease increasingly documented in dogs in India, particularly in areas bordering endemic zones

Learn more about how to properly eradicate ticks & fleas from your dogs by reading our expert-approved blog: The Ultimate Remedy for Tick and Flea Removal for Dogs

How Do Fipronil and Permethrin Work Together?

• Virbac Effitix works through two active ingredients with complementary but distinct mechanisms of action

• Fipronil is a phenylpyrazole insecticide and acaricide that blocks GABA-gated chloride channels in the nervous systems of fleas, ticks, and lice, causing hyperexcitation, paralysis, and death on contact. After application, Fipronil spreads through the coat via the sebaceous glands and is continuously released onto the coat surface for up to a month

• Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that works both as an insecticide and as a repellent. As an insecticide, it disrupts voltage-gated sodium channels in insect nervous systems, causing paralysis and death. As a repellent, it creates an olfactory and contact deterrent barrier that prevents ticks, mosquitoes, and sandflies from landing or feeding on the treated coat

• The combination of two active ingredients from different chemical classes also reduces the theoretical risk of resistance development — parasites would need to simultaneously overcome two different mechanisms to survive exposure

• The water-resistant formulation binds to the coat and sebaceous gland reservoir and retains efficacy after bathing, swimming, and sun exposure — unlike some spot-ons that lose significant efficacy after water exposure

How Do You Apply Virbac Effitix Spot On to Your Dog?

1. Select the correct pipette size for your dog's bodyweight — see the dosage table below

2. Remove the pipette from the blister packaging and hold it upright

3. Tap the narrow tip to ensure all the solution is in the main body of the pipette

4. Snap or break the top along the scored line to open — the drop-stop design prevents overflow during opening

5. Part the fur along your dog's back until skin is visible

6. For dogs under 20kg, apply the entire contents across 2 spots along the spine

7. For dogs 20 to 40kg, apply across 2 to 4 spots along the spine from the shoulder to the base of the tail

8. Squeeze gently at each spot to empty — do not apply to a single point only

9. Do not rub in — allow to absorb and spread naturally

10. Keep your dog dry for 48 hours after application

11. Do not allow your dog to swim in water courses or ponds for 2 days after application — Permethrin is toxic to aquatic organisms

For a video guide on how to apply the spot-on to your dog, watch this: Spot on Dog

Dosage guide:

 

Each pack contains 2 pipettes. Apply once monthly for continuous protection.

⚠️ Before you use it:

• For dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older only

• Never use on cats — Permethrin is highly toxic to cats. Even indirect exposure through grooming a recently treated dog can be fatal to a cat. In multi-pet households with both dogs and cats, keep cats completely separated from treated dogs until the coat is fully dry. Make sure to use proper cat tick & flea solutions for your feline friends.

• Wash your hands thoroughly after application

• Avoid contact with skin, eyes, and mouth during application — Permethrin at this concentration can cause skin and eye irritation in humans

• Keep away from water courses and aquatic environments for 2 days after application

• Allow the application site to dry fully before contact with furniture, upholstery, or painted surfaces — Permethrin can damage certain finishes

What Are the Side Effects of Virbac Effitix Spot On?

Side effects are uncommon at correct doses in healthy dogs. Here is what to watch for:

• Temporary skin irritation at the application site — mild redness, itching, or transient hair loss at the spots where the pipette was applied. Usually resolves within a few days without treatment

• Behavioural changes — transient hyperactivity or agitation have occasionally been reported following application. Usually resolves within 24 hours

• Drooling or hypersalivation — can occur if a dog licks the application site before it dries. Apply at points along the spine that your dog cannot reach and keep other pets away from the treated area until dry

• Vomiting — rare, and typically associated with licking of the application site

If your dog shows severe or persistent neurological signs after application, contact your vet immediately.

When Should You Not Use Virbac Effitix Spot On?

Check with your vet before using if:

• Your puppy is under 8 weeks of age

• Your dog is pregnant or lactating — no definitive safety data exists for Effitix in pregnant or lactating bitches. Use only under veterinary supervision following a benefit-risk assessment

• Your dog is already on another ectoparasite treatment — check for interactions before combining

• Your dog has a history of sensitivity to Fipronil, Permethrin, or other pyrethroids

⚠️ Clinical Safety Notice:

• Permethrin is TOXIC TO CATS — this warning cannot be overstated. If you have cats in your household, the risk of a cat grooming a recently treated dog, or coming into contact with the application site before it dries, is a genuine medical emergency. Keep dogs and cats completely separated for a minimum of 24 hours after application, until the coat is fully and completely dry. If a cat is exposed, contact your vet immediately

• Do not allow your dog near water courses, ponds, or streams for 2 days after application. Permethrin is acutely toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates

• The drop-stop pipette prevents mess during opening, but do not invert the open pipette — place it directly against the skin at each application point

How Should You Store Virbac Effitix Spot On?

• Store below 30°C, away from direct sunlight

• Keep in the original blister pack inside the outer carton to protect from light

• Keep out of reach of children and pets

• Do not freeze

• Use immediately after opening the pipette — do not store open pipettes

• Check the expiry date before use

What Are the Alternatives to Virbac Effitix Spot On?

 

Always consult your vet before switching antiparasitic treatments, particularly in multi-pet households where cat safety must be confirmed before using any Permethrin-containing product.

Vet Also Recommends

• Explore our complete collection of Dog Tick & Flea remedies

• Explore our complete collection of Dog Dewormers

• Explore our complete collection of Cat Tick & Flea remedies 

Give your dog protection that kills and repels — buy Virbac Effitix spot on for dogs online on Supertails. 100% authentic, from Virbac Animal Health India. Available in 3 sizes for dogs from 4 to 40kg, each pack contains 2 pipettes. Check Effitix price and read reviews from verified buyers on the product page. Same-day delivery available in select cities. Not sure whether Effitix is right for your dog or household? Chat with our in-house vets before you order.

FAQs

What does Virbac Effitix spot-on treat in dogs?

Virbac Effitix kills adult fleas within 6 hours, controls ticks and lice, and aids in mite management — while also actively repelling mosquitoes and sandflies for up to 4 weeks. The Permethrin component deters parasites before they land or bite, providing a layer of vector-borne disease prevention that plain Fipronil spot-ons do not offer. Safe for dogs and puppies from 8 weeks. Never use on cats.

How do I apply Virbac Effitix spot on to my dog correctly?

Snap open the drop-stop pipette tip along the scored line. Part the fur along the spine until skin is visible. Apply across 2 spots for dogs under 20kg, and 2 to 4 spots from the shoulder to base of tail for dogs 20 to 40kg. Do not rub in. Keep dry for 48 hours. Do not allow near water courses for 2 days. Apply once monthly and keep cats completely away from treated dogs until the coat is fully dry.

Is Virbac Effitix safe for cats and multi-pet households?

No — Effitix must never be used on cats and is a significant risk in multi-pet households. Permethrin at the concentration used in Effitix is highly toxic to cats, and even indirect exposure through a cat grooming a recently treated dog can be fatal. In households with both dogs and cats, keep them completely separated for at least 24 hours after application until the coat is fully dry. If cat exposure occurs, contact your vet immediately.

How is Virbac Effitix different from a plain Fipronil spot-on for dogs?

Plain Fipronil spot-ons kill fleas, ticks, and lice on contact. Effitix adds Permethrin, which provides active repellent activity against ticks, mosquitoes, and sandflies — deterring them before they bite rather than only killing them after contact. This repellent layer is particularly relevant in India for mosquito-transmitted heartworm prevention and sandfly-transmitted Leishmaniasis risk reduction, where stopping the bite is more protective than only killing after the bite.

How often should I use Virbac Effitix spot on on my dog?

Apply once every month for continuous protection. A single application provides up to 4 weeks of kill activity against fleas, ticks, and lice, and up to 4 weeks of repellent activity against mosquitoes and sandflies. The formula is water resistant, so normal bathing and outdoor activity do not significantly reduce efficacy — but avoid swimming in water courses for 2 days after application and do not bathe your dog for 48 hours immediately after applying.