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Flea & Tick Products Often Backfire

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Fleas are dangerous too

Given these risks, does Dr. Hansen believe topical flea and tick products should be taken off the market?

Not at all.

“There is a bit of an awareness issue we have when battling fleas,” he said. “We’re trying to kill them and we have to use chemicals that have hopefully been adequately tested to do that.

“But if you have an outbreak of fleas or a terrible flea infestation problem that will pose serious health issues for animals -- anemia, tape worms and other health issues. I used to practice in Houston and we had puppies and cats that died from fleas -- or required blood transfusions.”

Companies' responses

During our investigation, ConsumerAffairs.com contacted three of the leading topical flea and tick product manufacturers to discuss the EPA’s “intensified scrutiny” of these treatments and any complaints we’d received from pet owners.

We contacted Sergeant’s, Central Life Sciences/Farnam Pet Products, which makes Bio Spot brand products, and The Hartz Mountain Corporation.

Hartz is the only company that responded.

“The truth is quite advantageous to us and we know how safe our products are,” company president and CEO Bill Ecker told us. “We have nothing to hide.”

Ecker said his company welcomes the EPA’s examination of its topical flea and tick products. “It’s a positive thing for consumers and a good thing for makers of high quality flea and tick products. It’s getting us closer to the truth about these products. And that means getting the right products to confront this problem (of fleas and ticks) for animals. That’s the right thing to do.”

Ecker and other Hartz officials said the ingredients in their company’s topical flea and tick products are among the safest on the market. And they cite Professor’s Gaskins’ analysis to back their claim.

According to Gaskin’s analysis, Hartz topical flea and tick products accounted for less than 5 percent of the reported adverse reactions during the timeframe studied.

“From a veterinary perspective, these (Hartz) products are safe and effective to use,” said Dr. Melinda Fernyhough, Hartz Manager of Scientific Affairs. “But you have to respect them for the pesticides they are -- and you must read the label correctly. We’ve seen people apply too much product or grab any old box. Some people assume that if a product is good for a dog it’s also good for a cat. That’s not true. There are chemicals in these products and those need to be respected.”

She added: “There is a small population of animals that will be sensitive to what you give them. Nothing is without a reaction.”

But she and other Hartz officials worry some pet owners may stop treating their pets for fleas and ticks because of fears associated with these topical products.

“Not using these products is not a good decision,” Ecker said. “This is a bad flea and tick season. If people get scared of using flea and tick products there will be other health problems that will develop that will have much worse adverse effects.

“We want to make sure people aren’t scared to use these products.”

To address those fears -- and combat what the company calls “misinformation” about is products -- Hartz recently launched a Web site called The Truth About Hartz.

“We’re trying to get people the facts about the products,” Ecker said. “With that information, people will be able to make the right decisions to treat their infestation problems.”

ConsumerAffairs.com also asked Hartz officials the one question that’s likely on many pet owners’ minds: Do they use the company’s topical flea and tick products on their dogs and cats?

They all said yes.

“If I didn’t believe in the product, I couldn’t do what I’m doing,” Ecker said. “Our first interest is in taking care of pets.”

Back in North Carolina, pet owner Diana S. says she no longer trust any over-the-counter flea and tick products.

“My message to pet owners is never use those products again,” she says. “Check with your vet first to see if it’s safe. And do your homework.

“I know there are many brands out there, but I don’t trust anything that my vet doesn’t prescribe or recommend. I care too much about my pets and their health.”

Next: Tips for using flea and tick products

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