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Not one dog, but two. When I applied it to the area where the trunk meets the tail, in addition to a rash, the dog would have trouble moving its hind quarters and would hold his tail off to the side real stiff for several days. Two consecutive dogs I used it on exhibited the same reaction, a Lhasa Apso and a Cocker with epilepsy. I only use frontline now and I wonder about its safety as well.
Ken 8/31/02
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Actually, I had a tragic incident with my cats. As I had only the white tubes in my pet drawer, I thought I was using the bio-spot for cats, when in fact I grabbed the one for dogs. I used one tube on three cats, and all three died last week. I didn't even know
the dog flea control product had such a toxic level of pesticides, and I have used this
on my dog before too.
I am looking for others to join me in the fight against these drug companies which sell these pesticides, with poor labeling and warnings over the counter.
I am fanatic about my animals, and an extremely responsible pet owner, so for me to have made this mistake says to me that these products are lethel, and because of the poor labeling, and packaging, someone's human-child may die. For me I lost three animal-friends last week, and my heart is broken.
Pamela 10/27/02
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I found your website on the internet while searching for answers to my worst nightmare.
I used Bio-Spot by Farnam Pet Products on my three dogs last night. They range in weight from 65-95 lbs., so I used one tube on each of the product for large dogs (over 33 lbs.). Within 5 minutes my beloved Boxer, Bruno, collapsed on the kitchen floor, similar to the grand mal seizure you described. I rushed him the emergency vet where they attempted CPR, to no avail. They said he was in cardiac arrest. He died in my husband's arms.
Our vet says he has seen adverse reactions to products like Bio-Spot and Frontline before, where the pesticide needs to be washed off, and the pets survived, but never as severe as this. It doesn't say anywhere on the label your beloved pet could drop dead on the floor within minutes of application! I NEVER would have knowingly sacrificed my precious pet's life for the sake of a few fleas! No other family should have to go through this trauma. It is no fun trying to explain to a 3-year old "Where is BooBoo?" We are devastated.
Thank you for listening and for letting me get this off of my chest.
Andrea 10/30/02
Thank you for your thoughtful and prompt reply. Our sorrow is turning to anger as we contemplate our next step. We have asked the pet mortuary to hold off on our planned cremation, until we can make a decision by tomorrow morning. We are considering whether we need to have Bruno's body sent to Michigan State University for a toxicology screening as additional "proof", but it sounds like Farnam is very aware that this problem exists.
Being reimbursed for our emergency expenses is the bare minimum we would expect. Our dog did not deserve to die this way. He was healthy and happy, until this. Bruno deserves some sort of justice - that his life was not snuffed out in vain. Can you imagine the guilt I feel? What type of lawyer defends animals?
Thanks again for listening and for the information. I guess I have another night without sleep to look forward to...
Andrea 10/30/02
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Thank you for your website alert about Bio Spot. Our 2 1/2-year old airedale has had 4 seizures in the last 6 months. We have a vet appointment for tomorrow, and I am doing some research on the internet because I suspect Bio Spot as a causing factor. The last seizure happened only 2 days after we put the last dose on her.
Please reply and let me know whether your dog has had any continuing symptoms. I, like you, am concerned about long-term effects on my dog's nervous system.
My other question is whether Frontline will cause the same damage. We need to find an alternative flea and tick preventative.
Jennifer 11/13/02
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I SAW YOUR EMAIL ON THE DOGPILE WEBSITE. MY VET TOLD ME TO GET ONTO THIS WEBSITE BECAUSE OF THE REACTION MY DOG HAS HAD FROM THESE DROPS. I PUT THEM ON HIM ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO BUT HE HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE. THE FIRST 3-4 DAYS HE VOMITED VIOLENTLY. SINCE THEN, OFF AND ON, HE JUST HASN'T BEEN THE SAME. MONDAY I HAD HIM IN AND FOUND OUT THAT HE HAS A MASSIVE KINDEY INFECTION AND WE ARE ON PINS AND NEEDLES-HOPING HE WILL RECOVER. THE VET SAID THOSE DROPS MAY HAVE COMPROMISED HIS KIDNEYS ENOUGH AND HE PROBABLY HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO THEM . I USED THEM LAST SUMMER TOO, AND HE HAD SEZIURES ALL SUMMER. I NEVER PUT IT TOGETHER UNTIL THIS WEEK THAT THOSE DROPS PROBABLY CAUSED HIS SEZIURES. IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN HELP US TO MAYBE SUE HARTZ OR AT LEAST GET PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I JUST WANT TO BE REIMBURSED . I AM NOT LOOKING TO GET RICH, BUT THESE DROPS SHOULD BE OFF THE MARKET. PLEASE ADVISE.
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My 2 ½ year old Scottish Terrier(who I got from Scottie Rescue) has started experiencing hair loss, skin swelling and infection as well as severe itching after using Bio Spot. I took him to the vet yesterday and my vet was very upset that I had been using Bio Spot. I was under the impression that it was safe and all natural, as touted on Dr. Foster's website. I am very upset as the last time I put it on him was in August and he is just now showing symptoms, I cringe to think what else it will do to him. It must be very toxic to just now be causing these problems. I don't think Rylie is out of the woods yet. His skin has multiple infections and he was placed on Antibiotics and prednisone to control the itching.
Pattie 12/4/02
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I have a shelter in New Mexico. I used Bio Spot on 20 of my 24 dogs and in a short time, all were hairless with bleeding sores. I have many photos to share. One died of liver problems, we think because of this. I wrote the company to get some reimbursement for vet bill. They offered $700 if I would sigh a document saying I would never say anything about their product. I told them to *****it. I would do anything to put these evil people out of business.
What can I do?
Jeannie 1/23/03
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Our dog on the second application of this product had the same reaction as your dog. He threw up within ten minutes of the second application. The next day my wife attempted to wipe off the produce with a wet towel. Minutes later he had his first seizure. We have him on anti seizure medicine. The interesting thing is that neither Vets (emergency and regular Vet) draws the correlation between the seizure and Bio Spot. Has your dog experienced any long term effects? Did you contact the company about their product and if so what did they say? I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks Much
Tom 2/11/03
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately our dog passed away today. Ugh. I appreciate the information.
Tom 2/11/03
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Yes, I used biospot on my poodle and now he isn't himself. I used it on him 2 days ago, I washed him yesterday to try and remove the pesticide ,but he is still acting funny.He acts like he has something holding him and he is real jumppy.He just hasn't been himself since I put it on him. I will never use it again, thats for sure!
Angela 2/13/03
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I wish I had done a netsearch before putting that poison on my dog. She has only had a rash (and I washed her as soon as it happened, suspecting the Biospot as I had only put it on a day prior), but she still has it. I'm going to wash her again (and again, and again...) THANKS so much for your webiste.
Lea 3/22/03
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I have a 7 year old shih tzu named oreo who has always been in perfect health, oreo has always been on sentinel for flea ,tick and heart worm control .a month ago my husband and i bought a siberian husky we named nikita since nikita will be outside most of the time we decided she too is also on sentinel every month , we called our vet. and ask if for extra protection for fleas and ticks if it would be ok for us to put both of them on bio spot ..just to play it safe. well what a mistake it was for me ....nikita was fine and has had no reaction from it but 6 days ago i noticed oreo was crying and trying to scratch his back i knew it was the bio spot so i gave him a bath to wash it off....well 3 days i oreo started to act strange he was very mushy around the house and he hardly wanted to eat his dinner i thought i was just a belly ache.....that night he began to vomit almost every hour on the hour till eventually it turned into him vomiting blood.....in the morning i brought him to an emergency vet hospital...they gave him fluids under the skin and a couple of shots to prevent the naushia...they charged me $250.00. i took him home praying he would be ok...he was lifeless and just slept...well he continued t vomit blood none stop and he could not even hold his bowl movement in's he had the worst case of diarrhea with blood mixed in . i brought him back to the hospital and they once again gave him more fluids,shots and pills to take home for 5 days...well the vomiting has stopped and he is slowly getting back to him self he has hardly any appetite or any energy...iam hoping that tomorrow will be even better than today...iam writing you in hope that my story will help people not to buy this product and have anyone else's pet got through this same horrible ordeal...oreo is my life there is not one thing in this world that i would not do for him i thought i was doing good for him but in turn i only hurt him...i feel so bad...and i want people to beware and keep their babies safe from this ...
oreo's mommy
rosanna 3/24/03
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I read of your problems with Biospot and have experienced similar problems with two of my cats. I have $900. in vet bills to prove it!
I called Farnam Cos. and spoke to Sherri Pike who informed me that if I submitted the treatment records, bills and product info that I would have my bills reimbursed. I did as she advised, and received a neat little b.s. letter back that the vial crimp info suggested that the biospot treatment I used was for dogs. She also pointed out what their current Cat formula packaging looks like and the differences in pyrethrin strengths between the cat and dog formulas. What she doesn't know is that the pet store that I purchased the Biospot from last June, just started stocking the new cat formula with the Flea repellent towelettes this January.
Knowing that the EPA has cited Farnam for product mislabeling, and the fact that they found every loophole to avoid paying for my expenses because they "can't control the end use of their products", I am in the process of contacting my local vets to see how many cases of toxicity have been reported to them and I intend to contact an attorney who specializes in defective product litigation.
Did you file suit? Were you able to have any of your expenses reimbursed ? Have you contacted Farnam about the reaction your dog had to their product ? I am seriously considering a class action suit like the one against Hartz Mountain.
Thank you for the information on your website!
Linda 3/25/03
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I found your website after specifically searching for any health/safety problems associated with Biospot. I used Biospot months ago - over the summer of 2002 - but recently it has reared its ugly head again.
Let me explain from the summer: At the time we had three dogs : German SHort hair male, 65 lb, about 14 years old, Husky, 100 lb, about 12 years old, and a shepard mix, 58 lb, about 7 years old. After extensive research on the web to find the best and most cost effective flea product I settled on Biospot. All the available advertising convinced me it was safe for use.
The shepard mix also has Addison's disease, and I am very particular about what she can have. I never would have ventured to use Biospot if it had been labeled as potentially hazardous. I used Biospot on all three dogs - dosage appropriate for their sizes. My Addisonian Shepard began to hyperventilate within the hour and I rushed her into the shower. The German Short Hair began to have horrible itching and heavy breathing - he too was rushed to the shower. The husky did not have a reaction. I thought perhaps the other two dogs - being elderly and Addisonian were more vulnerable.
Fast forward to November 2002 Bart the German Short hair must be put down because of spinal cancer. He has been suffering from arthritis and I do not feel there is a connection - though at this point how can I be sure?
Fast forward to the beginning of March 2003. Tiny (the husky) is taken to the vet to investigate a limp, and a persistent cough. While there x-rays are recommended of his leg and chest. The x-ray shows a mass in his chest cavity and an ultrasound is recommended. The ultrasound shows no unusual masses, but it does show an irregular liver density. His blood work shows he has become hypo-thyroid and has severely elevated liver enzymes (normal is 131 Tiny is at 3,000+). The vet then recommends a liver biopsy to investigate if this is cancer. The biopsy does not show cancer, and does not yield any appreciable results. The vet's first question to me was whether Tiny had been exposed to anything toxic. Initially I did not recall the Biospot, but remembered the next day. I decided to research.
I found your website and now I am very suspicious of the Biospot treatment. Tiny has no visible problems - the limp was nothing, and he is back to his old self, on the outside. Had it not been for the string of events leading to his blood work and biopsy I would not suspect Biospot. After reading all the testimonials and thinking to my close calls with the other two dogs - I cannot believe this product is on the market.
The vet bills for Tiny cost around $1500 dollars - all money well spent, but if this product billed as safe is to blame then something needs to change!
I would like to know if there is any sort of campaign of awareness in action to inform consumers of the danger they are potentially putting their pets in.
I would also like to inquire about any sort of class action lawsuit against the Biospot producers. My vet has said that she has also come to the aid of multiple clients who have rushed their pets into the hospital with adverse reactions, and she does not endorse the product. If enough testimonials can be collected a lawsuit should be filed so that this product is removed form the market.
Please advise to any action that I can take to help with this cause!
Jacquelyn 3/26/03
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I have a Boston Terrier named Otis who I treated with Defend flea control product. Although it is not BioSpot, it contains the same pesticide as BioSpot. I put this product on him as directed and within thirty seconds he became paralyzed on the floor and his eyes were glazed over. He had lost neurological function including bladder control, I rushed him to the sink and applied dish soap and thoroughly washed the effected area off and within a minute he was slowly able to sit up on his own and his eyes became alert again. I was terrified. I rushed him to the vet and they told me I had done the right thing by washing the pesticide off of him quickly. I am furious that a product like this is out there. I love my dog and would not harm him for anything, and to think that I put this poison on him makes me sick. Thankfully, Otis seems to be fine, I just hope there is no long term effects that show up later.
Barbara 3/28/03
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I used Control One Spot on our 3 year old Shih Tzu 3 days ago. She hasn't been the same since and I am quite concerned. Her hind legs bother her, she is edgey and
can't sleep and trys to hide her head. She has stopped eating and and has no energy. Control is made with Permethrin as well. There needs to be a warning on the label.
I would never put my baby's health at risk. A visit to the vet may still be necessary as
I moniter her condition.
Stephen 4/6/03
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I have 2 dogs both of which have been treated regularly for the past 5 years with Frontline drops. Recently, over a period of about 2 weeks, the behaviour of my 10 year old Kelpie/bordercollie cross began to change. She became excitable, and where her appetite has always been finicky, she became the opposite and I could give her anything to eat and she'd wolf it down! Then a week ago, she had a grand mal fit and over the next 2 days had 2 more, plus eight minor fits (when she didn't actually fall down but was just twitching, foaming at the mouth, rolling her eyes and her body was all bunched up). She is being treated now with low doses of phenobarbitone twice daily, and I am happy to say, the fits are controlled. Is it just a coincidence that I treated her around 3 weeks ago with a new and ' more efficient' form of Frontline that has an added ingredient to improve flea control? In retrospect, she may well have had several fits that were minor before the grand mal attacks - her bedding was wet on several occasions in the morning, with saliva. Blood tests showed her liver enzymes were high but this time a month ago, she was to all intents and purposes a fit and healthy dog. My question is, has there been any response to the 'new and improved' form of Frontline as far as dogs have adverse reaction to it?
Paula 4/13/03
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I have a 6 year old bichon. She was being treated for bladder stones with sd diet.
She was on Baytril...doing fine..the stones were no longer visible on xray. I applied bio-spot on 4/5/03 Within three hours she was severly agitated and moaning. She sat with her hind end tucked in and looked like she was cramping. I bathed her and then took her to the ER. They treated her with antihistamines and told me to use more benadryl over the weekend if necessary. The dog got worse. Her symptoms progressed to back pain, bloody stools, low temperature, low heart rate, elevated pancreas enzymes, seizures. The dog cried with pain for several days, during which she was at either the vets or the ER day and night. Finally, the dog had an extensive work up at a hospital which included cat scans and blood work to try to pinpoint a diagnosis..She was on IV's for several days..We have spent over $3,000 trying to save the life of my pet. She is at home, Sat 4/12/03 after a week of medical care and looks terrible. She sits in her kennel, is unable to walk for more than a few steps without hunching over, and looks to be quite uncomfortable.
JoAnn 4/13/03
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Thank you so much for your alert and efforts concerning this product. I was about to purchase this for my 3 large dogs (Bernese Mountain Dogs), but thought I would go on the website to check it out. I saw your consumer alert and after I read it, of course I would never buy this product. Also discovered that Pet Smart is the biggest seller of this product. I have emailed them stating that I will no longer by my dog food or supplies from them until they take this product off their shelves. I would like to help fight this product, please let me know what I can do to get this off the market. I have horses too and Farnam is a big supplier and will not buy their products anymore until they recall this deadly product.
Karen 4/14/03
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My beloved mutt is in the hospital as I read this, unable to stand. He was treated with Hartz Control OneSpot Friday night, was unable to use his hindlegs last night and couldn't use any of his legs this morning. The vet told me his nervous system has absorbed this chemical. I just spoke to the vet and there has been no improvement as of yet. He will continue to give him an antidote every 3-4 hours and hope for improvement. I treated his brother with Pretect at the same time and he has had no
ill effects. I'm praying for a quick and speedy recovery and I may try to recoup my vet bills from Hartz. Any suggestions? Thanks for this most informative website.
Madeline 4/15/03
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I just found your web site and I am so thankful!! I went through this almost 3 years
ago and I have still not made peace with myself regarding it.
Within 12 hours of treating my cat (Zeus) with Zodiac Spot-On Treatment for cats, Zeus died. My vet was unable to find any problems with Zeus during his autopsy. More test were done and sent to labs. I received the lab results on 6/20/00 and there was nothing wrong with Zeus that could have caused his death. They listed his death as acute and unknown. My vet and I have no other choice but to know that the Zodiac product caused his death.
I know it is impossible to prove that a flea treatment caused this death, but we have proven that nothing else had caused his death. To anyone reading this, please take this information and caution seriously.
Teresa 4/22/03
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My dog had to be put down 2 days after applying Hartz flea and tick drops. Lethargy, vomiting, and almost non-stop seizures. We had no choice. My family is devastated, as Yazzie was the 6th member of our family. If you can, be in touch with me.
Gary 4/26/03
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My 15-month-old Malti-poo became lethargic and started acting funny a few hours after applying Bio Spot on him for the first time. I immediately washed him thoroughly and he was fine.
I am notifying my vet and the store carrying the product and giving them copies of your article and all the emails and asking them not to recommend or carry the product anymore.
Norma 4/28/03
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I have an 11 month old beagle. I keep him in a kennel and only feed high quality dog food to him. I applied biospot to my dog and the next day he seemed lethargic and seemed to lose his balance from time to time. I keep doxycycline at my house since
I have several dogs and had just gone through the same thing with his sister the month prior with a spot on product from hartz. I gave him 2 doses of the medicine and he seems to be almost be back to normal.
Kim 4/29/03
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Last year I used Hartz advanced flea and tick drops on my pets, dogs and cats. I bought one package for two cats and then the dogs seperately, I washed my hands between handling them. My cat Whiskas came out at ten at night from behind the couch, she was staggering, frothing at the mouth. I tried to rinse her mouth out. She was light sensitive and acted as though she couldnt see me or hear me. She wasnt breathing well. She went and hid under my bed. I was at the vets for an emergency visit by eleven. She was treated and kept over night. She made it through. My vet has had other cases of this. 100.00 for the vet, and I had spent 40.00 for the product. I was so mad, looked on the internet and found a woman from RI who the same thing happened too. There was or Is a class action law suite against hartz. Look at the labels. Check out which has the lowest dose of Permethrin. I threw all the product out. Wont take the chance. EPA was notified about this too. And yes, These products should contain Specific warning labels on them, that way we as consumers can make a consientious choice in wether to use it on our pets or not. As it stands now we are NOT getting the full picture. We are ridden with guilt, at first blaming ourselves for this, then we get mad!!! We need more people to find out about this. I had it ran in my local newspaper.
Lyn 4/29/03
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I am the proud momma of a 15 month old Springer Spaniel named Oreo, a 13 month old Miniature Schnauzer named Ande, a 5 month old Great Dane named Junior and 2 17 month old Ferrets name Trixie and Powder. All 5 of my animals where going to be put on BIO SPOT starting tomorrow. Your website has given me information that seems to have saved my babies lives since now I am going to stick with my Frontline, which is what they have been on all there lives. I was reading your site and someone made a comment about bio spot was being used for pound animals. My animals are
all registered beautiful show quality dogs. That should not matter, if my dog comes
from the pound or a breeder with all kinds of health guarantees. The pain of having some mislabeled chemical hurt or kill my babies would be the same. Again thank
you for saving mine.
Malissia 5/2/03
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Last summer we gave our 110 pound rottweiler Revolution. He was fine for the first
4 doses, but on the fifth month dose, he had a horrible reaction.
He started vomiting yellow foam, took a few wobbley steps, and immediately collapsed. He layed on the floor panting heavily for several minutes, unable to respond to anything that we said to him. He vomited several more times, and was unable to move for over 30 minutes. We thought he was going to die. He continued to be very weak and lethargic for several days.
He did recover. The vet, and the company said that the product probably had nothing to do with it, but after reading your stories, I know better. We have not used any products of this nature since this episode, and he has been doing fine. Thank you for sharing these horrifying experiences with us so that no dog has to experience this again!
Are any products for fleas, tics, and heartworm safe?
Courtney 5/3/03
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Yes, ours had a reaction. We have a 7 year old Australian Shepherd/Doberman cross male named Rudy. We had used another product last year (can't remember the name, but it wasn't Bio-Spot) and Rudy showed some mild irritation at the site for a day but that was all. We weren't concerned. This year, we put on Bio-Spot and within an hour, he was scratching and biting at his hips (as close as he could get to the top of the tail head) and whining pitifully. We soothed him as much as we could, not understanding what was causing it and thinking maybe a bee sting or something. But it continued for another day and he was acting nervous and jumpy (not AT ALL like Rudy) and wasn't eating. Finally, on the advice of our vet andnot knowing exactly what was the problem, we took him downstairs and put in in the shower with my husband and Tom shampooed the dog and turned him out in the sunshine. That seemed to fix it....he was a bit uncomfortable that evening but nothing like he had been and by the next day he was fine. THANK YOU for posting all those emails and letting us know. We will NEVER buy anything like that again. Back to the good, old flea comb and brush! I am concerned about any residual effects now.
We didn't file suit and our vet didn't charge us for telephone suggestionl. I didn't contact Farnam then, but I think I will send them a copy of this email and let them know what I think of their product and any other company which would put out potentially lethal "pet supplies" like this. It isn't just Farnam and that's REALLY scary!
Mary 5/12/03
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I am a pet groomer. I sell Bio Spot for dogs and cats, and I have also been using it
for quite some time on my purebred dogs, a Shih Tzu, Chocolate Lab, Yellow Lab, and two Pomeranians, and also on my dog I adopted from the Humane Society and my
cat. I have never had anything but wonderful results with this product. I have sold a lot
of packages of Bio Spot to my customers in the past year, and every one of them is extremely happy with this product. When using any insect repellent chemicals there are going to be risks. Every animal reacts to them differently. Just like there are risks with a human taking medicine. But would you stay sick just because there have been a few cases of side effects reported? I am sure that you are only hearing about the bad reactions to this product. There are millions of people who use Bio Spot on their pets with wonderful results.
Bethany 5/13/03
I am glad that you and your customers are extremely happy with Bio Spot. I was happy with it, too, until it almost killed my dog. Unfortunately, I was not aware that severe adverse reactions and death were among the possible risks. I created my webpage to inform others who may not be aware of it, too.
I know that fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can cause serious health problems in dogs, but
I don't like the idea of poisoning my dog in an effort to control these pests. There are safer ways to control these pests without using pesticides.
James TerBush
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I recently used Bio Spot for dogs on my 8 month old pug. This was her second Bio Spot treatment. She seemed agitated by the first treatment, but didn't show any signs of major distress. I applied Bio Spot on her Tuesday night and now (Thursday night) she
is trying to hide under anything possible. She basically climbs up my leg and then buries her head into my arm. She wimpers and has scratched a hole into her skin trying to get the poision off. I have bathed her three times hoping to give her some relief. I have been hand feeding her, as she won't eat on her own. She had an accident on the floor this morning as she seems unable or unwilling to move on her own. It is now
Thursday, 2 full days since the application of Bio Spot. I intend to take her to my vet tomorrow if she shows no signs of improvement. I only wanted to save her the pain of having flees and this is what I got. I only wish I had seen this article sooner. I will never put another flea treatment on my little girl.
Megan 5/15/03
Thank you for taking an interest in my story. I did take my puppy to my vet on friday. She didn't seem to think that there is anything internally wrong with my puppy, but that her symptoms are mostly from the wound on her back. She shaved the hair from the burned/scratched spot between Pezi's shoulders. It looks pretty nasty and it's been a real challenge to keep her from scratching at it. I have been wrapping an ace bandage around her and even sewed a T-shit to fit her, so that she won't make the wound any worse.
Today she has shown amazing signs of recovery as I took her on her first walk since the incident. She has been put on a number of medications and will return to the vet on friday. I will definately be contacting Farnem to inform them of the horrible eposide and to seek compensation for the vet bills. I have taken pictures of the wound caused by Bio Spot as I'm not sure how easily the company will reimburse my expenses. I am so thankful that Pezi seems to be recovering. I am fully aware now that others have not been so fortunate. Thank you for your advice and helping to get the word out on the dangers caused by Bio Spot.
Megan 5/18/03
I thought I'd update you on my Bio-spot episode. I did contact Farnam and was told they would file a report of the incident. They also told me that if I mailed them proof of purchase, my vet bills and recordes, they would reimburse my expenses. I did mail that information only half expecting to recieve a check from the company. To my surprise the check arrived yesterday and did cover the total cost for Pezi's care. Pezi is recovering well. The only lingering sign of the episode is a small bald spot on her back. The fur is slowly growing back. Thank you again for your advice through this horrible event.
Megan 6/10/03
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I would like to thank you for writing that article on Bio Spot. I nearly bought it for my
cats from Pet Smart, but after I read your article, as well as others who'd had similar problems, I cancelled my order. I also notified Pet Smart that, as a trusted pet care company, they should remove such a thing from the shelves and was notified that they were looking into it.
It outrages me that such a thing is being sold, so much so that I've e-mailed the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as well as the company that makes Bio Spot.
I would urge you (if you haven't already) to also do this and will do what I can to make sure people know how harmful this product is.
Thanks again. I am only hoping that it didn't have any long-term effects for your dog.
Robin 5/17/03
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HELP!!!! One week ago, I applied Bio Spot to my Borzoi "Vladimir". A day after the application, he started acting "funny." His behavior has been very eractic. He alternates between depression and excitement; hunger and appetite loss, lethargy and aggression etc. etc. Unfortunately, I have been out of town for the past two days, so I can't speak of that time period, but he still appeared "out of sorts" for the brief time I spent with him last night. I also noticed that on several areas on his face (around his mouth, eyes etc.) is discolored (usually these areas are a nice shiny black, now they are brownish. Until I found your website today, I assumed these problems may have been caused by the ticks that had been on Vlad. But now, I am concerned I may have poisoned him. I have a vet appointment in a few hours, anything I can do in the meantime?????
Jennifer 5/19/03
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I am so glad that I read this article. I just ordered some Bio Spot from Dr Foster & Smith. Although I always use Advantage, I was interested in BioSpot because it kills
all stages of fleas. I was really just looking to see if it was waterproof because my 14 month old yellow lab is a water freak! Wow! Am I glad I came across your website. I
do know that all insecticides have risks, but this was needed feedback before I change to a new product. I will be sending the BioSpot back and I'll stick with Advantage.
Cristy 5/23/03
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I would just like to THANK YOU for your "Consumer Alert" Page and sharing Hamish's horrific ordeal with Bio Spot. I was very happy to read that Hamish is doing so much better.
I was looking into using Bio-Spot on my 7 year old Husky, Akuna, when I came across you web page and would like to thank everyone who posted their story as after reading them all, I will NEVER use this or any product like it. Akuna is our Pride & Joy and I don't know what we would do if anything ever happened to her and although I can't protect her from everything because of your web page at least I can protect her from Bio Spot.
Julie 5/23/03
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I have a German shorthair pointer. Two days ago I applied the BioSpot Flea and Tick control for dogs, and this morning he had a seizure. Remembering that I tried a new product on him recently I thought I'd look on the Internet to see if there were any possible connections, and I found this site right away. My husband and I gave him a bath immediately to remove what may be left on the skin. Right now he's really hyper. We have him kenneled so he doesn't hurt himself or destroy the house. I'm hoping he'll come around to his normal self soon.
Becky 5/26/03
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James- thanks for the info. Just an update on us... as my husband mentioned we did just recently move to Alabama. We've never had to use anything for insects on our dogs and cats. Unfortunately, this place will make you challenge your whole belief system, which is how we came upon you and your story. After realizing we had a huge flea problem...we found 3 ticks on our son, in our bed and on our floor and decided that was it-- we were going to have to do something. We gave our dogs one application of Frontline and all was ok for the last 3 weeks. I hated doing it. But we felt pushed to our limits at that moment. After 3 weeks, we've been finding ticks again though. And I refuse to douse our dogs in chemicals every three weeks. So we've renewed ourselves to doing this the natural way, with oils and with herbal powders. The reason for my email is to let you know about a book we found and that we're coming to treasure--Natural Insect Repellants- For Pets, People and Plants By Janette Grainger and Connie Moore Lots of step by step instructions that reminded me of lots of things I already knew, and lots I didn't. Hope you can get your hands on it! Good Luck!
The Rileys 5/30/03
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Thanks for your website. I have always used Advantage once or twice during the summer months with no problems. Because the $ difference caught my attention
( I have 5 dogs & 3 cats) I almost ordered Bio-spot from the Foster & Smith Catalog. Then I remembered an article I saw about 2 years ago about Spot-on being a dangerous product and wondered if Bio-spot & Spot -on were similar products. So I called Fosters & Smith to ask them if they were the same ingredients and if they had had any complaints. The info person apparently had never had the question asked before and knew nothing about Spot-on & of course had no complaints about their product. She did advise me to research it on line and compare the products myself which is how I found your website! Thanks for the info and for taking the time to get
this info out!
Paula 5/30/03
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I had always used Advantage on our two, four year old Miniature Pinschers, without any problems. Last August we were going to Connecticut and decided we should protect our dogs from ticks, too. We applied Killtix(permethrin) just that one time last summer and had no problem. However, this March and April I used Advantix(contains permethrin) and a few weeks after the second application my one dog acted very lethargic, kept opening his mouth, was shaking and would not get off our laps. I took him to the vet within one hour, but he couldn't find anything wrong with him. I thought maybe Bandit had been stung by a bee--because he has had an allergic reaction before to bee stings, so we gave him Benadryl. He seemed fine by later that evening. This was last Tuesday. Saturday he began exhibiting the same symptoms, but our vet was closed for the weekend, so we just kept a close eye on him and after several hours he was okay. I called my vet today to let him know about this latest "spell". I only talked to the receptionist and she said it sounded like a seizures. Then I remembered your web site I had come across last year and told her it could be a possible reaction to permethrin. She didn't seem to know anything about it causing problems. I am certain that this product caused it especially after reading about all the other people who have had similar stories. I don't know if the vet will call me back because there isn't really anything he can do now, but I will never use any product containing permethrin and I'm not even sure I should be using Advantage either. Thank you for sharing your story and making this danger known to other pet lovers.
Barbara 6/2/03
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Hi! Thank you for your wonderful website. After searching for hours on poisioning I came across your website. We think our dog was poisoned by Advantix though this is the first dog my vet has seen with a reaction to the solution. Our vet specifically recommended this product and sold it to us with no outer package. Trusting our vet, we applied the Advantix. It did not react as quickly as other people have noted on your website. In fact, it took 6 days before Casey's paw and eye started twitching. As nothing else was new in her environment, we took her back to the vet. He concluded (without any tests) that it was from the Advantix. He sent us home with muscle relaxers. After watching our baby twitch in one paw so badly she could hardly walk, we called the vet again. He really didn't want to be bothered. We contacted other area vets who all said they won't sell permethrin-based products like Advantix. I was so angry with the vet because we placed our faith in him. We now have a new vet (much, much, much better). She drew blood to run tests though we won't know for a while. The new vet also recommended bathing her in dish soap or neutrogena shampoo, continuing with the muscle relaxers and gave her subcutaneuos fluids. Her twitching has improved but she just isn't herself. We are on pins and needles hoping for the best-thanks again for your website.
Karen 6/6/03
Hi! Thank you for both of your messages. You can believe I will take all of your suggestions on reporting this deadly product. It is more productive to write letters and warn everyone I know than to sit and stew in anger. Thank you for taking your time to host a website and answer all of the messages.
After nearly dehydrating, Casey is being fed baby food every four hours. Slowly, she is returning to herself. Thankfully all of the other symptoms have subsided. This has truly been an eye-opening experience.
Thank you again,
Karen 6/13/03
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About two week ago on May 24th 2003 I applied Bio Spot for Dogs to my Australian Shepard, Casey. This was from a batch I had purchased, I believe, in 2000. I had applied one package of it to Casey at that time back in 2000 but he was very reluctant to have it applied a second time. All I had to do was give him the impression that I was going to apply it and he would run for the hills. I found the packages in the medicine closet and I figured I would try it again. There was no expiration date on the packaging so I figured it was safe to use. About 5 days after applying the Bio Spot I noticed that he was not acting himself. Casey always wanted to play ball when we walked in the field near our home. That day he wasn't wanting to play. Casey had a problem with his hips so I thought it was just that. He had been taking medication for his hip problem but was not on it at the time I applied the Bio Spot. I had been treating him with aspirin.
On Monday June 2nd he was still not acting himself, not eating, etc. We took him to the Vet but never mentioned that I had applied the Bio Spot. On Thursday morning June 5 we again took him to the Vet because he now could not walk straight. The doctor looked at him and diagnosed him as having an inner ear infection. He gave us some antibiotics and said he should be better in a few days. By 1 PM that day he died.
I believe the Bio Spot attacked his central nervous system and killed him. An autopsy done by the Vet revealed no cause for Casey's death. He concluded that it must have been something in the central nervous system that killed him. An aneurysm would have been very quick. A brain tumor would have been much slower revealing more signs of problems as time passed.
I've attached a photo of Casey taken last summer. He was a wonderful dog and will be sorely missed by me and my wife. We intend on getting a replacement but I guarantee you I will never use a topical Flea and Tick Control medication again.
Please pass this on to all your friends who have dog or cats and are thinking of using a topical Flea and Tick Control. Thanks for listening.
Paul 6/7/03
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I also have reluctantly put Biospot and other topical insecticides on my dogs and cats. Never again after reading your site! At a few different vets, I have asked, "Is this safe? It says don't get it on MY skin, yet we douse our pets with it?" Vets have told me it is fine. This tells me not to trust my vet! Now I notice my cats are scratching in the area where the topical was applied -- and this is the expensive, vet-sold one, not biospot. The problem here is that many, not all, vets make good money selling these products, so of course they will a) neglect to investigate side effects, and/or b) tell you they're safe.
In addition to the book mentioned above, I highly recommend "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats". The topicals are just the tip of the iceberg, folks -- the Rx pet industry is HUGE, in the billion$. After a lot of investigation, I only get my pets rabies, etc. shots every other year or so. Cancers and Rx reactions are on the rise, especially in pets. Do your own research and see. For you who think the EPA will do something about this, think again. The gov't and Rx industry have verrry close ties. It's going to take a massive class action suit to even get mainstream media to notice and favorably cover the real story here. Meantime, watch what goes into and onto your babies!
Steve 6/8/03
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I read all of the letters about the pets that were affected by Bio Spot. Well two days ago
I went to the store and decided to pick up some flea and tick treatment for my two dogs.
I have used Sargents in the past and it caused one of my dogs to have horrible seizures. I wasnt aware that Hartz would do the same. It has now been 2 days since I applied it to my dogs and today the same dog had a seizure. I am disgusted that the FDA and EPA would let this stuff stay on the shelves. My husband and I are considering a lawsuit. Not for the money but for the welfare of all pets. I am going to warn everyone I know about this danger. Luckily my baby is ok. It has only been an hour since the seizure and he has been out to play and potty. Now he is taking one of his many beloved naps. My other dog hasnt had any side effects that I have seen thank God!
Amie 6/10/03
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I've been researching the internet to help my brother's dog and came across your website. Thank you so much for putting this out, more people need to become aware of the dangers. He became sick about 3 days after having his first dose of Advantix. His stomach is swollen with fluids, he cannot eat and keep anything down, and this has been going on for about five days. He was taken to emergency vet this past Sunday and they have run all the blood tests, ultrasound, etc. Their only conclusion is Advantix has caused this poisoning. He has been bathed a couple times, but is not getting better. We need help with treatment for this poisoning! Have you heard of any type of treatment which will help get the advantix poison out of his system fast? If you know of anything that has worked, we would greatly appreciate you letting us know. It's worth a try, otherwise he may die.
After reading all of this on your website, I want to make sure the word gets out to as many people as possible. If there is anything we can do to help this, please let me know.
Suzanne 6/10/03
Thank you
Thanks so much for the information. I read a lot on your website last night and gave my brother tips about bathing and IV. From talking with him last night, they had started an IV and bathed him in dish soap. That is what Bayer recommended. One of the vets seems to remember a similar case and they are going to check the fluid in his stomach/heart. Possible pancreatic? If this test comes null, than I told my brother to call the hospital in Philadelphia. I'll let you know what they find out and hopefully help any other dogs experiencing this reaction.
Suzanne 6/11/03
Well, sorry to say my brother's dog has not made a recovery yet. He is still hanging in there and has been at the vet for a week. They have ran every possible test on him and no conclusion. Tried another bath yesterday in dish soap but he continues to vomit after attempting to eat even baby food. I think they're going to try steroids or suggested exploratory surgery. I guess he cannot go on without nutrition very long and is getting at that point. Do you have any knowledge of anyone using steroids to help? Thanks again.
Suzanne 6/14/03
Finally, some great news, Bugsley is coming home from the hospital today! It had been 11 days since my brother took him there. I wanted to let you know it appears as if the steroids the vet gave him worked. She said she was going to hit him hard with steroids for 2 or 3 days and that is what she did. He finally was able to keep down some baby food down the other day. I believe he went over ten days without eating. Just wanted to let you know, so you can post it to help others. The treatment that helped him was bathing in dish soap, IV water/electrodes, and finally steroid therapy. The funny thing about his side effects is he had no seizures, mostly unable to eat, vomiting, and swollen stomach area. The ultrasound showed fluids in the stomach/heart area. All is tests came back normal, they were unable to find anything else wro
