Increased Scrutiny Of Flea And Tick Control Products For Pets

[Nienke]

Increased Scrutiny of Flea and Tick Control Products for Pets Resources

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is intensifying its evaluation of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control due to recent increases in the number of reported adverse reactions in pets treated with these products. Adverse reactions reported range from mild effects such as skin irritation to more serious effects such as seizures and, in some cases, death of the pet.

read more ... http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/flea-tick-control.html

Pets and Pesticides: Severe Reactions to Common Pet Treatments Increase Dramatically

It happens tens of thousands of times a day. People treat their pets with over-the-counter, topical treatments used to kill fleas and ticks. But reports of severe reactions have spiked dramatically in the past year.

Read more ... http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Story?id=7702101&page=1

[drtreelove]

I skimmed the articles and didn't see any mention of brands or specific formulations. Do you have any idea if these reports are about a specific product?

I have used Frontline and Revolution on my dogs and cats for years without any observable negative effects. In fact the huge problems come with discontinuing use for any length of time.

Do you have any suggestions for products to avoid or alternatives? don

[Nienke]

I skimmed the articles and didn't see any mention of brands or specific formulations. Do you have any idea if these reports are about a specific product?

Sorry, I don't know.

I have used Frontline and Revolution on my dogs and cats for years without any observable negative effects. In fact the huge problems come with discontinuing use for any length of time.

I think there are many dog and cat owners who haven't noticed any negative effects. However, there are dogs and cats that do react to these products and as the articles indicates it is on the increase. And that's the reason why they want to investigate. Furhtermore, side-effects aren't necessarily immediate. There can be a slow build-up of toxins in the body that finally results in disease. And who would link, for example, chronic kidney or liver disease to the chemicals that an animal has received during its life?

Do you have any suggestions for products to avoid or alternatives? don

As you know I'm not so in favor of all the chemicals in and on the dog or its environment. Unfortunately, I haven't come across any product, chemical or environmental friendly, that completely prevents ticks from getting on dogs. When Frontline or Revolution is applied ticks still can attach and bring over the dreaded tick diseases, even when the number of ticks that attach to the animal is a lot less.

When there are hardly any ticks in your neighborhood, then lemon rinses or a bath with an apple cider vinegar mix, makes the dog's body quite unpleasant for ticks to attach. However, it doesn't work for a meter when there are many ticks around. But also Frontline and Revolution do not work properly anymore then. In these cases the only solution that I know of is call in pest control.

In my experience it is also that chronic or acute sick dogs attract lots of ticks.

[robblok]

I always used some small bottles i bought at JJ market. But then this stopped working even frontline did not work and my home was overrun by fleas. They were everywhere we could take 100's of the dogs on a day and the next day they were back again. So we went to the vet and he gave the dogs an injection.

This seemed to help because now 2,5 week on there are a lot less flees and i almost dont see them in the home anymore. Only on the dogs and most of them are dead. I think the ones that arent dead are new ones that just hopped on. Anyway i hope that in a while there will be no new feels.

I do know im going to the vet next month for an other injection, before the dogs were scratching so much they were damaging their skin. Now they look good again.

Im not sure if its good or bad.. but the alternative isn't that nice either.

[Cuban]

I think the issue might be with Counterfeit Pesticide Products for Dogs and Cats in particular there is a section on Frontline:

What products are affected by this action?

The following are brand names and EPA registration numbers of legitimate products. The counterfeit products may use these same names and numbers.

Frontline Top Spot for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 65331-2)

Frontline Top Spot for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 65331-3)

Frontline Plus for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 65331-4)

Frontline Plus for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 65331-5)

Advantage 10 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-117)

Advantage 20 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-119)

Advantage 55 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-120)

Advantage 100 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-122)

Advantage 9 for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 11556-116)

Advantage 18 for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 11556-118)

Source: Link Above.

[Greenside]

I just got back from the Vet where he (reluctantly) owned up to stocking what I imagine is a local copy of Frontline called (I think) Killabug. It came in a small brown phial and costs 80 baht a dose which I am assuming is monthly, the same as Frontline (200 baht a pop at my Vet).

Other than the price, I have no arguments against Frontline or Frontline Plus but surely it must be about time these products cease to be protected by their original patents so I've been hoping some generic versions become available.

Has anyone had any experience using Killabug or have any news of proper generics that may be on the market?

Edited June 23, 2010 by Greenside