The wait is almost over for pet owners who have wondered what action the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will take in response to the increasing number of adverse reactions linked to topical flea and tick products.
The EPA on Wednesday (March 17) will finally release the findings of its nearly year-long evaluation of these topical or spot-on flea and tick products, which pet owners say have triggered horrific reactions in their dogs and cats.
The EPA will discuss its findings during a free, public Webinar Evaluation of Pet Spot-on Flea and Tick Products and Next Steps from 4-6pm EST on Wednesday. Pet owners can submit questions during the session and agency officials will address as many as time allows, the EPA said.
The agency announced last April that it was intensifying its scrutiny of topical flea and tick products because of the growing number of bad reactions associated with the treatments, including skin irritations, burns, neurological problems, and even deaths.
The EPA told ConsumerAffairs.com last fall that it planned to release its findings in late 2009. But the agency later postponed that action.
"Due to the large amount of data and the complex technical issues associated with the review of the data, our report is not ready for public release, agency's spokesman, Dale Kemery, told us last December.
The EPA has confirmed that its received more than 44,000 reports of harmful reactions associated with topical flea and tick products and documented an uptick in complaints about these treatments from previous years.
ConsumerAffairs.com has also received hundreds of complaints about these products from pet owners nationwide. Dog and cat owners say their pets suffered burns and welts on their skin, started to drool excessively, shake uncontrollable, whimper in agony, lose control of their legs, or experience other neurological problems after using topical flea and tick treatments.
I applied this product (Sergeant Gold Flea & Tick) to my 14 year-old dog and 12 hours later she was drooling, shaking, and could hardly walk, Florida pet owner Debra O. told us earlier this month. There were no dangerous side effects listed on the box. I called the emergency number on the box and was told (my dog) was having an adverse reaction to the meds.
I had to give her three baths with dish soap, pour water down her throat, and also give her vitamin E oil, Debra added. I am still watching her behavior closelyshe is still suffering right now.
Outraged
Debra is outraged that a product linked to so many horrible reactions in pets is still on the market.
I had no idea or I would have never bought (it) and risked the life of my 14-year-old buddy, she said. This product hurts and kills animals. Someone needs to do something.
Another Florida pet owner told us her dog also experienced a potentially deadly reaction to that same flea and tick product.
I purchased Sergeants Gold Flea and Tick and applied it to my 10.9 pound Yorkie mix, Shelby T. of North Port, Florida, told us in February. He suffered seizures and a severe chemical burn. This needs to be taken off the shelves. My poor baby has been in so much pain this is poison.
Shelby contacted the company about her dogs experience, but said Sergeants representatives blamed her for the Yorkies reaction.
They (said) I didn't read the label right or misused it, she told us. They are crazy. My vet put in writing that this product caused this. The vet said his hair will probably never grow back where the burn is. It is a massive burn.
A North Carolina pet owner told us in February that her dogs suffered terrible reactions to the topical product she used to protect them from fleas.
I purchased this product (Sentry Pro XFC) from PetSmart and applied it to my two dogs Lab and Boxer, Celia K. of Greenville, North Carolina, said. That evening the Lab experienced neurologic side effects - his body jerked every 15 seconds.
Celia contacted the company, which told her to bathe both dogs in dish soap and apply vitamin E oil and cold compresses to the application sites. She heeded that advice, but said the problems continued.
The following day, my Boxer experienced uncontrollable leg jerking, she said. These issues are resolving, but I would never purchase this product and suggest it be pulled off the shelf.
Other risks
But removing topical flea and tick products from store shelves is an option a leading veterinary toxicologist and other experts in the field do not support.
They say an outbreak of fleas and ticks could pose more serious health problems to pets and humans. They also say topical flea and tick products pose minimal risks to pets when used as directed.
A 2009 study by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) supports that position. The study revealed the majority of illnesses linked to proper use of topical flea and tick products are mild -- and cats are more susceptible to illnesses and deaths from the misuse of these products.
The important take-home message is that although adverse reactions can occur with all flea and tick products, most effects are relatively mild and include skin irritation and stomach upset, said Dr. Steven Hansen, ASPCA veterinary toxicologist and Senior Vice President Animal Health Services. Pet parents should not discontinue using products as directed by the product label when faced with a flea infestation.
Used as directed
But pet owners have repeatedly told ConsumerAffairs.com that they used the topical flea and tick products according to the manufacturers direction. And their dogs and cats still suffered horrifying reactions.
I bought Sergeants Gold Flea & Tick squeeze-on to use on my Min Pin and within one hour of applying to my dog she was convulsing, agitated, scratching, biting, and writhing in pain, said Chris C. of Florence, Alabama. Her eyes are swelled up and her head is scratched from her rolling around bumping her head into things as she flails attempting to rid herself of whatever is on her skin.
Chris immediately bathed the Min Pin in Dawn dishwashing soap, but continues to worry that his best friend may never be the same.
My dog may have seizures or worse health symptoms for life due to this product, he said. She was healthy and happy until I applied this poison to her and I'm now petrified at the looming consequences. I want someone to be held accountable.
On Wednesday, pet owners will learn the results of the EPAs intensive evaluation of topical flea and tick products and what action the agency is taking to ensure the safety of dogs and cats that receive these treatments.
EPA will present an overview of its evaluation of these products and its plans to further protect pets, the agency said in a statement about its upcoming Webinar.
Pet owners who want to participate in the agencys Webinar can register online.More information about the session is available on the EPAs Web site.
