Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comEPA seeks to improve safety after increase in harm to dogs, cats
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
Late starters can live longer if they get movingMom with flesh-eating disease had seven operationsU.S. HIV aid has prevented 741,000 deaths: studyLung cancer scans suggested for older heavy smokersNew York judge with cancer makes case for marijuanaKicking up the spice may help your heartPot groups hope Ore. race sends feds a messageParents buying off kids for good behaviorGeorgia woman with flesh-eating disease in "critical" conditionObesity fight must shift from personal blame: panel
Leave a Comment:
After my small rat terrier became quite ill after I applied a spot-on flea product, I called my vet, and removed as much as possible by bathing her. Since then I have applied only a couple of small drops of Frontine Plus between her shoulder blades and used the rest of the dose on my other dog. The reduced amount has been very effective against ticks and fleas on both dogs. You may find splitting doses will be just as effective and save money, too, while reducing the amount of poison (which it is) that you put on your dog.
I have always used less then the recommended dose amount and I use it less often then the product calls for, I find that once every 6 weeks used only in the summer time is all I need for my 2 cats and one dog.
For my cats I split the doses as I have a small cat around 6 to 7 lbs and a very large cat at over 15 lb, he is not fat he is just one large cat at around 3 ft tall when he stretches out.
Hello ,
we have a plaque of flees on our premisses which i am hoping will subside soon as despite flee bombs and suggested vacuming still leaves me subject during the night to getting bitten by the fleas which leave deep infection like residutes as big an a 50 cent coin.
Where the fleas all of a sudden spung from I have no idea how to manage a situation like this. Our cat has been trated with serum applyed on the neck every month and seems to be well at ease through it all. If so it's a trerrible predicament if not treated. What is a save way to rid pets of these terrible pests?
The news of currupt products on the marked to treat the proplem of fleas and ticks in animals has shocked me perhaps there are some alternative methods to help pets to stay free of flees and ticks.
Regards
Brigitta
My cat had a reaction after my daughter dosed her. The other two cats were fine. I've gone back to collars for the one cat though.
there is a right way and a wrong way to apply flea medicine and never i say never purchase flea medicine from a department store the best stuff is recommended by your vet.
My siamese cat had a full-blown seizure about 6 hours after applying this product. I really thought he wouldn't make it. After an overnight stay at the vet hospital and IV fluids, he pulled through. I had thought I was saving money by buying an OTC product. Never again. Now I only buy products from my vet.
Actually you should NEVER, EVER use flea/tick products on your pets. A HEALTHY pet who is fed a high quality diet that doesn't contain grains, by-products and artificial ingredients has no need for flea/tick/mite control. Pests are attracted to pets in POOR health with compromised immune systems. A raw diet is optimal. Supplements ( omega 3/6/9 fatty acids from fish/salmon oil, flax, hemp, walnut oils...garlic...brewers yeast...raw apple cider vinegar ) in addition to a carnivorous grain-free diet are all that's necessary. Natural herbs can be used as repellents and there are many high quality NON-TOXIC herbal remedies available from numerous sources or you can make your own with a blend of witch hazel and essential oils ( tea tree, neem, citrus, lavendar, cedar, peppermint, pine and others ) and by ridding fleas/mites from your home/yard using the same herbs or Diatomaceous earth ( which can also be used on your pet's bedding and fur ) or plain old borax ( used on carpeting/furniture, baseboards,cupboards etc ).
GOOGLE is your friend...there is an unlimited plethora of info on NATURAL flea/tick/mite/heartworm control.
I used Frontline flea treatment on my large dog and soon after he suffered a neurological problem called Trigeminal Neuritis which left his face (including his mouth) paralyzed for approx 4 weeks. Coincidence....I think not!!!! I will never use this product again
That's great advice-my German shepherd will not sit still for the application and I was looking into pill form-I will probably start giving her half a topical dose or less . Back in the 80's I had a Siamese cat that would drool and stagger from the vet's flea medication.
My mother in law's siamese drooled and staggered after we applied flea drops. Scared the crap out of me. Fortunately, fleas are not a problem in my home and we have 3 cats and a great dane. I don't use anything on them.
If you have a small dog or a greyhound be VERY careful with these medications.
I know a lot of people are buying what look like the same name brands (Frontline, Advantage, etc) on ebay and other venues, but they are made in Asia. I wonder if this is responsible for any of the problems.
Yep - usually comes from Australia. It's fake Frontline. You can tell because they put an expiration date on it, real frontline doesn't have an expiration date.
Frontline plus should cost between $30-$40 for a 3 month supply. If it's a lot cheaper than that - it's probably fake, don't buy it.
Simplydoesnthaveaclue...you're WRONG. Frontline and other medications are made for international markets. Australia REQUIRES expiration dates on products that are manufactured for sale in Australia. It's also cheaper in other countries for the same exact reason human prescription meds are FAR FAR cheaper than they are in the US. It's called BIG PHARMA PROFITS.
Maybe - but I can reference two sources that back up my claim: where do you get your information? http://reviews.ebay.com/HOW-TO-SPOT-COUNTERFEIT-FRONTLINE-FLEA-MEDICATION_W0QQugidZ10000000007091697
From the frontline website:
Do FRONTLINE Brand Products have an expiration date?
FRONTLINE Brand Products do not carry an expiration date. We recommend storing FRONTLINE Brand Products at room temperature and keeping them sealed in their original packaging. If stored under these conditions, FRONTINE Brand Products will not expire
Perhaps you should consider that the lower cost may be due to lower quality. Not everything is a conspiracy.
I was just about to buy Frontline's flea product and decided to research it on the web first. I found so many horrible stories about terrible reaction pets had had to their products. There was hair falling out and rashes and deaths. Apparently, Frontline has had a bad reputation for year and years. After what I read, I wouldn't buy any of their products.
We have used Front line for a lot of years at the advice of our vet. The product is labeled asnd sold depending on the weight range of the dog. Carefully following the directions is a must. As pointed out, giving a small dog the dose for a larger dog can be deadly.
Problems come up when people try to save a buck or two getting the medication from a unknown source. For a few dollars more I get a fresh dose from the vet and I'm not worried it's the wrong dosage or counter fit medication.
But it is medication so there will always be a percentage that have a bad reaction.
I currently have 17 cats and 3 dogs. I have never had a problem with "spot-on" type flea and tick products. I use Front-line on the outside cats and a less expensive product (which my daughter a vet has approved) on my inside cats. I also use a non name brand on the dogs but my daughter has approved its use as well. One thing about cats, DO NOTuse a product intended for a dog (or any other animal for that matter) on a cat that is a almost a guarentee of problems. It is also especially important to follow the directions for cat treatments exactly.
If an animal shows signs of a reaction do like the first poster did wash off as much as possible and seek treatment from your vet immediately.
By the way, I buy my flea and tick from TSC. Their products turn rapidly enough that the items are always fresh. Someone mentioned Hartz, I have heard some horror stories about Hartz flea and tick drops myself.
It's poison plain and simple. It's a cholinesterase inhibitor, very similar to something like Sarin. Brand doesn't matter. Of your pet injests it or if you put too much on your pet, you can make your pet seriously ill or even kill your pet. Anyone with small children should also stay away from this stuff and no child should ever be allowed to apply it to a pet.
Just as with people, there are always natural alternatives, i.e with dogs you can feed them raw garlic and with dogs and cats put a few drops of oil of oregano on them instead of those nasty chemicals - you can even add it to their shampoo. It will work for fleas and ticks. I've lived in wet rainy climates as well as the dry desert using these methods on my pets and they've always remained healthy!
My cat is allergic to flea bites so the fleas in her environment need to be gotten rid of. I've been giving her either Advantage or Vectra, so far with no side effects, but I'm interested in alternatives and wondering if oil of oregano kills fleas or repels them.
well, after using advantage, my cat had a severe reaction. he 'mowed' his hair on the back of his neck, till it was raw flesh the size of a silver dollar. nearly 4 months later, he still has not regrown hair there. but we had ZERO luck with oatmeal and oregano, and have decided the discomfort from the occasional flea is much preferred to any treatment that we have found.
Anne-1250431 Both!! Oil of oregano is powerful stuff! You can even create your own 'spray' with the oil of oregano to use on anything indoors if you're worried about eggs. Not only should you use the drops topically (apply to back of neck, hind quarters and belly), you can also feed it to your animals. It's just very very strong. We even used it to cure an ear infection in one of our hounds (and this was after multiple vet visits and antibiotics not working)!
If you can feed her some raw garlic (I realize it's not as easy with kitties) that will also make her body undesirable to these pests.
Speaking of natural remedies, we've also cured a bladder infection in one of our rescue kitties with d-mannose. It's a naturally occuring sugar that adheres to the bacteria and will flush it from the body thru the urine. Another great thing to have on hand!
sikchimp --- did you get oil or oregano with at least 70% carvacrol and use liquid drops direct on their own? It might sting on raw skin so I understand the oatmeal as a skin salve but oil of oregano drops used topically has worked for us.
Thanks, Brenda and sikchimp.
NEVER NEVER NEVER use essential oils full strength. You only need a couple of DROPS in a bottle of either distilled water or witch hazel but they MUST be diluted !!!! Essential oils are EXTREMELY strong and should not be used by people who are unfamiliar with them. I suggest doing some research online for natural flea/tick remedies and check out the various recipes.
To rid the house/bedding/yard from fleas/eggs/larvae use DIATOMACEOUS EARTH or 20 Mule Team BORAX. You can even use the DE directly on your pet.. just rub into their fur (don't use Borax on the pet). I put a few drops of lavendar or neem oil in the borax and then sprinkle it all over the carpets and furniture. Leave for 24-48 hrs and then vacuum thoroughly, seal the bag tightly and throw the bag away immediately.
You also can use Apple Cider Vinegar diluted if needed and or Eucalyptus oil on your pets bed and/or collar. You will literally see the fleas fall off your dog/cat/etc when you bathe them with the vinegar and the oil is a natural repellant. Just dont apply the oil directly to the skin as it is quite strong.
My dog trainer told us more than 10 years ago to stay away from these toxic products. Think about it, anything that you spot on a couple areas that then becomes systemic is not going to be safe. I saw reactions ranging from skin irritation in the application areas to depression after use of Frontline.
It certainly makes an impression when we can visibly see the harm that is done.
Ever wonder why people don't feel the same way about prescription drug disclosures stated at the end of ads - may cause heart attack, depression, suicide, erection lasting more than four hours (ok that one is funny, but surely it too cannot be healthy!!) --
It is about time that something gets done about this. I purchased flea and tick prevention for all my dogs and two of my dogs were unable to control their back legs. I immediately bathed the dogs and it took around 5 days for the effects of the flea prevention to get out of their system. I seriously thought they were going to be crippled. I will NEVER use flea and tick prevention again until something is done. It should be taken off the counters now.
Wow-this sounds familiar! Have never had a problem with Frontline or Advantage but was tight on money one year and purchased Hartz drops at Walmart. NEVER will I do that again. One of my kitties suffered nerve damage from this crap. It has been permanent though. She has adjusted to the damage done to her back legs. Be careful what you use on our furry friends!
Sisters cat had reactions to flea meds.....spray I believe it was.....it was Zodiac which I have always used with success and without problems...however, I have had cats for years and know pretty much about how to do it....not too much, try and put it where they wont lick it off too quickly before it dries ect.....I think they were over zealous and totally soaked the cat in the flea stuff....
When they took it to the vet it was like in seizures and shaking.....they washed the stuff off the cat with Dawn dishwashing liquid.....they say its great for removing stuff from animals....as you may know...this is what they wash penquins and birds and stuff in when there are oil spills and the like.....and they gave it meds.....it survived and was fine.....
The goal is though to REMOVE as much of the flea stuff as possible IF possible and you can do it quickly....vet care is still needed....but if you can do it fast....get the stuff OFF the animal.....and get vet care immediately!
I use flea products sometimes but sparingly and rarely....and am VERY careful with them...even still, they are dangerous. Honestly, I have found that if you take a fine toothed flea comb and a plastic bag and a paper towel and keep combing the animal and then rake them into the plastic bag and twist it and keep it shut , then comb and do the same thing over and over again and get as many fleas off the animal several times a day....and put a flea collar on the animal AND spray the carpets and bedding ect.....you can control the fleas best.....
The more you remove from the animal which is their host....the better off you are !!!! It works surprisingly well and along with minimal flea products I have gotten rid of bad flea infestations several times.....the less ON THE ANIMAL flea products you use....the better. ALSO....dont allow the pets onto carpets or bedding till the flea stuff DRIES either.....they can lick it off them and get sick.
Several times a day?! Sounds like a full time job from your description, thanks but I think I'll stick to the product(s) I've been using.
You must not live in a sandy soil climate.....we use Frontline (used to use Advantage but it's not readily available anymore), but HALF the dose b/t two dogs, a mini-poodle and a mini-daschund. They are both fine and flea free. ALSO, we only apply the half dose when necessary....if we don't see a flea, we don't need more meds, regardless of time since last application.
To treat or not to treat is not an option where we live.
Miraculous stuff. A stray cat I adopted last Thanksgiving was infested with fleas. One dose was all it took and they are gone fo good. My other cat required 2 doses in 6 months and not another flea in 4 years
I wish the article would mention which products have the most reactions, because the walmart product HARTZ is the one that causes most severe reactions including seizures and death, and despite of many law suits is still in the market.
A vet at the local animal shelter told me that the lower cost flea drops from Hartz, etc., should never be used. He mentioned liver damage as one side effect. I agree, the article should have listed more of the products in question -- it could avoid a lot of heartache for pet owners.
I used to work for a major pet store that provides grooming on site. We used to include Hartz drops with a bathing and grooming, but we had to stop because so many animals were getting sick, and yes, dying! I've heard more horror stories about Hartz than anything, but I'm pretty sure it was "Advantage" that made my mother in law's cat stagger and drool.
Here we go again. Insisting our 5 thumbs on one hand goverment regulate against stupidity ! Unfortaunately it sure does have its hands full and getting worse.
My golden had neurological damage within hours of applying Bio-Spot flea and tick medication. The most horrifying experience ever. I literally thought she was going to die on me. After rushing her to the vet and getting her system flushed within a couple of days she was getting better. The vet told me that because i immediately washed her in the tub that the Bio-Spot didnt have much time to attack her organs. If you visit biospotvictims.org you will see many horrifying stories about this product. Funny thing is the President and CEO claims to be a huge animal lover. I contacted the company responsible and they brushed me off but when my lawyer got involved it was a different story. As well as getting a lawyer and contacting my congressman, i contacted all local pet supply stores to let them know what happened and to remove this product from their shelves. One woman at Pet Supplies Plus told me she heard dogs ripping their fur out but never heard neurological damage from Bio-Spot. She told me to contact their Corp office. I contacted all of the major chains corp offices and sad to say did not get one response. I highly recommend Apple Cidar Vinegar to rid your pet (cat or dog) of fleas. It works wonders and is all natural. I have used it many time and the fleas just fall off from the acidity of the vinegar.
Sorry to hear about your experience but I have used bio-spot on dogs many times and have never had a problem. If I remember correctly Bio-spot is Permethrin which is in some of the other dog flea and tick products. Incidently Permethrin should NEVER be used on cats.
And as with meds for people not everyone will have a reaction, bottom line, it is posion. My supplier sold many many doses of Bio-Spot and I was the first one to have this happen to my pet. Yes Bio-Spot is Permethrin and they do sell it for cats as well. I treated my dog and cat the same day and my dog had the reaction not my 10lb cat... Weird.....Good luck if you continue to use.
I have three cats currently and have had others over the years. Here in SoCal I have used Advantage between March and September, and always use the one for cats, and for the correct weight and have never had a problem. Always but the real thing from a reputible (sp?) supplier.
Our dog had mental issues that were clearly related to Revolution--anxiety, aggression, shaking. She has been off it for 2 years and still has episodes of odd behavior that were never there before the drug was started.
A dog I had was burned by one such med. Normally, you can rid a yard of fleas by spreading Dolomite lime (which also sweetens the soil) over the ground and right up to and around the house, and it's cheap and non-toxic. A baby can roll in it. ..... Also, kill fleas on the animal by mixing diatomaceous earth into the fur. Non-toxic, cheap and safe.
I used Frontline flea treatment on my large dog and soon after he suffered a neurological problem called Trigeminal Neuritis which left his face (including his mouth) paralyzed for approx 4 weeks. He could not eat or drink on his own. My dog went through hell and I was suspicious that it was the flea treatment. I used Advantix before with no problems. Tried Frontline once!!! Coincidence....I think not!!!! I will never use this product again.
When I was in the midst of a layoff last year, I thought that using an OTC product for my pets would be more helpful than letting them go without treatment. I used half of the recommended dosage of Hartz Flea and Tick medication for my Pomeranian and Papillon and within minutes both of them started drooling excessively, shivering, and being lethargic. Thankfully I found HartzVictims.org which recommended immediately bathing them in dish detergent. These products should not be sold in stores, until they are further reviewed. I later emailed the big box store where I purchased them from and informed them of the issues that I had, using HALF of the recommended dosage. Even if the EPA's efforts aren't succesfuly, if pet owner's ban together and file formal complaints with retailers, maybe that will help get these harmful products pulled from the shelves.
Pet meds are not well regulated. All OTC stuff has a 50% efficacy requirement - so that is all you're going to get. Buy your neds form your vet.
"EPA said it received 44,263 reports of harmful reactions associated with topical flea and tick products in 2008, up from 28,895 in 2007".
It's now 2010. What took so long? Oh! I forgot, it's the public sector again.
Well, duh...when are we going to learn?
Of course, pets are going to die when you put poisonous substances on their skin! Same thing with spraying poisonous bug sprays on children. What do we think will happen?
Even if the pet (or small child) doesn't immedately get sick and die (and who knows how many pets are suffering horrible headaches and emotional trauma in silence?), these chemicals weaken the body's immune system and will cause all kinds of health problems later! Do we think it's just a coincidence that cancers, autism, brain tumors, etc. are on the rise?
I've had a headache and had hot/cold flashes for the past 3 days and just found out the the AZ Dept of Transportation has started spraying emergent on weeds along the freeways! They will continue spraying through May, and then when it begins to get really hot here, the city will start spraying for mosquitos. Of course, people are spraying herbicides on their lawns after recent rains, too. My God...this city is poisoning its citizens. I just react sooner and more violently to exposure to toxic chemicals.
I am SO SICK of the drug companies get rich selling their chemicals and BS about how we have to use them to kill every bug. There are so many ways to protect ourselves and our loved ones with non-toxic means.
If the spray affects you that much I would encourage you to move out of town if at all possible.
An evironmentalist, I have researched the impacts of pesticides for years. In areas across this nation that resort to frequent and large amounts of poisons, that area's cancer rates skyrocket! Pesticides were only used after WWII when Hitler developed nerve gases.
I haven't used a pesticide for forty years! And, I battle my dogs' flea problems with flea combs and natural products that are not literally derived from nerve gas. Just think, pesticides only came into existence after WW2. My oh my, how did mankind survive before then without deadly pesticides and herbicides.
And, I feed my dogs only organic foods -- organic meats, veggies and kibble, and I cook them homemade organic veggie broth! Thank you everyone for recommending apple cider vinegar and oil of oregano. Much thanks. And, isn't the cancer rate rather high in dogs too????
I use either original frontline or advantage for my cats, and have had no problems. I tried some from the store once, it burned skin on my cats neck. after the scab came off, with the hair, I mailed it to the company who told me that is not normal and they haven't had any other complaints, which I knew was BS. A few years later I tried another store one, same thing. A new "natural" one just came out awhile ago, so I did some research, massive people were saying it was burning their pets skin. WELL DUH, it's got citronella in it, menthol, sage, and a bunch of other crap. Last time I used frontline it didn't work at all. I went back to advantage and it works wonderful
Ihave mini dachshunds and I use frontline. My dos weigh 7# and 9 #. I use one treatment for both. We have a lot of racoons,squirrls, opossums and other wild creatures so going without is not an option. This treatment has worked for us.