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October 2005
I am looking to see if people have treated their dogs or cats with [Advantage] flea drops only to loose them to lymphoma? I lost my two year old bloodhound to that cancer and I am now trying to find out if there is any relation to the two.
I have asked a couple of people who have lost a dog to lymphoma and there are two things that we have in common. The dogs were fed with high-end dog food and treated with flea drops.
Thanks,
Colette 10/1/05
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My Cat, Ladybug is two years old. She does not like the smell of Frontline and will run when you pop the container. At Pet Depot I was shown Bio Spot by a sales clerk, who said she used it on her animals. The first time I used it, about six weeks ago, I didn't notice a problem. It didn't have the smell making it easy to apply. [I also have a 17 week old Schitza poo]. This morning I applied it again, later I noticed her foaming at the mouth, jerking all over and unable to help herself move. I thought she was dying. It was Saturday but I got a good vet on call. He immediately ask if I had used flea control and the brand. He told me to give her a bath and use soap to wash her off which I did. He would call back to check on her in one hour. I am a nurse and I knew it had attacked her nervous system and she was having some seizures. He said if the seizures got worse they would start an IV and give her some Valium. He said it would take some time for it to get out of her liver. He also said the first ingredient in Bio Spot has caused this problem. It has been several hours and she is still jerking and unresponsive. I have given her some liquid Benadryl and forced water with a dropper. It is so sad to see her in this condition, she can't even meow and I'm going to be surprised if she makes it and if she does not to have severe neurological problems. I went exactly by instructions. The vet said this ingredient is in fly spray for cows and horses. He reported to me having seen severe reactions in these larger animals. I know she is so tired from jerking all over she can do nothing for herself. I am so upset with this situation and I am a very outspoken community activist. Can you tell me who I need to talk to? What if a small child had played with her and got some in its mouth or just on their hands. My husband and I can't believe what this has done to our big, healthy cat.
Jewel 10/2/05
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I can only say that even in Australia we are having the same problem with Frontline. I had two dogs that had problems with fits, the Vet would not believe me when I told him that the problem was caused by Frontline. I was told by the Vet that the product is very safe. After a few months I stopped using the Frontline on the dogs. No more fits. I sent e-mail and faxes to Frontline and not a single answer by them, they make so much money by selling poison and killing our pets. The Vets are brain washed, most of them are making a fortune by selling the poison to us, that may also have a long term effect on humans. How can we trust the large multinationals? A few years ago the cigarettes did not carry the safety warning, the same with asbestos and so many other products. You can never expect that a company that produces Frontline would be open to discuss their product, with simple people like us. After all our pets to them only mean money, they do not have the love that we have for our pets, just the $ sign.
Ugo 10/2/05
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I have just survived a weekend of hell and I believe it was from using bio spot.
I found both of my dogs had fleas. I bathed them in flea and tick shampoo. Later, I used bio spot on them both. My older dog "Sadie" was irritated and didn't sleep all night and in the morning she started vomiting copious amounts of blood and her stools were so black you could tar a road.
I rushed both to the vet and they immediately washed them 2 times in dawn to get the bio spot off. After the baths the vomiting stopped and she had to be on an IV for all the blood she lost. Six hundred dollars later, she is still weak, and recovering, but her back is twitching and spasming where the bio spot was applied and my other dog has tenderness and bumps all over her back. To me bio spot is a killer. Sadie was very close to death and I have no doubt if the bio spot was left on her, she would have died.
If there is anyway I can get this company's attention, please let me know. I am so frustrated and angry, I would like to sue them.
Charlene 10/3/05
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Our healthy three year old dog Sky was wagging, running, playing, when we put Hartz flea drops on his back. The next day we noticed a throw up spot but did not think too much of it. (Even though Sky had never thrown up before.) Sky did not want his treat. The following day I saw vomit everywhere, and he was lethargic, and out of it. We rushed Sky to the vet. Sky was tested and diagnosed with acute-renal-failure. He was put on IV's and medicines, everything was done to save Sky. Unfortunately two days later, October 2, 2005, he had to be put to sleep, his kidneys completely shut down. In one day he went from playing, running, and wagging; to, not being able to eat, drink, go to the bathroom, or walk. Sky will be greatly missed and please do not use this product. I wish I could take it all back.
Anonymous 10/5/05
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Similar to another posting on your website, I'm someone who normally uses Frontline, but I had run out of my monthly supply and after less than a week into the new month I discovered a few fleas on my dog!
Well, I volunteered with a rescue group all summer and noticed that they were using BioSpot to treat the animals for fleas before I'd take them home to foster. None of the dogs I'd put it on seemed to have a reaction and since it had a more pleasant smell than Frontline I thought it might be worth trying. It was particularly convenient for me when running errands to just pick it up at the pet store and get right to work at ridding my dog of fleas.
Here I am about an hour after administering it, watching my dog closely to see if she's calmed down any. I'd say within a half hour of it being administered she was completely beside herself. She couldn't settle anywhere... she was on the bed for two seconds, would jump off and lay on the carpet... that would likewise last a few seconds and she'd run into the living room and get on the couch... that apparently was no good, so she'd go back to the floor... round and round... wanted outside and ran around there too... the poor thing even barked at me a bit in frustration, telling me to do something for her.
My dog is normally active, but this was obviously odd behavior. I'd read on the BioSpot package that some dogs have increased itching from the product so I immediately began to worry about what it was doing to her system. I have since given her a bath with oatmeal shampoo, rinsed... she still seemed uncomfortable... so I rinsed her again at length. She seems to have settled down a bit more now, but is still definitely showing side effects. It's ironic, because I was especially careful in my application of the product! I thought perhaps the reason she'd gotten fleas in the first place was because I sometimes get the feel my application of Frontline is ineffective. On top of it, the BioSpot had up to an hour to soakin :( As a result, I fear my attempts to eradicate it are falling flat. While all of this was going on, I picked up a Hound Healthbook I own which gave me more insight on the different flea product's "active ingredient" and immediately jumped online to try and find information posted from others who've used BioSpot. Thank goodness for your site to get the word out! I'm going to be sure to inform the rescue group that the money they think they're saving may be harming the very animals they are hoping to help! I'm just so angry with myself for letting this happen... because I am normally SO careful about the products I use with my dog (organic foods, etc.) It even crossed my mind when I purchased it yesterday that it was "too good to be true" - that a product that you could get 3 applications of for less than the cost of 1 of the others might not be trustworthy. I should have followed my instincts! Especially since they sound so defensive on the packaging. This should have sent up a read flag - "Sensitivity may occur after using ANY pesticide product on pets." Thee all-caps gave me the impression they were feeling accused before the fact! Not really a good sign.
Anyway, lesson learned. I just hope my dog is OK, because she is so much of my life and deserves better! My poor pup still isn't completely settled down yet, but I'm hoping we won't have to make a trip to the vets. I would imagine since it's already in her system there's not much they can do there anyway.
I'll go back to your site and read more about how I can raise awareness about this product. Feel free to post my message as well if you'd like so that others can be informed as I have been by the experiences people have shared.
Thanks again for getting the word out on this dangerous product!
Holly 10/9/05
Thanks again for the information... another thing I wish I'd looked at more closely was that 50%!!! of BioSpot is "other ingredients" - which according to some of the information on the links at your site could mean "trade secrets" or I believe they called them "inert ingredients" that are not closely monitored (if at all).
Scary stuff,
Holly 10/9/05
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We used Bio-Spot One-Step flea and tick on our cat Boston tonight. This was the second time we have used this product purchased at Tractor Supply. Since the first time we have noticed some slight tremors but nothing serious. After tonight's application she began shaking, breathing erratically and actually hissed at us for the first time ever. We called the vet at around midnight and they said to wash it off immediately. We have done so and the initial reactions have stopped. We will monitor her closely.
Scott/Niki 10/12/05
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I am sorry to read all the heart aches that this has caused. I have a boxer and she has seizures to Heartguard. If you give her one about twelve hours later she does the same thing that your dog did.
Andy 10/12/05
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I have used Bio Spot on both of my dogs for the last two tears with no problems and no ticks and fleas.
Jay 10/12/05
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I have just read with interest your article. I am Chairperson of the Northern Inuit Society, UK. We have developed a relatively new breed over the last 18 years. The Northern Inuit has in that time had no incidence whatsoever of epilepsy - until about 3 months ago. In the last 3 months we have had 4 dogs, all different ages, totally unrelated and perfectly healthy, suddenly develop epilepsy. One died. Three of those dogs were definitely treated with Frontline up to 7 days prior to having their first seizure.
At my dog training club we have had two incidents in the last couple of months of fit young dogs suddenly having seizures withiin hours of being treated with Frontline - one was a Springer Spaniel and one a Border Terrier.
Today I heard from a friend who had been talking to an acquaintance whose old collie had recently died - apparently that too had been healthy until being treat by Frontline, when it had a really bad seizure and died.
I have written to Merial, the manufacturers of Frontline requesting them to investigate. They were most unhelpful, saying that Frontline was licenced for use on dogs and quoting all the other possible causes of epilepsy. I am not convinced and the vets for two of our owners whose dogs have been affected are contacting Frontline on our behalf.
We are also having the dogs DNA tested to see if they have inherited a predisposition for epilepsy - which I doubt. This is all too much of a coincidence.
Sandra 10/12/05
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Was very glad to find the information you provided about bio spot. A lady I care give for and who is trying to live on a limited income, used the 3rd dose of bio spot on her precious 11 year old Himalayan cat this past Sunday. As with Hamish, the first 2 doses didn't cause adverse reactions. Sunday night, she thought the cat was going to die. She washed the bio spot off, but Charlie went into seizures, and experienced all the problems you described Hamish went through. I'm hoping Farnum will pay the vet bill, as the container went to the dump Sunday afternoon so we have no proof. I'm going to call them later today and see what they have to say. My vet told me they are doing their best to get word out about these unregulated over the counter products. Thank you so much for the info you provided.
Terry 10/13/05
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I recently gave my cat Pauly the Bio-spot medication. 6 hours after applying the medicine he began to have seizures. We immediately washed it off and rushed him to the 24 hour vet hospital, only to find that this product has been causing this reaction for several pets in the area. Now after the worst has passed, (so far), I am sitting up with my distraught animal trying to make sure he makes it through the night. He was adopted from the SPCA, and is only 2 years old. From me trying to save a buck, I might have costed our beloved pet his life. This product should be banned from all stores and the public should be made more aware that an extra dollar goes a long way. If anyone reads this and is considering purchasing the Bio-spot medication instead of using the safe Frontline medication, please go the extra mile. Having a cat go through grand mal seizures in your arms and you cannot do anything but hold him and hope they stop.
Sianne 10/17/05
There are several messages posted on my website concerning adverse reactions to Frontline. The Australian government is currently reviewing all products that contain fipronil (the pesticide in Frontline) due to reports of adverse reactions. Here is a link regarding it:
James TerBush
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Hi there........my cat, as I write this, is on an iv, sitting in the pet hospital. I gave him bio spot 3 weeks ago and he now has kidney failure. I will most likely have to put him to sleep tomorrow. He is my best friend.
Please, tell me how I can help spread the word that pesticides are bad for cats. How can we get stores to stop selling them?
Dave 10/18/05
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My wife put bio-spot on our year old orange and silver tabby cats last night. The tomcat, Lil Buster, died almost immediately. We took the little female silver tabby, Lily, to the vets today and it appears sheis going to make it. This cost us $500 today not to mention the emotional 24 hours we have gone thru. BIO-SPOT, you're history pal!!!
Tom & Judy 10/20/05
Wednesday at 8 PM I administered one dose of Bio Spot Stripe-On flea control to each of my 8-9 month old cats. I awoke to find my female suffering and incapacitated and my male dead on the kitchen floor. I rushed them both to the veterinarian at 8 AM. The male was already stiff and had been dead for some time. The female stayed at the Vet's where they bathed her, flushed her system, did blood work and closely monitored her condition for the day. I picked her up at 5 PM that evening. She is still bothered by the area where I applied the chemical. I'm not sure if it stings or tickles but she is constantly trying to scratch it. I have contacted Farnam Pet Products and they have said that they would try to pay my vet bills if I offered proof that Bio Spot was the cause of the death and illness. I appreciate the gesture but am saddened by the fact that NOTHING will bring my cat back. I thought that the National Pesticide Information Center should be made aware of this unfortunate incident. Thank you.
Judy 10/21/05
Farnum sent me full reimbursement for my veterinary bills . Thank you for your help.
Judy 11/7/05
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I found you on the Internet...and I thank you so very much for posting all that information... I did call the pesticide place because my 2 1/2 yr old 90lb boxer had tremors of the head this morning after waking up. This happened a couple of times. She was very lethargic and when she would wake up her head looked like a bobble head. Bouncing up and down without her control. I called the NPIC and they said that yes this can happen - that in rats given larger doses of the active ingredient in Advantage they did have tremors, lethargy, stiffness and a swaggering gait. I called Bayer first and they denied any and all claims to anything being wrong or being able to happen. The NPIC said that it will take 24 to 48 hours for the effects to wear off and that Advantage can effect the nervous system. hmm whom can we contact about the fact that Bayer lies....blatantly.
Blake 10/21/05
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Hello.. I wanted to add my voice to the conversation against these dangerous pesticides! In November of 1999 my healthy 5 year old husky was given a treatment of frontline just the way the package advises. Within 36 hours my dog was having a MAJOR seizure! (scared me to death) I gother to the vet quickly and asked if it could be a reaction to the frontline. He said ..'no, I am afraid you just have a epileptic on your hands.' While I was there there were 3 other dogs having seizures, which I found odd. I never gave my dog Frontline again, I never had a problem again. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened to my dog that day. Many years later and she is doing fine. BEWARE Frontline.
Anonymous 10/24/05
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i am v. concerned about my cat who was treated with frontline combo spot on today. despite following instructions he managed to lick it off and also his whiskas have started to fall off. can anyone offer me an explanation please.
Sakina 10/25/05
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My toy fox terrier, Gizmo, is very sick. I believe it is the frontline plus I put on him a week ago. We had used advantage before and he would act weird for a couple of days but he's been sick for over a week. The day after I put frontline on him he wasn't acting like his self and wouldn't eat. All he wanted to do was sleep. I took him to the vet and he did blood tests and his liver and pancreas levels are extremely high. The vet said he had pancreaitis and kept asking me if he could have gotten into some type of cleaner or something that caused a toxicity in his body. I have a 9 month old crawling baby I'm not going to leave something just laying around. And I don't know what he could have gotten into outside. He doesn't go out of our yard and we're always with him if he's outside. The only explanation is the frontline but the vet still thinks he got into some kind of cleaner or something. We're having to take him twice a day to the vet and he puts saline fluid under his skin and gives him an antibiotic shot and a shot for nausea. Also I looked on the box of frontline that I have and it says up to 22 pounds for a small dog. Gizmo only weighs 4 pounds. I just think it was too much for his system to tolerate. It's just so frustrating. He was perfectly healthy and then the vet told us to put him on frontline plus and now he's very sick and we don't know if he'll get any better. The vet says he's going to call frontline and talk to them about it but I'm sure they won't admit that it could be their product that made him sick. I just hope Gizmo gets over all of this. Has anyone else had problems with frontline plus?
Misty 10/26/05
Gizmo is still very sick but his pancreas is normal now and his liver is getting back to normal. We're just hoping that he won't have any long term effects from it. I reported it to Merial and of course they said it couldn't possibly be Frontline. I also reported it to NPIC and they basically said they couldn't do anything about it. The EPA has e-mailed me back and they wanted the registration number off the Frontline box so I'm assuming they're going to report it. Our vet still doesn't think it's the Frontline but we know that's the only thing that could have made him sick. The vet has talked to Merial about it several times. They have left a message for him to call them back. So we still don't know if they're going to pay our vet bill. Right now our bill is about $600 and we're going to have to start paying something soon. Thanks again for all of your help.
Misty 11/10/05
I just e-mailed Kathryn Bouve at the EPA so maybe she can also help me. I looked at the link you gave me about rabbits and ferrets. Gizmo still weighs less than some of them. It's just crazy. Merial is going to credit our vet $209.06. I have no idea where they came up with that number but it's not enough. We have a $900.00 vet bill right now. Getting it paid is not as important as the principle of the whole thing. My husband called Merial and they said they would give his information to their vet and then their vet would call our vet. I'm sure it's the same person that our vet has been talking to so I doubt that did any good. My husband said he was nice that time but he won't be the next time he calls. Frontline plus should not be given to small breeds the size of Gizmo. Maybe they could come up with a formula for small breeds. Of course even if they did I would never put it on him and risk it. Gizmo is starting to feel better but we're still giving medicine for his liver and for nausea twice a day. He's still eating a low fat canned food that we got from the vet since his liver still isn't normal. Last night he played with one of his toys and that was so great to see. We thought we were going to lose him. We have hope now that maybe he's going to be okay. Once again thank you for all your help. We really appreciate it.
Misty 11/17/05
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I have been using Bio Spot on my dogs for about 13 years. They have never had a problem and havenever had a single flea. I also have been using Bio Spot (pink) for the last 8 years on my cat, Leo. He too has never had any problems or a single flea. However, last night I had used the Bio Spot One Step for Cats in the blue package. After about 5 minutes, Leo began trying to lick off the medication. I watched him closely because he never, ever bothered with it after application. Although he could not reach the medication - he was frantically trying to lick it. He suddenly started hissing at his back and running away.As I ran to get him he was throwing himself on the floor and rolling around. I scooped him up and put him in the sink. I immediately noticed that his skin, where the Bio Spot was applied, was bright red. I washed him with Johnson's baby shampoo and plenty of water. His skin was raw and bleeding! The Bio Spot burned Leo's skin-it was like I had poured acid on him! I had called Farnam Pet Products and was appalled to hear that they had "voluntarily discontinued " the product on August 18, 2005 because other cat owners had the same complaints. Yet, despite the injuries caused to our animals, the product was still on the market and sold to me on August 24, 2005 through 1800PETMEDS.com. While a rep at Farnam said to send any vet bills for reimbursement, it is really no consolation for what happened to Leo. Farnam should have taken action to prevent harm to our animals. This was a horrifying experience that should NEVER have happened!
Jaime 10/26/05
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Thank you very much for your informative website. My husband's dogs were treated with Bio-Spot twice. One of the dogs, the pit bull began acting very agitated and running around after the second treatment. He had a lot of problems sleeping and he started urinating on the furniture. It took us a while to figure out he was having a reaction to the Bio-Spot. We didn't figure that out until we found your website.
We talked to the vet and they said "get the stuff off your dog." They also said "don't ever use it again." We were instructed to wash the dog in Dove bar soap. We did it twice in 2 weeks and the dog seems a lot better. He's back to his normal self. We did not suffer further more serious consequences due to your website. Again, thank you. You may post our message.
Matt and Linda 10/28/05
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Tonight we gave our 2-yr old Border Collie a treatment with BioSpot - - a good deal of the product gushed out in one spot, and we tried to wipe it away as much as we could.
Within 3 minute, she was pacing around the house in circles, as if she was going berserk. (she never does this) it continued for about 30 minutes, and she was cowering behind furniture (which she also never does) I “googled” the term “dog reactions to BioSpot” and found your web site.
We immediately threw her in the tub, hit her with warm water and organic dog shampoo, and rinsed her down several times. She’s already better, but we’ll be watching her. Very scary - - and very glad your web site with advice on what to do was there. Thank you.
Nancy 10/31/05
Copyright © 2002-2009 BioSpotVictims.org All rights reserved.
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.
