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June 2005
We had just adopted two 3 year old Mastiff/Lab Mix that were in perfect health. They had just been checked by a vet. We purchased Bio Spot from the local pet store and applied it on Saturday May 28, 2005. The next night we noticed that Shilo had become ill. If not for stumbling on to your website we probably would have never thought that the Flea Medication we put on her would be the culprit to her coughing and throwing up. If not for finding your website I'm not sure what we would have done. I will keep you up to date on her progress we just got done bathing her and I will bathe her again tomorrow. Just a question - has anyone considered a class action lawsuit against Farnam?
Keith & Brigette 6/1/05
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As I read the message board I got that sick sad feeling again. Our dog had a reaction to frontline and of course the vet said it was something else. So we no longer go to that vet .. Our dog after a couple of days got better and we learned a lesson if it's to good to be true it probably isn't safe. Anyway, we use kiss my face mosquito/tick spray... it works okay but it's safe.
Deb 6/3/05
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I have 5 pomeranians and was using Revolution for a while. I started noticing that one of them would be lethargic for a couple of days after application. I stopped using this and it has never happened again. I do believe this was the cause. I use Frontline to control fleas and only at 2 to 3 month intervals. Also for people with small breeds, if the dosage on Frontline is up to 20 lbs, and you have a 5 lb dog, only use no more than a half of a dose. I usually split these between 2 or 3 poms.
Anonymous 6/5/05
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Thank goodness for your web site. My Boston Terrier 3 years old was taking to the Vet this past Friday to get her ready for her new home with a great lady. We went to go get her a clean health certificate, (She passed with flying colors )....then as I was leaving the vet . (Though myself do not like the Flea Protections because of a previous puppy dying from another well known flea prevention) I thought about her new owner who believed in Frontline Plus. So, being she was going to a great home, I went ahead and got this product to send with her and decided to open one up to go ahead and get the month started for new owner.
This dog Katana has never been remotely sick in the three years with us. Always active, always friendly. I put this product on her Friday the 3rd of 2005. She was to be shipped off the following day. Due to some unforeseen events my husband was delayed and missed the flight. She was acting not her self but we just thought it was being nervous. As we well know animals are smarter than we think. But, her breathing became somewhat erratic and she was lying around. Meanwhile, her new owner has made arrangements to catch the Sunday flight out.
I was noticing Our Girl panting a little harder than normal, so I turned up the air. Then she broke out with a fever. Then when she went to get up she wobbled from side to side. This was only a few hours after applying the flea medication.... I thought how could a dog be in a clean bill of health one day and by the next acting like this ... By Sunday she was getting where her breathing was more labored and she did not want to eat or drink. I called my vet. Being we are not in an area for animal emergencies, he quickly told me to get as much down her - mainly fluids, until in the morning. And he instructed me to meet him at the office at 7:00 a.m but, if she gets too erratic to call him.
Her panting is as she was in labor. Her heart rate is getting very erratic. My fear is she will get worse by morning. I came to this web site.. I put "dogs reactions to flea medication" and I found your web site after doing a little more reseach. If I had only known about this web site, maybe I could have made another decision. I will Never apply any kind of flea prevention again to my dogs. I say we should all bond together, print out some of the info and get involved in changing the suffering of these animals.
I will update you on Katana. After reading all of this it sounds like she has had a reaction to the Frontline Plus.... I only pray it has not affected her internally.
Please if you have any suggestions or any advice .. I would love to hear it. Sadly Concerned over Katana. Her new owners are devastated as well. My prayers are with you Mary for having to go through this .... These are great people that We screened to find her a loving home as we are moving to an area where strict covenants apply. We only Hope she makes it.
Concerned and Worried in Mississippi
Leah 6/6/05
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Last year my dog became ill in June. I asked the vet if it could be a reaction to the heartworm medication or the Frontline. She said "No."
This year, I gave my dog Frontline Plus and he became very agitated. He started drooling. He vomited. He had diarrhea. He wanted to eat grass. This went on for several days. When he did not get better, I found your website. I immediately washed his back with a detergent. I took him to the vet for medication. He is now starting to get better.
My dog is a scratcher. He apparently was scratching his back, then licking his paws. His tongue looked as though it had been burned.
This stuff should be taken off the market. Who can we call to report this. This year and last year, I have spent well over $1,000 on vet bills because of this.
Phillis 6/6/05
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I have two Cats in the emergency room right now due to this flea prevention. I think more should be done to prevent other people from having the same result.
Abby 6/7/05
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My 8 year old lab mix, Sophie, has been having seizures for the last 3 years. At first, we thought it was the combination of Heartgard and Frontline Plus, so we started to stagger the dosing. I usually give Sophie Frontline Plus, starting in late March and then continue until October or November, depending on the weather. Her seizures don't happen with the first dose and this time I accidentally waited two months before applying the second dose. Within 24 hours she had a grand mal seizure, followed by another one less than 48 hours later. Neither of the last two Vets she's had can connect her seizures to Frontline Plus, but they do find it "interesting" that her seizures only happen after we've applied Frontline Plus. Are Vets being paid large amounts of money by these pharmaceutical companies, just like M.D.'s? Is that why they don't want to say anything? I need to find an alternative, since we live in a Lyme disease infected area. I've already had it once and I don't want it again, so I've got to keep the ticks off my dog. Also, I have indoor cats and if my dog isn't treated in some way, then the cats will get the fleas too! Please help!!
Thanks for your wonderful site.
Wanda 6/7/05
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I just want to let you know that I have just found your web site. Here is what my family is going through due to Bio Spot.
After apply the Bio Spot to my dog, several hours later my dog got sick. He threw up, and had labored breathing. I gave him Benadryl. At the time I didn't think that Bio Spot was the culprit. My cat Noodle is now at the vet's- and is trying to just live. They have him sedated, so the seizures are not raking his poor body.
This product was recommended by a pet store employee and we had been told that she had used this on her cat. So we used the product on just our dog and now my cat may die. Monday night he had massive spasms, and seizures. He was panting and had labored breathing. Before that he had acted some what lethargic. I called the ASPCA, and was told that he would need to go to the vet. We stayed up all night trying to hold my cat while the seizures took their toll on his poor body. We bathed him twice in dawn, to try and neutralize the effect. We tried to comfort him as much as possible before we could get him to the vet, due to not having an emergency hospital in our area. By the time the vet opened, my poor cat was in one continuous seizure. When we got him in, his temp was 107. They rushed him into a cold bath to get it down. He was given shots of Valium and something that was suppose to break the chemicals down in his system. He had seizures all day yesterday when he wasn't heavily sedated. We went to see him today, he is still have shaking spells, and they are keeping him sedated. The vet is worried about his kidneys, and said that he is not sure as of yet about how much nerve damage Noodle will have if he lives. The vet said that this is one of the worst cases he has ever seen.
My daughter had to go to my mothers due to the fact that she has asthma, She complained of a headache and an upset stomach. Once I found out how toxic this was, I was not going to take a chance with her.
With my exposure to the product, I had a numb tongue all night Monday night and it lasted until late Tuesday night. I took a Benadryl and it helped some. Today I'm feeling very sick and not sure if it's from the Bio Spot or not, but when I spoke with Bio Spot they said that the product does cause numbness and tingling. I have had a very upset stomach and have been shaky all day. My knees hurt and ache along with them shaking. I will be going to the doctor tomorrow if I don't feel any better.
I have called the pet store who sold me the product. I'm waiting on a call back in the morning. I have called the makers of Bio Spot (yesterday). I also called them today, I finally got a call back. The woman told me that the case that my family is having is one in a million, with not just my animals being affected. She also stated that it would take 48-72 hrs before my cat would pull out of it.? So they know how long this will affect the animal!? Why does something not sound right? Also I was asked that if I was sure that it was Bio Spot that caused this. Or that I may have failed to follow the directions on the package, Duh! I always follow directions. With my daughter I watch what is brought in to my house. My vet said that he has no doubt it was the bio spot. When I called the EPA, they stated that no possible way the Bio spot is responsible for my tongue being numb, although the Bio Spot rep stated that it was probably the cause for it. That the product would cause this.
As I said my daughter has Asthma, this was her cat. This was the only animal that my daughter ever wanted and this has been the only cat that hasn't triggered her asthma. My daughter is beside her self over her cat. To make it worse she is the one who found him when he was acting real funny, just before the seizures started. Something needs to be done to protect our loved ones and family members! I do auctions on several different sites and will be posting an auction to let people know about this product. I'm not sure how the auction will go, any suggestions on what should be included? My vet is a really great guy, and will be working with me on the bill. But we are a one income family and didn't expect one of our animals life to be on the line, from using a product on our dog for flea's. I'm going to try and raise money to help pay for the vet bill, and to start a fund to help pay for other animals that have been exposed to this toxic problem. I will also be starting a petition to have this product removed from shelves.
If you would like to contact me please send an e-mail to dragonsdreaming@yahoo.com How many people are affected by this product and don't know it's the product?
Jennifer 6/9/05
Well we got Noodle home yesterday. He is still having small tremors. The vet has him on a narcotic that he will have to take morning and night for the rest of his life, to keep him from having seizures. He is also taking antibiotics. We will be taking him back on Monday.
When we brought him home he wasn't able to stand to well or do anything that he was use to doing with out falling. We are hoping that this will improve with time.
The vet is still worried about kidney failure. But at least what ever the out come is with Noodle, he is now at home being pampered, loved, and watched like a hawk. I hope no one has to go through something like this again.
Jennifer 6/10/05
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My husband just called, from a radio commercial he heard, telling me about BioSpot; however, when I read your readers' comments I am appalled.
We also have a 2-year-old Jack Russell and an Australian Shepherd, and are avid lovers of animals. That being said, I would like to share a few of our remedies for ticks, fleas and mosquitoes:
I bought cloth collars for our dogs, and put about 6 drops of the following essential oils on them: : Pennyroyal, Citronella, Eucalyptus, Clove and Lavender. I apply re-apply about once a week. After bathing, in tearless shampoo [to which you can also add the oils], I put a few drops on their brushes and comb it through. In the summer, I put a couple of drops of the oils on their backs between their shoulders. They smell divine to us, but the fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are repulsed.
We have two acres and many trees and, therefore, a lot of our neighbors' fleas and ticks flow over. We treat twice a year with beneficial nematodes [www.Kunafin.com and/or www.DirtDoctor.com] Since we also have grandchildren, and don't use chemicals on our lawns, we opt for the safest non-invasive methods to use. Harsh chemicals can be absorbed through human and pets' feet, so we are constantly educating ourselves as to sensible alternatives.
Since using the beneficial nematodes on our lawn, the tick and flea infestation is minimal. We live in South Texas and, therefore, fight an annual problem. Since we also have several water features, mosquitoes can pose a problem as well. We found "mosquito dunk" for the ponds, water fountains and bird baths; it is also organic and comes in liquid, or in a solid "donut" shaped form. It is non-toxic to pets.
Also of note, diatomaceous earth "DE" [not the kind used in swimming pools] is so safe that it can be used on carpets. More on DE can also be found at DirtDoctor.com or by simply searching information on it through the Internet.
I hope this helped; my heart goes out to the sincere people who have experienced bad consequences with their conventional flea treatments. As for me, we probably will never have to find out what can happen to our beloved pets.
Cathy 6/9/05
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I feel that my pup Chappelle was an unwilling victim to this product, he is a 10 lb Miniature Pinscher and after his second dose he has been showing many of the same symptoms. All tell you the story and you can decide for yourself...
So, we first applied Bio Spot to Chappelle a little over a month ago for the first time and afterwards he didn't show any signs of discomfort or act any different so I assumed that the product was safe. It really didn't seem to be working all that well because he was still getting ticks but my Mom assured me that it didn't stop the ticks from biting but that after they bite the dog they fall off and die. She also admitted that she had inadvertantly given him a bath a week after applying the first dose so that was probably why he was still getting ticks, she also said that you are supposed to bathe your dog prior to applying the Bio Spot so you don't wash it off before a month or so.
Well, it was two days ago and my mother applied the Bio Spot in the evening and then she left with my father and went out for the night. I got home from work about five hours later and normally when I get home Chappelle will bark as to say hi and usually get excited that I'm home, occaisionally he wouldn't bark so I really didn't think anything of it when I got home that night and he didn't bark. I went over and let him out of his cage and he followed me up to my room where I dropped off my car keys and other stuff I had with me and then I took him and my other dog Tegan, a cocker spaniel, outside so they could go potty. Well, when I got outside Chappelle sat down in the grass and just looked at me, that wasn't normal, he's always all about running to the field to chase any rabbit or squirrel that may be in the vicinity. Noticing his odd behaviour I tried coaxing him to come with me on a walk which he NEVER turns down....but Chappelle didn't want to go anywhere, he just gave me this look like, why are we out here?
So I took Chappelle and Tegan inside and proceeded into the Kitchen where the treats are because I always give my dogs a treat after they come from outside and they always run into the Kitchen to get their treats. Well, Tegan was there but Chappelle didn't even come into the Kitchen, so I gave Tegan her treat and then went to go see where Chappelle was and I found him just sitting in front of the door staring off into space...I must have startled him when I walked over to him because he kinda of jumped when I touched him. I knew something wasn't right, my dog is a very hyper dog, anyone that owns a Min Pin most likely knows what I'm talking about, they always have energy....well Chappelle seemed like he had none, he just wanted to sit or lay down.
Well, my parents got home about ten minutes later and I had my puppy with me in my room and usually, when someone gets home, he needs to inspect the scene to find out what's going on but this time he wasn't the least bit interested, he just sat on my couch and looked at me as if he was saying...well...are you going go look? So I went downstairs and I found my parents and immediately told them that Chappelle was not acting like himself and I explained what he was doing and then I went and brought him downstairs. This whole time I hadn't a clue my mom put the Bio Spot on him, so I brought him down and both of my parents noticed that he wasn't himself and they then started asking me what I did to him. I told them everything that happened that night and told them I didn't do anything to him, I didn't yell at him and I NEVER physically hit my dogs so I couldn't have possibly have scared him. I asked my parents if they noticed him eating anything outside or doing anything strange or anything different and that's when my mom told me that she had applied the 2nd dose of Bio Spot but she said, how could that cause him to be like this??
Well, my parents took Chappelle with them to bed and around 8 am I was awoken to the sound of my dad yelling at me, asking me what I did to Chappelle. I immediately got angry and said I didn't do anything and then he said, well there is something wrong and it's not like he's sick, it's like he traumatized or very scared and he keeps yelping without anyone touching him. So I finally got really worried about this, I mean, he wasn't vomiting or having seizures but now he's yelping for no reason and his attitude has went from an extremely hyper and upbeat to lethargic and sloth like. I then found your website and after reading a great deal of emails you've received I was convinced that it was the Bio Spot that did it, I mean, how could my dog go from being alert, energetic, and playful before applying the Bio Spot and then to the lethargic pup that I have now, only a few hours after the application of the Bio Spot, it's just too coincidental for me to brush it off as nothing. I obviously wasn't going to wait until my pup started foaming at the mouth while experiencing grand mal seizures before I was going to do anything about it so I immediately told my mom what I found and so we both felt the thing to do was was that useless poison off of him.
After his bath he perked up a bit and seemed to gain a bit more energy, even though he wasn't jumping on me and tearing around the house like usual, he definitely improved. I am emailing you as of the early morning the next day and all I can say is that he's still very lethargic and isn't as hyper as usual but he appears to be making progress rather than getting worse. I am going to keep a close eye on him over the next day and if he doesn't go back to his regular hyper self, I will be taking him to the vet to get him checked out for any possible liver problems or other issues. All I know is I can't go through him suffering any kind of illness or injury again, it has only been 2 months since he got back from surgery after breaking his knee after jumping from a foot and half up which was really strange seeing he is a jumpy dog and that wasn't anything compared to what he has done but it was just the way he jumped but I cried like a little girl when I found out that it wasn't just a dislocation and an actual break and to top it off a break on the joint...he had to have a screw put in his leg. He's been doing great ever since the day he got back from the hospital, he made a quick recovery and hasn't shown any signs of further problems until this last couple days. I'm sure skeptics and people who think that owner abuse/negligence will say that my dog's leg is probably the problem but I know that's bull...he doesn't limp and he has only yelped twice after being touched and that was when I touched by his ear and mid back, no where near the break and every other time he yelped on his own and never limped or showed any sign of the leg being the problem.
I just know that it's the Bio Spot that caused my dogs condition and I come to that conclusion because of 2 reasons. One reason being the hundreds of emails to you that I have seen posted on your site and my second reason is the close proximity of time between the application of the poison and my dogs complete and utter personality change. I am just praying to God that Chappelle gets better and doesn't have any more complications from the Bio Spot and I will NEVER use ANY topical Flea and Tick control products seeing they all tend to use the same poison that is causing these effects and then some don't take responsibility for their mistakes which come at the cost of a lot of good people's beloved pets, their not just pets to us, they're family members. I treat my pup Chappelle like he's my son and I know I'd be absolutely crushed if anything were to happen to him....he means soo much to me and doesn't deserve to go through this. I just hope that other's get this information prior to using any of those products, I sure wish I would have. I also want to thank you for this website and the information here because if I hadn't seen it, who knows how long it would have been before I would have washed the stuff off of him, it may have been too late but I am hoping not.
Derek 6/12/05
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Currently we have 8 dogs; 6 Alaskan Malamutes, 1 Samoyed and a Malamute/Husky mix. Over the past 11 years I have used both Frontline and Bio Spot. Our dogs are healthy, active (run about 3 to 5 miles per day), eat the right mix of food supplemented with fresh veggies and fruit and get semi-annual vet checks. None of my dogs have suffered any adverse reactions to either Frontline or Bio Spot.
Currently we use Bio Spot because it seems to provide better protection against ticks. We have talked to our vet about both products. He felt that either product could be dangerous in overweight inactive dogs or if there are other underlying conditions which can only be diagnosed by a thorough examination by a vet.
I would urge anyone considering either of the these products to take their dog in for a complete physical before product application. And ask specifically if your dog has any medical problems which can be irritated by either product.
Robin 6/12/05
I agree that it's important to talk with your vet (and read as much as possible) before using anything for flea and tick control, but why are adverse reactions occurring in animals that are getting their flea control products from vets? Are some vets prescribing these so-called medications to animals that are not well enough for it?
James TerBush
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I wish I had read your article earlier! I had to rush 5 cats to the vet after using BioSpot. We took them last night and after receiving fluids and shots; three were able to return home (still having small tremors); two are still receiving fluids to hopefully flush out this poison! One of the two is very serious and might not make it. This is VERY much my fault because I purchased the very small dog formula for my cats because they are 15-18lb cats. I have two daughters in college and was trying to save $130 because it usually cost me $170 at the vet for Frontline. I never dreamed this product could be so dangerous! I thought the formula would be the same for cats and dogs...STUPID on my part...I admit!! But a product this toxic should not be sold over the counter. I was reasured by my vet that they had treated tons of animals that received the correct dose and that it might not have made much difference. I am heart broken that I have put my babies through this. I also purchased BioSpot for my Yorkie and two labs...THANK GOD I never got around to putting it on them!!! I keep telling myself I didn't intend on harming my animals but it doesn't seem to be helping. I am sick with guilt.
Anonymous 6/12/05
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I wish I would have found your website a week ago. Last Friday I used Frontline Plus (the drops you put on the back of the neck.) on my miniature Yorkshire. I used the appropriate dosage for her size. I got it from our Vet. Before we used the Frontline Plus, she was fine, acting perfectly normal. That same day she started breathing fast & short breaths. But we didn't think too much about it. Over the weekend, it got gradually worse, she also wouldn't eat her food. She didn't even want her treats. She was laying around sleeping alot more than usual. Even while she was sleeping she was breathing short fast breaths. Tonight, which is Sunday, her breathing was alot worse, almost like she was having an asthma attack. I gave her a bath, thinking it might be from the Frontline. We work the night shift, and I was going to stay home with her, because I was worried about her. I was going to take her to the Vet in the morning. Tonight she quit breathing a couple of times, and I gave her CPR and brought her back to life. I called the emergency number for the Vet, and we took her in. But she quit breathing all together on the way there. It was too late. The Vet said she had a hard mass in her stomach. So she could have had something else wrong with her. I'm wondering if it was from the Frontline Plus tho. She didn't have any convulsions or rash like all the other stories on this website. I only seen one email from a lady that had used Frontline on her cat. She said the cat had shortness of breath too, and eventually died also. The cat also had a hard mass on its chest. Has anyone else had any bad reactions from Frontline? If so, please contact me at CathyApponyi@yahoo.com Our Vet is going to do some tests on Emily in the morning, so I guess I will know for sure then. We sure are going to miss her. I feel so bad, because I feel like it was my fault. We just lost our other dog, Marcy, (Emily's sister) to Cancer of the mouth a couple months ago. She died a horrible death. Now I don't have any dogs. My babies are gone. It makes me so sad. They were 10 & 12 yrs. old. I had both of them since they were puppies. They will both be deeply missed.
Cathy 6/12/05
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I have a 12 lb. Boston Terrier with whom I have used Advantage for many years with little reaction, beyond thirstiness, slight sleepiness and sometimes loose stools right after application. But last time, two months ago, she had little seizures: her front leg would stiffen or her throat would tighten up. I would rub the muscle until it relaxed and she was okay. Finally, I realized I needed to wash the stuff off of her. Reading your other stories, I'm terrified that something much worse could have happened and that I didn't wash it off right away.
Now my question is, what are people using for flea control? I have an infant son, and need something safe. I prefer not using powders on the dog or the carpet, as I'm afraid he'll inhale it. Any ideas?
Sandelle 6/14/05
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I wish I had known about this poison before last Sunday. Thanks to Bio Spot for Cats, my cat, Sophie has been in the hospital since Sunday night. She may never recover. I found her thrashing about in the yard, having wild jerking seizures and salivating really bad. It was horrible. Only hours before, I had applied the Bio Spot for Cats on her according to package instructions. Now the vet says she may be brain damaged. She can't eat, she does not respond to my voice. She can barely stand up. Her eyes are glazed over like she can't see. Her face is constantly twitching. She is on IV fluids now but there is not much hope of a recovery. It's heartbreaking to see. If I just could get her to eat, I would have some hope that she may recover from this terrible reaction to a product I thought was safe for cats. I soon may be faced with a decision every pet owner dreads. I pray that she starts to drink and eat, even a little would give me some hope. I feel that I have to let everyone know about this product. It must come off the shelves! Trusting pet owners are using this product and unknowingly poisoning their pets. I contacted the Farnam Corp. and was told to send in the package and the tube that was used along with the itemized vet bill and vet records for this incident and they would review it for reimbursement. This was their policy. If they have to have a policy for this, there must be lots of other people out there who have had pets with terrible reactions to this product. I would like to hear from others, especially cat owners who used Bio Spot for Cats.
Teresa 6/16/05
Just an update on my cat, Sophie and Bio Spot Farnam Corp. My latest email from Bio Spot was that they were going to reimburse my vet bills and the check was sent out yesterday. My cat is now blind and her personality is not the same. She doesn't want to associate with us much. She comes out to eat and sometimes at night she may go in my daughter's room and lay on her bed, but most of the time she just stays in my son's room where she liked to hang out before this anyway. Of course she can't go outside anymore and we are having to deal with litter box training. For some reason she started going upstairs and jumping in the bathtub and using that as her litter box instead of the one I put in my son's room. So I had to put the litter box in my bathtub and she uses that. Weird, but at least she does not go on the carpet. She makes her way around the house ok and the reason we know she can't see or at least can't see very well is that she does not follow a string or anything when you dangle it in front of her face and sometimes she steps in her food bowl. She doesn't play anymore either. She hates to be carried and gets aggravated when we pick her up. She looses her bearings and gets confused when we do that so we try not to pick her up. We only hope that in time she will adjust and maybe with alot of patience and love, she will come around. As soon as I receive my check from Farnam and cash it, I will contact the EPA and NPIC and report this. I still think that this stuff should be pulled off the market or at the very least some warning should be posted on the FRONT of the package. According to the rep from Farnam, only 1% of pets have a bad reaction and that is not enough to take this poison off the market. Still, I am telling every pet owner that I come in contact with, not to use Bio Spot and to pass this info along to other pet owners as well. Thanks for listening.
Teresa 8/3/05
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I have a pug that seems to be having trouble since I used Bio Spot, acting very lethargic, trying to rub the spot where i put it, and very jumpy...very nervous...I am going to take her to the vet tomorrow if she doesn't get better, but it definitely seemed to start after the application of the biospot....I am not Happy....
Lori 6/19/05
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I applied Hartz Advanced Care Once-a-Month Flea & Tick Drops (16-30 lbs) to our 14 year old Sheltie, Miss Kitty, on Saturday, June 11, 2005. Thursday, June 16, 2005, she vomited all day into early Friday morning, June 17, 2005, and refused to eat Friday & yesterday, Saturday, June 18, 2005. Friday & Saturday, she acted incoherent, walking around the house as if "in a daze", with a glassy look in her eyes. She was also very lethargic; Saturday, she walked as if she had very little control of her hind legs, and even on 2 occasions, just fell over while standing & was unable to get up.
My wife took her to the emergency vet clinic last nite (early this morning, actually), around midnight. She is now at the vet's suffering from diagnosed pancreatitis & hepatitis. I also suspect her incoherence, lethargy & inability to walk are due to neurological complications. While her symptoms were not immediate, I feel these problems are due to a negative side-effect of a toxic accumulation of the Hartz Flea & Tick Drops. I have no current information about her prognosis, but hope to have more information after my wife & I visit her this evening at the vet's.
Thomas 6/19/05
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I am outraged that BioSpot is on the market AND that it lists no warnings about the severe reactions my dog is having. He has been a mess since 10 minutes after application. I applied biospot at his shoulders, along his back, and at the base of his tail. I am very worried about him! Here's ournightmare: last night, Wed June 22, 2005 I applied the Biospot for dogs 33-66 lbs. My dog is a tough 58lb Entlebucher with a docked tail. Within 10 minutes he was crying and whining, snapping at his tail and sitting only. Meaning, he would not move, other than to suddenly thrash his head toward his tail. When I sternly commanded him to "come" he would make a distressed sprint to me and immediately and awkwardly sit. He seemed to be in pain and confused. I figured perhaps the biospot was burning his skin a bit, but that I should let it settle in before rinsing it off. An hour later I could not handle his cries of pain and his sitting in one spot even when coaxed to treats or potty time. So totally out of character for him. And if I attempted to look at his tail and bottom, he was terribly ferocious about guarding it and keeping me away from it.
I put him in the tub and bathed the biospot off with our usual mild conditioning flea shampoo. TURNS OUT you need to USE DISH SOAP, (but not Palmolive...according to FARNAM supervisor) immediately, diluted first in a bucket or bowl. It cuts through the oils in biospot. I know this because I called FARNAM first thing this morning after a night of dog crying and dazed behavior and bum and tail tucking. Our dog was clearly still in great pain. He refuses to potty. When I force him outside he sprints in a frantic manner and suddenly sits, unwilling to move any further. And unwilling to potty. He must have an extremely full bladder right now.
The supervisor at FARNAM seemed annoyed that I new about this web site and asked me to "calm down" saying that "Dogs do not die from Bio Spot". I won't even bother with her detailed hogwash about "...it's just how this product works, traveling along the hairs to distribute the medicine." She told me to bathe him in diluted dish soap.
After the dish soap bath, today Thursday, he was still in distress over his tail or bottom. I'm not sure exactly where it hurts. My dog is finally asleep after his fierce night, but I'm worried for him and am hoping he is feeling better soon.
I'm wondering if his docked tail has something to do with this severity, because of the scar tissue at the tip. I will review the other postings to see which breeds had specific symptoms with the tail ducking, sitting, no potty etc.
If only I'd checked online BEFORE application. Oh yes, like other testimonies, this was his second treatment. The first treatment, a few months ago wasn't nearly as bad, but now I'm putting two and two together and realizing the BioSpot is why he crinked his tail to the side for a week after his first application.
I will take him to the vet if he's not better tomorrow morning. FARNAM said it takes 24 hours to run its course. This product should not be on the market!!
Catherine 6/23/05
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I read all of the stories about pet owners' experiences with Biospot. I have one too. We found some fleas on Rocky about a week and a half ago, so I had my Son Dan take him to Petsmart for a flea bath. When he bought him home, he was stumbling on the steps and walking into things. Rocky is a 14lb Sheltie/American Eskimo. When he didn’t get up in the morning as usual, I knew something was wrong. I waited one more day to see if he would improve, but he only got worse. I took him to the vet, and the Doc said that it was the flea bath and to wash him real good. But he didn’t get any better. We took him back a few days later, and he gave him an injection. It took a couple more days, but he is finally getting back to normal. Petsmart has offered to pay all vet bills, but how can they even use this stuff without some kind of warning???? I spent days in tears over this! I know that some day, I will have to say goodbye to my little shadow, but this would have been tragic had he not recovered! We would have all felt so guilty about letting this happen to our trusting little dog. The word needs to get out there about this product. I've already emailed every one I know...
Thanks for caring.
Holly 6/23/05
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This evening I purchased the product and used it on my dog who is approximately 125 pounds but I also have a kitten that is about 4 pounds and even though it was not used on her, she was exposed to it from the dog, who she thinks of as her Mom. Within an hour or so, her behavior became strange and she was being paralyzed by the bio spot.
She is currently at the vet and hopefully will survive her exposure to bio spot.
I cannot believe a product is allowed OTC with such horrendous consequences.
Susan 6/24/05
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I used Bio spot on my 8 year old pug and within hours she became agitated and tried to scratch the spot of application. I was concerned and bathed and rinsed her thoroughly about 6 hours after application. 2 days after application she developed a half dollar sized sore at the spot of application. We took her to the vet and he prescribed Gentamicin topical spray. It is now 9 days since application and the dog is experiencing digestive problems and is off her food.
Bill 6/25/05
P.S. We have used advantage many times with no problems and only tried Bio spot because PetCo didn't have advantage.
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Thank you for your interesting website. A note of warning to all who use outdoor ant sand to combat ants. Just returned from the vet after two days and a sleepless night of worry. Our siberian husky consumed 2 teaspoons of ant sand and immediately began to have grand mal seizures, salivation, panting, tremors and inability to move. The bifenthrin in ant sand is very toxic to animals. It is a concentrated form of pyrethrin and even a small amount can cause harm. My husband put some down on the pavers and before he could return to brush it in between the pavers, unknown to us, our dog consumed less than two teaspoons worth. The ant sand is now in the bin, never to be used again and this lesson has been a very traumatic one. Apart from the $480.00 we had to pay for overnight vet care, blood tests etc. we could have lost a member of our family. It is not worth having any products harmful to animals around your home. We will live with the ants if it means keeping our dog safe. Hope this helps someone else who loves their pets as much as we do.
Jennie 6/26/05
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On Monday, June 27, 2005, I applied BioSpot Flea/Tick for dogs under 15lbs. to my 11lb Chihuahua. There seemed to be no immediate reaction. Yesterday, when I got home from work, Jazz was panting very hard, her heart rate was racing and she was "flipping" all over the house. She even hid under the couch. This is very out of character for her. I thought she may be suffering from the heat, so I took her to my vet. He took her temperature and was normal. I then told him that the only different thing I did was put BioSpot on her the night before. I had never put this on her before. He gave her a shot to counteract the BioSpot and she eventually was able to leave the vet's office. After coming home, she vomited and eventually she seemed to stop panting and "flipping". I bathed her to wash off the product. This morning, she was panting a little, but acting more like herself. My vet gave me advantage and I am afraid to put it on her. My other Chihuahua (7lbs) seems to be fine, but I am shampooing her as well. Hopefully someone will come up with a natural product that won't harm our precious pets.
Tammy 6/29/05
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I TOO HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF BIO SPOT. I PUT IT ON BOTH MY OUTDOOR CATS. ONE OF THEM I FOUND THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I CAME OUT AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK HER TO THE VET, WHERE THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HER BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAD BROUGHT THEIR PETS IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SHE STAYED AT THE VET FOR 2 DAYS AND I HAD A 125.00 VET BILL. LUCKILY SHE IS OK NOW.
MY OTHER CAT HAS VANISHED. I FIGURE HE HAS GONE SOMEWHERE AND DIED. I JUST EMAILED FARNAM BUT I DOUBT THEY WILL ANSWER ME.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN KEEP THIS ITEM ON THE MARKET.
CONNIE 6/30/05
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DISCLAIMER: Below are messages that I have received from others whose dogs and cats experienced adverse reactions after using flea control products. I have no way of knowing if the information in these messages is factual, or if the products they used were the actual cause of the adverse reactions.
