Update 2/25/08: Hamish has not had ANY seizures since we stopped using Bio Spot
over 5 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 recently purchased Triforce Squeeze-On for dogs 9-20lbs. TERRIBLE PRODUCT. When I received it in the mail so quickly after my online purchase I should have know why. I was very excited when I received it and couldn't wait to apply it on my 16 lbs. Dachshund. I had used Frontline plus before and never had a problem,
but we just moved to a wooded area and had been having problems with ticks. So I thought, what a relief this
will be for my dog. Since this product promisses so much for tick relief. WRONG!! what a nightmare. I applied
it about 8 hours ago and when I came home 5 hours after applying it I found my dog crying, scratching with
welts on his back, twitching as if being called by someone standing behind him, and his eyes were very itchy.
So I looked on the box and noticed no warnings or adverse reaction notes. I searched online and found this
site. I have bathe him with dish soap, gave him allergy medicine and applied antibiotic ointment to his soars
he now has from scratching. I did this about 3 hours ago but still see no possitive effects. I don't know what
else to do for him. Since from what I've read so far even the visit to the vet is useless and no one will take
blame. I will bathe him again, and for those who don't know this, Dachshund really hate water. So to him It's
torture both ways. I hope he's feeling better in the morning and if not, to the vet it is. I hope I won't have to since I'm afraid of what they'll say there, but at least I'll know why this is happening thank to this site and all who
posted their nightmares. Thank you so much my baby really appreciates us animal owners sticking together.
Anonymous 11/7/07
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I have read several articles on your page and some of the victims say their vet had an ancedote for biospot poisoning if you know what it is or where I can find out more about it I desparately need it. My 8 mo. maltese Molly is dying from biospot poisoning at the vets right now and they do not know what to do for her. We live
in a small town with few resources. On thursday I put biospot on her and fri and sat she was throwing up bile.
By sunday she had quit using her legs. I gave her a bath and rushed her to the vet. She is severly anemic, her wbc count is 27,000. They have given her 3 blood transfusions and she is on 3 antibiotics and she is not
getting any better. her ultrasound was completely normal. please help me.
thanks,
Britton 11/7/07
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I did some research and wrote a brief summary of the chemical that is in the shampoo/flea products. I'm not done yet as there is so much information, but if you could look at it and give me some sort of feedback and
pass the word on and the research I would appreciate it!
Sara 11/9/07
(see: Sara 10/29/07 in Vol. 17)
Thank you very much for all of the information that you found concerning pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide. Products that contain these ingredients are sometimes promoted as being natural or safe because pyrethrins are derived from chrysanthemum flowers. However, as you have found, pyrethrins have adverse effects on the nervous systems of insects AND animals. In addition, piperonyl butoxide is often added as a synergist to make the pyrethrin more effective (which means more toxic) and to make it stay in the animal's system longer.
Another thing that you have to consider is that the Sergeants Skip Flea Shampoo for Cats contains 99.45%
of "other ingredients." These ingredients may also have toxicity which can contribute to poisoning in animals.
Flea and tick control products can cause adverse reactions in any animal, but older animals are especially at risk. These products should warn people not to use it on older animals.
James TerBush
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Do you have any reports on Tri Force Canine flea drops? I think my 2 yr old Lhasa may have had a reaction
to it tonight. Within a couple of hours she was scratching and whining after it had been applied and then when
I went to check on her, I found she had been drooling at the mouth too. I immediately washed it off with dawn and then oatmeal shampoo, I do not see any red marks or anything but after the bath she is not drooling anymore and seems fine. I just found your website and don’t see anything about that brand on there but wondered if you knew anything about it. I found it at California vet supply and they said it was more effective than frontline and Advantage?
Becky 11/12/07
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Hi, I am writting you about the bio spot. I had used it on my cat yesterday, This morning when i got up he was
in a full blown siezure. I treated him yesterday with bio spot. Today he has had 3 seizures, he is at the vets and may not make it. I also treated my dog which i immediately came home and gave him a bath. I wish I would
have looked on the internet before I used this but it is out there and you figure it is safe. I will never use another chemical on my animals again. There should be something else to get the word out there not to use these products and to make people listen. My animals are my babies and I will not know what I would do if I lost one
of them. I am telling every body about this hopefully with my word of mouth I will save another animal from going
thru this. Right now I need to vent and thank you for listening because I feel so guilty for using this stuff on my babies. I am far not done with this yet.
Kim 11/15/07
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we have two little dogs josey is a schnoodle ( 1/2 schnauser and 1/2 mini poodle) and toto is a shi-a-pooh
( 1/2 shitzu and 1/ 2 toy poodle).josey is a 2 yr old male of about 20 lbs who had no trouble with the flea treatment but toto, the 3 yr old female of about 8 lbs. almost died twice before someone told me of this site
and the dangers of the flea meds. 
when we moved to our new house 3/2007 our inside dogs got to go for more frequent walks because of a
nicer neighborhood to walk in, but then we noticed fleas we had not had before. at that time we used a brand
i cannot remember from the general store . soon after toto became very ill. 700$ later in vet bills she was able
to play and go for walks again and again we noticed fleas. so in oct they went to the groomer for baths and haircuts and the vet sent home frontlline to keep the fleas off them to be applied 2 days after the bath, i do not know what they were bathed in. toto started ripping her tail hair out in chunks and swallowing it, then throwing
up fur balls like a cat. she continued attacking her tail until she had chewed part of it off with bone sticking out
the end. we tried to keep it clean and bandaged but it got infected and her tail had to be amputated. we now
have to keep her in a dish around her neck or a diaper to cover her tail unless she is sitting on our laps. at nite we have to use the diaper, the cone around her neck and sedate her so we do not wake up to a bed full of
blood where she has chewed her tail.
the vet has no idea why this has happened or what to do about it. so with another 500$ in vet bills she is sure
it is not the frontline. we don't know if toto will ever recover from this and are now looking for doggie clothes and better diapers to keep her from chewing off what little of her tail is left. there must be a way to get these products off the market, warn more people ,or at least get a better warning on the label.
toto and josey from kansas 11/17/07
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AFTER READING ABOUT BIOSPOT IT GAVE ME CHILLS. ONE OF OUR 3 YORKIES ALMOST DIED FROM ONE APPLICATION OF BIOSPOT ON JULY 4TH, 2007. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT ON ANY PET! I JUST WISH I HAD RESEARCHED THIS PRODUCT BEFORE APPLYING. HE IS NOW DOING OKAY BUT DEFINITELY HAS LONG TERM AFFECTS FROM THAT ONE TIME. HIS NERVOUS SYSTEM IS SHOT, AND HIS PERSONALITY CHANGED TOO.
JOHN 11/19/07
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Hey there. I'm writing upon having found your website while searching for information regarding adverse reactions and advantage for dogs. I had been using advantage for a year and a half on my 4 year old mini schnauzer. She never had any adverse reactions and I had been very satisfied with the results as she never
had a flea problem. The problem began about three weeks ago. She had been right at the borderline to use
the medication for < than 10lbs. She had gained a couple pounds over the summer (which was the last time
we had purchased the multi-pack) so we decided to purchase the > 11lbs pack. Within a couple days she
was biting herself--mainly on her rear area, but also on her legs. She would bite herself until she was nearly
bald and bleeding. We bathed and groomed her and she was still having skin problems. I took her to the vet
and explained that the higher dose of advantage was the only change in her routine. The vet told me that she
had never heard of any skin reactions to advantage and that the dog was perhaps allergic to her food or something else. The vet also said that maybe fleas were biting my dog then jumping off, causing a skin
reaction (I have never seen a flea on my dog). I kept telling her that there was absolutely nothing else that had changed--food, environment, or otherwise. The vet insisted it is not the advantage. My dog is still trying to bite her back (she has been wearing an e-collar for the last two weeks). Is it possible that the medication is still in
the process of being excreted nearly one month later? Or is she indeed allergic to something other than the medication? She has never had this problem before. Should I take her back to the vet? I'd like my poor dog
to be comfortable and stop biting herself. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Melody 11/19/07
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Like all the others, I was very glad to find your web site. Last night we applied Sergeant's Gold to our 10# min. dauchound. Within an hour she began shaking her head as if she had something in her ears (she didn't). Then she began licking her back feet. If she was laying down she would violently kick and if she was walking she would jerk up one leg or the other and begin licking. It is as if she had been stung by something. I have called the company and was connnected with the poison or safety control center. They advised me that it sounded like "paresthesia", a pins and needles sensation reaction to the carrier in the product. We were advised to bath her twice with a dishwashing soap and that it may take up to 24 hrs for results. They also recommended applying vitamin e oil to the application site to help distribute the product as well as dilute it. We have done so and are waiting on results. I hope what we have seen is the worst of it. My sympathy goes out to the others that have had far worse reactions to these types of products.
Deborah 11/21/07
Thank you again very much for your site and for your quick reply and for posting our experience. If you or anyone has ANY suggestions or comments as to what worked for your animal we would greatly appreciate them. As of this evening "Callie" is about the same. It is truly a shame that we have all been blind sided by this. I cannot imagine how many poor animals have suffered through this ordeal without the vet even knowing (or possibly admitting) what may be causing it. What will it take to get these products off the shelf or at least get the word
out and warn all the other unsuspecting pet owners.
Deborah 11/21/07
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I gave my dog Bio-spot treatment a few months ago. I noticed he would be lethargic after I threw the frisby for him. I took him to the vet, and they said it was just his old age (he's 9). I did not think to suspect the Bio-Spot.
I gave him the Bio-Spot again a few days ago. Yesterday, he could hardly move. He was extremely stiff and looked like he was in pain. I then suspected the Bio-Spot and found your website. He's at the vet now.
Are all those letters on your website true? Has anyone sued? There should definately be warnings on the packages. With all these cases reported on your website, why hasn't there been a class-action lawsuit?
Anonymous 11/2607
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I used the Sergeant's Gold on my 3 Pomeranian dogs. Within a few hours, all three of my precious pets were
in distress! I didn't go to bed that night; I stayed up holding them trying to make them comfortable. They cried, whimpered, couldn't sit still - were scratching trying to get at the spot where I had applied the flea "med". They were panting, drooling and vomiting! I called the Vet in the morning and she told me to bathe them again in Dawn dish soap, which I did. By that afternoon, I was feeling the effects of the pesticide that was in the med. I had burning eyes, burning nose and ran a temperature of 100! What was this horrible stuff doing to my poor beloved pets!? I was horrified that I had inflicted them with such pain and discomfort. Luckily, two of my pets started feeling somewhat better but one was getting worse. I took him to a Veterinary Hospital. I left there with
a $300 vet bill. He is on antibiotics and a cream to the affected area. The Vet said it will take a couple of weeks for him to get over this. In the meantime, he hides from everyone, wondering why he doesn't feel good. I asked the Vet why the stores can sell this horrible stuff - she said "Because they can!" What can be done to get this
off the market? I wish I knew!
Patti 11/26/07
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On Tuesday 11/27/07, my husband and I gave my 9 month old Yorkie, Moose, a treatment of Bio Spot.
Within 5 minutes, he was running around frantic, trying to rub his head and hind end on anything he could
touch. We thought it might be a itching him, but had not idea it would get worse throughout the day.
Thank you for your website, I read it when I got to work, and immediately went home to give Moose a bath.
He couldn't even walk correctly. His hind end would go to the side, and he couldn't keep his balance. I am heartbroken, and angry at myself, for not researching this first. I stayed up all night last night, bathed him
again, and kept him right by my side. I even brought him into my office so I could keep an eye on him.
This morning, he seems to be a little better, still a bit off when he walks. But, he did eat this morning, and
I will email you tomorrow to let you know. I will be calling the EPA and manufacturer this afternoon.
Thank you again for your website.
Debbie 11/28/07
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My friend purchased "Bio Spot" flea medicine and used it on her dog, then gave the last two tubes in the package to me. I thought well if it works for a small dog then it should be fine for my huge cat. I was terribly
wrong. Just a couple hours after giving it to my cat, my cat started foaming at the mouth and lost control of
it's body movements. I rushed it to the vet and was told that my cat had a 50/50 chance of making it through
the night. My cat is still at the vet hospital. My dog didn't have the same reaction but didn't handle the medicine well either. We used "dawn" dish soap to wash it off of him.
The vet told me that the product kills cats. I love my cat and would hate for someone else to go through this.
Krystal 11/28/07
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I am writing to you because I don't want anyone else to go through what we went through. Sorry it is so long
but I have to start from the begining & how it all started & why I used the Bio Spot.
It all started on Sunday November 11th. I went to feed my cats & saw that one was missing, Meeko, so I
starting looking around the house for him. I ended up finding him in the computer chair & when I picked him
up, I found he was in a puddle of blood. I didn't know what to think but knew this wasn't good & rushed him to
the vet. After the vet checked him over, they had found that he had done what males cats can have happen to then-he had blocked up. Basicly, he could not pee & his urine had crystallized. They had also found some flees on him, this lead to more problems. Anyway, the vet told me I should treat the enviroment & the other animals. Two days later, Tues. the 13th, the vet said he could come home that evening. The vet had treated meeko at
the vet so I thought I would do what they said & treat the enviroment & my other animals before I brought him home. I have 4 cats & 2 dogs total. So I had 3 cats (since 1 was at the vet) & the 2 dogs to treat. I washed bedding, vacuumed, & applied Bio Spot on my cats & dogs here. A couple of hours later my one cat, Sorbo, was shaking uncontrollably. I had to rush her to the vet where I was told she was having a reaction to the Bio Spot & they had to put her on muscle relaxers & valium to stop the shaking & IV fluids to flush her system. I had to leave her there for them to treat her. If that wasn't bad enough, when I got back home, one of my other cats, Josie, had started with the same things. So back to the vet with her where they did the same treament with her that they did on Sorbo. During all of this, I had tried to wash the stuff off of the cats & the dogs & it must have absorbed through my skin on my hands because I started to get sick. When I was bringing the 2nd cat, Josie,
to the vet was when I had started feeling sick & it was just my 16 year old daughter & myself that had gone to
the vet so I was the only one that could drive. I was so sick that I could not stop throwing up at the vet & was barely able to drive home. I was so sick from that stuff that once I got home & in bed, I didn't want to move. I
was shaking but I was hot & my skin was hot & tingly. I was too sick the next morning to get up to get my 9 year old son, Ronnie, up & ready for school so my 16 year old daughter, Jamie, ended up staying home to take care of me & help out with her brother. I ended up sick for a week because of that stuff, throwing up, diarrhea, the shakes, & unable to eat. My husband also ended up taking vacation time to help me out. Wed. the 14th in the evening, Josie was ok to come home but Sorbo wasn't able to come home until the next morning. It was so scary, we thought our cats were going to die. My vet bills ended up being about $900. I have since contacted Bio Spot to let them know what had happened to Sorbo, Josie, & myself. I told them I felt they should reimburse me for the vet bills for Sorbo & Josie at least but they are being real jerks about everything. I went through a week of pure hell because of their product & they don't even seem to care. I wanted to get my story out there because I don't want anyone to go through what we went through. Please, make sure you tell everyone you
know, DO NOT use Bio Spot unless you want to take a chance in hurting your animals or even yourself or a family member or friend. I have read other stories since this happened to me & others were even worse off,
they lost there beloved pet because of Bio Spot. The main active ingredient in Bio Spot is a pesticide known
as Permethrin (it is used in more than 18 similar products, including Bayer K9 Advantix, Defend EXspot, and Hartz Control OneSpot). It kills insects by paralyzing their nervous system (that is also how nerve gas works). However, it cannot distinguish between an insect's nervous system, a dog's nervous system, or a human's nervous system. Just don't use it. Thank you for taking the time to read my stroy.
C.M.M. 12/1/07
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On Monday, November 19th I bathed my 10year old maltese with Zodiac Flea and Tick Shampoo to get her ready to be boarded at the kennel for 6 days during the Thanksgiving Holiday. She was fine when I dropped
her off on Tuesday, the following Monday when I went to pick up Chloe, she was having a petite mal seizure as they were handing her to me and didn't notice it at first. Apparantly two nights in a row she messed her bed, which is not like her, (we have to assume she had 2 grande mals while at the kennel) and that day she had 4 more petite mal seizures. The vet's did blood work on her, she has Erlichiosis (tick borne disease) and Liver Enzymes were elevated and very dehydrated. They gave her valium, seemed very out of. The next day I witnessed a Grand Mal Seizure, the worst thing I have ever seen. Since then she has been on phenobarb IV and Fluids for 1.5 days, Doxyclin for the tick borne infection and now oral phenobarb to control seizures. All looked good Friday, she hadn't seized in 2 days, then over the weekend 8 more petite mal (last about 20 - 61 seconds). And she is very anxious, walking from room to room, whining and not sleeping at night, only sleeping about 1.5 hours and then an hour later she has the petite mal. We don't know if this could be Toxic from ZODIAC Shampoo or Tick Borne or Brain Lesion. Has anyone had any experience with seizures this long with flea & tick products. She is a paw chewer/licker, so we don't know if she ingested and it took 4 days to show. How long would toxicity last in a dog? It could also be a combination of toxicity and the erlichiosis. Now it's
just wait and see how she does, every hour that goes by I thank God no seizure. Thank you.
Suzan 12/3/07
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Searching for answers I found your web sight.November 20,07 a night I'll never forget. I own two dogs, two
cats. A Saint Bernard 220 lbs of gentle giant, a golden retriever 7 months old, Indoor cat Ceaser, outdoor cat Putter.I always used Frontline on them all. Recently I've been out of work with some health issues so I thought
I look for something a little more affordable to treat our fur children and protect them from fleas as the frost set
in here in PA. My saint because of his size requires three doses at a time to meet his body weight it gets very expensive. Anyway I treated the dogs with Sergeants gold. I treated the cats with Bio spot FOR CATS PINK BOX CATS OVER 5 LBS. The indoor cat is my sons and stays in his room most of the time. About 30 min.
after I treated them my son came home and said something was wrong with his cat. I replied yea hes a little
oily I put drops on him for fleas. He was very upset with me he was screaming no mom something's wrong with my cat.When I went to look, yes the cat was shaking uncontrollably his eyes were black and he was stiff as a board yet limp. I never saw anything like this in my life. My son rushed him to the only thing open on a Sunday, Valley Central emergency and the min he walked in with the cat they said you put drops on him didn't you. They bathed, him started IV, shaved his hair off his back. He was there 5 days until he was stable to come home. It cost me over 2000.00. And an a huge amount of stress. The outside cat was also in trouble we washed him
and held him in a blanket tight to control the seizers, I couldn't afford to take him to the Emergency clinic too.
I forced him to drink, and eat, it took 3 days and slowly he stopped shaking, and got his balance back, his
eyes returned to normal. I think he's a stronger cat because he is outside and also he's only one year old.
My sons cat is 8 and never sees the outside world.After the trauma of all this, I started searching for answers and questioning myself. This is so wrong. I bought these products to Protect the animals and I almost killed them. I am an avid pet lover I'd have a dozen if I could afford them never would I put them in danger like that.
And after I read the emails on your sight I got sick and scared for everyone out there owning a fur baby. Can
you imagine I put Three doses on my Saint. Its like a death sentence. I'll never ever use these products again.
I'm now searching for natural remedies. Maybe you can help me. And is there anything I can do to help stop
the selling of these products. I've told all my friends and family I've printed out the emails and spread the word.
I also have been watching the stores that are carrying Bio Spot. One store was selling it for 27.99 a box.
Another 3.00 box how many people do you think will buy that thinking they're saving a lot of money in today's world when gas is 3.00 a gallon? Please email me if you can help, and also is there any way I can reach the Farman company and recoup any of our expense for something that should never have happened. These people should not be able to promote these products knowing the risk. Consumers feel confident that if its
on the store shelf its safe and has been tested. When shopping for pet supplies it never crossed my mind to
question whether it was going to kill my fur babies.
Thanks
Holly in PA 12/5/07
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We are having the same problem as many of these owners, b/c of the toxic ingredient in the OTC Flea & Tick meds. We used Cutter Flea & Tick medicine on both of our dogs. The smaller dog, Toby, is now lying in the animal hospital on the verge of dieing. He started seizing, fainting, vomiting and a lot of other, un-normal behaviors. We do not know if he will make it at this time, but we are hopeful.
I know the toxic ingredients in the these over the counter flea and tick meds. are Pyrethroids (e.g.; Permethrin, Phenothrin, EtofenproxI)!!!! Be aware it is not only BioSpot is is all of the OTC flea and tick meds.
I want to know what we can do to help get this off of the market!!!
Regards,
Erin & Jon 12/7/07
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Hi James
Sorry I haven't been in touch for a while but Gizmo has had more seizures & we have now decided to start medicating him until we can get him stabilized. The last cluster of fits he had were really bad & he was not gaining consciousness in between the seizures, so I feel the best thing for him is to medicate him for a while
& then take it from there.
I have had a letter from Meriel today, offering to pay Gizmo's vet bill & I have to sign a letter saying that this
is accept payment in full & final settlement, that the letter is confidential & will not be disclosed to any party,
that Meriel are not accepting any liability etc.
While it would help to have the vet bill paid, I am a bit hesitant to sign it, as yet again Meriel are trying to
keep me quiet & want to hide that fact that Frontline has some very bad side effects. I personally would not
want anybody else dog to go through what Gizmo has been through, because of this incident, I have lost my chance for Gizmo to qualify for Crufts, I had wanted to breed from Gizmo & the stress has had a negative
effect on my condition.
Julie 12/10/07
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I really wish I had found this website earlier. I have 2 male Shih-Tzu's that I dearly love. I bought some
Sentry Pro XFC at the local Petsmart in Knoxville and now I really regret it terribly. Within minutes of
applying this stuff, my poor dears were twitching and whining. I have given them baths all over to try
and get this off. It does not seem to have done much good. I will be taking them to the vet in the
morning as we have no emergency clinic around us.
Is there anything that I can do other than to write the company and post on this board to possibly get
this product pulled? Thank you for your time and help in this matter.
Mary 12/17/07
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My 4 year Golden Retriever started having epilepsy seizures in February after we started using Frontline
Plus. Then after his Rabies vaccination in June, he had the worst seizures ever...cluster seizures...6 in 30 minutes. We will never give another rabies vaccination. We also removed all Flea and Tick and Heartgard applications. Recently my vet said that our dog had to at least have heartworm meds so we tried Interceptor which is suppose to be less toxic. Although he did not seize, we had two weeks of weakness and lethargy
so regardless of any medical recommendations...we will never use ANY brand of flea/tick/heartworm/vaccines as our pet is sensitive to all chemicals. I have read that it helps to give benadryl with the chemicals but I am
not willing to risk our pet's health again with anything.
Colleen 12/21/07
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Last night I gave my two dogs advantix, to which Gracie is accustomed but Billy has only had once before.
He had a serious reaction to it. He had burn like marks around the area of application and was pacing and whining and jittery something fierce. Couldn't settle down at all. It was awful, and I haven't done justice to how the poor baby was suffering. I washed it off best I could, and gave him some children's benadryl. An hour after the benadryl and after more pacing and in and out of the house he finally fell asleep for about 3 or 4 hours. During my fretting and worrying and wondering do I take him to emergency care I googled advantix reaction
and discovered many people's dogs and cats had serious reactions to it. So I googled frontline reaction and saw the same type thing. I felt like a horrible mother and really was just getting up to get dressed to take him in when he finally fell asleep. This morning he wasn't as bad but still digging at his back and wouldn't let me touch it, was pacing fiercely (not like him at all) and looking for places to hide. I gave him more benadryl but it didn't work as well the second time. He was anxious and really tried to calm down when I held him but he kept having involuntary shakes and jitters. Like mini seizures. I called the vet this am, they said bring him in. The vet said he'd never heard of any reactions to advantix, which surprised me given all the anecdotal evidence. I'd think
he'd at least have heard, even if he wasn't willing to agree it was the cause. I know it was. Billy was given a shot and sent home with pills and he's much better now. Still pacing but not as frantically. He gave me such
a scare. My niece is a new vet in New York State. She tells me she and her fiance, also a vet, have each seen a couple of cases of severe reaction to flea control drugs in dogs and/or cats. I have to wonder how it can be that she's already experienced this in a cold climate, and my more seasoned vet in New Orleans, the seeming flea capital of the world, has not.
Judy 12/24/07
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I have a Belgian Tervuren and have used frontline for years, not knowing the potential danger of the stuff.
Anyway I have a littermate to mine that is having seizures, and mine is fine, but i did notice when i was using
the frontline mine used to drool allot all the time, since he is off of it which has been 60 days he does not drool, hardly at all. The foster home he was in, their vet said it could be applied everytime after the dog had a bath,
we are not sure how often it was applied, but we think at least 2 times a month, and they were also giving Sentinel for heartworm med. The 11 month old dog at the time it had its first seizures had 2 in the month of
Nov, and one in the beginning of Dec. Then he came to me and is off everything, he has had diarrhea off and
on since he has been with me and that is since Dec 8th. Last night it had been 17 days since his last seizure and he had three, though they were not as bad as when he was at the foster home. What i was wondering is
how long do you think it will take for all of this to purge from his system so we can make sure it is not idiopathic Epilepsy. We also gave him one bath with dawn dish soap. Had blood tests done and everything came back normal, as we figured it would. I feel since his seizures are getting farther apart and recovery time is fairly
quick, do you think it will get better, I just hope that he doesn't have these the rest of his life... Any help would
be appreciated. The last seizure he had we gave him rescue remedy, and it works great!! Any help would be appreciated. Also my vet feels if this is what was given to him that this could be why he is having seizures and my vet also said that idiopathic epilepsy just does not happen in dogs under a year old. Thank you signed
WMC 12/24/07
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Recently due to cost increases (BioSpot) and unavailability of what I have used on the cats in the past I bought some Triforce for the cats and Zema for the dogs. The site I bought it from warned to only apply a few drops the first time and wait a few hours to see if the animal has any reaction to the medications (which should be done
for any flea product). Thus I'm passing this information on. I was wondering what a few hours are and guess
from the Triforce site that said it kills fleas in one hour and ticks in 3 the test period should cover that time
before applying all the product. My vet said all products except Frontline works through the skin and Frontline works through the hair, but from all reports I've seen every brand of flea product has harmed some animals. What I have not seen stressed before is doing this pre-test which I suspect will be a big help to people. If a reaction occurs then it's bathe the pet with a mild soap and rinse it off with a lot of water (I stress lot of water which is the same we do for our own reactions). If the reaction does not subside then get them to the vet along with the package which contains the lot number and phone number of the company even if it is at night (Vets
that don't know what to do should call the poison control center). The sooner treatment begins the better the chance of less problems. The chemicals used in flea products is exactly what they make nerve gas out of. Another thing to really consider is the age and health of the animals, young and older animals are more susceptible to problems with chemicals as are those that may be in poor health (which is not always apparent -
2 older dogs right now act healthy as horses but their blood work came back different though one was done
right before a tumor operation on one and the other is in a case of glaucoma-both never showed signs of
having problems). Even prescription medications, etc. have to be watched since interactions can cause
either the flea product or medications to be more effective or less effective (become more toxic or what
wouldn't have been toxic become toxic).
I have had dogs and cats all my life (50+ years) and never had one have a allergic reaction to dips (now
spot ons), collars (not used these days-5 years after spot ons came out I started using only them), etc.
Four things I can think of may be why some or more animals are having reactions.
1. Just like some people cannot take aspirin with out having a reaction, some animals can tolerate things
others can't. Seems like more today are having reactions than those in the past ever had.
2. Batches made near the beginning of production or near the end could contain more of the product than
those made in the middle. Read that somewhere and again when it applied to some tong shoes made in
China sold through Wally World burning peoples feet (happened to me when I was younger through way
before China entered the picture).
3. Something that has fallen off the chart now, but the pet food poisoning case from China that they claim
they have done for years now may just have an effect on flea products and the overall health of our animals.
If it is unknown why it killed some and not others, it is also unknown what effect it presented on others when it comes to flea products.
4. Mixing natural flea remedies with chemical remedies is a definite danger from what I read in the past. Thus
if you spray your yard/house with a chemical based remedy and then use a natural remedy on the pet, they are still getting exposed to both.
It seems nothing is safe for them- shots, flea meds, or past year even feeding.
As for a safer product to use one thing I have used in the past and never had any known problems with was using Seven Dust (% depended on type of animal). Even they change formulas so I no longer know if it is
safe. One thing it doesn't work on is mosquitoes. Fire ants killed off a lot of ticks and fleas. I have seen a
couple of ticks though now and have flea outbreaks in the spring and fall. Derm. dust I have heard is safe
but if it is dangerous for you to breath (cuts up your lungs) then I don't think it would be any safer for the pets lungs. Another thing that will kill fleas is just a soapy soaking bath (kill caught fleas by putting them into a jar
of soapy water), but too many of those presents other problems. Doing that and treating their environment
might be better for older animals that tend to have more problems with chemicals.
I have lost a couple of dogs a long time ago due to a disease ticks carry that was brought back on dogs from Vietnam. And some dogs are highly bothered by flea bites to the point they will harm themselves and in severe infestations they can cause an animal to become anemic, etc. So we are hanged if we do and hanged if we don't. Living in the country I will have to hope the test will work, which due to some of their ages will not only be done when using a new product but every time since they are great at hiding their medical problems. I will occasionally treat the yard, but can't treat the rest of the land. Coons, opossums, rare occasions skunks come into the yard too thus it will always stay a never ending battle.
Kay 1/5/08
Oops forgot the fact the best time to apply this stuff is when you will be at home to monitor them (day off from work) and hours when the vet will be open and won't end up with late night emergency bill.
I have read that Sevin (carbaryl) is a potentially dangerous insecticide and I would NOT use it on or around
pets. Here are some links concerning its toxicity:
James TerBush
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The other day my dog was given frontline, he has a habit of lying on my bed. After about 15 minutes of my
going to bed that night I felt like I was on fire from my head to my knees. I started splashing cold water on
myself and it was not helping, my face started to swell and there was purple blotches all over me. This
lasted about 20 minutes. Could this be a reaction to the frontline? Please let me know.
Michael 1/5/08
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I took my 7 month old Shih Tzu, Sheba, to a new groomer on January 4, who said I should buy Frontline as
she suspected Sheba had fleas as the water turned brown when she bathed her. I hadn't noticed fleas and
her bath water is always brown as she plays in reddish brown dirt next door, but she had been scratching
and I didn't want her to be bothered by fleas so I stopped at an animal supply store. They didn't have Frontline but did have TriForce, which the clerk said she used on her dogs and loved it. I applied it as directed that
night and I am so sorry I didn't check it out online first. Sheba was drooling, couldn't stand up, was dragging
her body across the floor while turning her head from side to side, in short exhibiting the awful things others
have posted on your site. She was up all night, drooling and couldn't stop barking. In desperation I went online and found your website, thank the good Lord. She got bathed with Dawn detergent and I held her in my arms, wrapped in a dry towel, until she finally went to sleep. When awake she was lethargic but was able to eat and drink. However, she went outside to relieve herself only once and I worried about possible kidney damage.
Today is January 6 and I feel she is back to normal. My heart goes out to those whose pets suffered much
longer and to those who are now grieving. These are hideous products and need to be taken off the market.
I'll be using natural insect repellants in the future, such as essential oils recommended for use on pets.
By the way, the ingredients in TriForce are the same as in Sergeants Gold which someone posted earlier ~ 40% Cyphenothrin and 2% Pyriproxyfen.
I say let's get a class action suit going! We have to speak for our pets who can't speak for themselves.
Sherry 1/5/08
I wrote you on January 5 regarding my Shih Tzu, Sheba, and the product TriForce, which you immediately replied to and I thank you for that. You suggested I contact Sergeant's and I did. Below is their response denying any connection to the product TriForce. Interesting.
Dear Ms. [deleted],
Thank you for contacting Sergeant's Pet Care Products. TriForce is not a
Sergeant's Brand Product. I would suggest contacting the company that
makes this product to advise them of your concerns. If you are having
difficulty finding the manufacturer of this product, you may want to
contact the store where you purchased this item at. They should be able
to advise you the name of the manufacturer.
Kindest regards,
Danielle Farnsworth
Sergeant's Pet Care Products
Consumer Affairs Department
Hi Sherry,
Thank you very much for forwarding me that information! I am going to forward it to the EPA because
something isn't right here. Agri Laboratories Ltd., Inc. claims to be the manufacturer of TriForce Canine Squeeze-On. Here is their website for TriForce:
Here is Agri Laboratories phone number: 1-877-734-7565
Here is their main website, which describes their company:
As you can see, Agri Laboratories is a "marketing and sales company" that "represents the interests of the
top manufacturers in the industry."
So, who is the REAL manufacturer of TriForce?
The EPA Registration number of TriForce Canine Squeeze-On is 2517-80-83333 (2517-80 is the company
it is registered to, and 83333 is a product number created by the manufacturer).
What is the EPA Registration number of Sergeants Pet Care Products? 2517-80
I would contact Agri Laboratories and let them know what happened. I would also ask them to reimburse
any vet expenses. If they refuse, I would contact Sergeants again and let them know that one of their DISTRIBUTORS (Agri Labs) is refusing to help you.
Please let me know if you find out more information about this because it will be very helpful to others.
James TerBush
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I noticed fleas on one of my two dogs earlier today. I believe the fleas were brought into the house by a
friend's dog who I dog-sat a week or so ago. I figured the fleas would probably die within a couple of days because both of my dogs are on Sentinel but I didn't want my dogs to suffer through bites until that happened
so I purchased Sergeant's Gold Flea& Tick Squeeze-On For Dogs at my local Wal-mart earlier today. Within
an hour or so of applying 1/3 of the application to each of my dogs I noticed that the youngest one was drooling excessively and not being her usual active self. She was just sitting and watching me and her brother, which is TOTALLY the opposite of how she is. I immediately grew concerned because of the drooling. I wondered if
it was some sort of allergic reaction and something told me to wash it off of her... after reading the posts on
hartzvictims.org/ I'm thanking God that I felt the need to use something stronger than her regular shampoo
and used dishwashing liquid (I happened to have Dawn on hand). It's a few hours later and she's no longer drooling but she's still not being herself.
As for my other dog, he started gagging up globs of spit about an hour ago and is very restless. I've washed
him with Dawn several times as well and I'm praying that my furry loved one is ok by morning. I'm extremely
distressed and concerned for my pet's health and I'm ticked that these problems are sold OTC with the only warning being a possible rash or hair loss. These allergic reactions (I'm assuming that's what they are) can
be life or death situations and consumers should know to watch out for these symptoms and given instructions on what to do when they arise.
My vet is open on Sundays so we will be making a visit tomorrow. And I plan on writing Sergeant's and
Wal-mart to make them aware of my horrible experience with this product.
R. McCoy 1/12/08
Orlando, FL
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Hello, I just wanted to say that your website has opened my eyes! I applied Seargeants gold flea and tick squeeze-on, on my two boston terriers, Rocky and Daisy, tonight and now they are sitting in a cage at the emergency vet! I have spent all night worried sick about it and I pray that they are going to be ok! I don't
know how this stuff is still on the shelves!!! I honestly thought that I was safe buying this product and never
once thought that my dogs would be in a life threatening situation over this! After I applied the medication
my dogs starting vomitting and wheezing, I wondered if they could have had an allergic reaction to the
Seargeants gold flea and tick squeeze-on so I called the Emergency vet because my vet is not open on
the weekends and they said that it is extremley toxic and to bring the dogs in immediately. They took the
dogs right away and told me that Daisy has a pnemonia because she aspirated some of her vomit into
her lungs and that they are both terribly sick, and Rocky could possibly have a pnemonia too. They told
me that the dogs needed to stay there over night and they both would need IV's. Also their skin is incredibly
red. (I did not know that it could cause sores, I have not checked the spots where the medicine was applied).
Their ears look like they have been burned and it's in their eyes somehow!!! Rocky is worse off with the
irritation because he couldn't even open one of his eyes and he keeps pawing at his eye, which is probably
spreading it worse! They are both going to need x-rays and their eyes flushed, and they need to wear those
big collars! The vet told me she did not know if Daisy is going to make it through the night!!!! I already had
to pay $600 just to get them into the place and they gave me an estimate of $620-$825 for each dog!!!
And that is if I get to take them home tomorrow!!! I am willing to do whatever I can for my dogs! I am so
worried about my dogs and I am dumbfounded that this company is making money from mistreatment to
animals!!! Like the other victim said, it is not a rare reaction if it happened to all three of her dogs! And it
is not rare if it happened to both of mine! Seargeants gold flea and tick squeeze-on company know that
they are hurting animals and they are still putting these products on the shelves. I am going to contact the
EPA, Seargeants gold flea and tick squeeze-on , and Hannaford Bros Supermarket (where I purchased
this poison!). I will try to update you on how my dogs are doing. Keep up the great work!!
Ashlee 1/12/08
Thanks you for your reply! Luckily my little guys recovered quite well (so far) but they both need eye medication for about a week and I am watching them for sores and other adverse reactions. They are extremley lethargic and still not eating, although the vet said that is common and they will start eating again slowly, and to just call
if it persists. The vet said that Daisy was so anxious and crazy, she was running around her cage like a maniac and when they opened her cage she popped out! They had to sedate her because she was acting so crazy! They were treated with different medications, including prednisone (a steriod!) and had to have IV's and
elizabethian collars! I am so devasted over the whole thing but I am just thankful they are home now. I contacted Sergeants and as soon as I told her what happend she wanted all my contact info and wanted me to send the
package and receipt to them! I told her I will send her copies of everything. All she said was that they would reimburse my bill after they investigate the situation. I mentioned all the people I have found on the internet with similiar stories to mine and she said she has never heard of this happening before!!! I was like YEAH RIGHT!!! She said that I should have just bathed the dog and put Vit E on them!! Anyways I appreciate your site and your reply! I am going to contact the EPA and I will make sure to fight Sergeants tooth and nail for my $1300 vet bill!!!!!!!!!
Ashlee 1/14/08
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In November 2008 we brought our 11 year old Jack Russell Terrier, Lucy, to our vet for fleas. He suggested Frontline, and applied her first dosage. By the end of the day I noticed she didn't want to get out of her bed.
She had also received her rabies vaccine and I thought she may be sore. (sometimes children have sore muscles after vaccines and are lethargic) This went on all week. By the end of the week I called our vet and reported her behavior. I asked if her vaccines could have done this. He said he would consider the Frontline before he would consider the shots.
By this time Lucy had stopped eating and was walking as though her legs were extremely stiff.
I called Frontline and explained her condition. They said they never heard of this type of reaction, and that typically, people may only complain of mild rashes at site of application.
Her condition continued, however, sometimes she would appear as though she was recovering, only to get listless again. (I credit this to her great disposition)
By January her condition was worsening. She was vomiting and not eating at all. We brought her back to the
vet and he diagnosed her with jaundice. Something was causing her liver distress. Her eyes were yellow, as was the inside of her ears. ( She is a white dog, and I have since read that white dogs are more susceptible to toxic substances for some reason) Her body temp. was sub normal, and she had lost 4 lbs. (quite a bit for a
13 lb. dog)
The vet gave her a shot of cortisone and antibiotics. He also gave her a shot of B vitamins for liver support and told us to come back in 3 days. We came back 3 days later and he felt as though she had improved. The eyes were whiter, however she was very weak. He have her another dose of the same things as before, but this time gave us a tube of vitamins in a paste form. She was able to lick this off of our finger. It has been only 3 days since that last vet visit and we are praying she recovers. She is tolerating a teaspoon of cottage cheese every
3 to 4 hours and is still drinking water.
Lucy is a rare little dog. Her aim is to please us. I believe she has fought this for Us. I have called other vets
for their opinion, and they all have said that her condition was probably just a coincidence. We know better. Although she is 11 years old, she was as spry as a pup the day we brought her for her FRONTLINE application. By the end of that day she was a sick, weak dog.
I will write back and report how this turns out.
Toni 1/13/08
Chalfont, PA
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My dogs starting itching yesterday so I purchased Frontline for placement on their necks and back. Within
2 hours, my shih-tzu started running in and out the house and rubbing himself. Then he started scratching
almost uncontrollably. He would come to me and then jump from one piece of furniture to another looking for some spot that would give him some relief. The last time this happened, last month, we took him to the vet
when he starting panting and I thought he was having heart problems. The vet gave him a shot of prednisone
and sent him home for allergies. It took a week for Taz to act normal. I read your site on the internet and just
gave my dog a Dawn Bath. He is still miserable, but I hope this will remedy the problem. I will never put flea prevention on him again. I hope this works for him.
Rubinette 1/18/08
Brunswick, GA
My friend recently adopted two 8 week old Shih Tzu puppies. The male weighs 5 lbs. and the female weighs
3 lbs. Last week she took them to the vet for an examination, and they gave her two free sample vials of Frontline, but it came with NO INSTUCTIONS and NO PRECAUTIONARY INFORMATION. The Frontline
vials were for dogs weighing up to 22 lbs. Fortunately, my brother recognized the vials on her kitchen counter and warned her before she had a chance to use them. If she had put the Frontline on her puppies, the male would have received FOUR TIMES as much Frontline as a 22 lb. dog, and the female would have received SEVEN TIMES as much Frontline as a 22 lb. dog!!!
James TerBush
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I tried Promeris on my 3 dogs. I have 2 Shih Tzus, age 9 and one Schnauzer, age 14. Charlie, one of the Shih Tzus had a bad reaction to it. He was laying on our bed, like he normally does, but then started staggering
around, couldn't walk with his hind legs, pooped all over the place and vomited. He had the shakes and he ached all over. I could hear him moaning. I immediately took him to the vet who said that they had had similar
reactions in their dogs and others as well. He was given an antidote and I was told to wash the Promeris off
with Dawn. I did so, and he is fine now. The vet said as long as the other dogs were acting OK to leave it on them. I did for about 4 hours, until I came upon your site. When I started reading everything, I immediately washed the rest of the promeris off the other two dogs.
We do have a flea problem in our house, but I have a bug man coming tomorrow and we will find a better,
natural way to control fleas on the dogs - perhaps using essential oils. I will NOT have my dogs killed because
of something I put on them. Thank you for your informative site.
Sara in North Carolina 1/23/08
I wanted to keep you posted. I contacted Fort Dodge Animal Health, the makers of Promeris, and spoke to a veterinarian there, who said in their trials the symptoms I described were what happened when a dog ingested some of the Promeris. I said that that was possible since there were other dogs in the house who had Promeris on them. He transferred me to someone who took my report, and added it to my veterinarian's, who had called
in yesterday. They said they were glad that Charlie was better and to call if I had any other questions. I didn't
ask for reimbursement or anything -- my vet expenses were only $40 and my vet insurance will cover that. But man, clearly, this stuff is toxic. I won't be using it again.
Right now, I am using Borax in the carpets to treat the fleas that are there, and am using lemon essential oils
on the dogs to repel the fleas. None of the three have fleas on them.
Sara 1/25/08
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Thank you for allowing individuals that have observed multiple adverse side effect's from concluding that administering "K9 Advantix" is speculated, and I believe the cause of multiple and numerous side effect's
on dog's, small and large breeds from young pup's to well matured adults.
A little over a month ago a vet recommended K9 Advantix for any flea problems for my 13 year old Weimaranner's (brother / sister), though each dog didn't have any as they swim in the ocean daily. During
the month that pasted I noticed multiple tumors developing and minor skin issues; Biancha the sister with
hot spots and tumors on the under belly and Lars the brother with skin sores/scabs, blisters between the
toes and also tumors on the under belly.
For the last 13 years both Biancha and Lars have been extremely healthy and active, so observing
noticeable development of multiple tumors and skin issues on each has been very abnormal. Thinking to
myself, it's just old age for justification.
After bathing each I was going to apply another dose of K9 Advantix, I read the warning label on the
prescription and thought, "I should Google the side effects of this medication. Which lead me to your forum, reading the multiple detrimental stories individuals have posted, I decided not to apply any additional flea repellent specifically K9 Advantix.
I have concluded that this medication for flea repellent has possibly caused harm to my beloved dogs,
and warn any person who cares about their pet NOT TO USE THIS PRODUCT!
Todd 1/25/08
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Just wanted to report that I used Zodiac spot on flea killer on my cat. He pulled out his hair on his neck where
it was. I washed it off as soon as I noticed he was pulling his hair out from it but apparently it was too late. He stopped wanting to eat and drink and couldn't walk, he just layed around. I took him to the vet and he said he didn't know anything about the Zodiac products. He gave him a B12 shot and some special food for me to
feed to him with a syringe, I also had to give him water through a syringe. He lived about 6 days and then he died. He was healthy before I used the flea product and now he is dead. I feel so bad I put stuff on my cat
labled for cats and it KILLED HIM! They shouldn't be allowed to sell this stuff. I called the poisoin control on
the zodiac box and they said it probably wasn't poisoining from their product but it had to be the cat stays
inside. I really miss my cat we were close and things just have not been the same. I hate this company for
selling something that kills people's pets.
Roxanne 1/27/08
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My small white dogs had a terrible reaction to Advantage spot-on treatment, yet when we reported this to
the vets, they behaved as if this was an unheard-of problem. We felt so sorry for our dogs but got no advice
however we did wash off the dogs and that obviously helped them.
Problem is, the other spot-on treatment which our vet promotes, Frontline, seems to be ineffectual. We have paid out hundreds of dollars for minimal results.
Any advice/help would be welcomed!
Vera 2/3/08
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If your veterinary clinic is promoting a new product, it's wise to investigate it before using it on your pet.
I just learned that there is a brand new flea and tick control product on the market called Vectra 3D - made by
a brand new company called Summit VetPharm. The company is distributing this product exclusively through veterinarians. Before asking your vet if Vectra 3D is "right for your dog", consider this: Summit VetPharm is owned by the Sumitomo Corporation of America - the same corporation which owns the Hartz Mountain Corp.
The Senior Director of Veterinary Services at Summit VetPharm is Dr. Albert Ahn, who also happens to be
the Corporate Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer at the Hartz Mountain Corp.
James TerBush
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I bought the Sergeants Gold yesterday at Walmart. We are having a horrible time with fleas this year in
Florida. I had my dogs professionally groomed (I have a min.poodle, Bella and a Yorkie, Punky and a 65 lbs beagle/hound mix Trixie). I put the treatment on them all at 6pm by 630 the 2 little dog were acting bizzarre especially Bella, she was foaming at the mouth and acting like she was drunk or on a bad trip. Punky was rubbing his face everywhere, digging the carpet then becoming very lethargic. Trixie was just sleeping and occasionally coughing. I decieded to wash the treatment off all of them then called Sergeants. Well the rep immediately connected me to a woman who said she was not a rep for Sergeants but poison control type rep. (hhuuummm ya think they get ALOT of calls since she knew exactly what symptoms my dogs were having?)
They seemed to get better after I washed them but the rep said to wash them in Dawn to strip it off the dogs coat. Bella seemed to be having leg and body cramps still after washing but the other dogs, while still itchy (gave them a little benydryl) but acting much better. I was worried about Bella all night, she slept with me but couldn't get comfy till the benydryl kicked in. It is 5 am as I'm writing this and I'm glad to say that they are all better but still very skittish. I will NEVER put another flea product on these dogs unless I know it has no Pesticides. I am running to the store to return the unused box (I'm keeping the others till I know everybody is
ok.) and getting some Brewers Yeast and apple cider vinegar. If that doesn't work I'll get the fine tooth combs out and keep everyone very short haired till this bad flea season is over. I know I used the OTC stuff but so
many of you use the vet recommended ones and still have the same issues. I have used the Advantage in
the past and the dogs had the running around trying to wipe it off symptoms and felt like they were running fevers. I never thought anything of it. Thinking the vet knew best? My dogs are my babies, I never thought anything like this would happen, I'm so glad I washed them off quickly. Hopefully everyone will be alright.
Terry 2/12/08
Florida
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Last night we applied Sergeants Gold Flea prevention. Within thirty minutes our dog Rylan, was drooling uncontrollably, vomiting. We immediately took her to the emergency animal hospital.On the way to the
hospital, she started having seizures. The vet said it was absolutely from the Sergeant's and that she has
seen this before. I cannot BELIEVE this product is still on shelves. Rylan stayed over night, and recieved an IV,and meds. She is very sleepy, and groggy today. The whole vet visit cost, $500.00 . But she is our baby,
and we would have paid anything to help her. This is Definitely not the end of this!!
Toni 2/13/08
Lakeland,Fl.
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Hi James,
It's me again. (see Robert 8/21/07 in Vol. 16)
I called Sergeants back in October and November, but they never returned my phone calls. About a week
ago, I received a follow-up release letter stating that I had 31 days to respond, otherwise they would close
my claim. I called in this morning to speak with a Pamela Eby (Consumer Affairs), who had originally sent
all prior correspondence, but she "had stepped out". Instead, I spoke to a Danielle (can't remember her
last name) from Consumer Affairs. I stated that their offer was unacceptable, a mere 35% of the costs
related to the incident. Danielle claims they will only offer partial reimbursement since my dog was under
the weight requirement specified on their product, hence "misuse and overdose" on my part. I mentioned
that I had read about many cases where the pet owner used the correct sized dosage of this product, and
the pet still got sick. I also mentioned that when I called the NPIC they told me they had been getting calls
from people whose pets got sick off this product. So, I said, our case is not an isolated incident due to
"misuse and overdose". She said that she could have their committee review my case again, but that they would probably come to the same conclusion. I told her that I would either call or send a letter to Joel
Adamson, only to find out that he's retired. According to Danielle, they haven't elected a Senior VP, but
that Pamela Eby was the person to talk to.
At this point, I'm not sure whether to settle for the $38.47 (out of the $109.85 I spent). I understand that
there is that technicality about the weight specifications with this product, but I contend that my dog would
have probably still gotten sick if she was 9 lbs. Also, I feel that their product box is misleading to some
degree. The dog pictured on the box for the 9-20 lb. dosage doesn't look like it's 9 lbs. Alas, what do you
recommend I do?
Roberto 2/14/07
Thank you for the update.
I don't know if there is anything else that you can do to get Sergeants to reimburse all of your vet expenses. It wouldn't hurt to put a call into Pamela Eby and ask her to call you. If she cannot authorize the payment of your
vet expenses, ask to speak to her boss.
I am not familiar with the precautionary statements on the Sergeants Gold packaging. I know that it says "for dogs 9 lbs. to 20 lbs.", but I do not know if it specifically has any warnings regarding an overdose in dogs, or what symptoms (loss of appetite, neurological symptoms, loss of coordination, rapid breathing, seizures) are likely to occur following an overdose. If there are no warnings on the packaging regarding the possibility of
an overdose and its symptoms, then I don't see how Sergeants can say that you were negligent in using HALF
of one dose on your 7.6 lb. dog. If you had known that it had the potential to cause an overdose and its symptoms, YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE USED IT.
Even if Sergeants refuses to reimburse your vet expenses, your messages will be of great help to others
who may be thinking of using Sergeant's products.
James TerBush
Here's another suggestion. Since Sergeants sent you a letter giving you 31 days to respond, I would respond
to them IN WRITING and send it via Certified Mail with Return Receipt (gives you proof of mailing and proof of delivery). At the bottom of your letter, write "cc: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency".
I would also send a copy of Sergeant's letter and a copy of your reply to the U.S. EPA (please provide them
with the product registration number, which is EPA Reg. # 2517-80). The mailing address is:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pesticide Programs (Mail Code 7509C)
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Good luck.
James TerBush
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I've just finished reading over an hour's worth of posts on your site. I am dumbfounded. Not only do I feel horrible for putting my 3 cats and 2 dogs through the nightmare which is Sergeants Gold Flea Squeeze On - I also feel frustrated, angry and ignorant. One dog, Daisy experienced the exact symptoms most of the posters report: foaming, drooling, disoriented, hyper, vomiting, etc. I bathed her twice in Dawn and fed her water. Overall today she is much better. She's eating, peeing, pooping, and being playful.
What I don't understand is why Daisy still twitches and shakes her head every minute or so. What actually is the cause? What sensation is she experiencing? What can I do? My vet says he'll have to run tests see what is really going on, etc---just like so many other posts on here, it'll add up to big bucks and no real answer.
My cats are all lethagic, but no vomiting. They are eating, but being solitary. I feel horrible for putting them --and myself through this. I can get past a sleepless night nursing Daisy, my dog, back to health, but will Daisy get past long-term twitching and head shaking?
What does this poison actually do to them?? Any answers would be appreciated.
Thanks for providing a great community service--
Karen 2/19/08
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I don't usually apply flea control in the winter months but we were leaving on vacation and would be leaving our four dogs with my sister and her dogs. I didn't want a flea problem so I thought to be proactive and prevent the problem. I applied Biospot as recommended by dog size on Wed Jan 30. I have a cockapoo (Shar), husky, Golden retriver and shepard poodle mix. By wed night my Shar was lethargic. The other dogs had no visable signs of reaction. I had used fronline and biospot in the past and Shar has always been a little lethargic for a
day or two after the application but this is printed as a side effect and I didn't worry to much. Thur she had no more energy. Thur night she wouldn't eat dinner. Friday she was no better and didn't eat her breakfast either.
My husband stayed home with her from work to try and get her to eat. She refused. Friday night she was too weak to climb the stairs to bed. He carried her to bed and I promised her I would never put flea med on her again. Sat am I took her to the vet. She urinated just before we went in and her urine was bloody. She was diagnosed with Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia. They sent me home with steroids to give her and a recheck
of blood work in the morning. Sunday am her counts were so low she had to have a transfusion her skin and eyes was becoming yellow.. Monday she had a little more energy but still everytime she ate anything she
would vomit the yellow color was getting worse. Tue I took her home and she was on IV fluids all day. By tue night she was so weak she couldn't even sit up. I thought she was dying right here at home. We rushed her
to the vet and while she lay still, too weak to lift her head on the stainless steel table. She looking up at me
with her yellowed big brown eyes while the vet explained 90% of dogs with this Dx die and she was too weak
to fight and now she was just suffering. We lost her that night. Our hearts are broken. I unknowingly killed my baby girl. Anything I can do to help stop the sale of this poison I will do.
Pam (Shars Mom) 2/20/08
First let me thank you for direction in reporting the dangers of this poison that is so widely used and available
to animal owners. Also thank you for the very quick response. I have copied and sent out Shars story to the National Pesticide Information Center and to Farnam. In your return letter you asked me to also call Farnam
risk manager and also notify the EPA. Soon after your return mail I received a letter from Kellie Cook Farnam specialist. She asked me to contact the ASPCA 1-800-345-4735 and give them my information. After a lengthy time on hold I spoke to a representative who took all the information. She then forwarded me to a Vet by the name of Dr Hayes. She went over the details again. She said this did not cause my dogs death..I told her I was
positive it was the cause. She began to speak very loudly saying flea medication does not cause autoimmune disease. I told her I did not want to argue what did or didn't. I know it did cause her death and I just want to report the incident. She said yelling into the phone IT WILL BE REPORTED BUT IT DID NOT CAUSE .......I hung up
on her. I then called Kellie Cook Farnam specialist and spoke with her on the phone. I explained again the details of Shars death. She was very pleasant and said it will be reported to the EPA. I will also email and send out a written letter to the EPA. Have I covered all the bases in reporting this terrible tragedy? If I can call or mail anyone else to save another from this nightmare, just let me know. Thank you again.
Pam 2/20/08
The ASPCA Poison Control Center promotes itself as being "the premier animal poison control center in North America." I spoke with one of their veterinarians a few months ago in regards to adverse reactions caused by Bio Spot. He tried to tell me that Bio Spot does not cause adverse reactions in dogs - only in cats. I explained to him that it almost killed my dog and asked him to visit my website.
I use to think that the ASPCA Poison Control Center provided a valuable service, but I believe they have sadly become a mouthpiece for the pesticide industry. They receive money from several manufacturers of flea control products (including the maker of Bio Spot) to provide free poison-related phone assistance to their customers. That has great potential to be a conflict of interest.
James TerBush
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I would like to know if anyone has used the new product Promeris on their dogs and had adverse effects.
We have a 4 year Basset Hound that suffers from demodex mange since he was a puppy. Each time the
mite become active, we use Ivermectin and it takes care of the problem. The first sign that Brody's demodex
is active is that he begins loosing the hair around his eyes and ears. Each time we start him on the Ivermectin, we see the hair coming back and signs that it is working within 2 weeks. In Dec. of this year, our vet told us
that Promeris was supposed to work on dogs with this type parasite so we tried it. We applied one application and a 2nd application 2 weeks later. We did not see any results, so 2 weeks later we went back to the vet and started him on the Ivermectin again. Since then, he has so many bloody scabs on his face, is getting pink spots all over his feet, and can't quit scratching. He looks so sick. The vet is baffled as to what is going on. His skin scrape for the demodex is clear, so the Ivermectin did what it was supposed to. The vet says something else is going on, so we did a skin biopsy last week. We are still waiting on the results. It has just occurred to us that we have never had this type reaction to the demodex before, and now realize that all the severe scratching, and gross skin lesions did not start until we used the Promeris. It was just approved on the market in the fall, so I haven't been able to find any consumer alerts from using this product. Has anyone heard of similar skin problems from use of Promeris?
Lynne 2/20/08
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As I write this my 4 yr old cat is at the vets after what I am convinced is poisoning by Frontline. I applied the Frontline on Tuesday, since then she became withdrawn and stopped eating, was confused, growling, wobbly
on her feet. I noticed some diahorrea yesterday. I raised my concerns with my Vet today and said I was convinced it was the Frontline (She asked me if the cat had possibly been poisoned).
She has been admitted, initial test results show a PCV of 10, she has been diagnosed with IMHA and is on a drip and has had a steroid injection.
My vet was adamant that Supermarket flea treatments could have caused this but not Frontline as it is not absorbed systemically. A quick search on the net has soon proved this to be untrue. When I speak with the
vet tomorrow I am going to insist she report this to Merial and I will be doing the same. In the meantime I am racked with guilt and anger at poisoning my own cat and am praying she will be OK.
John 2/23/08
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I used the Sargents 5 in one on my cats- for 5lbs and larger cats. I watched them for about two hours to keep them from licking each other. Neither of them got sick, but they are 15 and 22lbs cats. My vet has used Frontline and Advantage on them before. They suggested using more than one or a small dog dose on my larger cat, but
I have refused that. I have found in the past that the small dose doesn't last as long on my larger cat, but I'm still not willing to 'guess' at the correct dosage for his size. I'm wondering if the size of my cats has protected them from becoming sick from any of these meds. Well, that and my reluctance to 'double dose' my bigger 'baby'.
Dawn 2/24/08
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(Below is email that I sent to the Director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine)
From: "James TerBush" <james@elversonpuzzle.com>
To: <bdunham@cvm.fda.gov>
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 1:20 PM
Subject: Topical Flea & Tick Treatments
Dear Dr. Dunham,
I would like to encourage the FDA-CVM to figure out a way for it to regulate all topical flea and tick treatments
for pets - especially those products that are "prescribed" and sold as "flea medication" by veterinarians. Most of these products are currently regulated by the EPA, but the EPA is ineffective in monitoring these products for adverse events once they have been approved for sale, and they are grossly ineffective in preventing false or misleading advertisements (i.e. gentle, nonsystemic) for these products.
The FDA regulates topical lindane products that are used to treat ectoparasites such as scabies and lice. Your agency also regulates Pfizer's Revolution and Bayer's Advantage Multi - both of which are topical treatments for the control of fleas and internal parasites. The average consumer has no idea that a few of these products are regulated by the FDA and the rest are regulated to a lessor degree by the EPA. When people take their sick pets to the veterinarian, I believe they have a right to expect that any drug that is prescribed to them, including flea medication, has been FDA approved.
I see no reason why the FDA-CVM should not be responsible for regulating all topical flea and tick treatments - especially since these products pose serious health risks to people and pets.
Sincerely,
James TerBush
Website Administrator for:
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Sadly my neighbor's doggie died within minutes of her putting on the Zodiac flea collar. He was a 7 month
old yorkie terrier, and I am very sorry about all the furry victims in this web site.
Anonymous 2/26/08
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My beloved Miniature Schnauzer Pepper who is 10 years old was seen by our vet on Saturday. She has
the mange that was being treated with Ivomec. She was still having problems with her skin and he advised
Promeris which is to be applied every 2 weeks for 6 weeks then monthly per manufacturer instructions for
treatment of the mange.I applied the medicine and within hours she was not herself and her coordination
was off. She then began having seizures. I washed her with shampoo but she continued to have seizures.
The next morning I took her to the vet because she was still having seizures. He bathed her a 2nd time and
placed an IV to saline lock. He took her home with him for observation. This morning the good news is no
further seizures and she can come home today. BUT I will NOT be using anything like this on her again. It
was horrible seeing her go through this over something that I applied to her albeit it was an attempt to
make her better. I am unsure of what the future holds for her and my heart breaks.
Dawn 3/3/08
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Hi James.
Have you heard anything about this product?
I stumbled onto your website while researching Vectra 3D. Our vet is now recommending over Frontline
(which we have used for years). I called each Merial and VetPharm respectively about their products, and
with exception of using different active ingredients, I have no idea.
Based on my research, I am a little concerned since Vectra 3D has only been out not even a year, they are offering cash prize incentives to Vet to sell their products.
Thanks for any info you may have.
Laura 3/6/08
I have real concerns about ALL veterinarian-prescribed flea/tick prevention products. Many vets claim that
these products are safer than the over-the-counter products because they do not get into the bloodstream.
That simply is not true. Some of the pesticide in these products is absorbed through the skin or accidentally ingested and can cause symptoms ranging from vomiting and weight loss to seizures. They may also be a
possible cause of immune-system related diseases. That is why these products warn you to use the correct dosage for your pet and not to get it on your hands when applying it.
Vectra 3D is a new product that is being marketed exclusively by veterinarians. Vets like being the exclusive distributor of products because they have better profit margins. The manufacturer of Vectra 3D and the Hartz Mountain Corporation (maker of over-the-counter flea/tick products) are both owned by the Sumitomo Corp.
of America. In fact, Vectra 3D was created by the Chief Scientific Officer at Hartz.
Vectra 3D contains almost as much permethrin (a pesticide) as many over-the-counter flea/tick products.
There was a time when the veterinary community was critical of flea/tick products that contained a large percentage of permethrin because of its potential to cause adverse reactions, particularly in cats that were accidentally treated with it or that came into close physical contact with treated dogs. Now that vets have
become the purveyors of this poison (with products like K9 Advantix and Vectra 3D), you don't hear those
concerns anymore.
There are several links on my website that discuss ways to control fleas and ticks without using pesticides.
I encourage everyone to read them, and only use a pesticide product as a last resort.
James TerBush
Website Administrator for:
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When using Bio Spot, one of my cats had vomiting spells after each use, that lasted about a week. I have discontinued its use on all my cats. It didn't affect my dog, but it wasn't very effective either.
Julie 3/7/08
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I wish so badly that I had seen this web site while I was doing research on this new "miracle" five way flea medication. What a joke five ways to make your dog miserable/dead is more like it, and my poor little dachshund almost died tonight. I had recently given Tigger our 17 week old puppy his bath and the fleas
were right back on him again. We live in the country so he's outside with us alot. I have used advantix and frontline for years on and off again and thought I would try something new. Well we put the Triforce on late
at night because the little guy was scratching so bad, another mistake, I guess you should wait until the vets' office is open to try a new medication because within a half hour the little guy was running around the house
like mad, jumping on couch to chair to my lap and up on my daughter, he was twitching (I really think he was having several series of small seizures), started having difficulty swallowing, first his mouth started foaming
then drool in a steady stream, he continued to twitch, shake his head, his little ears got red inside, he acted
like he was choking and I was sure he was going to stop breathing any minute. This was not only traumatic
for him but for us humans as well. Lucky for us we have an emergency vet open 24 hours a day. Never have
I ever had to call or go to a vet at 3:00am, we have horses and we keep emergency meds for colic and have been lucky. But go we did and $119.00 later the little guy is sleeping now, but still twitching and drooling his blanket gets soaked pretty quick. Now I'm worried about dehydration, he's not drinking and all that drool...
And the vet I went to simply said, "Use Advantage next time, I know that one is safe." Yeah right! After
reading all the stuff here on your website, I'm pretty sure the vet knew exactly what was going on but she
sure played dumb, which is really sad. It's really funny how the very first thing they told me before I took him
in was be sure to wash him in dawn dish soap first. They acted like they didn't know what could be wrong but
that's crazy, why else would she tell me to wash him first.
I didn't mean to go on and on but I was going to make a copy of this and send it to Triforce, and whoever else would listen, but in the middle of this I continued to read other postings on your website. Apparently no one seems to know the manufacturer of Triforce. I would really like to know if something has been discovered more recently. I just don't see how this continues. I agree that there should be some sort of class action suit at least. You see there's more to the story, I have a 14 yr old Pekingese whom I put this same stuff on about 6 mo ago and I didn't make the connection but she has had trouble walking since, her hind legs became totally paralyzed for about a week, I mean she literally couldn't walk and then gradually came back enough for her to walk, but
she can't run and she slips and slides around and is very unsteady. I would never have made the connection
had I not seen these postings, I am very sad because I continued to use this terrible product and have probably been making my poor old girl sicker every month.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions and I will continue to read the posting on your website. Thanks for your help.
Ingrid in Florida 3/17/08
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Last night at about 7:30 I washed my 16 month old miniature schnauzer girl, Pearl. I then applied one tube
of Sergeants [Gold Squeeze-On] Flea & Tick drops to her back (correct dosage and weight). At about 3 this morning she woke me and my husband up by thumping on the carpet with her leg because she was trying to scratch her back. We examined her and she also would keep jumping, twitching and trying to bite her back.
My husband washed her and tried to scrub all of the drops off of her b/c the drops were the only thing that
could be attributed to her problem (i.e. the only change in her normal routine). She still acted the same so
my husband stayed up all night with her on the couch scratching the affected area. After I got to work this morning I Googled "reactions to sergeants flea and tick" and found your website. I then called my husband
and he took Pearl to the vet. Our vet said that he had seen this before and thought that because she hadn't
had any seizures we washed the drops off in time. He said her temperature was good but her eye reaction
time was a little delayed. He gave her 2 shots (I'll email you later to tell you what they were b/c I'm at work
and my husband has the vet bill) and some powder to put on her back. My husband has already called Sergeants and they want us to send in our vet bill and the rest of the drops. What really worries me is that
we put the same drops on my other male miniature schnauzer over a week ago but he seems to not have
any problems! Also, our vet told my husband that the reason he exclusively sells K-9 Advantix is because it works with the dogs natural skin oils to protect all over the skin; as opposed to the other products which are basically concentrated flea & tick spray, that accordingly gets absorbed into the blood stream and poisons
the animals. Your website is truly invaluable, thank you so much.
Courtney 3/17/08
Wow thanks for such a prompt response! Yes I did use Sergeant's Gold Squeeze-On for Dogs. My vet gave Pearl a shot of Atropine and Vetalog; those shots in addition to the office call totaled $74.00. Judging by some of the horror stories on your website, we got off on the relatively cheap side. Pearl is still acting drowsy and like she feels just crummy; but it is a huge improvement over yesterday. I am just so thankful I found your site and
my husband was able to get her help so quickly. I don't even want to imagine the alternative.
I'm sending Sergeant's a letter, a copy of my vet bill, and the rest of their drops today; I hope they'll do the right thing. Again, thanks for getting back to me so quickly, have a great week.
Courtney 3/18/08
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We used Sargents Silver flea and tic for 21 - 30 lb dogs on our little [26 lb.] Lasha mix. On 2/13/08 in the evening. Within the hour the little guy was acting strange. Whimpering, twitching, Muscle spasms etc. The wife was bathing him at 12:30 am to try to get this application off him. That night I held the little guy in my arms all night, his legs were in violent spasms, and he was crying. In the am my wife called our vet to try to get him in,
no luck as to a bovine TB alert ( we live in a farm community ) all vets busy with large animals.
We called Sargents, and were asked if he had started convulsing as yet. Fortunately not, still having spasms, crying, can't or wont walk, eat, drink. Told to wash dog in dish detergent, Twice. ( we had washed in baby shampoo ) Wife and I washed the little guy, ( twice ). Not much for improvement. The wife held him for about
four hours, soothing and calming him. Rubbing his legs. The spasms slowed and were less violent. We all
slept that night. As of today 2/18/08 he seems to have returned to normal. Our concern is there any lasting effects from this reaction?
We will not be using any flea medication on our animals from here on out. Why aren't there any warnings about reactions on the product package. We were lucky. How about the others. We are telling all our friends who are animal lovers about this.
B.J.T. 3/18/08
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Thank you for your website. Our dog had been itching and scratching a lot lately and as it's spring, I assumed
it was fleas. So Yesterday, I bought the 21 to 39 lb. Sergeant Gold Flea and TIck. I've always used Hartz before on our dogs and cats with no problems but they were out of Hartz and this was on sale (guilt). I applied it as directed to the back of our 29 lb. 3 year old Rat Terrier Snickers last night. He woke us up in the night, whining, scratching, shaking his head and rubbing his back on the floor and under the bed. We assumed the fleas were just agitated from the medicine and agitating him, so we petted and scratched him and shut him out of the
bedroom and went back to sleep.
This morning I went online and found your site and followed the advice of the posters and bathed him in
Dawn and lukewarm water and gave him a chewable Benadryl. Then I called the emrgency number on the
Sergeant's package. She was actually very caring and professional and admitted readily it sounded like an
allergic reaction, she took the package info and my info and gave me a case #. SHe said to bathe him two
more times with Dawn, apply vitamin E oil and cold compresses, and to call our vet if he got worse or got
any other symptoms. So, that's what we're doing today.
Laura 3/19/08
Escondido, CA
Thank you very much for your follow up. I did take Snickers to the vet because his eyes and gums were red
and he was drooling, plus the itch....they bathed him 3 more times with Dawn and a medicated shampoo and gave him shots of cortisone, benadryl and atropine. Then they sent me home with antibiotics and prednisone AND advantage for the fleas, which they promised was safe and a different formulation than Sergeants. He
is MUCH better now and resting peacefully. It came to about $250.for the vet and meds...do you really think Sergeants would reimburse me? One thing I did notice was that I applied the Sergeants all the way from his neck to the base of his tail....like I used to do with the Hartz OTC...when I looked at the package again there
was a dime sized picture that showed to stop midway down the dog's back - I assume so they wouldn't lick it, like he did.....thank you again for your website - it helps when you're panicked to get some good first aid
advice and support. Keep up the good work!
Laura 3/19/08
I just read the fine print on Sergeant's website and noticed that they say to apply it "as a stripe from the back
of the neck to a point midway between the neck and tail." If stopping midway between the neck and tail is necessary to prevent a life-threatening reaction, Sergeants should do more to warn people about it (especially when other OTC products recommend applying it from the base of the neck to the tail).
James TerBush
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(Below is email that I sent to the EPA on 3/20/08)
Dear Mr. Lesher,
I received a letter from you dated October 2, 2007, in response to my complaint against Bayer for using the words "gentle" and "trusted" in advertisements to describe their K9 Advantix and Advantage flea control products. In my opinion, the use of the words "gentle" and "trusted" are synonymous with the word "safe"
and therefore it should be construed as a safety claim, which is not allowed under FIFRA. Can you please
let me know the status of your investigation?
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
James TerBush
Website Administrator for:
(Below is a response that I received from the EPA on 3/26/08)
Dear Mr. TerBush:
Thank you for your 3/25/08 e-mail. EPA Region 7 is continuing to investigate the possible safety claims
made by the Bayer Company regarding their K9 ADVANTIX and ADVANTAGE pet products. The Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), is the federal statute that regulates the sale and or distribution and use of pesticides in the United States. This matter is currently under review and we will
inform you of the results when our investigation is complete.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact me at (913) 551-7054 or by e-mail at lesher.mark@epa.gov. Thank you for your concern for the safe use of pesticides in the U.S.
Mark K. Lesher
Environmental Scientist
Toxics & Pesticides Branch
Water, Wetlands, & Pesticides Division
U.S. EPA Region VII
901 North 5th. Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-551-7054
lesher.mark@epa.gov
(Below is email that I sent to the EPA on 3/28/08)
Dear Mr. Lesher,
I am disappointed, but hardly surprised, that it has taken your investigation over five months to reach a conclusion. I thought that it would have been a simple matter to resolve. Once again, here is the question: Does federal law (FIFRA) allow manufacturers to use "gentle" and "trusted" on labels or in advertising or collateral literature to describe their pesticide products? What information do those statements convey
to consumers?
Here is information on the EPA's website regarding safety claims:
Here are excerpts:
"As defined in FIFRA Section 2(q)(1)(A), a pesticide is misbranded if its labeling bears any statement, design or graphic representation which is false or misleading. FIFRA Section 12(a)(1)(E) provides that it is unlawful for any person to distribute or sell any pesticide which is misbranded. EPA’s regulation, at 40 CFR 156.10(a)(5), provides examples of statements that are considered to be misbranded; such as:"
"Safety claims of the pesticide, or its ingredients, including statements such as “trusted,” "safe," "nonpoisonous," "noninjurious," "harmless" or "nontoxic to humans and pets" with or without such a qualifying phrase as "when used as directed.” "
"Advertising and collateral literature or verbal claims for the product must not substantially differ from any
claims made on the label or labeling. See FIFRA § 12(a)(1)(B). In other words, if a claim is not on the label or substantially differs from what appears on the label (or any part of its distribution or sale which for example appears on a brochure), it cannot be made in advertising."
Here is Bayer's website for Advantage:
Here is an except:
"Since our launch 10 years ago, millions of pet owners have used gentle, effective Advantage to combat flea infestation. Ask your veterinarian for Advantage flea control by name."
Here is another Bayer website for Advantage:
Here are excerpts:
"Is Advantage a potential hazard to pets?"
"No. Advantage is backed by extensive and thorough domestic animal safety studies which show even when administered at five times the target therapeutic dosage for three consecutive days, cats and dogs experienced no adverse effects.* *Bayer Domestic Animal Safety Studies"
"Is Advantage gentle enough to use on puppies and kittens?"
"Advantage is so gentle it can be used on puppies as young as seven weeks and kittens as young as eight weeks."
"Can Advantage be used on dogs and cats in households with small children?"
"Yes. Advantage is backed by human and animal safety studies, so you don't have to worry about exposure to you or your family. Even at elevated doses shortly after treatment, there is no significant exposure to people from petting an Advantage treated pet. Advantage dries quickly and is gentle enough to use with households with small children."
Here is a Bayer website for K9 Advantix:
Here are excerpts:
"Tough on parasites. Gentle on dogs."
"K9 Advantix is gentle enough for puppies as young as 7 weeks of age and dogs of any weight."
It should be noted that Bayer is not the only manufacturer that uses "gentle" and "trusted" to describe their flea/tick prevention products.
Here is Merial's website for their Frontline flea/tick prevention product:
Here are excerpts:
"GENTLE. Gentle enough to use on puppies and kittens 8 weeks of age or older without weight restrictions"
"TRUSTED. Vet's #1 choice for long-lasting flea and tick protection"
Here is Fort Dodge's website for ProMeris for Dogs:
Here is an excerpt:
"Gentle enough for dogs and puppies 8 weeks and older"
Here is product literature for Summit VetPharm's Vectra 3D:
Here is an excerpt:
"Safety – gentle enough for puppies as young as 7 weeks."
The statements "gentle" and "trusted" are often used to describe products that are formulated for babies. In my opinion, these statements should be prohibited from advertising and collateral literature for pesticide products because it conveys a degree of safety which does not exist.
I very much look forward to learning the results of your investigation.
Sincerely,
James TerBush
Website Administrator for:
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After applying Sentry Pro XFC for 2 successive months, my husband and I realized that it was causing our
dogs to have symptoms similar to those cited on your webpage. My poodle experienced breathing problems and uncontrollable twitching. My cocker displayed also displayed the twitching, and was unusually agitated. Thanks for your site. We're not using these products again!
Shauna 3/27/08
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My dog Libbie died of IMHA on Monday, March 24, 2008 two days after I administered Frontline Plus. My
guilt is overwhelming because I had read this website before but since she had never had any kind of trouble with Frontline, I decided to go ahead and use it. We are in tick country and I didn't want fleas in my house. (What I wouldn't give for that problem now.) I have been researching nonstop and what I can come up with
is this: I hadn't given her any Frontline since November. But sometime around Thanksgiving she became arthritic. They put her on Osteo-3 and for a time seemed to be better. First of March very bad arthritis,
asthma attacks, (she was asthmatic but hadn't had an attack for a year). Anyway, I went ahead and gave
her Frontline because they had told me at the vets they already were seeing ticks in dogs. She bled to
death 48 hours later. Because of her weak immune system, I am sure this is what did it. She was my life --
I would have gladly given my life to save hers and yet, I took her life. This is unbearable.
Becky 3/27/08
Illinois
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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.
