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November 2008
I am reading others experience with Biospot and other similar products. I have used Biospot for several months now and my large dog actually tried to bite me when I tried to apply it today. I am assuming that it must burn his skin when applied. I no longer want to use it but wonder what others do to eliminate the flea problem. There must be some successful alternatives out there. Please let me know.
Brenda ^..^ 11/2/08
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Today me and my dog, Frank the Tank, had a traumatic experience. He was sleeping and woke up having a head tremor. I was concerned when I noticed and made him get up. His head continued to shake and every time I grabbed it he would stop shaking. Once I let go of his head he continued to shake. I was obviously scared so I called my mom. She came over and we watched him. A few hours later he had another episode and thats when we decided to take him to the vet. $150.00 dollars later and after much discussion we decided to take him home and watch him since nothing was wrong with him. I decided to google bio spot formula and the negative effects and i came across this website. Since I had put Bio Spot on tank 3 days earlier I thought it could be the problem. I immediately bathed him with Dawn soap and he is now resting. I am not sure what is going to happen in next couple days but i am hoping I caught it in time....People need to know that Bio Spot could potentially kill and harm their dogs/cats. I had no idea that this kind of thing could occur. I will NEVER use Bio Spot again and I believe that it is the cause of my dogs troubles today!!! Thanks for putting this web page together. It potentially saved Tanks life!!! We both appreciate it!!
Julie 11/5/08
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(Below is an update to a message posted by Dawn on 8/24/08)
When last I corresponded I had just called back to the lab at the U of Illinois about having the tissue samples sent elsewhere for a toxicology study. I was informed that normally these samples collected are only kept 4-6 wks but the female I spoke to said she would check with lab. I asked that since no one there can talk to the owner of pet(only the vet of record) that the lab person follow up with the local vet here. I heard no more after that.
I had to ponder this info as it relates to the time line of how long it took for the initial necropsy report to be sent to me and Chi Chi's vet. It appeared a bit more than convenient that it took from 4/24/08, date body received by lab, to well after mid June for the necropsy reports to be sent via Farnham. Time for any tissue samples to be tossed. Although the histopath and gross necropsy reports were verified on 4/28 and 5/1 and printed.
Today I had to go by the vet's office and my sister who works there gave me copies of reports, new report. An addendum it appears. Someone must have gotten nervous because it is shown on the report that liver tissues were sent to California Animal Health and Food Safety Lab in Davis, Calif. and results verified on 10/13/08. Tested for pyrethrins/pyrethroids. None detected in the submitted liver sample at or above the stated reporting limits. "Reporting limit: the lowest rountined quantified concentration of an analyte in a sample.The analyte may be detected, but not quantified, at concentration below the reporting limit."
The addendum 1 report verified 10/17/08 states that "pyrethroids are hghly lipophilic compounds. Upon absorption, permethrin is rapidly distributed into tissues with high fat content and the majority of pyrethroids are eliminated within 12-48 hrs, primarily through feces and urine. The active ingredient in Biospot not detected in samples.
So it is back to the basic"bronchopneumonia to explain the demise of the dog". "The underlying cause may be aspiration, which is supported by the mixed isolation of Staphyococcus spp.,Streptococcus group D and Pasteurella spp.
No mention of her vet report which stated she was in seizures when brought into vet shows up anywhere as possible cause of aspiration.
Still gets BioSpot off the hook is all the report does. The final print date on this report is 10/20/08. She died in April! Just wanted to update with this newest report. Finding it kind of hard to swallow that they did indeed save the liver tissue samples from April to October??
Dawn 11/5/08
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I am writing this letter because I would like to bring attention to consumers and animal lovers about a product that is advertised and readily available and is clearly harmful to pets - Sergeant's Gold Flea & Tick Squeeze On. I purchased Sergeant's Gold Flea & Tick Squeeze on for Dogs at my local Wal-Mart on November 3rd. I have always used Frontline, but with times being tough in my household, as it is for many, I figured I would try a more affordable brand - especially since it is advertised as better than Frontline at a fraction of the cost. Those of you who use Frontline know that it is very expensive (around $50 for a 3-month supply), especially for those of us who have more than one pet. Within an hour of applying the product to my 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Rocky, he began having a terrible reaction to it. He was shaking, scratching, breathing very shallow, shaking his ears as if they were wet, and turning around very abruptly to look at his rear end as if something was biting it - every time he did this he yelped and screamed in pain. My husband (who is employed in the medical field) knew to immediately go on the Web to find out what was happening. What he found shocked and angered us - there was post after post about how other dog owners experienced the exact same thing from using Sergeant's Gold. We immediately bathed him several times in dish soap (as instructed for dogs that have had a reaction) and gave him Benadryl. It is now four days later and Rocky is no better. He is completely lethargic, still turning around as if something is on him and when he does he screams in pain - this coming from a dog that is normally running around and playing happily. He will not walk anywhere by himself because as soon as I stand him up (he won't stand up himself) he jerks around and starts yelping. Clearly this is an attack on his central nervous system because all of these things shouldn't happen from a simple skin irritation. I became so concerned yesterday that I took him to my vet. They examined him, gave him a cortisone shot, and sent me home with a course of anti-imflammatory steriods for him to take for the next week. The vet is clearly concerned, because they even called this morning to see how he is doing (which is not normal practice for them). It's been well over 24 hours since he's been on the medication and he is showing no signs of improvement. He will be returning to the vet later today for a blood panel. At this point we are just praying that he will survive.
All of this happened because I tried to save a few bucks buying a product that advertises on its web site that its "better than Frontline at a fraction of the price." It also says on the packaging that it kills fleas in one hour - they should also mention that it may kill your pet in an hour too. I used the product exactly as directed and this is what we ended up with. Instead of saving a few dollars I ended up with multiple vet bills and a dog that is still not well - not to mention the emotional pain I feel for doing this to my "baby." I cannot believe that a product like this is still on the shelves. If you google "Sergeant's Gold - Reactions" over 670,000 results come up with people's heartbreaking stories about how this product has harmed their beloved pets (and even killed some). We have contacted PETA, who immediately called us back and said that they have gotten countless complaints about Sergeant's Gold. We have also lodged complaints with Sergeant's and Consumer Affairs, although we feel that it is more than a Consumer Affairs issue -- its cruelty to animals.
I just want people to know how harmful this product is to dogs and cats, and to NEVER, EVER use it. The organizations we contacted say that the active ingredients in Sergeant's Gold act as a poison - not just to fleas and ticks but to the dogs/cats as well - and by reading the posts that people have put on the Web we are not the only family that this has happened to. I just want Rocky back to his normal self, and hope that this ordeal ends soon.
Gina 11/6/08
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Re: Sergeants Squeeze-On for Dogs
I could not believe what I was reading as my two little dogs were suffering the same symptoms form using Sergeant's flea and tick that you place on the neck and down the spine. This stuff is a poison for our pets. If the pediatricians were prescribing medicines for our children that did half the stuff this garbage does it would be on every news network and they would be out of business. After leaving the groomers this week I went to an area store to get flea preventative for my two dogs. I read the boxes and what the product did. I did not read it was a pesticide and poison and that hundreds of dogs and cats have been traumatized or killed. The only warning on or in the box was do not use the dogs type on cats. And yet this poison is on the shelf. Shortly after putting it on the two dogs they began to have fits and cry and roll on the floor. We thought my Lord what is going on. Come to find out when I called the Sergeant's Phone # and had to wait ten minutes that my dogs had been given insecticide on their skin and were having a severe reaction. I'm not the sharpest knife in the kitchen but I realized if the phones were backed up ten minutes this was some bad stuff. They were traumatized by this and did not sleep for 24 hr. and kept scratching and digging and whining. I stayed up all night rubbing the one dog's back and every time I stopped she would jump up and start biting and digging. My daughter stayed up with the other dog. It was sickening to watch my little dogs stand there half awake and their legs kept moving to scratch. The hotline told me they were feeling a pin-like feeling all over their skin. Now after 24 hr. they are still having troubles from this. When I looked on the web and found story after story of this sickening thing. We took the dogs to the vet today and found out that many times a week people bring there loved ones / pets into the vet for the same thing. It also cost me $126.00. I'm very angry that this could happen and worried it could happen to another family. I have called the company and demand retribution for the vet bill. I went to Wal Mart and told them they have this poison on their shelves. I will be contacting the Michigan Attorney General and my attorney. I'm angry as I write this and I encourage all of us to contact stores [and] appropriate government offices and demand that this poison and others like it be taken off the shelves. I do not know if they will listen to me but if there were a few thousand people demanding this some would listen. I'm no different from any of you folks in the love and commitment we have for a little fury loved ones. And the joy they bring to our homes and life's. Many times I look at my two little dogs and say daddy would not take a million dollars for you. And to see these greedy companies making money at their health's [expense] and affecting our home I will do all I can to stop it.
Michael 11/7/08
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We rescued an adorable 5 month old pup from Bide-A-Wee shelter in Manhattan in 2003. We named her Aggie. She was a mix -- our best guess was a cross of Whippet and Pit Bull. She was a curious looking but beautiful dog, a blonde and dark brown brindle with a sprinter's legs and pit bull chest, soulful brown eyes and a loving disposition; someone once offered my wife $2,000 cash if he could take her on the spot. Of course, she kept her. She was a high-strung dog, but we worked hard with her and she became a wonderful and devoted companion.
In July of 2007, I applied Biospot to Aggie. Almost immediately she appeared to be in distress, writhing on the ground, pushing herself in circles while yipping and growling. She did not ever take well to tick meds, but this was extreme. I attributed it to the heat of the day.
For the next two months, I occasionally found small, bilious vomits from Aggie. It was unusual insofar as over the previous three years, she had rarely gotten sick, aside from puppyhood. I discounted it. I also noticed that when we played, she seemed to tire more quickly. I attributed this to her reaching maturity, and being able to exhaust herself was not altogether unwelcome.
In September of 2007, Aggie became very ill. She began to vomit more regularly, and within a week, became weakened and lethargic. One night, she became very ill; we let her sleep with us (she normally slept in her own den) and she vomited throughout the night. The next day, Aggie collapsed and my wife rushed her to the vet, where she was diagnosed as having a red blood cell count about 25% of normal. She was diagnosed as having Hemolytic Anemia, but her blood work showed no indication of any external cause (e.g. insect bite.) On the other hand, she had no indications of a chronic condition, such as damaged internal organs or muscular atrophy. Over the course of the next week, we undertook substantial measures to save her, close to 10 thousand dollars in transfusions and gamma globulin injections.
Five days later, we were heartened when her doctor thought she could come home to convalesce. Unfortunately, that night, she took a turn for the worse, and seven days, we made the sad decision to euthanize her. Aggie had just turned five years old and was in her physical prime.
Aggie was a wonderful dog, devoted to our family and a source of joy and comfort. She was a healthy and active dog who had no significant health issues (other than those of her own making.) Her demise was abrupt and tragic, and there was nothing to which I can attribute her demise other than the application of BioSpot in the July of the year two months prior to her demise.
Bryce 11/17/08
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I treated my dog with Revolution and the next day she was continuously shaking her head, rapid heartbeat, panting, scratching and whined almost all night. Her ears appeared as if she had a severe sunburn and eventually scabbed completely. She was in pain and suffering. She stopped eating and drinking and had crawled under bed to die. We are sooo lucky she survived this after a slow two week recovery and more than $500 in vet bills. She was given steroids, antibiotics, vallium, IV fluids, ear spray and benedryl. The vet would not confirm it was the Revolution that made her sick and said they had not received any other complaints. I am now looking for alternative flea control and heartworm preventative.
Anonymous 11/21/08
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Reading your website was enlightening. I have been having periodic problems with my jack Russell/Chihuahua mix biting his skin until it bleeds and losing hair. Rolling and eating grass. The first time that it happened, he was lethargic and was losing hair in spots and his skin was very red, he was running a fever as well. I took him to the vet and they had me do hundreds of dollars of tests and said that he had mange. We went through 2 rounds of very expensive treatments for the mange as well as cortisone and Ivermectin. He was better after a couple of weeks of treatment. He was ok for a month or two and it came back. We went back to the Vet and I said that it was the same thing and I did not want to pay for the testing again, but they told me it was necessary or they would not give me the medicine. They determined this time it was not mange it was an allergic reaction. I paid for more expensive medication (temerial p and proxetil). I will tell you the medicines both times did help (it did stop the itching, biting, and wetness).
I went to Banfield the other day to pick up more frontline for me and also some for my mother's dog and she went on and on about the reactions that animals get from some of these medications. I did not pay much attention. When I gave my dog his dose of Frontline, I noticed that he was doing this funky breathing thing again, that he had done the last time I took him to the vet for his "allergic reaction." The vet said it was a backwards sneeze. From your other postings, I think the "backwards sneeze," is actually trouble breathing. I also noticed that it was rolling in the grass again and chewing at a spot in his skin again. Like he was biting at fleas. I noticed that like the other two times that his skin was red and already starting to get infected in an area near the base of tail. On further inspection, the hair was falling out there, just like the other 2 times. I just went on your website and am convinced that it was from the frontline product. The other two times was from the frontline as well, I am sure of it, I just had not connected the dots until now. I just shampooed his skin with KetoChlor and gave him 1/2 of a Benadryl. He seems to be feeling better and finally ate his dinner and is drinking, he is still itching though.
By the way, I called the vet earlier to get some more of the pills they had given me for the allergies the last time, and they said that I had to bring him in. Already into vet bills of over $500 for a twice misdiagnosed treatment I decided that I was not going in. Great website, thanks for all of the postings.
Do I need to wash him with Dawn tomorrow? Can I use any dishwashing soap?
Ann 11/26/08
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Reading your website my heart went out to all those poor people whose precious pets have been so ravaged. These treatments are lethal !!!!!!!!
We inherited a beautiful white cat last October whose owner a neighbour, had died. She had been sleeping rough and was thin and traumatised. I left the cat flap open for her and she gradually moved in. At first she was unresponsive to affection, but by last Easter had become a loving part of the family. She had been to vets previously for jabs and was ok.
Then the flea season started, the vet suggested Advantage. She became moody and unwell and we didn't know what was happening to her. Back to the vets we went, she had fleas - Again !!! We sprayed the house and she had another dose of Advantage and she had a fit. When you love an animal it is so hard to witness and I felt helpless. I still didn't connect the symptoms to the flea treatment but something nagged at me so I bought Spot on to try instead. She had another fit and stayed at floor level we took her to the vets and he diagnosed epilepsy. I have not treated her with flea repellent since. She has recovered but is not the same as she was.
Please owners be very careful when using Advantage. First treatment - she was quieter than normal not as playful. With consecutive treatments she gradually got worse. The final 2 treatments she had fits. Something else I have realised because these treatments make her unhealthy she attracts more fleas and so needs more treatment. - a vicious circle.
I have had cats before but have never had this much of a flea problem, but then that was 6 years ago and I did not use any back of the neck treatments on them.
I do not let her out but she is desperate to go into the garden. Warmer winters have left the garden still flea ridden (from foxes) and I don't know what to do. I have been reading about natural remedies although all the information seems to be contradictory, some say citronella is bad can anyone help ?????
What are you all using ??? I am in the UK so my choices will be limited.
Annie 11/27/08
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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.
