Pet owners will have to wait for answers
But Donald and other pet owners will have to wait weeks or even months before they get any answers from the EPA, ConsumerAffairs.com has learned. A spokeswoman said the agency is still reviewing the more than 40,000 reports of adverse reactions associated with topical flea and tick products.
Right now, we have requested each registrant of spot on (flea and tick) products to submit additional information on each incident reported to us, said the EPAs Kimberly Nesci. Were now getting that additional information and starting to review it. We need to look at each individual incident to figure out the causality. Thats what were now doing.
She added: We dont have any conclusions yet. The plan now is to have a report available this fall. Nesci, however, said the EPA is exploring all options -- even pulling these products off the market. Right now, anything is on the table. What were going to do is a thorough analysis before we determine any regulatory action.
But we do recognize the importance of these products in (fighting) flea and tick, she added. And we do take that into consideration.
The EPA is also examining whether certain chemicals in topical flea and tick products are linked to a high percentage of reported adverse reactions. Thats an issue a Washington State University professor studied when he analyzed the complaints the EPA received -- from July 2006 to June 2008 -- about topical flea and tick products.
Dr. Charles T. Gaskins analysis revealed the chemical Cyphenothrin accounted for 43 percent of reported adverse affects during the 24-month timeframe. His analysis also showed two other chemicals combined -- Imidacloprid and Fipronil -- accounted for 30 percent of the reported adverse reactions during that period.
Are those chemicals now on the EPAs radar?
In our analysis were looking at the active ingredients in the product to see if any account for more incidents, the EPAs Nesci told us. Were looking at active and inert ingredients to see if there are any trends.
And we could ask our registrants to change their formulas. There are a lot of options. We have not narrowed them downI think anything is possible.
The EPAs analysis will also study possible misuse of the products by pet owners.
We have seen that (misuse) happen, Nesci said. I cant say how often until we do our analysis. But we do know it happens; as part of our analysis, we will see how frequently that happens.
We requested our registrants provide us with as much information as they can to determine if an incident happened because of misuse of the product, she added. Or did an incident happen because the directions were unclear?
The EPA has regulatory power over these products packaging and could require manufacturers to change their labeling.
If changes to the directions or label or packaging are needed to prevent these incidents from happening, we can require companies to make those changes, Nesci said, adding the EPA will update its Web site on any action its takes regarding these products.
How did it happen?
But how did these topical flea and tick products that contain potentially dangerous pesticides -- get on the market in the first place?
Didnt the EPA review them to ensure they met certain safety guidelines?
We consider a wide variety of data on active ingredients when the products are registered, Nesci said. Based on that information, the products met our safety standards.
When we noticed these incidences occurring, we alerted consumers, she added. And we started doing our enhanced scrutiny and taking a hard look at these products.
Earlier this summer, the ASPCAs Animal Poison Control Center also took a closer look its data from pet owners calls about topical flea and tick products.
That examination revealed two key findings about the use -- and misuse -- of these products:
• When dogs and cats were treated according to the direction, the likelihood of severe adverse reactions was significantly less. The ASPCAs analysis revealed: no illness despite a call to the ASPCA (7%), mild illness (69%), moderate illness (22%), major illness (2%), and death (0.1%);
• When pet owners did not follow the direction when using topical flea and tick products on their cat, the felines were significantly more likely to experience severe reactions. The ASPCAs analysis of those records revealed: no illness despite a call to the ASPCA (18%), mild illness (17%), moderate illness (45%), major illness (19%), and death (2%).
From the data we have collected, the adverse reactions tend to be mild, like skin sensations and stomach upset, the ASPCAs Dr. Steven Hansen told us. We dont have very many cases of true neurological issues when these products are properly used.
Cats, he said, are often sensitive to the ingredients used in some topical flea and tick products.
What pyrethroids do is stimulate the nerves, Dr. Hansen said. You may get a prickly sensation to the skin. Cats are very sensitive to the ability to move their skin. And so, what you may see is a cat walking in a strange way or doesnt want to be touched. The product may make their skin crawl.
Some pet owners, however, may misinterpret those cat-like behaviors as adverse reactions.
Cats are unique creatures about how they respond to things on their coats, Dr. Hansen said. When you have a cat that agitated or irritated, its possible that its because it doesnt like whats on its skin.
I think there are cases of misuse of these product or overreactions to how pets are responding, he added. Oftentimes what you see are pet owners over-interpreting a hyper-sensitivity issue or an allergic reaction. What you have to do is separate out what is a real product-related problem versus an allergic reaction to fleas.
Hansen said his laboratory has discovered cases in which pet owners used the wrong topical flea and tick product on their pets.
For example, they applied a product intended for a dog on a cat -- action that could have serious or deadly consequences.
Products labeled for dogs must never be used on cats -- doing so can result in serious illness and even death, said Dr. Louise Murray, Medical Director of the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. A veterinarian must always be consulted before using spot-on flea and tick treatments on very young, old, sick or pregnant pets."
Next: Fleas are dangerous too
