EPA approved tick and flea meds kill 1,600 pets, sicken 20,000
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If the pictures aren’t enough, this news release says it all:
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 16, 2008 — At least 1,600 pet deaths linked to so-called “spot on” treatments with pyrethroids, a class of synthetic pesticides, have been reported to the Environmental Protection Agency over the past five years, according to an analysis of EPA pesticide incident exposure data by the Center for Public Integrity. These treatments are currently approved for sale by the EPA and are easily available at grocery and hardware stores and specialty pet retailers.
This report was published by the Center for Public Integrity, a not for profit watchdog group based in Washington DC. The report indicates that 1600 pet deaths and some 20,000 pet sicknesses in the last five years are tied to over the counter, spot on tick and flea medications.
There will be more links to the agency’s findings at the end of this story, but it should be noted that this agency took numbers supplied by the EPA, and crunching these numbers, arrived at some very alarming figures that is forcing the EPA to scrutinize the chemicals and the companies making these dog and cat products.
Hugh Hardage loves his dog jack.
He doesn’t have a degree in molecular biology or chemistry. Maybe he could use one, because he is about to buy a product for his beloved pet.
Hardage goes to his local pet store where he buys an over the counter, spot on flea and tick medicine. He recognizes the brand and since it is the most expensive product on the shelf, he figures this must be the best one for his four footed buddy.
Boy was he wrong.
Hardage says he followed the instructions to the letter.
After a few hours, he returns home to find his dog, Jack, hyperventilating and acting erratically. Hardage says there is oil on the walls where Jack apparently tried to rub the medicine off his body.
“He is like a member of the family,” Hardage says.
The 44 year old’s voice wavers slightly as he shows me the deep scars that are still visible on Jack’s back, even though the application was a month ago.
“It’s like pouring acid on a baby,” he says.
Hardage brings his dog to William Rye DVM.
The veterinarian recognizes the deep burns in the animal’s skin immediately.
“I am one vet in Nashville, practicing for 6 years, and I have seen at least a dozen fatal cases mostly cats.”
According to Dr. Rye, the over the counter flea medication Hardage purchased is loaded with pyrethrins, and OK’d by the EPA.
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“The main component is a good product - a chrysanthemum derivative. It works great for your yard, but your pet no way”
Rye tells me that it only takes .15% pyrethrin to be effective in tick and flea treatment.
He says many of these products are loaded with high concentrations of the chemical. If applied incorrectly or if the animal is susceptible, it can be lethal, especially to cats and small dogs.
“This dosage is many times what these dogs will need,” he says shaking his head. “I have personally seen cats die. Cats are very sensitive.”
In a startling study, The Center for Public Integrity indicates:
“These over-the-counter pet products contain high concentrations of pyrethroids that range in strength from a 40 percent to an 85 percent solution, which is eight to 17 times stronger than the strongest pyrethroid products currently approved for use on humans.”
Jack the dog will be ok. But Hardage says the physical scars could last a long time.
The mental vision of accidentally harming his dog, he says, will last a lifetime.
“What is messed up? Everything is messed up. It’s a worst case scenario you think you are doing preventative health care and essentially you are almost killing your pet.”
So what can you do?
Well Dr. Rye admonishes pet owners to check with their vet prior to buying a flea or tick product.
Rye says if you do buy an over the counter product, read the label, and look for concentrations of chemicals like pyrethrins.
Remember he says point one five percent is enough to do the job and many over the counter medications are loaded with the toxic chemical.
The good news; thanks to the study, the EPA says it is going to intensify its investigation into the use of these chemicals.
- CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY - http://www.publicintegrity.org/blog/entry/1275
- EPA SCRUTINIZES FLEA AND TICK CONTROL - http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/health/flea-tick-control.html
- METRO HEALTH DEPT:
Dear Andy:
Please find some comments below by our toxicologist, dr. areola regarding these flea and tick products. One issue that can occur with collars, particularly with young puppies and cats, pulling them off and chewing on them which could cause an abnormally high dosage byIngestion.The products used for control of ticks and fleas in pets are fairly varied in terms of active ingredients, and thus in mechanisms of actions, and level of application. While the active ingredient in front line is fipronil (with methoprene in frontline plus), it is imidacloprid for advantage, selamectin for revolution, and pyrethrins for others.
What is more important is that these products are approved for these uses and when used according to label instructions, the risk to pets will be minimal. For example, the label for front line products requires application on a single spot on the skin and one application per month.
There are also age restrictions (8 weeks or older). When label instructions are followed in terms of frequency of application, site of application, and level of application, the risk should be minimal. It is also important to consult with vets prior to these applications.
Thanks,
Sanmi Areola, PHD
Toxicologist
Metro Public Health Department
311 23rd avenue north
Nashville, Tn 37203
u surely dont expect the vets to tell us about this do u–they make HUGE profits off frontline & other pet products–its all about money to them
Is the problem only with “over the counter” spot on flea and tick preventatives like Sargents and Hartz or with “presciption” flea and tick preventatives like Frontline and Advantix as well? I have heard for years from dog rescues and professional breeders not to use Sargents and Hartz due to the toxicity of the brands.
what brand was used on these dogs so i do not use it on mine thank you i think the vewing people would like to know what brand caused this on the dogs i love my dog and would not do anything in the world to hurt it thank you for your help respectfully bill belcher
Hugh contacted our law firm to discuss legal options for himself and on behalf of Jack. I’ll admit that I had never considered the possible toxicity levels in these type of pet sprays before Hugh called us. Now, I’ve warned all of my friends and clients about this dangerous product. We’re proud to represent Hugh and Jack. I hope our efforts will send a message to these companies that they cannot get away with putting a toxic product on the market that harms our beloved pets
My cat died 5 years ago from Hartz. I fought with them for several months and finally they paid his $800.00 vet bill. Good luck and I hope you get them!!
I think the problem is the over the counter flea meds - not necessarily Frontline, etc. My dog, a golden retriever, has about 6 spots on him that resemble hot spots - a condition common to goldens. However, the vet said he had not seen a dog with that many spots at one time. And they resemble the pictures above, but are much worse and a lot bigger. I bought the cheaper version of flea and tick repellent (not knowing any better) and I really think it has been the cause of this. It may not have CASUED the hot spots, but i think it caused bad irritation in several spots which led him to scratch and lick the spots which has made everything worse and turned the small scars into huge open sores. He has also vomited a few times which is another sign of poisoning by these medicines. It’s really sad to see him hurt like this and he looks awful because I had to shave all of the spots to make sure air was getting to them. I hope the word gets out about these medicines.
I was talked into buying “BioSpot” when I went to buy “Frontline”. The pet store told me that it worked as good.
Thankfully, I had not used it before I saw the story on WKRN. When I googled “BioSpot”, I read more and more information about its ingredients and the stories of dogs that either died or became very ill within a few hours of using it.
I would recommend that readers research it on the internet, and NOT use BioSpot!
Randy! Oh my gosh!! BIOSPOT (Bio CRAP) is what I used!! I am so glad you didn’t use it!! Throw that crap away or go get your money back.
This is such a horrible thing! When is greed ever going to stop in AMERICA! I for the first time last week bought Hartz Flea and Tick products instead of Frontline, which I have never had any problems with. I am now hesistant to use Hartz products. Should I not use Hartz and go back to Frontline. I have 3 very special animals that are my babies and always try and do the best thing for them. Any suggestions? Thanks!
I saw your “Messed Up” report on flea medication. Our dog has recently had 2 hot spots on his back. We had recently given him a flea/tick treatment by Hartz. His sores looked just like thoses on your piece. I checked and the main ingredient was pyrethrin, 85.7%. I bought Hartz because I thought I could trust the name and it was cheaper then what the vet has. I reread the back of the box and it actually said “Not recommended for domestic animals”, WHAT??? The picture on the box is a beagle, what we have. Give me a break. That is truly MESSED UP.
I know first hand how these OTC medications affect pets. My 2-year-old cat Darcy became VERY ill after I unknowingly used Sargents Flea and Tick treatment on her. She was drooling profusely, was very lethargic, and overall not herself. I took her to the vet and found out the treatment I used on her is highly toxic to pets, especially cats. They kept her overnight and thankfully she is just fine now. I usually buy Revolution (which I’ve NEVER had a problem with), but thought I’d try to save some money with economy in the shape it’s in. I now know that saving a few pennies isn’t worth losing my beloved cat!!!
Dear Andy
Thank you for much for running the piece on the flea and tick products. I usually used K-9 Advantix for my pets and have no problems and the ingredients are safe (this,Advantage and Front Line were suggested by my vet; however, Frontline severally affected my Lab so I changed to K-9 Advantix - and none of these products have the product you referred to in your piece.
HOWEVER, a friend of my suggested that I purchase ZODIAC - SPOT ON - (the label actually says “Garden and Pet” made by Wellmark — Flea and Tick which was very cheap, THEN when I saw your piece on 6/14/09, I literally ran to the cabinet and guess what — 45% PERMETHIN - which is the same ingredient that you mentioned in your article - thrown in the trash for sure.
You are blessing to the Nashville community and hero to me for possibly saving my dogs any kind of problems by using the “cheap stuff”
Sincerely,
Pam Phillips - Nashville
Cheryl and Belinda (and anyone else reading these comments), please don’t use anything except what you can buy at the vet! I have spent over $300.00 at the vet trying to care for my dog after using BIOSPOT just ONE time. I spent that in a week and have had to take him to the vet three times. It is awful and so sad. I have contacted the company and informed them about what happened with my dog. I wrote an earlier comment (last week) about what happened to my dog, so if you haven’t read it and want to, you can find it above.
Hello,
Can anyone tell me a website or list of medicines that are safe for their dogs. I was going to put K9 ADVANTIX 55 on my dog on sunday night and this story made me look at the ingredients: Imidacloprid 8.8%, PERMETHRIN 44%, Other 47.2%.
This story said these medicines only need 15%. Some of you here said that you use K9 ADVANTIX but you did not state that it has 44% PERMETHRIN.
My question is: do any of you know of a website where we can clarify this information and get some answers on what is safe. I am not putting any of this stuff on my animal until I get proof and recommendations.
Also is TRI-HEARTGUARD safe for our dogs?
As a local vet, we see 2-3 of these cases a week. I have a cat in the hospital right now that the owner put dog biospot on the cat. The over the counter flea products are the only ones that are a problem; the medications you get from your vet are safe- I have never seen a reaction to a flea medication bought at the vet. And yes, tri-heart is safe for your dog- it is generic form of heartgard. I have had one owner that was able to get reimbursed from Hartz because she bugged them to death- but she had to sign a confidentiality agreement not to talk about it!! Just ask your vet what they recommend, and trust me, we don’t make hardly anything off of these medications!! That $10 Biospot is going to cost these owners about $450.. We also regularly report these cases and generally get blown off because we can’t prove it was their medication when we call Hartz to complain, yet the animal was acting fine before the owner applied the mediacation. Good luck going after them!!
Andy,
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for this article!!! My husband has been unemployed since October, I have my own home based travel agency and work on commission only. With 3 girls you can imagine our budget is very VERY tight. We also have 3 dogs and 2 cats that we love dearly. Trying to save money we bought BioSpot by mistake just this morning. I couldn’t remember the name of it but remembered the ingredient, Premethrin, and checked the box after my husband got it home….45%!! Needless to say we’re taking it back to the farm supply company we bought it at. But here’s my question, if the vets know this is bad stuff and people want to take care of their pets and keep fleas off them and out of their house, why are they selling Front Line and Advantix at such an outrageous price?? It’s $65 a box at the Farm and Home Supply company here in Gallatin. With 3 dogs and 2 cats there’s no way we can afford to spend $200 on flea medication for 3 dogs much less buy any for my cats!! That’s our weekly grocery bill!! I’m willing to pay $30 a box if it works and doesn’t hurt my pets but I can’t afford it otherwise.
Thanks for your article.
I have Hartz Ultra Guard Plus. Active ingredients include Phenothrin @ 85.7%. Is this stuff in the same class as the pyrethrin?