The most frustrating external parasites we deal with in small animal veterinary medicine involve flea and tick infestations on dogs and cats. Not only are these pesky pests irritating to pets, often leading to excessive skin itching, allergies, and secondary skin infections, but they also carry many diseases that are a risk to both the pet and their human family. Thus, thorough and effective flea/tick control is an essential part of owning a dog or cat. Over the past decade there has been a tremendous expansion of effective flea/tick product options, many of them involving easy to apply topical medications often between the shoulders or behind the neck. Some of these include Frontline Plus, Advantage, K9 Advantix, Comfortis, Promeris for Dogs, Promeris for Cats, Revolution, and Bio Spot to name the most common ones used.
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However, there has been recent concern of short and long term safety with the expansion of use of these products. Prompted by a spike in the number of reported adverse reactions to spot-on flea and tick control products from 2007 to 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Canada in April 2009 both began an investigation into the safety of the treatments. |
Currently there are no definitive conclusions regarding certain products. Some of the reported reactions, which manufacturers are required by law to notify the EPA, when reported by pet owners, ranged from mild effects (skin irritation/hair loss/itching at application site) to more serious side effects (seizures and in very rare cases death). And while the EPA is intensifying its reaction of all spot-on products, most animal guardians are still finding these products safe and effective in the vast majority of their canine and feline companions, and that reactions are rare.
However, long term exposure and cumulative exposure to both active and inert ingredients do remain a concern to some animal guardians and many veterinarians. For those dogs or cats that are very sensitive to topical products, oral alternatives for flea control such as Program may be an option. Herbal flea and tick products can also be an option, as well as Be Flea Free Shampoo and Miracle Mist Skin Spray, which contain essential oils that can be effective in repelling fleas and ticks. One must be extra careful in using essential oils on cats because for some cats tea tree oil can be toxic. And while natural products do present an alternative to those very sensitive pets, they are often not as effective as the more commonly used and prescribed topical flea/tick products mentioned above.
No matter which approach an animal guardian chooses, it is essential to keep up with flea and tick control in both dogs and cats to avoid not only physical discomfort but the transmission of diseases carried by these pests to both pets and people. Stay tuned for the EPA’s findings on this hot topic likely soon to be released sometime in 2010, relative to which products may pose excessive risk of reaction.
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Bio Spot is such garbage
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
June 13th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
I have seen reactions to many of the topical flea and tick products on occasion, including biospot. There is always some small risk when using any topical pesticide. Others have found biospot quite helpful, so it is one of those individual things.
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My toy poodle, Corey, is currently on K9 Advantix for dogs up to 20 lbs. Corey is currently 13 lbs. My question is should I give him the entire dose even though he is on the lower end of the weight scale for the product?
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is flea meds from walmart ok to use? because i don’t have money to buy any others
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
HI Brigette:
Answered your question above.
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are flea med from walmart ok to use? i don’t have the money to spend on the other med.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
It is really pot luck when choosing over the counter flea meds. While the FDA has cracked down on alot of the companies I still see many more reactions to the over the counter generic or cheaper brands than I do the more tried and tested front line and/or advantage.
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I just want a yes or no.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
I would not buy my flea and tick products from walmart in my opinion and experience due to the nature of some severe reactions I have seen in practice with generic over the counter products, not picking on Walmart which is a great discount market.
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Dawna Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Brigette…I know this is probably not a question you need answered anymore since the post is over a year old..but I thought I would share my thoughts with OTC(Walmart/grocery stores) flea treatments. I had the same problem I couldn’t afford to buy the better flea control and opted for OTC product. My cat had a very bad reaction to it and I will go without before I ever buy that kind again. She was lethargic , wouldn’t eat, or drink or move much at all. Its not worth what the cost of a vet bill had been, had she not regained to her normal behavior. Keep Walmart for their other great discounts.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Hi Dawna:
Thanks for sharing your experiences regarding OTC flea products. Best to stick with name brands like front line and advantage.
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Dawna Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 11:06 am
Oh its nice to be acknowledged! I didnt know ppl were still posting here. and Your Welcome.. I am in the same position AGAIN about not being able to afford Advantage or Frontline. What about the old time Flea collar?? or nothing at all..Those are my choices.
Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
I find that flea collars are mostly effective for small dogs and cats.
THX I have a cat that needs SOME KIND of flea treatment. My dog is on Revolution and thats about all I can afford..I have to make that a priority since he did have Heartworms and was treated..Its a ritual with him. My cat is outdoors now, so I have been treating her in the past.. so far no fleas…After having that bad reaction to OTC products I thought a flea collar would be better than nothing. Do you have any free samples of advantage or frontline for cats.??? Shes about 27 lbs… a BIG GIRL..
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Oh I have a question? Is it normal for a dog to chew on lemon tree “leaves” ?? I have never seen my dog”Roy “do this b4. He did throw them all up..Is it true they do that if their stomachs are upset to make themselves throw up??
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Promeris can be VERY dangerous. My dog had a severe, and not uncommon reaction to it. It was taken off the market last April due to all the dogs having severe allergic reaction to it compromising their immune system and causing many many problems! My dog now will have to be on immunosuppressants (though it made his immune system shot, it also made his body have an allergic reaction to his skin, as if it’s a foreign substance). Yet, they continue to sell it knowing this! There are class action lawsuits against the company for this! http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1TSNF_enUS427US427&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=promeris+allergy#pq=promeris+lawsuit&hl=en&cp=10&gs_id=35&xhr=t&q=promeris+recall&qe=cHJvbWVyaXMgcg&qesig=4ivQ0JP0aknDb_YyYcku2Q&pkc=AFgZ2tkMKkkNAK8b-swW0C2wkjj_KjFyxTokKRvBfscKBap6yLe04FBBEkNHg6rgL_-OHtoAA8jMPyG20G-5EJNk4622QYCQCQ&pf=p&sclient=psy&safe=off&rlz=1C1TSNF_enUS427US427&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=promeris+r&aq=0&aqi=g5&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.&fp=265f5e3edf2ec82b&biw=1366&bih=635
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
August 25th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Thank you for sharing your comments and unfortunate experience with this product.
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@ Brigette…NO I would not recommend OTC flea treatment for any of my animals. Of course you can do what you need to do because of not being able to afford the good stuff..I DID and I was very sorry and will not do it again..if I have to save a dollar a day I will to get a better product to use on my loved ones.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
August 25th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Thanks for sharing your comments on risky over the counter flea products
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My dog has no fleas, as a preventive can I use a lower dose of Advantage to her if she is 14 pounds and she is still protect her?
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
January 27th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
I would follow the package recommendations.
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