(WXYZ) - Some popular pet medication may be causing side effects such as seizures, tremors – even death. The medication is meant to protect, but the Action News Investigators found many pet owners complaining about dangerous reactions they say were caused by some flea and tick products.
Amy Vasquez said her dog, Mack, had a bad reaction to a medication.
“He would reach around and bite at himself,” Amy said. “He was scratching himself, and wouldn't stop it.”
Normally those are signs of either flea or tick bites.
But, Amy said it was caused by a medication that is supposed to protect dogs from pests.
Amy bought Sentry Pro XFC, a spot-on flea and tick product that’s supposed to be applied directly to the pet’s skin.
“It had a nice package on it, and I thought it's the most expensive one. So, it’s probably pretty good.”
She said she followed the directions.
“You kind of spread the fur and you just put it on about halfway down the back,” Amy said.
Hours later, Amy said Mack was acting strange.
“He was jumping around like something was poking at him. He just wouldn't sit still. I was like what is wrong with this dog?" Amy said.
Then, she said she looked at the spot where she’d applied the Sentry Pro XFC.
“It looked like the worst sunburn you'd ever seen. It was obvious it was exactly where I’d applied it.” Amy said. “I gave him a bath, and washed it off. [That] worked until it got dry. Then, it came back. [Mack was] scratching, scratching and scratching. This went on and on until we gave him another bath.”
Amy said Mack still wasn’t better even after they gave him multiple baths.
Amy said she went online, looking for answers. She found hundreds of posts complaining about the same problems.
“And, the other dogs had it worse,” she said.
Among the posts were complaints of vomiting, seizures, burning and open wounds.
But, those are just some of the side effects dog owners said some spot-on flea and tick medication has caused.
The Action News Investigators received videos and emails from dog owners across the country describing the “horror of watching our loved one suffer.” One email described the pet’s reaction as like “watching them die.”
Many spot-on products use pesticides as the main active ingredient, because it kills pests like fleas and ticks.
The products that contain pesticides are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Now, the EPA is taking a close look at what it calls a large and growing number of cases involving spot-on products and reports of side effects such as tremors, seizures – even death.
According to the EPA's records, more than 24,000 incidents were reported in 2008 relating to all spot-on flea and tick products. Of those 24,000 incidents, more than 250 major cases and nearly 350 deaths were reported in just one year.
The most complaints were made against Sergeant’s.
Sergeant’s makes the product, Sentry Pro XFC. It’s the same medication that Amy said caused her dog’s side effects.
Sergeant’s received more than 10,000 complaints out of all the reports collected by the EPA from 2008. According to the EPA’s records, that’s more than three times the amount of complaints reported against any other company that makes flea and tick products.
Dr. Diane Paster is veterinarian with an emergency animal clinic. She said it’s common to see pesticides used in flea and tick medications.
“Anything that you're going to use that's going to kill these little guys has to be called a pesticide,” Dr. Paster said.
But, Paster said the real problem may be the kind of pesticides being used. She said she tells her patients to only use flea and tick medications based on their vet’s recommendations.
“I think the ones that you can get from your vet a little bit safer.” She said. “I think they're more effective.”
According to the EPA's records, products sold by vets received fewer complaints.
“I would really like to see the [products] with the most side effects pulled,” Dr. Paster said.
In a statement Action News, Sergeant’s said:
“All of Sergeant’s flea and tick products are safe and effective when used properly. All meet government safety standards and have been approved by the EPA. Sergeant’s is not taking the products off store shelves because more than 99% of the millions of doses sold have provided pets and their owners with extremely effective protection from fleas and ticks and with no adverse reactions.
There is no consistency in the way that manufacturers report reactions to the EPA, therefore comparing one manufacturer’s numbers to another’s is like comparing apples to oranges. However, the vast majority of reports for Sergeant’s products were for minor skin irritations that were temporary. There will be cases in which some pets do have reactions to these products, just as humans may be allergic to milk or peanuts, for example.
Sergeant’s welcomes the EPA’s recommendations for the industry to improve the labeling and instructions for flea and tick spot-on products. This has been a concern at Sergeant’s
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