OTC flea treatments - are they safe?
Treat fleas safely!
Soon, it will be that time of year…gosh I hope so….where we will be going outdoors again to enjoy all of the benefits of getting out of the house!!! It has been a long cold winter. However, for many that means that fleas on your dog are a distinct possibility and will have to decide about the appropriate treatment to minimize or eliminate flea infestation.
In a recent article on msnbc.com it was writtent that a dog owner in Ft. Wayne, Indiana bought an over the counter flea treatment for her dog. Within thrity minutes of application, the dog began to have severe reactions to the treatment. The owner stated,”"thirty minutes later she went into shock, she was shaking, couldn’t breathe properly”
It took the care of professionals at two separate veterinary hospitals to save the dog.
The authors of the article stated that they contacted, but did not get a response from the company responsible for the product. However, they investigated the claims further and found that there were dozens of complaints from all over the country with similar and some more disturbing reactions to the flea products. One particular owner spoke about how his dog experience foaming at the mounth and later did not survive.
Many people use the over the counter products becasue they are less expensive than products received or perscribed by the veterinarian. However, most vets are familiar with the products that are most reactive and nonreactive and utilize these accordingly. The problem is that most of the products use nerve agents like, Permithrin and Cyphenothrin to kill fleas on dogs, since they’re pesticides, they’re actually regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Vets say in some dogs the chemicals can affect the nervous and digestive systems.
So, even though the over the counter products are less expensive, the damage to your dog could be long term or even fatal. Speak to your vet and get something that is safe for your dog becasue if cost is the primary factor of concern, you might pay more just trying to save your dog’s life. Check out a recent article by the Humane Society of the United States regarding information on flea and tick products by clicking here.
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