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January 2009
Pesticides are deadly chemicals. However most people eat them everyday in food without even thinking about it. What you are seeing on your dog or cat when they die or spasm is simply an overdose. Though I don't believe it is a good idea to introduce deadly chemicals into the environment the alternative is constant vigilance and a realistic understanding that fleas are a natural part of having domesticated animals.
Luckily my dogs are able to live outside everyday year round. They pick up plenty of fleas and ticks; so in the summer when the fleas hatch I comb my long haired German Shepard with a flea comb every day or two (or maybe three) and drop the fleas in plain water. They die immediately. Ticks I pull off by hand if they are attached, otherwise the comb gets them. I feed him some garlic powder and nutritional yeast on his food (which he loves) in the summer as well but I have no data if this is actually reducing the amount of fleas or not. Keep your dog's bedding washed or changed in the summer if you have to have him confined for the fleas and eggs will build up there. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the ground where they play and sleep. This kills flea larvae and keeps the population down. Worm the dog in the spring and again in mid summer. Do not wash the dog more than once or twice a season with a soap product as this just dries out the skin and causes more irritation and scratching. A good rinse or soaking in plain water removes many fleas; just don't put the dog back in the same flea infested environment or they will jump back on. If you must keep your dog in the house use the vacuum daily. Sometimes fleas can get out of the bag so you might want to store the cleaner outside. (I've only had this problem in the southern US where fleas live year round.) I never see fleas or ticks in the winter. Though there may be some fleas on him he rarely scratches so I don't worry about it.
Overall do not have unrealistic expectations! You will NEVER kill every flea with manual control. If you can't handle any fleas at all and you must have pets then your only alternative may be to dose them with the chemical and hope for the best. Of course when you pet your dog you are exposing yourself to the same chemical. You might want to think about that. If you like to handle your dog try the flea comb; it is great way to 'bond' safely; plus the dog hair you harvest is great for repelling rabbits in your garden!
Charlotte 1/6/09
MidWest USA
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My cat (Hannah) is now on her eighth day of illness, lethargy, dehydration, and no appetite. I gave her the Frontline flea drops (applied between the shoulder blades) on Monday 01/12/09 and now eight days (and hundreds of dollars) later; my cat is still very sick. We will get her organ function test results tomorrow and are praying there is no permanent damage to Hannah.
Can you tell me if anyone else has had adverse reactions from Frontline? Is there the possibility of permanent damage? And would you happen to have an email link for FDA reporting?
Any information would be greatly appreciated- many thanks.
Celia 1/21/09
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Re: SENTRY Natural Defense brand killed my cat
Hi James:
You probably don't remember me but I had contacted you in late October 2008 after the passing of my cat, 3 weeks after using a "natural" over-the-counter flea medication on her. You gave me some very helpful suggestions that I followed in my search for "justice."
In the meantime, I have been writing many letters, contacted attorney generals, the E.P.A., and even got a lawyer involved. I have even contacted the local Channel 5 News station. I have gotten no where. I feel helpless.
I am told by the attorney that there isn't much I can do in terms of PROVING the medication was the actual cause of death. The manufacturer is taking the stance that I either misused their product, or that since my cat was a "stray " cat (that I had in my care for over 2 years) that she may have had another underlying illness. The news station, who seemed like they were on board to do an investigative report, is now backing out because the cause of death can't be "proved" and the vet, for legal reasons, can't CONFIRM that the product was the cause of death.
I am extremely upset and frustrated. It seems I have reached a dead end - like I'm sure many pet owners before me have experienced. I know you have experience in this subject area - what do you suggest I do next? I am thinking that at this point all I can do is share my story!
Jodie 1/29/09
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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.
