Update 8/21/06: Hamish has not had ANY seizures since we stopped using Bio Spot
4 YEARS AGO, and appears to have made a full recovery. We are thankful for each day
that he is with us.
Farnam reimbursed us for Hamish's medical expenses, provided that we accept it as "FULL
AND FINAL SETTLEMENT FOR THE ALLEGED ADVERSE REACTION TO BIOSPOT."
Here are some of the e-mail messages that I have received from others whose dogs and cats experienced adverse reactions after using flea control products. I have no way of knowing
if the information in these messages is factual, or if the products they used were the actual
cause of the adverse reactions.
CAUTION: This information is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice. Please consult with your veterinarian before giving
any treatment to your animals.
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I've used frontline and advantage for quite some time, on the customer dogs... with no bad reactions.
Soo... putting it on my dog, was no big deal... or so I thought.
Frontline... and approx 24 hrs later a minor seizure... CRAP, standard poodles sometimes HAVE that problem... OTOH, there is no HINT of that in her bloodlines! GRR! Screams go off to the breeder... and I
get the same, no HISTORY in the bloodline. Humm... we shall watch and wait. I switch to Advantage... (why? perhaps an experiment I didn't really think about?) Approx 24 hrs later ANOTHER minor seizure. WTF? Ok, we ride out the seizure... and start thinking HARD... nothing in the bloodlines... she hasn't been hurt... YET, it was just a minor annoyance... (I had a poorly bred poodle that had minor seizures til she died at 13) Ok... I skip a month... we don't have fleas ANYWAY.... then, ick... perhaps a flea or two? One more shot at the Advantage.... and you guessed it... approx 24 hrs later a grand mal seizure... OY, am I PISSED!
This absolute CRAP, that I PUT ON my show quality, foundation bitch!
Being irritated, I called Bayer.... HOW do I get this CRAP off my dog? They tried to dissuade me.... do not remove the stuff from your dog... UH HUH... TELL ME HOW TO GET THIS SHIT OFF MY DOG!
There was much displeasure expressed at my end, including the fact that I was a dog groomer... (I didn't bother to tell them what ELSE I was.) I'm put on hold for freaking EVER, and told to wash it off with Dawn.... tis what I expected... but, I wanted documentation.
My poor girl perked right up... went back to flinging dishes at us... which she hadn't done since the application of the spot on flea treatment! If I had to guess the problem... and I have absolutly no familiarity with something called bio spot.... it wouldn't be the fipronil (frontline) OR the imidacloprid (advantage) it would be the inert, WATERPROOF delivery method.
So, what IS that? The makers claim that neither the ACTIVE ingredients in frontline or advantage permiate the skin... however, no matter how hard I bitched... the OTHER ingredients were not mentioned. I even got a very sweet call back from Bayer... is my poor wittle poodle ok? Why, yes, dear... my poor wittle poo... that has started SCHULTHUND training, and is in agility is doing quite nicely since her BATH.
I have seen a common thread... most animals that have had adverse reactons are high body weight, in relation to low body fat... So, what isn't getting stored in the FAT, that is going right to the BLOODSTREAM of the animals? I pointed that out to the Bayer chick.... wow, a biochemist she wasn't.
Anyone have a clue?
Thanks,
Kathy 7/11/06
My standard poodle hasn't had a seziure since I discontinued the advantage.... humm
What I find even MORE interesting, is that her eye boogers... that she didn't HAVE before the application, have also gone away.
It's very frustrating that I cannot find clinical trials for ANY of the spot on stuff...
If anyone should have... umm... stumbled across the clinical trials... I need copies.
Bayer is OBVIOUSLY lying about the safety of this crap.
I'm thinking it's time to pay the piper... it isn't safe...
I'd rather spray my dog with DDT, than the spot on flea stuff... at lest DDT is SAFE. (Yes, rant on... then read the CLINICAL TRIALS, instead of "silent spring")
Oh well, it appears that I've fallen thru the looking glass... and what should be safe, is unsafe... and what was judged unsafe, is clearly safer.
Oh... and for defleaing your dog... it does take time... but it is VERY SAFE, a once a week bath in ivory soap... (the dish variety) left on for ten mins... will kill the little buggers.
Put a couple moth balls in the vac... and you are set.
You have no idea how angry I am... which is a good thing... LMAO
The manufacturers of this shit need to take a hard, heavy hit... in court.
Kathy 8/14/06
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My vet had prescribed Revolution for one of my cats for an ear mite problem. I also have another cat and she also has ear mites. Because they are approximately the same weight, I decided to put Revolution on my other cat. They previously had been treated with Revolution with no side effects. Therefore, I did not think there would be a problem. Within 10 days my second cat began to lose hair, started drooling, and
had a loss of appetite. I began to research online when I came across your web site. I washed down my second cat with a warm wash cloth on her neck, mouth and legs, still not thinking this was a severe problem. She was still drinking water, but not doing much. She is not very active anyway, so again, I was not thinking a huge problem, since the information indicated that they were temporary side effects. Last night, we found blood from her mouth and a terrible smell. I wiped it down, and tried to open her mouth to see where it was coming from, but she bolted. She is now hiding somewhere in my basement, and I can't find her.
She is approximately 10 years old, relatively in decent health, except for the ear mites. She does not seem to be in pain, but I know this is from the Revolution. If anyone has had a similar experience, please let me know.
Thanks,
Judy 7/11/06
I just wanted to update you on an email I sent you concerning Revolution and my cat. You took the time to ask me about how my cat was doing after administering Revolution. You indicated that I should contact Pfizer, which I did. I spoke with a customer service representative and a vet. After a lengthy discussion,
the vet indicated that maybe my cat had an allergic reaction (loss of fur, appetite) but the drooling and blood was probably from an abscess in her mouth. He indicated that the reaction would happen immediately or
1-2 days after the dose was administered. I thanked him for his time and then called an emergency vet.
I brought my cat to the vets and it was determined that she had a tumor in her mouth/jaw. She was now unable to completely open her mouth and it was hard as a rock. This happened the following day. I asked the vet, how fast did this tumor grow since she did not display any problems until after the Revolution was applied. He indicated that it was probably growing for about 2 months. I had never noticed any problem prior to this. To make a long sad story short, we had to put her to sleep.
It was a terrible week, and I will never know if this was just a coincidence or Revolution had any part in her sickness. I know I will not use any type of pesticide on my pets again. It is such a loss for me.
I just want to thank you again for your site; keep up the good work. Knowledge is power, and if enough people know, then something can be done. I will never know.
Judy 7/19/06
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As far as I can tell, biospot is only a hazard for cats and dogs. I haven't seen any information regarding health problems with ferrets (if you know of any please let me know, I'm always looking for information).
I have 3 ferrets. I've used biospot for cats and ferrets on my two older males and have never had a
problem. My younger female hasn't shown any adverse reactions either. Has anyone heard of anything happening to ferrets after using Biospot?
While I understand and sympathize with those who have lost animals because of Biospot. Asking Farnam
to stop making the flea medicine completely wuold leave many ferret owners without a good flea treatment.
My vet (who specializes in ferrets) highly recommends biospot and says not to try anything else because it
could be too toxic for them (which is odd because ferrets are exotic and somewhat fragile in terms of
health.)
If the lawsuit on http://www.stopfarnam.org/StopFarnamHome.html goes through, then I, and many other ferret owners, will have nothing to use to keep our animals flea free. I'm allergic to cats and don't have the time for dogs. I understand, and fully agree with, the case to make them stop producing the product for dogs and cats, but my ferrets are my life and like any other pet owner I don't want to see them suffer with fleas. Biospot is the only means I know of to prevent this.
I hope I don't sound insensitive. I do know what it's like to lose a pet (a ferret, a dog, and two cats when
I was younger). I recently came close to losing my oldest ferret when he developed an adrenal gland
tumor.
Mostly I'm concerned though, is there a hazard to ferrets? Does anyone know of anything else I could use
if it comes to losing Biospot entirely? (In which case I'd have no problem with shutting farnam down, I'm
just worried about losing flea control for my pets). If anyone has any information, please let me know.
Thank you,
Becca 7/13/06
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I just bought a new Hartz brand flea collar for my 3 year old cat. We've used collars in the past with no problems. This one is "stronger" and longer lasting. After only 2 hours of wearing the collar our cat became "intoxicated" and could not walk. Her eyes were glazed over and she was tremoring. I called the vet and she met us at the clinic. She explained that she had been poisioned by the collar. After 3 days, she is still at the vet recovering. I plan to sue Hartz for the expenses, and hopefully my cat will pull through this.
Laurie 7/14/06
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Hello I own a 1.5 year old golden lab (Dakota) field dog all the way avid runner 3 miles a day and awesome swimmer like all labs. Anyways I seen the Bio spot at the local petco and picked some up for him being flea season is upon us and ticks also. I gave him bio spot as directed actually I even stayed with a lower dose then he needed being it was only a precaution. After about a half hour we went out side for our nightly ball exercise and he started out just fine but after around 10 min he slowed which usually he is in the 45 min mark for slowing down. Then my 3 year old called him he walked over to her and nearly fell over his back legs were starting to lock up and he kept stumbling I ran him some water but he wouldn't drink. Then I called him back as he started to walk away and he wouldn't come to me. Then I was worried I sent my 3 year old in and called the dog out of the house. I ran a hose to him and ran water over him for 5-10 minutes he then started to listen again I took him back inside and he laid there a foamy mouth panting harder then ever like I said he is a avid hard worker. I didn't know what could have been wrong then I thought what could he have ate. Then it dawned on me it wasn't what he ate it was me I poisoned him I looked it up and there are many bad things to say about this product and this is one of them. I almost lost my lab to a stupid product that every store that has it recommends highly. Thanks to this site and others like it I will be spreading the word about this also.
David 7/15/06
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Our three four year old healthy cats have had an adverse reaction to the flea control product named "Revolution". They get a large quarter sized bald spot with a red irritation mark right after getting their
revolution. They had to take antibiotics because our vet did not know what was causing the irritation.
This last friday, July 14, 2006 we took all three cats back in for the vet to evaluate them to see if he thought
it would be ok for them to get the revolution again. He said the baldness was gone and the fur had grown back, therefore, he said they could get the revolution again. I called him this morning, July 16, 2006 and
told him that they had a bald spot where he had applied the revolution last friday. He told me that "Your
cats are the only ones having a problem with the revolution and that maybe I should swath to frontline flea control for them next month. I just didn't "buy" his answer or attitude. Now, I don't know what to do as far
as flea control products go. I just read about other flea control products causing toxic problems. What do you suggest we do? Our vet said that he also talked with the chemist at Pfizer manufacturing where they
make the revolution and he said that the chemist said "If the woman is so in love with the revolution let
her continue buying it" Again, another poor attitude. I take very good care of my cats and do not
appreciate this poor attitude.
Please let me know what to do. Thank you.
Arlene 7/16/06
I wanted to add to your website concering what happened last night. I am so upset and hurt by this that I can't even type without the tears just flowing down. I bought Bio-Spot for cats at Tractor Supply Co. I placed it on both of my cats around 6 pm. By 9 pm my youngest cat Clyde started walking backwards and wincing. He vomited and started convulsing. It was the most horrific thing I had ever seen!!! I called the Emergency vet here and they told me to call ASPCA and that they would charge 55.00 so to have my credit card!! WHAT?!?!??! DO they want to help or make money? I rushed downstairs to te computer where I found this site from Google. I saw to wash the animal with dishwashing detergent so I ran upstairs and grabbed him and washed him, and wrapped him ina towel. That didn't help and my husband had to take him to the vet. My husband said the car ride was awful, he was so sick and just could not control his body jerking everywhere.
When he got to the vet they gave him a shot, but said that he was so bad off that they would have to do it
for who nows how long and then it may not work. We had to put him down. I am SO DEVASTATED!!!! It is incomprehensible to me that these products can be freely available when it is KNOWN to cause death in cats!!!! And I am sore that when I call Animal Poison Control I have to have a credit card ready with 55.00 before they will talk to me?? What is that??? That is so contrary to what they are supposed to believe in
and represent! My children are just devastated. I cannot say enough how sad we all are. This is barbaric that they would even let it still be sold even with the stupid "new labels" or whatever that they have put on..that WERE NOT ON MINE!
PLEASE BEWARE AND DO NOT USE ANY SPOT ON TREATMENTS FOR YOUR PETS!!!
Larry and Nicole 7/23/06
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I work as a volunteer with a dog Rescue Group in Baja California. A couple of months ago we were
'gifted' with the donation of 8,000 ampoules of Defend Flea & Tick Medication. At the time we thought
this was a fabulous, generous gesture (our Sanctuary currently has a canine resident population of nearly 250). Now, we're wondering why it was given to us.
Some, but not all, of us humans are experiencing a red, itchy rash on our chest, back, abdomen, and inner arm. The only common denominator is that we've all come in contact with the dogs who've recently been
treated with the Defend.
Additionally, the Defend doesn't seem to be working all that well... It will not kill an existing flea or tick infestation, but does REPEL them if the dog is flea and tick free when the product is applied.
It is being applied per the package instructions, and is not expired.
I'm curious to know if anyone else has had a similar experience with the product "Defend"? I can't find
much at all about the product on the internet.
Lynn Connot 2/24/06
Baja Animal Sanctuary
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Back in May 2006, I used Bio-Spot on my cat and almost killed him. It wasn't until about 4 hours later I realized he was acting werid. I ended up calling the emergency vet and told them what my husband and I had put on our cat. They told us to wash him immediately with Dawn liquid dish soap, which we did. After washing the cat, he went into seizures immediately and we rushed him to the emergency vet, where he stayed the night. We figured we would be able to pick him up the next day and everything would be OK. How wrong we were. When I picked him up the next morning, I was told he would have to go to my regular vet for the day and that they were unable to stop him from having seizures. This went on for four days, taking him to my regular vet during the day and the emergency vet at night. After $1,500 and almost 96 hours my cat made it through. He still sometimes has these twiches, but overall he is back to normal and luckily no brain damage at least that we can tell. I just think everyone should be aware and very cautious about what is put on their pets. We had always used the flea and tick treatment from the vet, except for
this one time.
Nicole 7/26/06
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I'd like to report a mild reaction with our dog and the product Powerspot by Zodiac. (zodiacpet.com).
The active ingredient is Permethrin 45% and (S)-Methoprene 2.9%. The first time we used this product there was no reaction whatsoever (we used only 1/2 the recommended dose). The 2nd time we used this product there was a fairly strong reaction.. After about an hour of applying this product our dog was very uncomfortable with the oil on his skin and appeared to be in agony. We contacted the 800 number on
the package and were put through to a vet and basically their explanation was to wash it off immediately with dish soap and then apply some Vitamin E oil.
The explanation to the reaction was that because we had given the dog a bath the protective oil on his skin was washed off and that was the reason for the reaction.. Now this is the 3rd time we used this product and we have a similar reaction and this time the dog has not had a bath for a few months. (Either the vet on the phone was "green" or then paid by the company to deflect blame from their products.) This time we contacted out vet and they right away told us to wash the dog and never use this product again.
We will never be using this product again and will not recommend it to anyone ever.
Marko & Jennifer + keisari (woof) 7/26/06
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I have five wonderful cats. They are an important part of the "family" for my wife & I. I have used Frontline Plus in the past with no problems; as far as I can tell. After reading the testimonials on your site I have held off using the product this flea season. This was probably not a good decision. They are now crawling with fleas. I comb each of them every day and we meticulously vacuum the rugs and wash their bedding. We have tried "natural" products to no avail. (I actually think the fleas may LIKE some of the "natural"
products.) I am afraid that I may have no choice but to go back to using Frontline that I have purchased from my vet. Now, here's the point of my letter. I am certain that some products (such as "Bio-Spot") are deadly. The types of chemicals used in them are VERY dangerous and there are just TOO many
testimonials from distressed pet lovers regarding problems with "Bio-Spot". However, after reading almost all the testimonials on your site over the past months, I can make a few observations.
One: There are a LOT of stories involving HUMAN ERROR. Applications of dog products on cats, using the shampoos immediately after the treatments, etc. I am amazed that some people actually KNOWINGLY applied the dog product to cats "because they thought" or "someone told them" it would be OK. I am also
alarmed that so many people picked products because of PRICE. Pet owners should realize that a product that is SUBSTANTIALLY cheaper in price is probably SUBSTANTIALLY cheaper in quality.
Two: There are a lot of testimonials from people who had problems after using these products on pets that had OTHER illnesses. Granted, in many cases the illness was not known about but in a LOT of cases they were. Also, I read several cases where cats that were 14 years old (or more) were given these
topical flea products. I'm sorry, but aged cats nearly ALL have kidney problems. (MOST cats begin experiencing some kidney problems after only eight years.) Nearly ALL of these topical flea products state clearly that they should NOT be used on young, aged, or infirmed animals. I think that we, as the
caregivers of our special canine and feline friends, have a serious responsibility to research and utilize pet products correctly.
Third: This may be the most important aspect of my letter, and if you print nothing else PLEASE print this. Counterfeit flea treatment products, for both cats and dogs, are epidemic. In tens of thousands of seized products, dog dosages have been found in cat products, the chemicals weren't even flea treatments, or the products were useless. PLEASE direct your readers to this site sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
This site is VERY informative and will provide help in identifying counterfeit products. I honestly wonder how much heartache and damage this problem alone may have caused for many of the folks who have written to your site.
Thanks again for your site and your work in this area and I am sorry if, at times, I came across as a bit
harsh. I do NOT mean to "point fingers" or cast blame in the midst of tragedy. I am only trying to point out and remind folks that WE are the ones responsible for knowing what we are doing when it comes to our "babies" and friends. Cost, ignorance, timesaving, panic, or any other HUMAN excuse should IN NO WAY dictate what type of care we give our pets.
Sincerely,
Jim 7/27/06
Gorham, Maine
I fully agree with all of your observations.
I think many people are simply not aware that flea and tick products could be potentially dangerous to their animals. They may not take the time to fully read the instructions. However, the warnings concerning possible adverse effects are often buried in the fine print on the packaging, or they may not even mention the possibility of severe adverse reactions, such as seizures.
I wish these products did state, "DO NOT USE ON DEBILITATED, AGED, MEDICATED, PREGNANT, OR NURSING ANIMALS." Instead, it states, "Consult a veterinarian before using this product on debilitated..." I do not know how many vets tell their clients not to use these products on animals which fall into those catagories, but I have received email from several people whose vets had "prescribed" these products (including Advantage, Frontline, and Revolution) for their aged and debilitated animals.
Regarding your last point, counterfeit drugs and flea products are a serious problem because there is just so much money to be made by doing it. It is often difficult for the experts to tell which is the real product and which is counterfeit. Until the industry comes up with a fool-proof way of identifying the real product, I don't know if it's possible for anyone to be certain they purchased the real product.
James TerBush
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I am so happy I stumbled on your website. I reluctantly applied BioSpot to my 7-month-old 4 lb. Chihuahua early yesterday due to the amount of fleas in hot and humid Memphis. She immediately rolled onto her back and thrashed around trying to rub it off. She also was trying to lick it, so I put a dress on her so she could not touch the BioSpot. All yesterday and evening she acted tired and depressed. Late last night she began itching at the spots, it was really the only real movement I saw out of her, otherwise she just curled up in a ball on my lap. I had to hand-feed her her kibble, and she only ate about 6 pieces.
This morning, while my little girl would not stop itching the back of her neck and above the base of her tail, I stumbled on your website. After reading about similar experiences, I washed her very well with dishsoap,
followed by her puppy shampoo. Almost immediately after taking her out of the tub she assumed the play pose, with her tail wagging, and jumped around. After I had her dried, she ran into the living room and started playing with her favorite toy, throwing it around in the air, tail wagging excitedly. She was also happy to drink some low-sodium chicken broth. She seems like she is going to be okay. I am just going to watch her close, and see how she does.
I will safely dispose of the remaining BioSpot applications, and consider myself lucky to realize early how much this had affected her. Thank you for your website.
Nikki 7/28/06
Memphis, TN
4 lb. Chihuahua cont.-
I forgot to add, additional symptoms the first night, she was shivering heavily despite our thermostat being
set at 80 degrees, and when she would walk, her left rear leg would snap up, almost like she was hopping
or could not control it and she would turn back, acting as if she was being followed.
Thanks again for your website.
Nikki 7/28/06
Memphis, TN
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Hello, I came across your website while trying to research the safety of Frontline, Advantix etc... My
dog Angel has lymphoma and went through 5 months of chemo. He was doing well and at the moment
he has some enlarged lymph nodes but tests conclude that the cancer has not returned. I have discussed
tick control with the vet oncologist. He recommended Frontline as he said that is not systemic and any
reaction would not be as bad as the reactions of tick born diseases on my friends immune system. I
however still felt hesitant and I wasn't sure why. I was going to pick up some Frontline today but since
reading your website I have decided not to. I feel my gut reaction to not wanting to do it was correct.
Even though most of the complaints were against Bio Spot and Advantix there were a few for Frontline.
Besides pesticide is poison no matter how you look at it. Thank you for you website, you may have
actually saved my friend from a lot of trouble. I think I'll just try putting lavender oil on his collar and
spritzing him with lavender water, checking for ticks and giving him a bath. Thanks again.
Stephanie and Angel 7/28/06
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During the last 5 years, we have had five or six cats. As they are all indoor/outdoor cats, and we began using Frontline drops on our vet's recommendation. It was after the second application that we discovered that one of our cats had a frightening reaction to the stuff.
Shortly after both applications, his "back half" became temporarily paralyzed for about two days. We
initially found him outside, unable to come into the house, and thought that he had injured his back in a fall
or that something had fallen on his back. When the vet looked at him and found no bruising, we switched
to the theory that he had gotten into a neighbor's garage and licked up some anti-freeze (this was very
improbable, but was about the only working theory we had that made any sense with the symptoms).
When he got better after two days, we were stunned, but thrilled. His malady returned later in the year,
and I finally drew the connection between the Frontline application and the temporary parallisis. We have
used a flea collar on him since then, and there have been no further episodes. (The other cats remain on
Frontline, without any noticable issues.)
Erik 7/29/06
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We share our home with three boys, two Rotties, one ferret and five cats. Today, I spent a great deal of
time on the internet attempting to find what I would consider to be a both a safe and cost effective alternative to Frontline Plus -- which of course is very expensive when multiplied by eight (!!) furbabies. After following one related link after another, I came across your website. Fortunately, our family has never experienced any of the horrifying events I read about -- but I thought I would share with you, what I found today while perusing eBay for low-cost/bulk/wholesale alternatives:
I found a seller in Florida that sells what is apparently professional-grade pesticides, to the general public. They run a disclaimer that says something about it being the purchaser's responsibility to know how to read english and follow instructions, as well as possess the appropriate applicator's licenses to be purchasing the products offered. OK I thought, this takes caveat emptor to a WHOLE new level, and began to look for something to treat the lawn with. I found several things-- the most interesting of which is this:
This product clearly states : "Hi-Yield 38 Plus is the highest percentage (38%) permethrin allowed by the EPA. This product is for outdoor use only."
Furthermore, the user is instructed how to DILUTE the product to achieve an application-strength solution
of 0.5%.
With all of this in mind, my question is... HOW can companies market something that is 45% permethrin (along with who-knows-what as inert ingredients) for direct, concentrated, prolonged application to a four-pound animal ???????
I would like to thank you for everything you've done to bring this to our attention. Despite the absolutely heartbraking stories, it is SO NECESSARY for people to understand this.
Needless to say, I will not be using any pesticides on our pets, our lawn, OR our kids. I'm currently searching for natural alternatives. I'd like to suggest adding an area to your site for folks to post no-pesticide solutions for eradicating fleas/ticks/pests. I'll write back with anything promising I find!
Thanks again for all your hard work and dedication.
Sincerely,
Kari, David, William, Travis, Trey, Echo, Axel, Rikki, PomPom, Peaches, Sox, Itsy
and Bitsy SEILER!! 7/30/06
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I used Frontline Plus on my 1 year old Pom and he seizured every time after application (approx 3 days after) - since stopping - no seizures.
Debbie 7/30/06
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I wanted to share my personal experience with people who may be considering using Advantage Flea product by Bayer. Our family has a 4 year old lab which has never had a seizure. We decided to use
Advantage flea control (the first flea control we have ever used because our dog is mainly inside and is bathed regularly). After using the Advantage product, approx. 10 hours later our dog had two (Grand Mal)
seizures. My Wife and family screaming in shock to see our beloved pet on the floor shaking violently and loosing her bowls. I held her and thought that she was going to die but she came out of the seizures and
we immediately took her to a vet for blood work. The vet could not not find any conclusive evidence. After researching on the internet I believe this is a big problem and Bayer needs to put a warning label on this product. Please beware of this product.
Barry 7/31/06
James,
I called Bayer and registered a complaint. They stated that the product is topical and does not enter the bloodstream. I told them of my vet charges which they refused to pay.
Just wanted to give you a idea of what happened.
Barry 8/10/06
It's not the first time that Bayer has refused to take responsibilty for adverse reactions caused by their products. You would think that Bayer would want to investigate the incident to determine if their product could have been responsible for the seizures. Instead, their policy appears to be, "Tell a lie often enough, loud enough, and long enough and people will believe you."
Please report the incident to the EPA because I seriously doubt that Bayer will report it.
James TerBush
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I have 2 dogs. One is a 12yo lab, the other a 4yo rescue lab mix. This summer, I have been using Bio Spot because it is much cheaper than Frontline and their website touts it as safe and effective. Well, after using it for 2 months I discover my dogs have fleas. I am floored, how could that happen? So, I bathe both dogs and switch to Frontline. A vet tech tells me about how dangerous Bio Spot is and I come across your website. Then it hits me like a mack truck. My 4yo lab mix had a seizure 2 weeks ago! The vet found no cause for it and it as the first one he ever had. Now I am wondering if Bio Spot could be to blame.
I e-mailed the company and this was their response:
Bio Spot is a non-systemic product which basically means that the
product does not go into the blood stream. Bio Spot stays on the skin
and can be washed off with regular soap and water. Once the product
is washed off another product can be used.
Farnam takes pride in all of their products and stands behind them
100%. I can offer you a refund on the amount of the product, however we
do need some proof of purchase (a copy of the receipt, the original
label/package or the UPC code from the package - PLEASE DO NOT
SEND THE TUBES) and a note stating why you were dissatisfied. Once
all of this information is gathered we can send you a refund for the purchase
price of the product.
Colleen 7/31/06
By claiming that Bio Spot is non-systemic, Farnam is implying that it could not possibly have been
the cause of your dog's seizure. Contrary to Farnam's claim, Bio Spot can cause seizures in dogs.
Here is a link for Drs. Foster & Smith's website concerning possible adverse reactions to Bio Spot
for Dogs (and similar products that contain a high percentage of permethrin):
James TerBush
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I have been shocked and appalled while reading all of the postings on your web site regarding flea products for dogs and cats. I had no idea they were so toxic! Just last week I had to have my wonderful
16-year-old cat Chauncey euthanized, and I feel in my heart his illness was the result of a topical flea product. I had always used Frontline, which my vet recommended, but I noticed that the over-the-counter products were cheaper, so I purchased a couple of them. I put Hartz on him at the end of May, which he seemed to do OK with. Then on July 1, I tried the Sergeant's Silver. The next day, he vomited a large amount. Then I noticed he wasn't eating, and he was always a good eater. Within a few days, he started staggering and losing his balance and could not jump up on the couch. I took him to the vet, and he washed the flea product off and gave him a shot. He was better for a day, then back staggering again,
so we gave him a complete bath. He still would not eat properly, so I returned him to the vet for more
tests and an overnight stay. The vet said his blood was excellent for a cat his age and his kidneys were working, but he had fluid in the chest and abdomen. He thought he might have an infection, so he gave
him another shot. I brought him home, but he still would not eat properly. Then he started with terrible congestion in his lungs, and I returned him to the vet for more treatment and a two-night stay. The vet
put him on two pills, and I brought him home again, but he just didn't seem like the same cat. He would
not do some of the things he had always done. At this point, he would not eat any food, only drink milk
and water. Within a few days, he started staggering worse than ever. He seemed to be trying to eat, but the food would fall out of his mouth. He went off into the woods twice, and we found him and brought him back. Then, he wouldn't even drink anything. All this happened over a three-week period, and when we took him to the vet the final time and discussed everything, we decided it was time to let him go. I realize that at 16 Chauncey was an older cat, and he did have hyperthyroidism, which I had been giving him Methimazole for 3 years, but he was doing so well, I thought he might live to be 18 or 19. It just seemed like the topical flea product triggered something neurological, which he could not recover from because
of his age. I think there are many people like me out there who did not realize the danger of these flea products. I thought I was doing something to take care of Chauncey and help him. I kept wishing I had continued to use the Frontline which the vet recommended, but I saw where Frontline and Advantage
have also had adverse reactions. And Bio Spot, I was totally shocked and sickened at what I was
reading! What are we doing to our little friends?
Norene 8/1/06
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I am so upset. I was recommended by my groomer to use a new flea preventative called Zodiac. I used it on my ten pound shit-zu. She reacted by running around and whining and biting at her rear end, She also would throw her head back and breath very heavily. She would not sleep and would literally fall asleep sitting up. I took her to my vet and he gave her a shot. I had given her a bath day before I took her to my vet. She is still not sleeping and she breathes with her head back and her mouth open. It just breaks my heart that I did that to her. I hope I haven't killed my dog. I have also ordered a natural flea preventative and I will let you know how that works. Thank you for letting me vent.
Barbara 8/4/06
I sent an e-mail to the EPA and I am sending a letter also. I will contact Zodiac tomorrow and let you know what they said. She is a pedigree Shih-Tzu and so small. She is still having difficulty not being able to nap. Her sides are not heaving as much but she still sits and breathes with her mouth fully open and her head back and her tongue is red. She is eating and drinking alot. Thank you for your help.
Barbara 8/7/06
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I purchased flea and tick frontline for the very first time for my cats and an hour later my cats had respitory problems had to stay at hospital over nite almost died. I need to know how I can let people know that this could happen to their beloved animal.
Jenn 8/6/06
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I just found your web site. I have (or had) 3 wonderful cats. They've never reacted all that well to flea medication; usually they get nauseous for the day but that was all. My youngest, a 13-year-old orange fluff ball, had kidney problems, so the vet told me to use Advantage (as it supposedly doesn't go further than the skin) and not Revolution. This kitty had at least 2 more good years left; unfortunately I applied Advantage to her Friday morning the 14th of July. Twenty-four hours later, I awoke to the poor thing vomiting like crazy. I rushed her to the vet but her body temperature was falling like a rock and her blood was thickening like crazy. She died in my arms 12 hours later. It is obvious she was poisoned. What mystifies me is that I applied Advantage to her in May but there were no ill effects. This time, however, something went horribly wrong. She was doing fine otherwise, and I know she didn't eat anything bad on the 14th so the only factor that had changed was the Advantage. I am still mourning her death and the fact that I may have inadvertently caused it. I am also angry and frustrated that this flea medication was suggested by my vet, who should have known better.
Julia 8/6/06
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I applied the correct dosage of Frontline Top Spot to my 9 lb Italian Greyhound on a Sunday while he was lounging in the sun on my deck. By Tuesday, he was throwing up, very lethargic, not eating or drinking.
To make a long story short. After 2 emergency visits to the Vet hospital. Daily visits to my vet for IV fluids. Vets were baffled. Blood tests came out Ok. My puppy then started shaking bad daily constantly and then walking like he was drunk. After taking him to a neurologist they said Shaker Dog syndrome which can be caused by a chemical poisoning. Funny, he is fine now. It took 5 very long weeks to get him better. About how long the Frontline product lasts in your system. That product poisoned my dog. Be very careful if you have a purebred fragile dog. I am still fighting with Muriel to get my Vet bills paid. They said they would refund the Product cost. Big deal. Thank God it didn't kill my dog. I am filing a complaint with the attorney generals office. I never cried so much or was so stressed in my life. I felt so bad for my puppy. I will only use all natural products on my pet from now on.
Michelle 8/8/06
Hi James. Just an update. I just found out last night a distant cousin who has a new small dog also just applied the 2nd dose of Frontline and her dog is falling over etc also. I am trying to contact her. So far I have a case with the attorney generals office and a case with the EPA in Philly. I did contact our local channel 3 consumer guy about doing a story and trying to help me get my money back (although by now its an accountabliliy thing not the money) He did email be back about my home phone numbers. So I am excited. Possibly we will get the word out. It's funny that Merial is very secretive about who the President of the Company is. I am still trying to get someone important there. I can't get past the secretary and putting me on with Sr Vet technicians. I don't want them. I wish I knew how to start my own web page. I will learn. That will be next. By the way I'm sure you get alot of emails. I have the small Italian Greyhound and used the Frontline Top Spot. The lady from the Epa suggested I might have gotten a kind of bootlegged batch. Well just wanted to keep you informed. If you can get me an important name at Merial I would appreciate it.
Michelle from Phila 8/29/06
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for the update! Here is the addess for Merial Ltd.:
Merial Ltd.
2100 Ronson Road
Iselin, NJ 08830-3077
Tel: 1-888-637-4251, Option 5 (Health Information)
Here is a link to Merial's website, which shows their top executives:
If you send Merial a letter, I would send it Certified Mail with a signature request on delivery.
I hope that Channel 3 will do a story about you. They may be able to shame Merial into reimbursing your vet expenses. Regarding counterfeit products, if you purchased the Frontline from your vet, it is unlikely that you have a counterfeit product. To help identify the real product, here is a link to the EPA's website:
I hope that your dog has fully recovered and is well. Please ask your cousin to email me the details of her dog's reaction and I will post it on my website.
Thanks again,
James TerBush
If there are any other Phila Complaints from Adverse Reactions to Flea Meds they can contact Magda Rodriguez Hunt at her [EPA] office. The number is 215-814-2128 . She is the one working on my case.
Thanks,
Michelle 9/2/06
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we had recently switched from using front line plus to bio spot which was recommended by pet land.
now i wish we had never done that. we had used it several times before, but one evening when used,
our norweidgen elk hound went into convulsions. we quickly put our other dog away and ran her to an emergency vet clinic. they were able to save her, but when we returned home our other dog was dead.
we were devistated. the clinic wrote out a report for us implicating bio spot as the cause.
Anonymous 8/8/06
I have a pomeranian (under a year) and started her on K9 Advantix five months ago. Each time we applied it she was not happy and ran around the house trying to wipe it off. And afterwards was very tired. She seemed to be moping around. We thought she was mad that we put it on her.
Well last night was the fifth application. We had a much worse reaction. After applying she was breathing very heavy. And just laid around like she was sick. I couldn't get her to come or play. Her behavior was very strange all evening. Even when she woke up in the morning - she wasn't herself. And in the am she was still trying to wipe it off.
Next month I am going to try frontline plus as we do have a tick problem where I live - south florida.
I could never use K9 Advantix again. After the whole episode, I did a search and found your site with all the side effects. To think I might have hurt my little baby!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lisa 8/10/06
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I made a fatal mistake with Biospot last night! We have 7 cats and 2 dogs that have fleas. I asked for recommendations from friends and family members as to what treatments they use and have found effective. Bathing the animals in Dawn and treating with Biospot was the most offered advice. Now I have 2 cats seizing, another cat that I can't find anywhere and likely in trouble. This is entirely my fault as I used Biospot for dogs on these 3 cats, when I ran out of the Biospot for cats. The 2 cats were found this
morning at 5am seizing and likely have been doing so all night as they were treated around 6pm. It is very likely that they will be put down. I went to the web site listed on the package only to find that it offers
more of their products and no assistance for this situation. I then sat horrified reading the letters from pet owners on your site. Had this problem not have occurred I may have continued to use these products.
Thank you for providing valuable information, unfortunately I found you too late! I made the terrible assumption that a few drops of the small dog treatment should be okay on my cats. Fortunately, I followed
directions on all our other pets and they appear to be fine. However, many letters on your site are from people who followed the package directions and still had pets in danger. Time will only tell if other
treated animals with no immediate ill effects will develop health problems later on.
Jamie 8/11/06
I will contact Farnam as they do need more information packaged with their product. I take full responsibility for poisoning my cats as the package stated not to put dog formula on cats. Rereading the packages
I do not find anywhere that it CLEARLY states that one tube is to be used as one treatment. A strong warning stating that using even a drop or 2 of the dog formula on cats can be deadly would have prevented our situation. We are feeling incredibly fortunate as 2 of our cats have recovered. Our female had been laying in one place seizing for about 15 hours and as I was preparing to dig a grave when I noticed that
she had walked (stumbled) a few feet. I washed the application area thoroughly, rubbed and petted her vigorously and used a childs medication dropper to give her water over the next few hours. We had to
leave for an event out of town and were gone for the next 9 hours. Arriving home she was walking and
only slightly shaky. Today she is her oldself again. We found the lost tom cat. He was not seizing as badly and recovered 3 hours after being washed and rehydrated. We have not found the other male and fear
the worst as he was in terrible shape before disappearing.
Jamie 8/12/06
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Thank you for the great site. It was time to replace the Frontline and I came across the less expensive alternative, Bio Spot. After reading your message board not only will I NOT be purchasing the
Bio Spot but I am going to also forego the Frontline and purchase some holistic flea, tick, mosquito repellent sprays. I always knew that Frontline was a pesticide, but doing some research was an 'in your face' wake up call about how my laziness can hurt my dogs health. Sure, a once a month treatment is so much easier than having to use a spray a few times a week and every time my dog goes in the water -
after all, the Frontline has always worked so well, I've never ever had a flea or tick problem. But what have
I done to my dog's health over this time? In addition, I was speaking with a friend about this and he said, "Well, the heartworm medication you give her is a pesticide too." Sure enough, it is. I've always only given Interceptor heartworm prevention in the summer months - I'm now considering stopping that all together
too. Any comments?
Debra 8/11/06
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I applied Bio Spot to my German Shepherd Lily, and now 3 weeks later she still has bloody sores on her skin where the Bio Spot was applied. You can't even pet her without her whimpering in pain. It goes up her back, because the instructions say to start at the neck and go down the back of the dog. I have washed her and it doesn't help. I feel so bad, I will never put poison on my dogs again to keep ticks away. I just wish I knew how long to expect this stuff to last in her system. THANK YOU for this website, I wish I had read it sooner. If it can help other pet owners from buying this awful stuff it is worth it!
Anthony 8/12/06
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I purchased this item [Advantage Flea and Tick for Dogs] and used on my Shih Tzu, 5 ½ years old. The next day, Ozzy, my Shih Tzu, was vomiting continuously, listless, and wouldn't eat at all! I didn't find this site until now, but on the next day, I knew I just had to wash him and get all that poison off of his skin! The next
couple of days he was moving around a lot more but still no appetite!! Ozzy was perfectly fine before I applied the Advantage on him!!! His appetite was normal, always hungry, and active! Needless to say, I disposed of the rest of the Advantage immediately!!! This type of product should not be allowed to be sold!!! It is seriously making our pets ill and in some cases killing them!!
Glen 8/13/06
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I applaud your valiant act of standing up to Farnam for the loss of so many pets from the application of flea treatments. However, I am in dire need of any information about large animals having an adverse reaction to a Farnam produced fly spray. Tonight a friend sprayed a formerly very healthy two year old black Arabian colt with a Farnam product. Within 15 minutes the colt was on his knees. Then on his side seizing. He would rest for a few minutes, get up and stagger around. Then stiffen, sway and fall over again. The vet was called immediately but was stumped by the symptoms. He ultimately concluded that the colt had severed his optic nerves while having a seizure so the colt was put down. The vet would not commit to blaming the fly spray as a cause. It just seems too coincidental to me that the colts symptoms mimic many of those I read on your site that were experienced by dogs. Horse owners....Please, please, if you have had a horse that had an adverse reaction to a fly product please post it. We need to know how widespread this problem has become and make others aware.
Rae 8/14/06
And by the way, my daughter in law lost both of her children's cats when an employee of a well known nationwide pet store chain told her she could use Bio Spot for dogs on the cats. It was horrible seeing their seizures and frothing at the mouth. I think there are tens of thousands of cases out there that have gone unreported. Thanks again.
Rae 8/15/06
I just received email this morning concerning a similar incident which happened last weekend in Massachusettes. Here is the article about it:
You're absolutely right - most of these incidents go unreported because people either do not suspect that an adverse reaction occurred or they do not know who to report it to. These incidents are difficult even for vets to diagnose because the symptoms can be caused by many things and the pesticide is not detected by standard blood tests.
James TerBush
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Thankfully, my little chihuahua did not have the extreme adverse reactions about which others have taken the time to post. However, he was never quite himself after a BioSpot application. I have not used this product since first stumbling across your website several years ago.
First, I would like to thank you for hosting and maintaining this website, as it helped me make an informed decision a few years ago to stop the use of all pesticides. In addition, it increased my level of awareness that the pet care industry is a business model driven by profits, not necessarily what is best for your pet. It reassured me that I should trust my own instincts when it came to the care of my pet. I should have known just by my dog's reaction to the product that it was doing more harm than good, but I trusted the label, the corporate website, and authority figures.
After your website opened my eyes, I began to question other areas of my pet's care and well being. Formerly, I just accepted what the vet told me as gospel, as he ordered up excessive tests and whatever else to rack up the bills for my healthy dog. I did more research and found what I feel to be a much better vet, who cares about my dog more than the amount of my bill at check out. (I still get ill thinking that I was applying this poison to my mainly inside dog in the dead of winter per my vet's orders!) In addition,
I became educated in dog food, treats, and other products ingested by dogs. While I was not feeding my dog a horrible brand of food, I was able to find him a much more nutritious organic brand. I learned all
about by-products and the lack of regulations on any edible made in China. My point is that you cannot simply accept what a label or major corporation says as being 100% truthful, and that by doing some research and following your instincts, you can often improve the well being of your pet's life.
I have stopped in on your site from time to time, and it wrenches at my heart to read the accounts of what others have been through. Each time I read these accounts, I get sick thinking about the danger I exposed my dog to by using BioSpot and wonder about the possible long term health risks. There are many accounts of severe adverse reactions directly leading to a rapid decline of health, and in the worst cases death. Are there any reports of what the long term health risks may have been caused by using BioSpot in those who had no immediate severe adverse reaction? I am grateful that my dog did not have a severe reaction to the product, but I have to wonder if there could be long term health risks of being exposed to
the product on and off for almost a year.
Lastly, I would like to tell you about two products that I have found helpful in keeping my dog flea free in a safe way. Ark Naturals sells a Neem Protect Spray, a completely organic spray, which contains Neem,
citronella oil, botanical essential oils and gentle emulsifiers. The product contains no DEET, pyrethrins, pyrethroids or other chemical pesticides. You simply need to spray your pet every 7 to 10 days with the
product. It is sold in Whole Foods supermarket for under $10. Also, Castor and Pollux sells a Garlic and Brewer's Yeast tablet that my little guy loves. Some people swear by garlic and brewer's yeast, while others say that it is simply and old wives tale. I have found it to be successful thus far; however, bear in mind that my dog isn't very outdoorsy.
Thank you again for your website, and thanks to the people who have taken the time to post their stories. I hope that you can succeed in removing these products from store shelves, but if that never happens, rest assured that your website has saved countless loved ones from needless medical problems, and even death.
Kip 8/14/06
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Bio Spot killed my baby. He was almost 10 years old and I put Bio Spot on him and he died. He was the best doggie in the world.
Cathy 8/16/06
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Our Lab, Daisy, just went to the vet this morning after an application of Hartz last night. We are praying for her and waiting for the vet to call!!!
Lizabeth 8/16/06
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I read the article "Cat dies after flea treatment" (8/16/06) with great interest. I lost a dog some years ago after using a similiar product, in my case, Frontline.
After Speedy died, I did some research and discovered that there are no standards for veterinary products the way there are for products used by humans. As such, the liability for companies who produce these products are limited to, as an example, the monetary value of a healthy, happy, 10-year-old neutered dog.
In fact, I found out that the person who had done the work to determine the safety of the product was no longer with the company and had taken his work with him. They didn't even have the data to share. I also discovered that the number of animals who die from these treatments is not small.
We applied it to our dog in the evening before bed and he was dead three hours later. Insects have been around for a very long time and will continue to be around long after we're gone. It's just a fact of life that the neurotoxins required to kill fleas and ticks are very potent and are the same neurotoxins that can have serious impacts on higher life forms.
In the woods where I live, dealing with fleas and ticks is not an option: it's mandatory. Despite what happened to our family member, we still have to take measures, but there are things that you can do to minimize the risk of using these products, especially if it's the first time:
* Do not apply if the animal has any breaks in the skin. Welts from previous insect bites are just an opportunity for the neurotoxin to penetrate. The point is to coat the skin and not to enter the body.
* Do not apply them on a Friday night when it's going to be problematic to find a vet. Do it on a Monday morning.
* Keep a close eye on the animal for a few days to make sure that it's not affected.
* Keep a bottle of Dawn dishwashing detergent in the house. If the animal exhibits neurological symptoms of distress (e.g., staggering around in circles, falling down, excessive panting, etc...), your vet will have something to help remove the treatment, but before that Dawn is your best bet. Bath the animal, and do your best to get it off. (Don't get it in their eyes.)
* Get the animal to a vet as soon as possible. If symptoms develop, it generally will get bad very quickly.
The goal of the manufacturers is to sell more product, not less. As a result, they're not going to go out of their way to educate the public, but there's no reason for people to not be educated from other vectors.
Steven W. Orr is a Framingham resident.
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Dear Rame and Kate:
I see that you are the two individuals at the EPA who deal with pesticide labelling for flea and tick control (Rame) and for reports of adverse reactions to same (Kate).
After doing a very small bit of online research as the result of numerous stories in our local news about cats and dogs that have suffered seizures or death because of flea and tick control, I have to say I am amazed that the legitimate sites I went to (Purdue University, Vetrinary associations, public health sites) gave lots of information about applying various products to floors, baseboards, rugs, couches, furniture, etc. with warnings about pre-testing to make sure the product doesn't stain the floors, baseboards, couch coverings - but not a single warning about NOT using these over the counter home products if the user is pregnant, nursing, or if a baby or toddler is crawling around the house, on the couch, or in the yard. While to many it might be obvious, to others, the statement that it can be sprayed or dusted everywhere, with the only concern being staining, but "read the label", just seems terribly inadequate. I don't understand why
EVERYONE who puts out information on flea and tick control products (not just the sellers of flea and tick control products), isn't required to warn "not for use where infants and toddlers may be exposed". For gosh sakes, if the universities and extensions services and public health services are warning about staining of floors, rugs and upholstery, SHOULDN'T THEY BE WARNING ABOUT THE DANGER OF EXPOSURE TO SUSCEPTIBLE LIVING POPULATIONS LIKE CHILDREN???
I saw your new labelling requirements for these pesticides where manufacturers get to choose:
3. Clarify Reapplication Limitation.
The reapplication statement needs to be product
specific; and the statement should be one of the
following:
(a) "Do not Reapply Product For _____ _____.
(Insert number of day(s), week(s) or
month(s).)"
(b) "Reapply every _____ _____." (Insert number
of day(s), week(s), or month(s).)
(c) "Do Not Repeat Treatment For _____ _____."
(Insert number of day(s), week(s), or
month(s).)
(d) "Repeat every _____ _____." (Insert number
of day(s), week(s) or month(s).)
Seems like with all the problems, and with knowing human nature where people might think "if every six weeks is good, every four weeks might be better", you would insist on the language "do not repeat for xxx weeks" - or are pesticide users not charged with knowledge of human nature (which they use to their advantage as an excuse why the pesticide manufacturer is not responsible because the end user didn't follow instructions).
People rely on the EPA to require adequate warnings to protect them from harm, but it seems that the warnings required for these products and the experts who give advice on them (universities, public health agencies, vetrinary associations) are inadequate and do not take into consideration the reality of the average consumer, their reliance on the safety of the pesticides when they are told to spray them everywhere in their houses, and the small children and pets who will unwittingly be adversely affected as a
result. I urge you, and I have urged others to write and urge you, to require "do not repeat" warnings, to require warnings about use where infants and toddlers are more heavily exposed because they crawl on floors and couches and put their hands in their mouths, and to require ANY so-called expert or advisory agency or university or extension service, to include similar warnings. I don't think it is ok to worry more about staining a couch than injuring (perhaps permanently, since the pesticides attack nervous systems
and memory) impairing our infants and children. I hope others will also write or email you and let you know they also would like our EPA to insist on appropriate warnings.
Irene 8/19/06
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I have used Frontline Plus on my 2 boxers for about 4 years without any complaints until now. After reading some of the stories on your website I am now concerned. Here is my story.
After applying Frontline to my 6 year old boxer I noticed she was not eating well and seemed to feel bad. I blamed it on the unseasonable humid weather. When this continued and I noticed her trying to throw up I took her to the vet. All the labs were normal and the vet could find nothing wrong with her. I took her home and she continued to not eat and just lay around. She started to act confused- continous walking around in a large circle, going and standing in front of my son's door with her head pressed up against the door, I
would open the door and show her that my son was not here and that would satisfy her for a little while and she would repeat this behavior. We continued the vet visits without any diagnosis. She would not eat, I would use a syringe to feed her and give her water, she didn't want me to do that, she didn't want to eat or drink. (She always loved food, in fact she was overweight) We spent her final 5 days at the vets office, emergency clinic, and she was hospitilized at the emergency clinic at night so that IV fluids could be
maintained 24 hours a day. She then started to experience seizures. She was very weak from all this but her heartrate would drop and she would fall to the floor. We had every vet at the facility and other vets in the surrounding area looking at her. We even called in a cardioligist, he could not explain why this happened. She was so disoriented, I think at times she didn't even realize who I was. EVERY TEST WAS NORMAL. My son came home from college to see her and she awoke and seemed to recognize him, she loved on him for about 10 minutes and collapased in his arms, her heartrate dropped and atropine didn't work this time. We loved on her for the longest time and finally we decided she had suffered enough. So why did my beloved boxer have to suffer and die? My vet seems to think she possible had a brain tumor. Could it have been the Frontline? Does this sound like any other stories you have encountered?
Thanks for listening
Reba 8/19/06
Thank you for responding to my email. When I wrote that I was crying so hard over losing my female boxer that I forgot to tell you that my male has ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia). Symptoms a little different but I feel this is all caused by the Frontline. I had reapplied about 3 weeks ago and noticed some of the same symptoms but not as severe as with my female boxer. He is currently on medication and will eval the tx again on Monday.
I will discuss the possiblity of Frontline with my vet. I feel in my heart that Frontline has been the cause of death of my female boxer, and the current illness of my male boxer.
thank you again
Reba 8/19/06
and I will become an advocate against these types of medications for our beloved pets.
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This report is not just for pet owners, but also for PARENTS. Please read and pass along.
The following comes from a well-respected veterinarian, Elizabeth A Coney, DVM from Kentucky. She writes:
"Now - for every one of you that has a home paper shredder with an "auto on" feature, I want you to go turn it off and unplug the paper shredder right now, because night before last I was presented with a paper shredder containing most of a tongue, ripped out from the base, but still partially attached to, a very pretty,
sweet 1 1/2 year-old Labrador. Her owners told me, 'She always watched the paper go into the shredder, she thought it fascinating'. The "auto on" feature means the shredder sits there waiting for something to get placed into it--like an inquisitive tongue. I told them, 'Dogs can do fine without a tongue, they have to learn to drink and eat differently', but the owners didn't want to go there, and they had her euthanized. The look in her eyes said, 'I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't supposed to do that, it's all my fault'. We all cried."
I cried when I read this as well. In subsequent posts, Dr. Coney says she has learned that dogs who have lost more than half their tongues actually don't do as well as she had been taught. According to the veterinary literature it is also possible for animals to be injured other places than tongues - a Basset lost an ear, a long-haired cat most of the skin on its side, a kitten a foot, etc. Among household pets, dogs are particularly at risk from shredders, as they have a tendency to lick things, and many breeds have long, floppy ears that can get caught in shredder openers.
The Spokesman Review published this account:
Adam Forney doesn't even own a paper shredder. And he probably never will. The 22-year-old was sitting on his couch in his south Spokane home watching television when his 7-month-old puppy licked the top of his roommate's shredder and the dog's tongue was sucked into the shredding mechanism. "I ran into the room ... she was pulling so hard and the thing was dragging ... then she just ripped away," Forney
said. "I will never forget the sound it made when she pulled away." In the chaos of trying to help his injured dog, Forney's pinky finger was bitten off at the first joint, and another finger was fractured by the bite. "I grabbed her head to try and get her to calm down, and she bit me," Forney said. "She ran out of the room and I just lost it. It looked like a murder scene in my house ... there was so much blood." Forney went to the emergency room, and his mixed-breed dog, Alice Lane, went to a local pet emergency clinic, where she was euthanized.
Some veterinarians maintain that serious shredder accidents involving animals are rare, but the frequency of occurrence is difficult to estimate since there has not been any systematic effort to keep track of such injuries.
Regardless, the subject merits attention since the potential for accidents (involving both pets AND people) will likely continue to grow as more and more shredders make their way into households. It isn't difficult to find harrowing reports of children being seriously injured through sticking their fingers into shredders, such as the following account from Consumer Reports:
Lisa Broadfoot's son, Talan, was helping her shred documents, when suddenly his little fingers got sucked in. "He screamed and then was begging me to get his hands out of this machine, 'Please Mommy, Please Mommy, get my hand out.' [He was] just screaming and crying and begging," Broadfoot said. Lisa rushed Talan to the hospital with the shredder still attached. "They started cutting the blades because there
was no other way to get his fingers undone," she said. "It was like he could feel it. He just started screaming again and I'm holding him and trying to explain to him that it's going to be OK. It's going to be OK." Talan ended up losing three of his fingers.
In March 2006, TV's Inside Edition reported a similar case of injury to a child:
When you meet Hallie Mouritsen, you cant tell that there's anything wrong with this beautiful five year-old girl. But if you look closer at Hallie's left hand, her fingers are cut off at the knuckle. The doctor described them as being "crushed, mutilated and non-viable." How did it happen? Hallie was feeding paper into a
shredder in her home when her fingers got caught in its powerful blades. According to her father, Matt, "it grabbed her fingers and just began pulling." Mr. Mouritsen is an accounting professor in Salt Lake City, Utah who often works at home. He says he had just opened the shredder for the first time and after using it,
left the room briefly. Hallie, who was just two, went into the room with her older sister. "The next thing I know, while I'm making dinner, my five year-old is yelling, she's stuck, she's stuck!" he told Inside Edition's Investigative Reporter Matt Meagher. Hallie's wounds took months to heal. Her dad still chokes up
remembering Hallie's reaction the day the bandages came off. "She went like this with her hand" (hiding his left hand). "She couldn't even look at it. She asks us to this day, when are my fingers going to grow back?"
And Hallie's not the only one. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a safety alert after receiving 50 reports of injuries from paper shredders since 2000, most involving children younger than five. Although consumer safety groups are working to get manufacturers and lawmakers to adopt more stringent safety standards for shredders (such as making paper slots thinner and placing blades
farther away from openings), the adoption of new standards takes time, and plenty of the machines already have been purchased for home use.
The likelihood of injury can be mostly eliminated by following a few simple precautions:
* Try to place your shredder where it is not accessible to children or pets.
* Turn off, or better yet, UNPLUG your shredder when you are not using it.
* NEVER allow children to operate your shredder, even with adult supervision.
* Keep your hands and fingers as far from the shredder opening as possible when
feeding material into it.
* Be careful to secure or remove ties, necklaces, bracelets, loose-fitting
clothing, and long hair before using your shredder.
* Avoid putting thicker material (such as food wrappers, product packaging, and
padded envelopes) through your shredder.
Kari 8/20/06
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My almost four year old Cavalier had his first seizure at 18 months the day following his discovery of a
rat's nest. He bit into a baby rat. The vet assured me that this could in no way cause the seizure. Since
then he has had eight more. Coincidently they seem to occur about three days after his dose of Frontline Top Spot and Interceptor at his weight of 32 lbs. My vet still does not think this is the cause and said he
has researched the findings. In the last week Casey has also contracted Pancreatitis along with high liver enzymes caused by Phenorbarbital. So I have been very frustrated but so happy to have discovered your site. Keep up the good work and my boy is coming off chemicals while I look into a safer product to use.
Thank you so much.
Anonymous 8/21/06
I talked to a tech at Merial and she said to take with a grain of salt the testimonials from pet owners. She said no way Frontline could cause seizures. Right! I was not sure if it was the Interceptor or Frontline causing my Cavalier to be so sick. This month I used just the Interceptor and it has been five days with nothing bad happening. The vet with Novartis (Interceptor) was very helpful and concerned. I found a site called Canine Epilepsy Resources and researched a liver cleansing diet of white fish and vegetables.
I have been feeding Casey that for a month and he is feeling so much improved. He was suffering from
a borderline pancreatitis caused by the phenobarbital. My goal now is to eventually get him off the drug
if I know for sure that the Frontline is the cause.
Any other ideas about treatment for preventing heart worms?
Anonymous 9/14/06
My Cavalier Casey has had two years of seizures. I finally decided it was caused either by Interceptor or Frontline or combination of both. He has been seizure free since August 5 when I quit giving him Frontline.
Neither Merial or my vet are convinced that the Frontline is the cause. I am and have had to treat him for pancreatitis and feed him home cooked vegetables and white fish.
Are there any cases where Merial has taken responsibility for at least some of the vet's bills?
Anonymous 10/21/06
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My name is Carol and I'm a school nurse ( k-6). My story goes like this, on July 8th my precious dog Bailey woke me out of a deep sleep with seizure activity that lasted about 2 minutes. I know seizure activity because I work with special needs children. After I consoled her, I called the emergency animal hospital and had her there within an hour. Bailey had the full work-up, labs etc and stayed overnight for observation. Bailey is now on phenobarbital 15mg 2x daily. Bailey was seizure free until 1am this past sunday morning, she experienced another seizure but lasting only 1 minute. The common link when I checked my calendar was that I applied frontline 24 to 36 hrs prior to the seizures. I visited my regular vet today and she said that she never had any experience with adverse reactions to frontline. ..................My Bailey will never have another application of any brand of flea product! We are going to observe her for the next six weeks and if she remains free of seizures I will stop the phenobarb........I was so upset, I thought that she was dying. I found your sight and a few others, i hope she has a full recovery and a long life.................
Thanks,
Carol & Bailey 8/21/06
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James,
I don't know if you remember me-
I wrote you back in March, when my kitten Carmel had touched my dog Oscar after I dosed him with bio-spot. The kitten spent the night at the vet's but did recover.
Oscar had been diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy two years ago. He has been on pheaobarb for the past two years.
Well, I am happy to report that Oscar is fine and has not had a seizure since I stopped using bio-spot. I took me four months to wean him off the drugs. The vet says there should be no lasting effects.
As I think back now, the seizures came in cycles. Every few weeks he would start to have a series of seizures, then we would up the phenobarb and he would be good for a few weeks. Then it would start all over again. I can't believe that I did not connect the two. However I did use the bio-spot for about two years before it affected him.
I'm almost thankful that Carmel had a reaction, otherwise Oscar's life would have been cut short (phenobarb destroys the liver over time). As it turned out, Carmel saved Oscar's life. We remind him of that every time she jumps on him and chews on his tail.
I thank you again for web site. I sure its takes some time to keep up with all of it. I really do appreciate all your help. I have passed the word to everyone I know, including a cousin who owns a kennel and had been selling the stuff. They had never had any problems bio-spot, but are now done with it too.
Best wishes,
Taryn 8/21/06
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I am so sad when I read all the stories of the lost lives. I have 2 cats that are the world to me. One is a 1 year old grey and white tiger name Cat, the other is a black and red calico who just turned 7 months old,
her name is Angel. In the last year of my life my husband and I seperated, this destroyed me and my 5 year old son. Where we moved to we were unable to keep dogs, so I agreed to get a cat. I was always a dog
person so I had and still have little knowledge on cats. I spend alot of time on the internet to get answers. As a single mom my financial situation made it difficult to buy some of the more expensive products for fleas. I am sure that every cat owner has had an issue with fleas, mine has been reoccuring all summer
now. I have purchased about 5 different products and still every 30-45 days the girls have fleas again.
I try to buy items with "gentle" ingredients because Cat has extremely sensitive skin. As I was trying to
look for something that "worked" I came across your website. As I read it I thought at first it was another one of those "Blog" sites that someone was upset for some reason. But as I read on I sat and cried. See
I have a bottle of Biospot. I did use it on the cats very litely but was concerned about the girls licking it off their fur and possibly getting sick. Never thinking that they would sell a product that would KILL an animal. As I looked on the internet I found every site that listed Biospot also stated that some animals have "reactions and are not recommended by most Vets"--my question--then why is it on the market? Is the product so wonderful that some peoples pets lives are worth the price of their stock???
Well, I am so sorry that so many people lost their pets and so grateful for your site. My bottle of Biospot will be going back to the store in exchange for some good cat treats.
Melissa, Christopher, Cat and Angel 8/26/06
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i bought some spot on from pets at home for my puppy cane corso, he is 14 weeks old and states the product is suitable for pups. 24 hours after applying the liquid he started having fits. he had 6 in the space of a couple of hours and was kept in the emergency hospital over night. he has now had to be prescribed phenobarb to help control the seizures and has to return to the vets for follow ups. i never knew the consequences of the reaction this stuff could have on my boy. why are products still available on the market that can make a perfectly healthy dog so ill.
dawn 8/27/06
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Nice Website.
Has many of the same types of stories that I used to hear in private practice. It is good to compile this sort of forum for these issues. I would like to add my two cents in as a former member of the pet care community. Please read important disclaimer at the end:
Perhaps the take home message is this- The FDA does not regulate pet over-the-counter products as they do human products, which is why many of the products in the pet stores are frequently associated with these side effects, most notably sensitivities and seizures. Use these products on your pets at your own risk! Even veterinarians who dispense FDA-standard tested products such as Frontline, Program, Advantage, and Revolution (which is prescription-only product) cannot anticipate individual side effects to these products. None-the-less, the potential side effects are similar for all products: skin sensitivies or hair loss due to the drug vehicle, systemic allergic reaction- vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, frothing at the mouth, abnormal behavior, and seizures... especially in cats. These side effects occur most notably with non-veterinary approved OTC products because these products contain some type of pyrethrin derivitive (permethrin, methoprim, etc). Do not put pyrethrins on cats and be wary of such products on puppies or rabbits, dogs with seizure predispositions, and small dogs. In practice, I had seen many cats seizure on OTC products and dogs and cats have mild to severe skin or systemic reactions to OTC products and mild to moderate reactions with some veterinary-approved products (and in 3 of the 9 cases were purchased over-seas or by other 'illegal' means).
Is there a safe product? No. Is there another natural product that is effective? No (and all-natural products can also pose a risk, especially since they are not tested). What does that mean? It means we can only continue to use the best, safest products tested on the market, or none at all. But, in the past 15 years, parasite control products have gone from very dangerous with no continuity in the testing process, to products that have been tested and self-regulated by very well-known pharmaceutical companies that are willling to put their name behind their product.
What can you do as a consumer? Be cautious- remember you are buying a product that is meant to poison parasites. Buy only veterinary-approved products that have undergone testing. Be quick to report any suspected reaction to both the veterinarian and to the company that made the product- this ensures that these reactions are being documented frequently enough to warrant examination and alterations to these products. Continue to be informed, well-knowledged pet-owners about these products and their side effects. Understand that pets can also get diseases, illnesses, seizures, and tumors that may appear to coinside with the product use (or recovery with the discontinuation) but may not be correlated at all-- so it is important to talk to your vet, have your pet regularly checked, and have appropriate diagnostics done if advised by your veterinarian to rule out- or rule in anti-parasitic drug causes- again, the more these can be diagnosed as due to the product, the more incentive these companies have to improve the products.
(As a neccessary disclaimer- above are the opinions of one individual and do not reflect the opinions of the AVMA, the veterinary community, or any pharmaceutical company. These opinions are not meant to treat, diagnose, or be used as second opinion or a legal stance to any treated animal. Any mention to specific products is meant only to give examples of OTC vs 'veterinary-approved' products and does not endorse or incriminate any product, organization, company or individual.) For information in regards to the official AVMA platform for anti-parasite use, please visit www.avma.org. For information regarding a specific product, please contact the company that produces the product or the Better Business Bureau).
April 8/27/06
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As a preventative measure to keep fleas away, the local vet recommended "Advantage". Our two cats are brother and sister and 17 weeks old; each is just over 4 lbs and both very, very active. The are house cats and only go outside on a harness.
The female was the first to show symptoms: 1) loss of appetite 2) lethargy 3) muscle weakness or pain 4) a limp in one leg . We were worried so she was taken to the vet on a Sunday. Nothing was found except a dehydration issue. After blood tests, fluids were added and an anti-inflammatory (also a $250 vet bill) she was back to her old self in a few days. Within two days of the female getting sick, the male showed exactly the same symptom (except the limp). He couldn't even jump onto the couch without help. Off to the vet again and with the same treatment (this time including , x-rays), the bill was another $230. Nothing found again and same recovery after a few days. These symptoms were noticed 2 days after applying the Advantage (4 days for the male). The exact symptoms/problems are on other sights on the internet for dogs and Advantage (small percent of population) but no one has reported this on cats that I have found. The dosage was applied correctly and the medicine grade was for young cats but I am certain "Advantage" is the cause. Our initial cost of the flea drug was refunded but the $480 is gone forever.
James: could you post this email as a warning about this type of medicine and it's risks? Maybe other pet owners have experienced the same problem.
Dennis and Barb 8/29/06
Chatham, Ontario,Canada
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I am picking my cat up today from the vet after a near death experience. I used Bio Spot for dogs by mistake. He went into convulsions and nearly died. After treatment I washed him quickly and he seemed better, the next morning he was in shock, pupils dilated, and having tremors, foaming at the mouth. I thought he was going to die. I don't know yet how long it will take for him to get over this or if he will make a full recovery. Let me know if you do have a class action suit going and I will pass your site on to other people
to warn them.
Dottie 9/1/06
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bought bio spot from PETCO. i have a little shih tzu. he went crazy - he is having spasms. researched product and have found it contains Permethrin. why is this on the market after so many animals have died or been seriously affected. i am devasted. My poor puppy is so uncomfortable.........i want this off the market if I have to call the New York stations myself. it should be all over the news........killing animals........
Anne 9/1/06
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After much research and review of your site, I have come to the conclusion that my 6 year old dachshund, Choe is also the recipient of frontline toxicity. Following an application (second application in 6 weeks; he was fine with first application) within three days showed inappetance as a primary symptom. No vomiting or neurological signs.
Vet visit showed high fever but normal blood screen. Has continued for eleven days with inappetance (have to coax him to eat..only small amounts). Has had ultra sound and xray and yesterday second round of blood screen-all normal. Vets are stumped and minimize frontline as cause. Merck Vet Manual explains FUO - (Fever of Unknown Origin) as `Body temp. being regulated by hypothalamus and this set point may be initiated by exogenous pyrogins which include drugs, TOXINS, virus and bacteria products. Also states
that one should check for epidemioloc characteristics such as vaccine, PARASITE CONTROL and travel
history.
May I please have the e-mail contact of Michelle in philly who has contacted the local media. Your website must be made public to media reps. The vet community must inform their clients of the potential risk factor involved (obviously as documented this is not a isolated occurence) as opposed to the vet community (increduoulsy) advertizing.....`it is time to apply frontline to your pet.' My vet bill has also been in excess of $700 to say nothing of the overwhelming anxiety and guilt I am experiencing for placing my beloved Choe
through this nightmare. I pray he recovers.
Jan (Philadelphia) 9/2/06
(Below is email that Jan received from her vet on 9/8/06)
I spoke with a DVM at Merial this morning regarding Choe's case. They have added it to their adverse event database, and confirmed that they have nothing in their records regarding Frontline being associated with fever. On a good note, they did offer to pay up to $200 for you to have a consultation with a specialist of your choice on Choe's case. I think this would cover you to schedule an appointment with the neurologist at Metro (or a specialist at UPenn) to have them review all of Choe's tests, do an exam, and offer any other suggestions on how we might treat him. If you would be interested, let me know & I will facilitate the referral.
(Below is email that Jan sent to her vet on 9/8/06 in response)
Dr [deleted], hello. Thanks for seeing Choe this morning. He seems most alert when visiting the clinic. Perhaps it is because of all the activity. At home he is uncharacteristically lethargic/depressed and of course the continued anorexia is an all consuming worry. I will give myself another job title, nurse. I spend half the night trying to coax him to eat, trying one after another food product, to no avail. He consumed only a few animal crackers last night and a bit of yogurt ( mushing up frozen yogurt on my finger). Just tried some babyfood at lunch and although reluctant, he did lick about 1/2 jar of the messy stuff off my finger. Pretty gross, but if it works to get some nutrients in him, I'll continue.
I'm not certain Merial reps are revealing to you the complete adverse information reported by consumers and collected in their database .Perhaps the fever syndrome is unusual. I do not profess to be a clinician, but I have researched that body temp is regulated by the hypothalamus and I read in the Merck Vet Manual `that elevation of the hypothalmic set point may be initiated by exogenous pyrogens which include drugs, toxins and viral and bacterial products.' Perhaps his reaction to the toxins (fipronil) played havoc with that part of his brain. I understand pesticide poisoning can cause various clinical reactions.
I would be happy to have Choe examined by a UPenn Specialist, although my guess is the fee schedule is much greater than $200.00. Typically they prefer completing some of their own diagnostics. Blood screen alone is near $150.00. In 2004 I called UP for a cardiology consult (for Hotsie). The fee was somewhere between $500 and $600 for a workup. Since my vet costs have now been near $800.(in the midst of moving into a new house and attempting to sell my current house....many, many costs and bills) I would ask that they agree to cover the full scope of services included on the invoice from U of P. If the final diagnosis indeed proves to be a pesticide reaction (which I am 95% convinced) I will also be requesting them remit the $800 in cost output to date from [deleted].
I am also and will continue to be in contact with those who may be of assistance within the EPA in regards to pesticide product labeling and advertizing, stemming from many reported adverse reactions in pets. We all know the result of the Vioux/Merck recall. Interesting. I was reading a headline story regarding Merck in the Inquirer the other day. Quoted a board member ( Wm.Bowen, former president of Princeton U.) at
Merck as saying, `the (Vioux) report should reinforce an important lesson for the public and the entire pharmaceutical industry.....`be alert to the distinction between risks and benefits of drugs.'....in this case,
pesticides. Perhaps there is much more that vets and the public should be made aware. If you suggest I speak with the DVM you commmunicated with at Merial, please let me know the contact information. After you provide the UP referral, I can call to receive a fee schedule and let the Merial DVM know the amount they should be prepared to remit for one or more visits, as the situation may warrant. Thanks!
Jan
Just heard from Dr. [deleted] from UPenn. His statement was that he cannot find any lab to agree to complete a serum test to reveal fipronil toxicity, including Merial. He read the info I included and was not 'compelled' by the Australian study as the adverse reactions were not clear enough for him to render a conclusion. Your website, in his estimation was mostly focusing on biospot. He did not respond when I mentioned the many and varied letters citing Advantage and Frontline. He uses Frontline on his pets and will continue doing so. I informed him I thought he was allowing Merial to step away from accountability by not insisting on a serum analysis. Of course feigning inability to cooperate would maintain their claim that fipronil does not invade the bloodstream. He clearly wanted to step away from the entire issue with a
'good luck' salutation. I'm not certain at this point what I can do in regards to request a clinician to help
me to clinically 'prove' the fipronil effects. The barrier has been established by the vets and the pharms,
and it will take a concrete buster to break it down.
Jan 9/18/06
(Below is email that Jan received from her vet on 9/19/06)
The tests listed on Penn's website are completely different from the type of test needed to isolate a toxin from serum, and only very rare toxicology labs perform these types of tests. Far from being a "simple test" every potential toxin would require it's own specialized gas chromatography assay to detect it, and these assays take months, and thousands of dollar to develop & perfect (I know because I spent 9 mos during vet school developing a single assay for a single chemical). For this reason, most existing toxins cannot be tested for, because no lab has the time/resources to develop & perfect the assay, esp if it will only be run a few times a year. I spoke to Dr. [deleted], and he knew right off the bat that Penn couldn't run the test - he was checking to see if there might be another lab nationally that could, but he was unable to find one - which did not surprise me at all.
Perhaps Merial at one time developed this assay when they were doing clinical trials to demonstrate that fipronil is not absorbed systemically. Even if they did, though, that would have been >10 years ago, so they would no longer have a lab equipped to run the test.
At any rate, we are approaching the 4 week period in which frontline remains in the dog after application. How is Choe doing?
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Sis's 2 cats got a BioSpot treatment before bed last night and she found them sprawled out almost dead this morning and she rushed them to the vet but he doesnt hold out much hope. She said she heard a thump in the night and it must have been Linus falling off the bed, and then he crawled in the hall and laid there the rest of the night. He's having seizures at the vet's right now. She is going to be destroyed if he cant save them. She called the ER vet first and told them that she gave them BioSpot last night and the girl said "That was real smart!", as if this has happened to [others] before, plus it wasnt at all a sympathetic thing to say.
I'm sitting here waiting for the phone to ring and on my knees.
John 9/6/06
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If your dog has these symptoms....BATHE YOUR DOG NOW. I gave biospot to my 3-1/2 yr old 60 lb dog yesterday. (approx 16 hrs ago) At bedtime she was hyperactive. She had never acted like this. She even indicated to my wife she wanted to go out for a walk, acting very agitated. Then at 4am she woke me up, whining. She was very hyperactive and was panting. I took her out to do her business. She appeared to try to pee, but that was all. She came back in the house very hyper again. She went to the front door again - something she has never done at 4am! I could tell something was wrong, and remembering having given her biospot, I fired up the computer to search the web. (The biospot phone number [800-234-2269] was closed for the night.)
I found others with similar symptoms, so I followed their advice and got my dog in the shower and scrubbed her thoroughly. I also found she'd had diahrrea several times late yesterday evening. She is now resting next to me and appears to be sleeping.
Russ 9/6/06
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How do I report an adverse reaction to a flea control product?
Please contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378, seven days
a week excluding holidays, from 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM Pacific Time - or fax them on (514) 737-0761 -
or email them at npic@ace.orst.edu. Also report the adverse reaction to the manufacturer of the
product by calling the phone number listed on their packaging.
I would also report it directly to the U.S. EPA by contacting:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pesticide Programs (Mail Code 7509C)
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
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If your dog had a severe adverse reaction to Bio Spot Flea & Tick
Control (or any similar product), or if you have found a safer way to
control fleas & ticks, please let me know.
