Please note that this Message Board is no longer being updated.
All new messages are being posted at our new site at
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 have a 17 month old Chihuahua who just visited the vet two weeks ago and got a clean bill of health. Yesterday,
I went to apply Advantix on him, and he hid under the bed. He has acted like this before when he realized what I
was going to do. I was able to get it on him.
Today, he started acting very strange. He came running into the house from outside, trying to catch his breath,
almost like he was having an asthma attack. He just couldn't seem to catch his breath. He was very labored in
his breathing. It took about 30 minutes for this "attack" to stop.
Has there been any reports to this type of side effect from Advantix? Is there any websites you can direct me to?
Malinda 9/17/08
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I have a 3 1/2 year old Shiba Inu who we just noticed last week was having what we thought were hot spots. I
now have put a few things together and realized that the dark area at the base of her neck and down her back
is probably a reaction from Bio Spot. I put the product on her on August 18. Although she did not have immediate
physical reaction to it she has been lethargic, hasn't been eating and gosh in the last 2 or 3 days most of her
normally shedding hair is just gone in spots. In addition I have bathed her twice in the last week and she
continues to smell pussy, have red and flakey oozy skin. The most obvious is a black spot that looks like a
burn right where I put the Bio Spot!
My dog is in an extremely controlled environment and quite honestly is kept safer than some children. She does
have some extreme sensitivities being the "exotic" dog that she is which is why we have never changed foods,
shampoo and rarely needed a flea treatment. However this year has been very warm and humid and I found
that we did need it. Against my better judgment I purchased Bio Spot from Petco. I very rarely use the large
commercial pet stores. I will be sending Petco and my local store information about this product and your
website. I am going to have them be educated on what is happening!
Here's the crazy thing... after the first week, the fleas were still crawling all over her! Her skin is burnt, pussy
and her hair is falling out, but the fleas were all over her!
Thanks for the website... we really need to do something about this and other chemical products that have
a history of an adverse reaction.
Michelle 9/21/08
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You asked for e -mails regarding possible side effects from flea prevention medicine. This past Saturday
I treated my 13 year old dog with Advantage, by Tuesday night she was vomiting frequently, wouldn't eat or
drink and had difficulty walking. Yesterday morning, she couldn't even stand up, I had pick her up and walk
her with a towel under her stomach. She also kept trying to hide, push her head against walls, etc.,, I left her
outside in my front yard for 15 minutes where she was sitting upright, when I went to check on her she was
laying down with her eyes open but not responding. I brought her in the house and laid her on the living room
floor, where my husband, daughter and I kissed and reassured her. She seemed relaxed and her breathing
wasn't labored, so we said good bye and left for work, school. When my husand returned home around noon,
our beloved dog Pebbles had died. I am not sure why she died, she had been fine with eating, walking until
I gave her the flea treatment. After reading this website, I am concerned that she died from the flea treatment.
Teresa 9/25/08
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Before I share my story I want to thank you for this web site. This web site was a saving grace this weekend. I
have a 2 yr. old female Maltese who was given K9 Advantix Friday morning. She weighs 7 lbs. Within hours I
noticed a change in behavior. At first she was very hyper and started twitching. After a couple of hours she lost
her appetite and became lethargic. She would not get up off the couch for 2 days. She would not drink or eat
for two days. She could not walk, vomited and had no energy. I immediately began surfing the internet and found
your web site. It was such a blessing and very informative. I actually became very angry reading about the flea
medication having a pesticide in it.
Reading about people spending alot of money and putting their loved ones thru a variety of tests was very eye
opening. I called our vet and told them her symptoms. As most of the articles had said - my vet came back saying
she did not think it had anything to do with the Advantix. I know for a fact it was. KD was perfectly fine before we
treated her. We bathed her Saturday morning and washed the neck.
It is now Sunday and she has regained her appetite and is drinking water but her walking is very limited. I pray
her ability to walk will come back. We are riding this out and today we are hopeful. Thanks to everyone who wrote
their story. It has educated me and hopefully will help me make better decisions regarding my dogs. I am spreading
the word to all my friends and family on these products listed on your website.
Thank you all,
Kim 9/28/08
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We bought BioSpot Pyrethrin Flea Dip for our dogs as we have had an unusual problem for fleas this year. We
had been treating them with Frontline without any result. I dipped one of the dogs, and 2 cats (that just happened
to be there at the time) last night because the dog (Rocky, 85lb Lab) had a vet appointment this morning and I
didn't want him to have all of those fleas on him at the vet, being ashamed that he had so many. With in 30mins
of treating him he started coughing, foaming at the mouth and vomiting. I did see him lick his front legs as I was
dipping him, no real big deal as I thought, because this stuff came right over the counter, SHOULDN"T hurt him.
Yeah right!.. I figured I would feed him extra well and give him plenty of fresh water to help absorb the chemicals,
which he ate and drank plenty of. He kept all of the same symptoms all night long. I did not give him a bath until
the morning after seeing this web site, and reading some of the results. He's had a bath and is felling much better,
symptoms appear to be going away. Then I realized that the cats were not around, and remembering that they
had a dose of the same dip. We finally found them resting in unusual places, with the same symptoms. they have
had a bath and appear to be doing better as well.
I thank this web site for the information on it, as I feel better that they will overcome this incident. I just wish I found
it before I applied the dip.
I feel sad for the losses due to these products, and felt I should share my event. I will contact the manufacturer
and the U.S. EPA.
I have already started telling others about these products and giving them a "heads up" before they use them.
Harvey & Kelly of Texas 10/1/08
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2 days ago Bio Spot was put on my dog. He has been ill since then. He has constant twitching in his back legs.
He refuses to eat or drink. He lays around and is in pain. I have been giving him water with salmon juice in it and
he will drink that. I have used Calms Forte, a homeopathic remedy to quell the trembling and it seems to work for
about 2 hours at a time. He hops around and tries too bite his hind legs and incessantly rolls in his bed as if to
rub off the toxin. I gave him a bath in Dawn detergent as was recommended. Bio Spot is just a nasty horrible
chemical that should be banned. I do not know when my dog will be healthy again, if ever.
Nancy 10/2/08
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Thank you so very much for your website. I just recently gave my cat a dose of Revolution after switching from
Advantage. She had an awful reaction and is now hospitalized. It was so great reading the information from
Nina's entry because it gives me hope that my 1 year old cat will be alright. She is currently hospitalized and
receiving IV fluids after I took her to the vet when she experienced vomiting, loss of appetite and desire for water,
muscle tremors, and lethargy. Immediately after applying the Revolution my cat was lethargic. I knew then she
was not ok. I took her to the vet a few days after I realized her sickness was not letting up and feared that she
would get dehydrated. The vet said that her symptoms sounded like some kind of obstruction in her intestines,
but that it could also be a rare adverse reaction to Revolution flea treatment. After performing X-rays, an
obstruction is not looking like the cause of her illness.
The vet advised that she would X-ray again in a day to see if perhaps she could see something then that may
be an obstruction. I firmly believe that her illness has been caused by Revolution flea treatment since we do not
buy toys that can be swallowed, we don't use Easter basket grass, and we do not have tinsel in our home. We
are very cautious about leaving little things around for her to swallow or choke on, and our cat does not have a
tendency to go through the trash. The vet just wants to rule out an obstruction as that can be fatal. Although I
am very concerned for my currently hospitalized kitty, hearing Nina's story gives me hope and information about
what direction to go in to get all of this handled if my vet rules imy cat's illness as an adverse effect of Revolution.
Thank you so much for your site!
Stacey 10/4/08
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Sergeant's Gold and Sentry Pro XFC "Allergic" Reactions and Deaths happen Daily see the below news report
and websites with all the fellow sufferers. Been through it with two Pugs, it was like watching them die for three
days straight. This is not an allergic reaction. There is something wrong with their Sergeant Products and instead
of taking it off the shelves they continue to make Pet Parents like You and I watch our pet children suffer.
Read more Sufferers Daily at the below sites:
Lorraine 10/5/08
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Just writing to chime in on the topic. I gave my 5 year old daschund Frontline Plus last Thursday and Sunday night
he had a terrible seizure with foaming at the mouth and major convulsing for about 1-2 minutes. He appeared to be
blind for about 5 minutes afterwards and was very disoriented as he was growling at me when calling his name and
was looking all around.. Anyways I got online and started researching a bit while monitoring him and have found
evidence in a very scientific book called Veterinary Toxicology by Ramesh C. Gupta that confirms that accidental
oral ingestion can cause seizures and CNS hyperexcitement.
Link to book..
Brian 10/6/08
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I had been using BioSpot on my Chinese Crested Powderpuff for about nine months. I opened a new 6 pck and
applied it on Sept 1. About 10 days later he went for his grooming and I noticed a reddish and black area on his
back. The hair here also was shorter and laid flat. Over the next week the discoloration spread irregularly all the
way to his tail...just along the ridge of his back. Nothing else seemed wrong with him. I called the company and
they referred me to their vet at poison control. Both the vet and the company spokesman seemed to be aware
of the problem, but were not overly concerned. They did offer me a refund and I have not used the product since.
I wonder if there is any truly safe flea preventive out there.
Arlene 10/7/08
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i have had so much trouble with fleas this summer so yesterday while at a very well known pet store i found
bio-spot. i used it on my perfectly healthy 2 1/2 yr old chihuahua, he seemed fine for the first few hours, then he
started shaking & twitching! i have been up all night with him, the vets office opens in about 1hr i will be at the
door waiting.
Kim 10/10/08
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Twice in the last year my 15 year old terrier mix suffered severe digestive distress, both times onset occurred
within 3-5 days of application of Frontline Plus. His digestive health has always been excellent (solid stool, and
a VERY non gassy dog). During these bouts, which would last 4-5 days he would pass horrible gas (day and
night) and suffer from diarrhea. His nose tended to be warm and he obviously felt listless and not his usual self.
What threw me is that he showed no obvious signs of distress for the first few days following application, and
he's always seemed to tolerate previous Frontline and Advantage treatments well. No seizures, fur loss etc. I'm
not sure if this was his first contact with Frontline Plus since I sometimes buy whichever medication is available
under the mistaken belief that they're all pretty much the same. After ruling out all other plausible explanations
for his distress, I began to wonder if it could be traced to a delayed reaction to his flea treatment. Perhaps it
takes a few days to work it's way into his system, hence the lag time. So I hopped on the net to research and
found your site. I share my story so others may have a frame of reference to compare their experience. I'm
convinced of the cause of my dog's distress but of course can't really prove it with any certainty. But I will never,
ever dose him again with any non natural remedy. He probably has less than a year ahead of him, so I'll just be
as diligent as possible with a flea comb, frequent baths, and whatever natural remedies I can find. Each time,
he has seemed to make a full recovery, but at his advanced age I know it takes it's toll.
Stephen 10/11/08
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We've been using Biospot for about four years now on our dogs and cats. Last week I again used the Biospot
on them. Our 14-year-old border collie mix Ripley seems to be fine, but our 14-year-old Chihuahua Cheech had
all the symptoms you listed for Hamish. We took him to the vet on Friday (early afternoon) because of a limp in
one of his back legs. The vet said it could be arthritis and prescribed Vetprofen 25 mg (he's had it before without
side effects). Saturday afternoon (yesterday 4:30 pm) Cheech began thrashing on the floor rolling clockwise
side-to-side. His little body was completely stiff, his head was raised in the air—just as you said Hamish was.
His jaws were clenched tightly, though, and his eyes were almost popping out of his head. It took all of my
husband's strength to hold him in his arms to keep him from hurting himself. About the time we got in the car to
take him to the vet (an hour away on Sat.), he had calmed down. He could barely stand and couldn't walk at all.
The vet told us Cheech had had a grand mal seizure, and it could have been caused by a tumor in the brain.
He wanted to keep Cheech overnight for observation, but I couldn't bear to think of that. He gave Cheech a
shot of Phenobarbitol and told us to call if he had another seizure. He's up and toddling around this morning; he
has a sideways tilt to his gait, though. He's eating well and seems alert. I will bathe him as soon as I finish this.
I didn't think of the Biospot until this morning; I remembered reading about Biospot and a dog that had also had
a seizure. I am so thankful that you wrote about Hamish and his experience with Biospot. We'll be throwing this
product out. I will report it to Farnam, though, first.
May I ask what you use for flea and tick control on Hamish? My son uses Frontline on his dog and we did, too,
before we found Biospot. It's terribly expensive but worth it if it protects Ripley and Cheech WITHOUT hurting
them.
Mary 10/12/08
Thank you for taking the time to write. I am very sorry to hear about your dog.
I am not a vet, but as you can see from the messages posted on my website, many people have reported
adverse reactions (including seizures) in their dogs after using Bio Spot. However, these adverse reactions
usually occurred within 48 hours of application. I do not know if your dog's seizure was caused by the Bio Spot,
or the Vetprofen (carprofen), or a combination of these products.
Here is the manufacturer's Information Sheet on Vetprofen:
Here is an excerpt:
"Vetprofen, like other drugs, may cause some side effects. Serious but rare side effects have been reported in dogs taking
NSAIDs, including carprofen. Serious side effects can occur with or without warning and in rare situations result in death."
"The most common NSAID-related side effects generally involve the stomach (such as bleeding ulcers), and liver or kidney problems. Look for the following side effects that can indicate your dog may be having a problem with Vetprofen or may
have another medical problem:"
"Change in behavior (such as decreased or increased activity level, incoordination, seizure or aggression)"
Just because your dog has not experienced any adverse reaction to it previously doesn't mean that he will never
will. Vetprofen is similar to the drug, Rimadyl. If you do a Google search for "Rimadyl seizure" you will find many reports of seizures and other serious adverse reactions in dogs from that product. The risk of adverse reaction
may be greater in aged animals. I would discuss this possibility with your vet (your vet may say that Vetprofen
was not likely the cause of your dog's seizure, but the manufacturer's information sheet says that it is a possible
side effect).
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.
I hope that your dog will be well again soon.
Sincerely,
James TerBush
Website Administrator for:
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On 10/12/08 at around 11:00pm we put Sargents Gold on my 18 year old deaf daughters dalmation who is also
deaf. About 1 hour later the dog started acting really weird and my daughter was concerned. When I saw the dog
she was drooping her head and her body was shaking tremendously as she was trying to walk. I went around the
house trying to figure if she could have gotten into something. Then it seemed like she was having seizures. My daughter was distraught. I called the emergency vet being midnight. I asked about the Sargents Gold and they
said most definitely. My next question was can we make payments. I was told no it had to be paid then and all
of the clinics were this way. That was out because not knowing what it was going to cost I couldn't take her I
didn't have alot of money. They told me to give a bath in dawn dishsoap. In the meantime I calmed my daughter
and explained she would be more help to Glory if she could calm down and help me. The dog seemed to keep
seizing. We got her in the tub and my daughter sat in there with her as I washed her. I don't even know how often
this happened it was so much. It is now 5:30 am. The seizing seems to have calmed but she is having tremendous body tremors. My daughter is afraid to sleep so she is laying beside her just watching. God only knows if its over
and if it is what effects this will have on Glory. I know once she seems out of it I need to get her to drink. This
product not only tramatized Glory but also my daughter. I hope the word gets out I will try to find a safer way to
take care of the fleas. If anyone knows of any please, please let me know.
Valerie 10/13/08
NY
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First off let me start by saying that I do not have a dog but had rescued 5 kittens from an abusive home about
2 1/2 months ago. The kittens are now 51/2 months old. I have had problems with fleas ever since I got them so
I went in search of what I thought would be a safe product. I ended up purchasing Sergeants Natures Guardian
spray. It stated on the bottle that it was all natural and that it would be safe to use on and around pets and children.
I used it on all 5 of the kittens and 2 of them got extremely ill after having it applied. The smallest one got sick immediately and would not eat or drink anything and started to urinate where ever it was at the time. He could
not lift his head or move across the room without crawling. I had just applied this stuff yesterday morning and this morning when I woke up the poor kitten was extremely cold and having a hard time breathing, I noticed that one
of the others was starting to act the same way so I immediately called the Vet. Being it was only 5 am I had to
wait for the Vet to call me back, by the time she called back the first cat had passed in my arms. We immediately
got them both to the Vets office and I found out that the first one died from kidney and liver failure due to the product getting into its system. The second was in kidney failure and had so many toxins in its system from the product that
the toxins had spread to the brain and he was not aware of anything that was going on around him. I had no choice
but to put him to sleep as the Vet told me that even if we put a cathiter in him to flush the toxins he would only have
a 25% chance of survival and if he did survive then he would be living in pain his entire life however short that may
be. I am extremely heart broken right now as I thought I was doing a good thing for them by getting something all
natural and all it did was kill them. Please let people be aware of this as it is horrible to see the animal you love go through something like this. I am now awaiting reports from the vet from the autopsies. And the Vet is also calling
and notifying the American Veteranarian Association and other groups as to inform them so that we can help to
have this never happen again. She is also going to contact Sergeants so that she can tell them what the product
did and try to get them to reimburse for the Vet bills (which any animal lover knows is outragous.).
Sue 10/15/08
Thank you so much for your concern. I went to that link and ended up finding a petition that I of course signed. I can
not believe with all the stuff happening that they have yet to stop selling it. As for contacting the company, I did that before they passed on and they of course told me that there was no way it was a reaction to the product.....of course they are gonna say that. My Vet called me last night and told me that she has notified the FDA, Veterinarians Association and many other agencies to try to get help to stop it from being sold. She said that it was definately
from the toxins in the product.....she did autopsies and found that they would have lived very long healthy lives if this
was not applied to them. She contacted Sergeants and they are supposed to have a representative or Attorney call
her back to discuss this with her. She feels that I should contact an attorney myself due to her findings.I myself and
just too heartbroken to think about that right now as this just happened yesterday. I can not believe that something I
thought would help them actually killed them. I feel that it was my fault and that if I had not applied it they would still
be here with me. My cats are my babies and I now need to concentrate on watching the other 3 that I also put it
on to make sure they show no signs of this happening to them. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERN
AND THE LINKS. I will keep you informed as to what happens with this.
Sue 10/16/08
Sergeant's Nature's Guardian (and their Sentry brand Natural Defense) are considered by the EPA to be
"minimum-risk pesticides" and are not required to be registered with the EPA as pesticide products. In
other words, these products do NOT undergo the registration process that other pesticide products must
undergo, such as evaluation for toxicity.
Here is the EPA's website concerning minimum-risk pesticides:
Here is some additional information on minimum-risk pesticides and concerns that people have about them:
Please contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) and let them know what happened (they
maintain a database of adverse incidents from pesticide products for the EPA). Their phone number is
1-800-858-7378.
Even though Sergean't's Nature's Guardian (and Sentry Natural Defense) are not registered with the EPA
as pesticide products, the EPA still wants to know about adverse reactions that are caused by these products.
James TerBush
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Hello, I put biospot on both of my maltese dogs 16 mos and 9 mos. I then went and read on the internet about
it and became freaked out when I read about the side effects. Within 1 hour I bathed and washed off both dogs.
The following morning , my older Maltese did not act right. She would walk a few steps and then sit down and
she was "trembly" . She did not play like she did every other day with the other dog. I became concerned and
called the vet. He said that he had heard of biospot causing reactions (seizures) and to bring her in. I took her
in and he gave her an antedote. She seems much better now. I am so glad I found your blog and washed the
stuff off before too much got in her system. My other maltese is fine. Thanks for the information.
Chris in Indiana 10/20/08
Hello, I wrote in yesterday about my Maltese having a reaction to Biospot. I called the number on the back of
the box and was given to a Veternarian who told me that Biospot is not deadly or dangerous in itself but that my particular dog just had a reaction to it. I told her about all the things I read about online and she told me that you
cannot believe everything you read online. She told me the dogs that died after taking Biospot had preexisting
medical problems. I also called my local Petsmart who denied knowing anything about the dangers of Biospot.
I am sorry, I know for 100% sure that Biospot sickned by Molly! Even today she is still not back to normal. She is
still crouching and sitting and not moving her back legs as well as before. I am so thankful I washed most of it off
within and hour of application or who knows how sick Molly would be! What can I do to help prevent this from
happening to other dogs?
Chris in Indiana 10/21/08
Hello, I called Sherry Pike [Farnam's Risk Manager] and she was nice and helpful. She did not deny that
Biospot caused the reaction and told me if I ended up having to take my dog in for chemical burns to call her
back for vet expenses. I also notified the reporting agency for the EPA and they assured me the report on
biospot would be added. Thanks for your website and I hope to use my experience as knowledge to help
other unsuspecting consumers from harming their dogs with this poison.
Chris 10/21/08
Hello, Molly is completely better. Now, I am trying to figure out what to do about the fleas. I will check both dogs
and make sure they are free of fleas and then 4 days later I will find one or two on them again. This is the first time
I have battled fleas and don't know much. The vet gave me Frontline but now I hesitate to use after what happened
with biospot. DO you have any recommendations? These are 2 Maltese dogs, 4 and 7 pounds and indoor dogs
except to potty on a leash. I would appreciate any suggestions. I definitely will not use anything over the counter
unless natural.
Chris 11/1/08
Thank you for the update. I am very glad to hear that Molly has recovered.
There are several links on my website that discuss ways to control fleas without using pesticides. I encourage
everyone to read them, and only use a pesticide product as a last resort.
There are several messages posted on my website from people who have seen adverse reactions in their dogs
after using Frontline. Small breeds are especially at risk of overdose from it. For example, if you use the Frontline dosage for dogs "up to 22 lbs.", your dogs would receive 4 to 5 times the amount that a 22 lb. dog would receive.
It can be difficult to get rid of fleas once they get in your house. You will have to check your dogs daily, keep their bedding area clean, and frequently vacuum your floors and furniture until the fleas are gone. With persistence, you
will win the battle.
I hope this helps.
James TerBush
Website Administrator for:
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This is something that might interest you. I have had terrible problems with fleas and I tried all the vet
products and the best of them only lasted 7days. Also I did a Google search and found that these products
are insecticides and fleas become immune to them (remember DDT) and then you have to get something
stronger and whats worse is these are poisons and the vets recommend feeding it to our pets month after
month. Do a Google search "Advantix killed my dog" in the quotes and you will get an eye opener. So
from my search I found Neem oil and Neem powder and these natural herbs handled my flea problem .
Michael 10/21/08
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(Below is email that I received from the EPA)
----- Original Message -----
From: <Overbey.Dian@epamail.epa.gov>
To: <james@elversonpuzzle.com>
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 3:45 PM
Subject: Response to August 21 e-mail
Dear Mr. Terbush:
Thank you for your e-mail of August 21 regarding Bio Spot Flea &
Tick Control for Dogs (EPA Registration Number 270-278. Dawn [deleted]
dog died after having Bio Spot applied, and although a necropsy was
performed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center’s laboratory at the
University of Illinois, no toxicological tests were done. You ask EPA
to investigate the relationship between the ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Center and those manufacturers of pet pesticides that contract with the
ASPCA to manage their adverse events. I apologize for the delay in
responding.
EPA does not have the authority to investigate the ASPCA, and we
do not receive any data from them on adverse incidents unless it is
submitted by other sources to us. Consequently, we have no information
on how often they perform toxicological tests or whether they have ever
found that a dog’s death was related to a pet pesticide product.
EPA gets information on adverse incidents from the National
Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) and maintains an in-house database
of incidents reported to us by registrants and the public. There are
reports of deaths on the reports submitted by manufacturers. I do not
know if the ASPCA draws the conclusion that a death is attributable to a
pet pesticide and reports that to the manufacturers, but registrants do
report some deaths.
It might be helpful for you to contact NPIC. That organization is
knowledgeable about pesticides and toxicology. You can contact them at
1-800-858-7378, from 6:30am to 4:30pm PT, seven days a week.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
/s/
Claire M. Gesalman, Chief
Communication Services Branch
Office of Pesticide Programs
Dian D. Overbey
Communication Services Branch
Field and External Affairs Division
Office of Pesticide Programs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: 703-305-5018
Fax: 703-305-5558
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I recently purchased Zodiac Powerspot for my 9 year old ShiTzu. Within 5 minutes of applying it, she started to
run around the yard rolling in the grass and shaking her coat as if she had been bitten. At first I just suspected
that the powerspot might just be making the fleas run around but then I wondered if it was a reaction from the flea control. I tried wiping it off with a paper towel but she continued to hide under pillows and try to scratch her back.
I shaved all of her hair off and gave her a bath, still thinking it was active fleas. She had a terrible restless night
and the next day I discovered that the entire area I had applied the powerspot was a large burn blister. She has
suffered for two days now due to this burn and we have started applying antibiotic ointment and warm cloths. I feel terrible for doing this to her as I discovered after shaving her hair off that she probably only had about 4 live fleas.
The Zodiac website database fails when you hit Contact and the store where I got it from keeps saying that it's
just a rare case of sensitivity to the product. I had tried a similar flea agent from the vet years ago where you
apply it to the back and my dog had no reaction to that. I'm quite angry.
Jordan 10/25/08
Hello James
I have spent about an hour on the phone with the Zodiac company and a veterinarian who is not part of the
company. I asked her if she would carry products containing Permetherin in her practice and she said "no."
I also received a case number because they can't be positively sure that there wouldn't be potential damage
to her organs after being absorbed through the skin although I bathed her within 1/2 hour so that may have
been the saving grace. Blisters are starting to heal and I have taken photographs in case I decide to pursue
litigation as there was no warning on this product to such 'sensitivity'?
Thank you very much for your work.
Jordan 10/27/08
I just wanted to let you know that while Molly's burns have all but healed, today we rushed her to the vet due
to her sudden inability to want to walk, lethargy, grunting in pain and lack of appetite. he gave her a strong pain medication, and antibiotics and we are awaiting blood test results. The xrays showed that she has no sign of
arthritis or bone problems that could be causing this so we are quite concerned because he says that she may
be showing symptoms of liver or kidney problems. He also mentioned that his office alone treats 10 cases
per month of patients with over the counter flea product side effects. I will definitely keep you posted.
Jordan 11/14/08
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I wish I had found your website before I used an over-the-counter product on my cat.
"SENTRY Natural Defense: Natural Flea & Tick Squeeze-On For Cats & Kittens" first burned the hair off of my
cat, and then made her lethargic. Towards her last few days she was badly dehydrated, couldn't eat or use the bathroom. She died from acute renal failure, which my vet told me happens in less than 1% of cats her age!
She was approximately 5 years old. She had no prior records of hospitalization or health problems.
I feel terribly guilty and angry at the company, and upon doing a websearch I found your site. I think the fact that
over-the-counter flea and tick treatments are KILLING or at the very least making our pets extremely sick, is a
HUGE and unaddressed issue. If there are so many people with stories and documents (as myself) - why can't
we get a lawyer and file a class action law suit?? These companies should be made accountable for their
actions and these products should be taken off the shelves so that naive consumers, like myself, won't have
to witness our beloved pets die before our eyes after using them!!
Please let me know if there is something we can do, together. I do not want my cat to have died in vain!!
Jodie 10/26/08
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I am reading others experience with Biospot and other similar products. I have used Biospot for several months
now and my large dog actually tried to bite me when I tried to apply it today. I am assuming that it must burn his
skin when applied. I no longer want to use it but wonder what others do to eliminate the flea problem. There must
be some successful alternatives out there. Please let me know.
Brenda ^..^ 11/2/08
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Today me and my dog, Frank the Tank, had a traumatic experience. He was sleeping and woke up having
a head tremor. I was concerned when I noticed and made him get up. His head continued to shake and every
time I grabbed it he would stop shaking. Once I let go of his head he continued to shake. I was obviously scared
so I called my mom. She came over and we watched him. A few hours later he had another episode and thats
when we decided to take him to the vet. $150.00 dollars later and after much discussion we decided to take
him home and watch him since nothing was wrong with him. I decided to google bio spot formula and the
negative effects and i came across this website. Since I had put Bio Spot on tank 3 days earlier I thought it
could be the problem. I immediately bathed him with Dawn soap and he is now resting. I am not sure what is
going to happen in next couple days but i am hoping I caught it in time....People need to know that Bio Spot
could potentially kill and harm their dogs/cats. I had no idea that this kind of thing could occur. I will NEVER
use Bio Spot again and I believe that it is the cause of my dogs troubles today!!! Thanks for putting this web
page together. It potentially saved Tanks life!!! We both appreciate it!!
Julie 11/5/08
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(Below is an update to a message posted by Dawn on 8/24/08 in Vol. 21)
When last I corresponded I had just called back to the lab at the U of Illinois about having the tissue samples
sent elsewhere for a toxicology study. I was informed that normally these samples collected are only kept 4-6 wks
but the female I spoke to said she would check with lab. I asked that since no one there can talk to the owner of
pet(only the vet of record) that the lab person follow up with the local vet here. I heard no more after that.
I had to ponder this info as it relates to the time line of how long it took for the initial necropsy report to be sent to
me and Chi Chi's vet. It appeared a bit more than convenient that it took from 4/24/08, date body received by lab,
to well after mid June for the necropsy reports to be sent via Farnham. Time for any tissue samples to be tossed. Although the histopath and gross necropsy reports were verified on 4/28 and 5/1 and printed.
Today I had to go by the vet's office and my sister who works there gave me copies of reports, new report. An addendum it appears. Someone must have gotten nervous because it is shown on the report that liver tissues
were sent to California Animal Health and Food Safety Lab in Davis, Calif. and results verified on 10/13/08.
Tested for pyrethrins/pyrethroids. None detected in the submitted liver sample at or above the stated reporting
limits. "Reporting limit: the lowest rountined quantified concentration of an analyte in a sample.The analyte may
be detected, but not quantified, at concentration below the reporting limit."
The addendum 1 report verified 10/17/08 states that "pyrethroids are hghly lipophilic compounds. Upon
absorption, permethrin is rapidly distributed into tissues with high fat content and the majority of pyrethroids are eliminated within 12-48 hrs, primarily through feces and urine. The active ingredient in Biospot not detected in
samples.
So it is back to the basic"bronchopneumonia to explain the demise of the dog". "The underlying cause may be aspiration, which is supported by the mixed isolation of Staphyococcus spp.,Streptococcus group D and
Pasteurella spp.
No mention of her vet report which stated she was in seizures when brought into vet shows up anywhere as
possible cause of aspiration.
Still gets BioSpot off the hook is all the report does. The final print date on this report is 10/20/08. She died
in April! Just wanted to update with this newest report. Finding it kind of hard to swallow that they did indeed
save the liver tissue samples from April to October??
Dawn 11/5/08
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I am writing this letter because I would like to bring attention to consumers and animal lovers about a product
that is advertised and readily available and is clearly harmful to pets - Sergeant's Gold Flea & Tick Squeeze On.
I purchased Sergeant's Gold Flea & Tick Squeeze on for Dogs at my local Wal-Mart on November 3rd. I have
always used Frontline, but with times being tough in my household, as it is for many, I figured I would try a more affordable brand - especially since it is advertised as better than Frontline at a fraction of the cost. Those of you
who use Frontline know that it is very expensive (around $50 for a 3-month supply), especially for those of us who
have more than one pet. Within an hour of applying the product to my 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,
Rocky, he began having a terrible reaction to it. He was shaking, scratching, breathing very shallow, shaking his
ears as if they were wet, and turning around very abruptly to look at his rear end as if something was biting it -
every time he did this he yelped and screamed in pain. My husband (who is employed in the medical field) knew
to immediately go on the Web to find out what was happening. What he found shocked and angered us - there
was post after post about how other dog owners experienced the exact same thing from using Sergeant's Gold.
We immediately bathed him several times in dish soap (as instructed for dogs that have had a reaction) and gave
him Benadryl. It is now four days later and Rocky is no better. He is completely lethargic, still turning around as if something is on him and when he does he screams in pain - this coming from a dog that is normally running around
and playing happily. He will not walk anywhere by himself because as soon as I stand him up (he won't stand up
himself) he jerks around and starts yelping. Clearly this is an attack on his central nervous system because all of
these things shouldn't happen from a simple skin irritation. I became so concerned yesterday that I took him to
my vet. They examined him, gave him a cortisone shot, and sent me home with a course of anti-imflammatory
steriods for him to take for the next week. The vet is clearly concerned, because they even called this morning
to see how he is doing (which is not normal practice for them). It's been well over 24 hours since he's been on
the medication and he is showing no signs of improvement. He will be returning to the vet later today for a
blood panel. At this point we are just praying that he will survive.
All of this happened because I tried to save a few bucks buying a product that advertises on its web site that its
"better than Frontline at a fraction of the price." It also says on the packaging that it kills fleas in one hour - they
should also mention that it may kill your pet in an hour too. I used the product exactly as directed and this is what
we ended up with. Instead of saving a few dollars I ended up with multiple vet bills and a dog that is still not well -
not to mention the emotional pain I feel for doing this to my "baby." I cannot believe that a product like this is still
on the shelves. If you google "Sergeant's Gold - Reactions" over 670,000 results come up with people's
heartbreaking stories about how this product has harmed their beloved pets (and even killed some). We have contacted PETA, who immediately called us back and said that they have gotten countless complaints about Sergeant's Gold. We have also lodged complaints with Sergeant's and Consumer Affairs, although we feel that
it is more than a Consumer Affairs issue -- its cruelty to animals.
I just want people to know how harmful this product is to dogs and cats, and to NEVER, EVER use it. The
organizations we contacted say that the active ingredients in Sergeant's Gold act as a poison - not just to fleas
and ticks but to the dogs/cats as well - and by reading the posts that people have put on the Web we are not the
only family that this has happened to. I just want Rocky back to his normal self, and hope that this ordeal ends
soon.
Gina 11/6/08
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Re: Sergeants Squeeze-On for Dogs
I could not believe what I was reading as my two little dogs were suffering the same symptoms form using
Sergeant's flea and tick that you place on the neck and down the spine. This stuff is a poison for our pets.
If the pediatricians were prescribing medicines for our children that did half the stuff this garbage does it
would be on every news network and they would be out of business. After leaving the groomers this week
I went to an area store to get flea preventative for my two dogs. I read the boxes and what the product did.
I did not read it was a pesticide and poison and that hundreds of dogs and cats have been traumatized
or killed. The only warning on or in the box was do not use the dogs type on cats. And yet this poison is
on the shelf. Shortly after putting it on the two dogs they began to have fits and cry and roll on the floor.
We thought my Lord what is going on. Come to find out when I called the Sergeant's Phone # and had
to wait ten minutes that my dogs had been given insecticide on their skin and were having a severe
reaction. I'm not the sharpest knife in the kitchen but I realized if the phones were backed up ten minutes
this was some bad stuff. They were traumatized by this and did not sleep for 24 hr. and kept scratching
and digging and whining. I stayed up all night rubbing the one dog's back and every time I stopped she
would jump up and start biting and digging. My daughter stayed up with the other dog. It was sickening
to watch my little dogs stand there half awake and their legs kept moving to scratch. The hotline told
me they were feeling a pin-like feeling all over their skin. Now after 24 hr. they are still having troubles
from this. When I looked on the web and found story after story of this sickening thing. We took the dogs
to the vet today and found out that many times a week people bring there loved ones / pets into the vet
for the same thing. It also cost me $126.00. I'm very angry that this could happen and worried it could
happen to another family. I have called the company and demand retribution for the vet bill. I went to
Wal Mart and told them they have this poison on their shelves. I will be contacting the Michigan Attorney
General and my attorney. I'm angry as I write this and I encourage all of us to contact stores [and] appropriate
government offices and demand that this poison and others like it be taken off the shelves. I do not know
if they will listen to me but if there were a few thousand people demanding this some would listen. I'm
no different from any of you folks in the love and commitment we have for a little fury loved ones. And the
joy they bring to our homes and life's. Many times I look at my two little dogs and say daddy would not
take a million dollars for you. And to see these greedy companies making money at their health's
[expense] and affecting our home I will do all I can to stop it.
Michael 11/7/08
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We rescued an adorable 5 month old pup from Bide-A-Wee shelter in Manhattan in 2003. We named her
Aggie. She was a mix -- our best guess was a cross of Whippet and Pit Bull. She was a curious looking but
beautiful dog, a blonde and dark brown brindle with a sprinter's legs and pit bull chest, soulful brown eyes
and a loving disposition; someone once offered my wife $2,000 cash if he could take her on the spot. Of
course, she kept her. She was a high-strung dog, but we worked hard with her and she became a wonderful
and devoted companion.
In July of 2007, I applied Biospot to Aggie. Almost immediately she appeared to be in distress, writhing on
the ground, pushing herself in circles while yipping and growling. She did not ever take well to tick meds, but
this was extreme. I attributed it to the heat of the day.
For the next two months, I occasionally found small, bilious vomits from Aggie. It was unusual insofar as over
the previous three years, she had rarely gotten sick, aside from puppyhood. I discounted it. I also noticed that
when we played, she seemed to tire more quickly. I attributed this to her reaching maturity, and being able to
exhaust herself was not altogether unwelcome.
In September of 2007, Aggie became very ill. She began to vomit more regularly, and within a week, became weakened and lethargic. One night, she became very ill; we let her sleep with us (she normally slept in her own
den) and she vomited throughout the night. The next day, Aggie collapsed and my wife rushed her to the vet,
where she was diagnosed as having a red blood cell count about 25% of normal. She was diagnosed as having Hemolytic Anemia, but her blood work showed no indication of any external cause (e.g. insect bite.) On the other
hand, she had no indications of a chronic condition, such as damaged internal organs or muscular atrophy. Over
the course of the next week, we undertook substantial measures to save her, close to 10 thousand dollars in transfusions and gamma globulin injections.
Five days later, we were heartened when her doctor thought she could come home to convalesce. Unfortunately,
that night, she took a turn for the worse, and seven days, we made the sad decision to euthanize her. Aggie had
just turned five years old and was in her physical prime.
Aggie was a wonderful dog, devoted to our family and a source of joy and comfort. She was a healthy and active
dog who had no significant health issues (other than those of her own making.) Her demise was abrupt and tragic,
and there was nothing to which I can attribute her demise other than the application of BioSpot in the July of the
year two months prior to her demise.
Bryce 11/17/08
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I treated my dog with Revolution and the next day she was continuously shaking her head, rapid heartbeat, panting, scratching and whined almost all night. Her ears appeared as if she had a severe sunburn and eventually scabbed completely. She was in pain and suffering. She stopped eating and drinking and had crawled under bed to die. We
are sooo lucky she survived this after a slow two week recovery and more than $500 in vet bills. She was given
steroids, antibiotics, vallium, IV fluids, ear spray and benedryl. The vet would not confirm it was the Revolution that made her sick and said they had not received any other complaints. I am now looking for alternative flea control
and heartworm preventative.
Anonymous 11/21/08
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Reading your website was enlightening. I have been having periodic problems with my jack Russell/Chihuahua
mix biting his skin until it bleeds and losing hair. Rolling and eating grass. The first time that it happened, he was lethargic and was losing hair in spots and his skin was very red, he was running a fever as well. I took him to the
vet and they had me do hundreds of dollars of tests and said that he had mange. We went through 2 rounds of
very expensive treatments for the mange as well as cortisone and Ivermectin. He was better after a couple of
weeks of treatment. He was ok for a month or two and it came back. We went back to the Vet and I said that
it was the same thing and I did not want to pay for the testing again, but they told me it was necessary or they
would not give me the medicine. They determined this time it was not mange it was an allergic reaction. I paid
for more expensive medication (temerial p and proxetil). I will tell you the medicines both times did help (it did
stop the itching, biting, and wetness).
I went to Banfield the other day to pick up more frontline for me and also some for my mother's dog and she went
on and on about the reactions that animals get from some of these medications. I did not pay much attention. When
I gave my dog his dose of Frontline, I noticed that he was doing this funky breathing thing again, that he had done
the last time I took him to the vet for his "allergic reaction." The vet said it was a backwards sneeze. From your other postings, I think the "backwards sneeze," is actually trouble breathing. I also noticed that it was rolling in the grass
again and chewing at a spot in his skin again. Like he was biting at fleas. I noticed that like the other two times that
his skin was red and already starting to get infected in an area near the base of tail. On further inspection, the hair
was falling out there, just like the other 2 times. I just went on your website and am convinced that it was from the frontline product. The other two times was from the frontline as well, I am sure of it, I just had not connected the dots
until now. I just shampooed his skin with KetoChlor and gave him 1/2 of a Benadryl. He seems to be feeling better
and finally ate his dinner and is drinking, he is still itching though.
By the way, I called the vet earlier to get some more of the pills they had given me for the allergies the last time,
and they said that I had to bring him in. Already into vet bills of over $500 for a twice misdiagnosed treatment
I decided that I was not going in. Great website, thanks for all of the postings.
Do I need to wash him with Dawn tomorrow? Can I use any dishwashing soap?
Ann 11/26/08
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Reading your website my heart went out to all those poor people whose precious pets have been so ravaged.
These treatments are lethal !!!!!!!!
We inherited a beautiful white cat last October whose owner a neighbour, had died. She had been sleeping
rough and was thin and traumatised. I left the cat flap open for her and she gradually moved in. At first she was unresponsive to affection, but by last Easter had become a loving part of the family. She had been to vets
previously for jabs and was ok.
Then the flea season started, the vet suggested Advantage. She became moody and unwell and we didn't
know what was happening to her. Back to the vets we went, she had fleas - Again !!! We sprayed the house
and she had another dose of Advantage and she had a fit. When you love an animal it is so hard to witness
and I felt helpless. I still didn't connect the symptoms to the flea treatment but something nagged at me so I
bought Spot on to try instead. She had another fit and stayed at floor level we took her to the vets and he
diagnosed epilepsy. I have not treated her with flea repellent since. She has recovered but is not the same
as she was.
Please owners be very careful when using Advantage. First treatment - she was quieter than normal not as
playful. With consecutive treatments she gradually got worse. The final 2 treatments she had fits. Something
else I have realised because these treatments make her unhealthy she attracts more fleas and so needs
more treatment. - a vicious circle.
I have had cats before but have never had this much of a flea problem, but then that was 6 years ago and
I did not use any back of the neck treatments on them.
I do not let her out but she is desperate to go into the garden. Warmer winters have left the garden still flea
ridden (from foxes) and I don't know what to do. I have been reading about natural remedies although all the
information seems to be contradictory, some say citronella is bad can anyone help ?????
What are you all using ??? I am in the UK so my choices will be limited.
Annie 11/27/08
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I have been breeding Shelties for 18 years and started using Revolution 3 years ago. In that time, I have had
an abnormally high incidence of missed breedings and reabsorption of whelps in my dogs. Out of 7 breedings
on 4 different bitches with three different proven studs, I have only had 2 litters of 1 puppy each. I've never
experienced this problem before and I cannot seem to get any answers from the manufacturer of this Product.
Do you have any suggestions or input? I believe that this problem is somehow linked to Revolution but cannot
find any data.
Liana 12/2/08
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After putting Biospot on my one year old Collie, he started walking around in circles and drooling excessively.
I tried to wash what I could off of him and he calmed down. I have emailed the company about this and want to
see what they have to say. I'm just wondering if all these flea/tick medications have the same ingredients. I will
not be using Biospot anymore. Just don't know what to use now.
Lorraine 12/7/08
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My dog suffered severe burns to the spots where I applied a Sargeant product - Sentry Pro XFC flea and tick.
Instead of the company being honest and taking this product off the market - they tried to buy my silence by
only agreeing to reimburse my large vet bills if I agreed to sign a release agreeing never to talk about this
or write about this. I have since found lots of people with the same problem.
Stay away from Sargeants. They are not to be trusted.
Judy 12/17/08
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Thank you for your website. I used TriForce on my female Havanese yesterday 12-27-08. Within four hours
she became agitated and was scratching constantly. She was even jerking involuntarily at times. I gave her
a bath last evening to remove as much of the TriForce as possible. I called my vet and he recommended I
use Frontline instead. After reading all the concerns about Frontline I am unsure about using anything. My
dog is now acting ok. I just hope she does not have any future effects from the TriForce. Do not use this
product on your dogs! I had used Frontline and Revolution in the past with no side effects.
Brenda from Ohio 12/28/09
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Hi just to update you on my BC Gizmo who started to have seizures in October 07, 3 days after being frontlined,
he went on to have seizures once a month, always on the exact 3days & always a month apart, the same pattern
of seizures as well.
He went on to medication in November 07, but still he continued to have seizures once a month, each time his medication was raised, he eventually ended up on 150mg of Epiphen.
Over two days a month he would have seizures, often one after another that could last for over an hour & no
regaining consciousness in-between; he would then be left exhausted & sleeping. Over the next two days he
would have a cluster of seizures & become very distressed, climbing walls, crashing into furniture, exhausted
but unable to settle.
He would then spend two weeks, in a spaced out state, the lights were on but nobody was home, total opposite
to his normal demeanour & then return back to normal for 2weeks, until the next session of seizures.
The last sets of Seizures were in January 08, which were the worst he had. I have to make an emercancy call out
to my vet; my friend drove myself & Gizmo to the vets, me holding on to him in the back.
It took 4hrs to sedate him, with several amount of diazepam & other meds, I had the choice to leave him at the
vets but I felt he was better off at home with me, I slept on the sofa with him but he remained unsettled.
Since January 08 he has had no more seizures & now 11mths later he is down to 30mg of Epiphen every other
day & will eventually be off the medication. He is now more like himself, confident, outgoing a happy, although he
has become very attached to me & hates to leave my side.
Gizmo is even back to competing again, & has won quite a few classes, taken us up to the higher classes, the
best thing is seeing him happy, confident again & enjoying life, I hope I never have to witness another dog having
a seizure.
As for Meriel they paid £80, of my vet bill, but still deny that Frontline can induce seizures in dogs/cats, they want
me to keep quiet. I have spoken to so many people that know of or have happened to their dogs/cats.
The main ingredient in Frontline is Fipronil, which is a neuro toxin that can & does cause neurological problems
in dogs/cats including seizures. Meriel say that it cannot get into the animals bloodstream but it does, there has
been scientific proof that it does.
It doesn’t even need to be on the effected animal; just coming into contact with it can make the animals fit. It might
not happen the first time you use it but can be the 2nd or 3rd time, as with Gizmo.
The type of seizures that Gizzie had were cluster seizures, they are very hard to control with medication, normally
it takes a cocktail of drugs & even then you cannot completely stop the seizures.
So I have no doubt in my mind that Gizzie doesn’t have Epilepsy, there is no history in his family line, why after
4 mths of violent seizures did they finally stop, as suddenly as they came, now he is almost off his meds & there
has been no signs of anymore seizures.
I make sure I tell everyone & get them to use alternatives, I use Garlic capsules, and my dogs don’t have fleas
or ticks.
FRONTLINE IS NOT SAFE & IS NOT THE GESTURE OF LOVE THAT YOU CAN TRUST (which is what they
state on their advert)
Julie & Gizzie 12/30/08
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Pesticides are deadly chemicals. However most people eat them everyday in food without even thinking about
it. What you are seeing on your dog or cat when they die or spasm is simply an overdose. Though I don't believe
it is a good idea to introduce deadly chemicals into the environment the alternative is constant vigilance and a
realistic understanding that fleas are a natural part of having domesticated animals.
Luckily my dogs are able to live outside everyday year round. They pick up plenty of fleas and ticks; so in the
summer when the fleas hatch I comb my long haired German Shepard with a flea comb every day or two (or
maybe three) and drop the fleas in plain water. They die immediately. Ticks I pull off by hand if they are attached, otherwise the comb gets them. I feed him some garlic powder and nutritional yeast on his food (which he loves)
in the summer as well but I have no data if this is actually reducing the amount of fleas or not. Keep your dog's
bedding washed or changed in the summer if you have to have him confined for the fleas and eggs will build up
there. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the ground where they play and sleep. This kills flea larvae and keeps the population down. Worm the dog in the spring and again in mid summer. Do not wash the dog more than once or
twice a season with a soap product as this just dries out the skin and causes more irritation and scratching. A
good rinse or soaking in plain water removes many fleas; just don't put the dog back in the same flea infested environment or they will jump back on. If you must keep your dog in the house use the vacuum daily. Sometimes
fleas can get out of the bag so you might want to store the cleaner outside. (I've only had this problem in the
southern US where fleas live year round.) I never see fleas or ticks in the winter. Though there may be some
fleas on him he rarely scratches so I don't worry about it.
Overall do not have unrealistic expectations! You will NEVER kill every flea with manual control. If you can't
handle any fleas at all and you must have pets then your only alternative may be to dose them with the chemical
and hope for the best. Of course when you pet your dog you are exposing yourself to the same chemical. You
might want to think about that. If you like to handle your dog try the flea comb; it is great way to 'bond' safely;
plus the dog hair you harvest is great for repelling rabbits in your garden!
Charlotte 1/6/09
MidWest USA
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My cat (Hannah) is now on her eighth day of illness, lethargy, dehydration, and no appetite. I gave her the
Frontline flea drops (applied between the shoulder blades) on Monday 01/12/09 and now eight days (and
hundreds of dollars) later; my cat is still very sick. We will get her organ function test results tomorrow and
are praying there is no permanent damage to Hannah.
Can you tell me if anyone else has had adverse reactions from Frontline? Is there the possibility of permanent damage? And would you happen to have an email link for FDA reporting?
Any information would be greatly appreciated- many thanks.
Celia 1/21/09
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Re: SENTRY Natural Defense brand killed my cat
Hi James:
You probably don't remember me but I had contacted you in late October 2008 after the passing of my cat,
3 weeks after using a "natural" over-the-counter flea medication on her. You gave me some very helpful
suggestions that I followed in my search for "justice."
In the meantime, I have been writing many letters, contacted attorney generals, the E.P.A., and even got a
lawyer involved. I have even contacted the local Channel 5 News station. I have gotten no where. I feel helpless.
I am told by the attorney that there isn't much I can do in terms of PROVING the medication was the actual cause
of death. The manufacturer is taking the stance that I either misused their product, or that since my cat was a
"stray " cat (that I had in my care for over 2 years) that she may have had another underlying illness. The news
station, who seemed like they were on board to do an investigative report, is now backing out because the
cause of death can't be "proved" and the vet, for legal reasons, can't CONFIRM that the product was the cause
of death.
I am extremely upset and frustrated. It seems I have reached a dead end - like I'm sure many pet owners before
me have experienced. I know you have experience in this subject area - what do you suggest I do next? I am
thinking that at this point all I can do is share my story!
Jodie 1/29/09
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My dog Lily, a 1 1/2 year old bichon, was put on VECTRA 3D in December of 2008. She had tremendous
itching and scratching which subsided after I gave her children's Benedryl at home. I called my vet who said
she'd never had any trouble with dogs taking Vectra. That is the only thing they sell at my vet's!! I asked her
if she thought the episode was related to the flea/tick meds and she said no.
On February 3 my dog was in the emergency room for two days and two nights, diagnosed with severe thrombocytopenia. She had hundreds of pinpoint hemorrhages on her skin. Her platelet count was 5,000.
I understand normal is 300,000 - 500,000. An oncologist gave her chemotherapy (vincristine) and steroids.
She is home now on cyclosporine and steroids --- and may be on the steroids for the rest of her life. She is
severely fatigued, and is not her old self. Very "Low." And had a huge episode of explosive, uncontrollable
diarhhea until it could be treated and is now under control. I absolutely attribute this to the VECTRA. Her
last vaccination was in the early fall, and she's been on no other meds since then.
The whole episode has cost me $2,071.00 so far, but I thank God the dog is alive, especially when I read the
endless heartrending accounts on the internet that record deaths on several of "safe" flea and tick products.
I am angry and worried. I have read dozens of complaints on the internet about many of the flea and tick
products, which have made dogs very ill, or killed them. I live in Florida, and ticks are abundant in summer.
I don't know what to do. Do you have any recommendations to prevent her from fleas and ticks? Are there
no herbal precautions?
Marguerite 2/8/09
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Thanks for this site (though I'm pretty freaked out right now, having just read through all of the postings!). We
have two shepherd-husky mixes, about 5 years old, and gave them biospot (right dosage for their weight) a
little less than a week ago. Nothing as dramatic as what people are reporting, but esp. with our more sensitive
dog, she seems to have lost some muscle control in her tail (probably because of the stuff being applied at
the base of the tail). Both dogs seem a little bit strange as far as their tails are concerned. Have you ever
heard of this? Is it an indicator of something else more drastic that we should take them to the vet for? We
were desperate to get rid of fleas, after having tried bathing and powder, so we bathed our dogs again and
did the biospot application. First time - used to use Advantage but haven't in at least a year. Any thoughts?
Naomi 2/12/09
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I am astonished that this product and other products similar to it are still on the market. After a fun and dirty
day at the dog park I bathed my sweet 2 year old Bichon and applied a free sample of Bio Spot on her that I
had received in the mail. I normally do not use this product but really never considered that it would be unsafe
to use since it was formulated for dogs. Within four hours of applying the recommended dose Faith became
lethargic and sporadically cried and whimpered as if something was hurting her. At first my husband dismissed
it as being sore from running and playing at the dog park. By the next morning Faith showed no improvement
and was drooling and twitching/shaking, not eating or drinking. At this point I new it was more than her being
sore. I did a quick internet search and found your site. I thank you for posting the immediate steps to take,
without this information I do not want to think what the end of this story would be. I quickly got Faith in the
bathtub and begin washing her down while my husband contacted the vet. The vet had us bring her and did
an exam, all of her vitals were normal and she was beginning to become less lethargic. The vet gave her
a shot of fluids and advised us to bathe her again and to keep an on her for any more twitching/shaking
or seizures. Our vet went on to let us know that this product is fatal for cats and is known to have adverse
effects on many dogs.
Unfortunately there really is no treatment so at this point we are praying that Faith fully recovers. I am out
right angry that these companies are producing a product that contains a chemical that can potentially kill
our beloved pets. I plan to contact these companies and the stores that carry them in an effort to have this
product removed from the market.
Valerie 2/18/09
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I recently had a flea problem with my Dachshund and Hunting dog. The pharmacist suggested ...Essential Oil of Geranium added to olive oil and applied to the coat . This has proved very successful and is of course a non toxic solution. Applications may need to be made two or three days in succession to rid the dog entirely of fleas.
Jil 3/9/09
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I just wanted to let everyone know the Cutters 5 in 1 is another product that is horrible. My dog and one of my
co-workers dogs experienced adverse reactions from the Cutters brand of flea and tick drops. Her dog almost
died and my dog had a severe burn from these drops. The drops are toxic to the dogs system and takes over
a month to finally get over the adverse reactions. It's so horrible to see these animals go through what they have.
They chase around in a cirle, have a hard time resting, and the stuff literally eats away at their skin to the point
of bleeding. I believe everyone should be aware that it seems the only good flea medicine is the Frontline, at
least I have no issues with it. The only reason why I bought the other stuff is because I was upon financial hard
times and needed to rid my pet of your normal spring flea infestation.
Laisey 3/22/09
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I have a 5 year old Chihuahua mix. I gave him a dose of Biospot on Saturday night and Sunday night he had a
terrible seizure. I have used Biospot on him before with no bad side effects. I'm going to give him a bath, but
what if they keep happening? Can anything be done?
Daniel 3/23/08
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Hi..... We came across this website after looking for more information about Tri-Force. We usually go with
Frontline, but thought we could try something new and save a few bucks. The gal at the Pet Shoppe raved
about Tri-Force, telling us it's just as good as Frontline.
After we treated Coco (our hava-tzu) with it she seemed fine, until an hour or so later. She started to frantically
run around the house, follow us everywhere... I could tell she was agitated and couldn't sit still. She would literally
jump of the bed, run down the hall, get on the couch and run down the stairs in a matter of 2 minutes. This is
totally out of character for her. She would try and rub your back and make whining noises. We were worried she
was going to have a heart-attack. Mind you, this still going on 9 hours after treatment!!!
We never had any of these problems with Frontline. What a waste of $$ and dangerous treatment for your
pet!!!!! There was nothing included with the box indicating an adverse reaction could occur. We will NEVER
buy this stuff again.
My husband ended up giving her a bath... hoping that would help. She is still not herself. I'm just glad that she is
ok after reading some of the other posts...
Lori 3/28/09
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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.
