According to a new (scary) report from the Environmental Protection Agency, topical and on-spot flea and tick medications injured 44,000 pets last year.The study looked at EPA-registered pet products, commonly found at drug stores or on supermarket shelves in 2008. Sprays, collars, and shampoos – anything topical or on-spot to treat ticks and fleas - were included.
Most of the potential incident reports involved spot-on treatments, like the ones sold in tubes or vials and used on a specific part of your pet's body. Reactions included rashes, seizures, and, in some cases, death.
To play it safe, you may want to skip the grocery aisle for your flea and tick products. "Stick with a product you're getting from a veterinarian," advises Dr. Matthew Cooper. Side effects caused by over-the-counter medications don't come as a surprise to veterinarians, who often urge pet owners to stick with doctor-recommended products.
To see if you've been using one of the EPA-products in question, look at the EPA Registration Number on the label and check its web site. The seven products, which pet owners can identify using the label, accounted for about 80 percent of the incidents, the agency said.
The EPA is now boosting scrutiny of on-spot flea and tick treatments. In the meantime, here are some of their safety tips:
- Carefully read and follow the product label
- Use flea and tick control products only on the animal specified ─ for example, dog products for dogs only
- Only apply the amount indicated for the size of the animal being treated
- Pay attention to the age restrictions
- Monitor your pet for side effects
- If your pet has an adverse reaction call your vet immediately
For more information check with the National Pesticide Information Center.
Pets in the News
After months of anticipation, the First Pup has finally arrived in the Obama White House -- and we sure hope he's getting some media training. This 6-month old Portuguese Water Dog, already named Bo by Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, is set to become the most famous dog in America. The first daughters chose the name in homage to their maternal grandfather, whose nickname was Diddley, and also for their cousin's cat, who has the same name. Bo made his way to Washington with a little help from Senator Ted Kennedy and and his wife Victoria, who own three Portuguese Water Dogs. Finding the perfect pooch took some time -- the Obamas were looking for an allergy-friendly dog for Malia. All we can say is, the White House vegetable garden better watch out.
Talk about a fat cat! "Princess Chunk," a 44-pound feline, received national attention in the summer of 2008 when he -- yes, this princess is a boy -- was found waddling through the streets of Voorhees, NJ after his owner lost her home to foreclosure. After making the talk show rounds -- including Regis and Kelly -- Chunk was adopted by a New Jersey family, one of thousands of people who inquired. Happy ending!
Disney-ABC Domestic Television, AP
She must have really liked New York. In 2006, Vivi, a whippet who had just won an award of merit at the Westminster Kennel Club show escaped from her carrier at LaGuardia airport and was never found, despite a massive search effort by her frantic owner.
Frank Franklin II, AP
The media can't get enough of "the Lion Whisperer," aka Kevin Richardson. In this amazing photograph, Richardson takes a dip with Meg the lion in the Crocodile River just south of the Magaliesburg mountains, near Johannesburg, South Africa on March 10, 2009.
BARM, Fame Pictures
Looks like Hercules didn't get the memo: when you can no longer fit through the pet door, you should probably take it easy on the cat food. But it was dog food this tubby tabby from Oregon was after when he got stuck in a neighbor's pet door in 2007. This 20-pound fatty was later reunited with his owner.
Benjamin Brink, The Oregonian / AP
A 10-year-old Sussex Spaniel named Stump surprised the world by winning Best in Show at the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club, and becoming the oldest dog ever to win the big prize. Stump had come out of retirement to compete, and according to his owner he is now officially retired (sounds like he's been hanging out with Jay Z). In human years, by the way, he's almost 70. We'd say he's earned some R&R.
Peter Kramer, AP
The circus isn't all fun and games. In 2008, the ASPCA, Animal Welfare Institute, and other activist groups took Ringling Bros. to court over its treatment of pachyderm performers. The groups allege that the elephants' work conditions -- including long hours of travel and prodding by bullhooks -- are inhumane. Ringling Bros. claims the animals are very well cared for. A ruling is expected this summer -- so far no elephants have taken the stand.
Feld Entertainment, Inc, AP
Seeing-eye dogs better mark their territory! There's a whole menagerie of amazing animals assisting people with disabilities. Mini horses help the blind, monkeys assist quadriplegics, goats help those with muscular dystrophy, to name a few. But because some Americans feels that the practice has gone too far, the U.S. government is considering a proposal to ban these service animals, a move that has many disabled Americans up in arms.
Toby Talbot, AP
Breaking pet news from Mamurras, Albania! In 2007, fate brought this cat and puppy together. The kitty, who had lost her kitten, took in a puppy whose mother was killed by a car as her own.
Gent Shkullaku, AFP /Getty Images
In May, 2008, a California-based biotech company called BioArts announced that is would clone dogs for the five highest bidders. The controversial practice costs between $130,000 and $170,000. Here, BioArts International chief executive Lou Hawthorne poses with pups he cloned from his own dog.
BioArts International, AP
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That doesn't surprise me at all. I lost count of the over counter flea product overdoses I encountered while working at an emergency clinic. Use the ones at the vet clinic. They may be more expensive but they're safe.
My cat had a horrible reaction to over the counter flea spray. She went into seizures and we rushed her to an emergency clinic. Even a few months later, she still has mini seizures, nothing like to earlier ones but will sit in my lap and twitch every so often. Very disturbing to know that I did this to her.
My cat nearly died after using frontline. The vet didn't admit that was the reason, but it happened after a frontline dose. The vet first diagnosed him with diabetes, and he stayed there for a week. When we picked him up the vet told me he didn't have diabetes, but he didn't have and explanation about what happened. I do not use flea medicine, and he hasn't been sick since.
My cat nearly died after a dose of frontline. The vet never admitted that is what it was. He told me he had become diabetic, and I had to leave him there for a week. At the end of the week, the vet said he was not diabetic, but didn't have an explanation for what had happened. I do not use flea medicine anymore, and he hasn't been sick since.
Pro-heart is not a flea medication but a heartworm medication. Before it was recalled my mom got it for her dog Luke. Not long after he developed Lupus and eventually died from the Lupus , and liver disease from all the prednisone the vet had him on. We still blame the Proheart it has since been recalled.
Unfortunately for my dog, I used Sargent's Flea & Tick medication and the poor dog cried the entire night. I bathed him in the morning and never used it again. I still feel awful that I subjected my loyal, loving & trusting dog to such pain just to save a few dollars! Never again. Thanks this article was very informative.
The Frontline product I buy at our vet is equally as damaging to our dog. She is sick the first 2 days I use this product. So, I often discontinue use or spread it out over a 5-6 wk timeframe instead of the one month regimine- and we have even used the lesser weight product to aid this probem with side effects. Chemicals are unsafe- even from a vet. Same with vaccines, my 11 year old dog still gets moody, sick and in a funk with her shots. Why did dogs live 15-18 years out on the farms pre- vaccine days? Because they did not eat packaged dog foods nor did they receive lethal vaccinations! Statistics don't lie!
my cat died after a dose of frontline purchasd from my ver. he stated that it was a hormonal-growth issue? what is that? rather than just say the flea med was the cause. symptoms were exactly what was described by manufacturer for allergic reaction.haven't used topicals of any kind since. avon skin so soft works great.
Frontline was the med my vet mentioned to me and I used this
product to great success. Colorado doesnt as a rule have much
of a problem with fleas, but having been n Washington State for
8 months. Bubba picked up his share of fleas there and transported
them back to Colorado. Frontline took care of it fast and easy
and wasnt anything dangerous to use. Just a mention of one
product that is good. There may be a lot of them just as good, but
my vet said this was the best in his book. Soooooooooooo
L.B.
Constant flea medication is new to me, since living in the States. Coming from England, we only treat fleas if there is an outbreak.
I stopped using my Yorkie's flea medication a few months ago, after reading an article similar to this. She used to rub herself constantly after applying it, which concerned me that it may be burning her skin.
I buy oatmeal shampoo for sensitive skin, without soap, and add a few drops of tea tree oil, which is a natural insect repelant. So far, touch wood, we have had no outbreak of fleas, and my baby has stopped rubbing herself.
All my kittens died from using Harts Mountian flea medine. I thought it would make them more comfortable. They were four months old. They all died.
sorry but i have to disagree with u, being in the animal field for + 25 yrs i have seen more cases then ever on this matter.not really knowing the product,and every animal is diffrent,as is every human,so reactions to meds. are also the same.If on other meds, for other medical plms, this could cause a counter reaction and could cause muliti plms,on top of thier already medical plms.
OK IM PISSED DO YOU ALL REALLY BELEIVE THAT THE FLEA AND TICK MEDS ARE THE REASON FOR CANCER / SKIN ALLERGIES/ LUPAS/ ECT EVERY SINGLE TIME YES IT CAN CAUSE SOME IRRITATION BUT COME ON EVERYONE ON HERE IS LOOKING TO BLAME SOMEONE OR SOMETHING FOR THE LOSS OF THERE PET HOW ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT HOW MANY ANIMALS DIE EACH YEAR DUE TO FLEAS AND TICKS I AM 110% POSITIVE THAT THERE ARE A MILLION MORE DEATHS DUE TO LYME DISEASE /ERLICHIA/ ROCK MOUNTAIN /ANAPLASMOSIS/ THEN THAT OF FLEA AND TICK MEDICATIONS ..OVER THE COUNTER MEDS ARE HORRIBLE ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY BUT ADVANTIX AND FRONTLINE ARE THE SAFEST PRODUCTS OUT THERE MANY PEOPLE ARE OVER DOSEING THERE ANIMALS WITH THE SAFE PRODUCTS AND SHAMPOOS MIXING PESTISIDE ECT FOR GOD SAKE MANY OF THESE ILLNESSES UR PETS DIED FROM USUALLY TAKE YEARS TO CATCH UP TO THEM AND FOR THE ONES WHO NOTICED TWITCHING EVERY TIME YOU PUT IT ON AND FINALLY A YEAR LATER YOU DECIDED TO STOP USING IT COME ON ARE U REALLY THAT STUPID IF YOUR PET ACTED WEIRD THE FIRST TIME YOU APPLIED YOU DIDNT PUT 2 AND 2 TOGETHER GIVE ME A FREAKIN BREAK MOST OF THESE DEATHS TO ANIMALS ARE CAUSE BY MISTAKES THERE OWNERS MADE NOT THE PRODUCT
susan 4-21-2009 @ 9:14AM
My cat nearly died after a dose of frontline. The vet never admitted that is what it was. He told me he had become diabetic, and I had to leave him there for a week. At the end of the week, the vet said he was not diabetic, but didn't have an explanation for what had happened. I do not use flea medicine anymore, and he hasn't been sick since.
Reply: Frontline causes Diabetes now. But great news! Advantage changes them back to normal! Yeah!
#4
janet 4-21-2009 @ 12:07PM
Pro-heart is not a flea medication but a heartworm medication. Before it was recalled my mom got it for her dog Luke. Not long after he developed Lupus and eventually died from the Lupus , and liver disease from all the prednisone the vet had him on. We still blame the Proheart it has since been recalled.
Reply: lmao I just cant comment on this.
#9
Molly 4-21-2009 @ 11:29AM
I used the one from the vets also, that you put between the shoulders and all 3 of my Scotties died with cancer! My heart is still breaking.
Reply: That's terrible because we all no that dogs cant get cancer! What a shame.
#13
FRAN 4-21-2009 @ 7:36AM
I was using Frontline Reveloution on my 8-month old kitten which was recommended by my Vet. After the 4th treatment, you give it once a month, she became very lethargic. I stopped the treatment and now she is fine.
Reply: I think maybe you were recommended one or the other, but hey look how safe they were. You overdoses your KITTEN for 4 months and she only got lethergic. Wow.
#36
Donna 4-21-2009 @ 8:48AM
Our older lab has large lumps all over his body. The vet says that these large masses (fatty masses or benign cysts) happen on labs . I wonder if the meds could have any connection. We also had a dog die of bone cancer.
Reply : Fatty masses is a part of life in FAT,OLD, LABS. have you done your special K pinch recently?
#24Nita 4-21-2009 @ 7:46AM
When I first got my Havanese I noticed every time she was Frontlined the glands in her neck would swell. I mentioned this to several vets and said I wasn't using it every month with the vets acted shocked and said I should use it. Finally, last year a vet agreed with me. The worst part in my estimation is that it won't keep them from getting diseases. They can still be bitten by ticks and get Lyme disease. The only advantage is the tick will die. I was also paying attention to the increasing number of dogs that got cancer. Is there a connection? I think so. Also, how many people realize if their dog has swollen glands if they are acting normally?
Reply: Wow hope I never get Frontlined.
#52
Connie 4-21-2009 @ 9:36AM
I use Advantage Multi for dogs on my 2 year old english bulldog, everytime I apply the treatment she starts shaking and salivating and she is very lethargic. I told the vet and they said she must be ingesting it, but I know she is not. I am going to stop using it before I do permanent damage to my pet.
Reply: Good to hear you've finally decided to stop using the product. What tipped you off? (EVERYTIME)
#62 richard 4-21-2009 @ 9:57AM
after reading this artical i now understand why my wife acted the way she did! i mean everytime i gave her a dose of frontline she would run around the house, go into the neighbors backyard and proceed to chase their cat and children up into the trees, and hump the mailmans leg,( of coarse she always did hump his leg). also, for the 1st. few days she would sit on the porch and howl at the moon. now the last time i treated her for fleas she was last seen firmly attached to the mailmans leg as he was trying to flee down the street, they have never been seen since, and i really miss getting my mail!
Reply
I kinda like this guy.
#70 Sharon 4-21-2009 @ 10:32AM
I just used Advantix on my female boxer late saturday afternoon. Sunday night she started gagging and could not breath, it almost sounded like she had asthma?? This lasted for a while, She never did this before and shie is almost 6yrs old. Iwas ready to take her to the all night clinic in the next town. But is stopped after a while. It was the first time I ever used this and I don't plan on ever using it or anything else again.
Reply
um your boxer gonna die honey and it aint from the advantix
#72 Ashley 4-21-2009 @ 10:37AM
I used Frontline on my 4 year old cat last year and he started loosing all of his hair on his stomach, legs and tail. I called the vet and asked them about it and they acted like they had no clue what I was talking about. I never gave him another dose and all of his hair has grown back and not a bit has fallen back out. Another thing to watch out for is heartworm medications. I had my dog on Heartguard and that is the one that is supposed to keep your dog from getting any kind of heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, etc. Well, I noticed what looked like a piece of spaghetti coming out of her hind end. I take her and the spaghetti looking thing to the vet and the vet tells me she has hookworms. I asked them how could she have hookworms when she has been on the medication to prevent them for 9 months.... They couldn't answer me. I took her off of it and have never given it to my Bassett and neither one has had any kind of worms since then.
Reply
ok her vet call "Hi my cats got no hair on its stomach legs or tail what is causing this?" Vet: Bring him in my crystal ball is in the Repair shop. we all know why she doesn’t think her pets have any more worms.
#74 Ann Eisenstein 4-21-2009 @ 10:41AM
Frontline is one of the major causes of the incidents. It caused my female cat to tear out the hair on all four of her legs. I was lucky that that was all it did to her - she is better now - but still suffers from severe anxiety. I did not notify my vet because he is the one that sold it to me.
I am waiting to see if it caused cancer in her brother. He died within 4 months. 3 operations. Always the same "We did all we could do" crap that doctors give you when they don't want to amit that they failed to do what was necessary. It conjures up the image that they ran 300 miles up into this brick wall behind which were the answers to stave off death. When all it meant was they didn't know how to run, couldn't run fast enough, or just plain fell down on it.
Reply
omg I need to just slap her silly her cat that still has aniexty issues pulled her hair out duh!!! but the anxiety was caused by Frontline. so is cancer. Oh yeah vet couldn’t save her brother from CANCER! Join the club dumb ass.
#75 BOB is a simple fact,would you cover your self in a pesticide ? Don't use that crap on your animal,the smaller the animal the worse it iscause
Reply, people just never use bug spray for mosquitos right?
#76 Paul Could theover the counter meds. be from China???
Reply: What can I say.
#78 Ray 4-21-2009 @ 10:49AM
I used Frontline on my labrador years ago, and it nearly killed her; she had a terrible reaction that looked like spinal meningitis. I've never used any flea medication since then on any of my dogs, and have never had any trouble therefore. Stay away from Frontline!
Reply: What does a spinal meningitis fit look like actually?
#86
Sandy 4-21-2009 @ 11:09AM
Hum... we had our pound puppy on both Revolution and Frontline. We quit using both products because she STILL HAD FLEAS! And not close to the 30 day mark - but within a week or so! We used the 'pill' - it was very expensive and only seemed very short lasting. Then we got another pound puppy - did not even waste the money to get it for her. They both "do well" wearing 7 dollar flea collars, no fleas. BUT, I don't like to use them - because they pull on each others collars - with their teeth! They both get lots of baths, with dawn & an expensive shampoo from the vet. The fleas in FL were horrible last year! Seems like it's going to be another bad year. We do treat our yard - with the stuff in a red bag, from Home Depot. I used it last week & I had an ALLERGIC reaction! STILL have fleas in the yard! It's all very frustrating :( Tomorrow we have a pest company that will treat the yard again... I'm going to try the vinigar in their water thing. We have used ACV [apple cider vinigar] before, for eye 'infections' and it clears up in a day or two!! AMAZING! A couple of teaspoons on the same spot[s] you put topical flea meds. I found this on another board.
Reply: Are you retarded? you put apple cider vinigar in there eyes? Where were you putting the revolution and frontline? I almost don’t want to know.
#87
mage0213 4-21-2009 @ 11:10AM
Sergeants killed my friends cat.. He couldn't figure out WHY wherever the cat lay, it would leave a dark shadow..then one day a drop of water showed that thew animal was bleeding through it's skin.. ad the ONLY flea treatment he used came from sergeants I use the grocery storetreatment but NOT sergeants and my dog has no issues
Reply Maybe the people in the walls know. Did you ask them?
#97
daniel russo 4-21-2009 @ 11:44AM
I STOPPED USING FLEA AND TIC MEDS FROM THE VET THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I LOST MY BEAUTIFUL CHOCLATE LAB LUIGI BEAR WHO DEVELOPED A TUMOR IN HIS SPLEEN AND BLED OUT ON EASTER NIGHT
THE KEY IS WHEN THE VET SAYS HE OR SHE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG... ITS BALONY
NOW I SPRINKLE A LITTLE (LEVEL TEASPOON OF) CINNAMON ON THEIR FOOD AND IT WORKS WELL WITHOUT THE TOXINS
WORKS FOR ALL PETS
ITS NATURAL AND HARMLESS AND MY THREE DOGS LIKE IT
Reply: What was there to figure out Mr. Russo? Your dog had a splenetic mass. It happens even to dogs without flea meds and you don’t need a piece of lunch meat to figure it out!
#112
Sherrill 4-21-2009 @ 12:15PM
I have even used Frontline for my housecat.. she runs thru the house and it just drives her nuts.. i'm not sure what happens.. but i dont even like using it
Reply: Its called boredom, read any cat magazine.
#131
socalgoldens 4-21-2009 @ 12:55PM
What a dilema! With all the puppy shots, rabies vac., heartworm RX, Flea prevention, wormers, not to mention the recalls on dog food, it's a wonder any dog makes it to a ripe old age. Have you ever smelled the dog wormer? It smells like Raid & Fido is suppose to drink it. Then there was the Garlic craze! Garlic fed to Fido was suppose to omit smell thru skin & keep bugs away. Then there was controversy over that. I try to use the least amount possible but still maintain coverage. It is not easy. www.socalgoldens.com
Reply: Did you ever think shots, heartworm treatment, flea prevention, wormers are the cause of dogs living long enough to become old?
#138
semyrick 4-21-2009 @ 1:16PM
I got a new puppy from an out of state breeder. He was infested with flees and subsequently passed them on to my other dog. Both dogs were treated with Frontline by my vet. My new puppy was lethargic for a couple of days, then spent an entire day at the vet due to constant vomiting and disorientation. The vet ran several tests and everything was inconclusive. He seems better now, but still suffers from random bouts of vomiting for no reason. I'm convinced it was the Frontline because he couldn't have gotten into anything. My house is baby-proof and he's crate trained so he's never left unsupervised. My other dog suffers from constant irritation on the area where the Frontline was applied. She scratches it until it is bloody constantly. Nothing I do seems to help. It's been 3 months since their first application. I really wish I'd found out about the tea tree oil Angie mentioned prior to consulting my vet. I will try tea tree oil in the future and will never buy comercial flee/tick products again.
Thanks for "listening" to my rant.
Reply
1st: it was a puppy mill you got him from.
2nd: He was anemic from the fleas, dehydrated from the flight hence the lethergy. It was not the frontline
3rd: You must be filithy rich cause your puppy goes everywhere with you, even to the bathroom, shower, you even sleep with him, and you never have to work. That’s wonderful
4th: Your other dog still has fleas dumbass...use Frontline.
5th: Thanks for listening.
I have found two things that work for fleas and ticks for both my cats and dogs. 1) I talked to a homeopathic vet, and she made me a concoction of tea oil, lavender oil, a flower oil, (marigold, i think) and a soap. It smells good, it naturally cuts the wet dog smell, and leaves their coat looking luxurious.
My family are avid campers/hikers. Before we go on our outtings, we take our last shower before trip using this both as a shampoo and body wash. IT SMELLS SO NICE! And my hair feels healthy.
The "no see ums" and mosquitoes, and ticks do not bother us. I wash our sleeping clothes and bedding with it also, and hang them out to dry.
Garlic and Brewers yeast tablets work great, too. My dogs think its a treat. I have to break them up smaller for cats. It also helps keep indoor cats from getting urinary tract infections.Cheap @ Walmarts.
After hearing on TV news that thousands of pets have died because of spot-on type flea treatments it frightened me. We occasionally use them and were thinking of doing so again. Now I don't know what to do.
This is my first time replying to any blog and I'm surprised at the sarcastic reply comments made to the people who are telling us about their experiences and pain so hopefully we can make decisions on what we can or should do. I don't doubt for a minuet this will get nasty replies also. Just shows the intelligence of the writer.
We gave both of our young, healthy dogs the flea treatment recommended by the vet. Within six months they were both diagnosed with different types of cancer (lung and liver). They died within six months of eachother. We blame the flea product.
I totally agree. I know of three cases with family members' dogs that have been diagnosed with cancer in the last 6 mths. I definatly think it has to do with spot treatment meds. If they are unsafe to get on our skin, how can they be safe for an animal when it stays active to kill flees for 30+days?!?!?
I used the one from the vets also, that you put between the shoulders and all 3 of my Scotties died with cancer! My heart is still breaking.
Seriously? That's like saying that I used a certain type of eye shadow and 6 months later developed bone cancer.