from the Pet Forum, a post worth reading

15 years ago

A member has posted on the Pet Form about a terrible reaction caused by an OTC flea and tick product. It's about her dogs, but I'm guessing there's a cat version on the market, too.

Pet owners, this is worth reading.

Here is a link that might be useful: product warning

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Comments (3)

Tally
15 years ago
Unfortunately, this is not new news. The problems with Zodiac and Hartz flea products are well documented - just google them. Although the EPA stepped in to regulate some of their products, other OTC flea medications continue to poison pets:

"Flea control products now on the market include seven specific "organophosphate insecticides" (OPs). OPs work by blocking the breakdown of the bodyÂs messenger chemical, acetylcholine, thereby interfering with the transmission of nerve signals in the brains and nervous systems of insects, pets and humans alike. In the presence of OPs, acetylcholine builds up in the body. The resulting interference with nerve transmissions is of such a magnitude that it actually kills insects. In overdoses, OPs can also kill people and pets. But even with normal use of flea-control products containing OPs, pets and children may be in danger.

The seven OPs are chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon and malathion. They are the active ingredients in dozens of pet products. A comprehensive list of products appears in Table 1. It includes major pet pesticide brands, such as Alco, Americare, Beaphar, Double Duty, FordÂs, Freedom Five, Happy Jack, Hartz, Hopkins, Kill-Ko, Protection, Rabon, Riverdale, Sergeant, Unicorn, Vet-Kem, Victory and Zema. "

http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/pets/execsum.asp
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/17/061347.php
http://www.epa.gov/opp00001//factsheets/flea-tick.htm
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/hartzq_a.htm
http://www.hartzvictims.org/2005/12/
http://www.thepetguardian.com/html/flea_tick_control.html
http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0696/et0696s4.html
alisande
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, Tally. I knew about Hartz from way back when I was an animal activist, and about OTC flea products in general. But I was thinking these days a lot of people might avoid buying such things in the supermarket and yet trust a pet supplier like Petsmart.

Gee . . . a name like Vet-Kem sounds scientific and reliable, doesn't it? Exactly what the marketing department thought, I'm sure.
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Linda Wayman
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Why is it still allowed to be on the market? It ought to be illegal.

Linda

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from the Pet Forum, a post worth reading

Comments (3)

Tally

alisande
Original Author

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Linda Wayman

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from the Pet Forum, a post worth reading

Comments (3)

Tally

alisandeOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Linda Wayman

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

alisande
Original Author