EPA.
MïK, Flickr Troubled by a huge spike in the number of dogs and cats that reported health-related incidents after being treated with "spot-on" pesticide-based flea and tick control products, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced last year that it would be "intensifying" its evaluation of such products offered by various companies. This week, the EPA announced that it had concluded its study and published its findings in a report. The verdict? Spot-on pesticide-based flea and tick control products are safe to use, concludes the EPA, but need better labeling so that the products are not misused by consumers. The products will also be subject to further testing. (It is ...
"If I could only reach that one spot!" Photo: doug88888/Flickr This spring, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it was taking a hard look at pesticide products for controlling fleas and ticks in dogs and cats. EPA spokesman Dale Kemery told Paw Nation that the products have come under scrutiny due to a sharp increase in reports of negative reactions to the drugs. Reports of such problems jumped from about 29,000 in 2007 to about 44,000 in 2008, according to EPA data. Those reactions ranged from mild skin irritation to more serious incidents, including seizures and even death. Spot-on flea and tick treatments are liquid pesticides typically applied to the skin between the ...
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 ...