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July 2009
I have a 6 year old shih tzu and like others, I decided to try Biospot. The manager at Petsmart recommended it and said it was comparable to Frontline. At first I was alittle hesitant to use it considering it was not a reputable name brand. The manager assured me that it was almost the 'exact formula' as Frontline, so with her recommendation I bought it.
I used the Biospot last night and almost immediately after I put it on my dog she had
a reaction. She was fidgety, kept jumping uncontrollably, panting and urinating frequently, all within 7 hrs. I didn't know what to do considering it was in the middle
of the night, so I called the vet early this morning explaining her symptoms which were
quite concerning to me. As soon as I mentioned I used Biospot, they wanted to see
her immediately! The vet was really good, they took her right away and did blood work and called the company to report a claim. One of the "vets" at Biospot said that
it is not uncommon for smaller dogs (shih tzu, poodles, lasso, maltese) to experience these symptoms and they had suggested that I bathe her with Dawn (to remove the grease) and then put Vitamin E on the spots i had applied the ointment too. Additionally, the vet had to prescribe valium because she was so jumpy. So my questions is, how many people are experiencing these problems and why hasn't this drug been pulled from the market?! why do they offer it for smaller dogs if it caused these adverse reactions? and! who's going to pay for my $300 vet visit and the time I had to take off from work? In my opinion, it should be Biospot!
Anonymous 7/1/09
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I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face as I read the information on your web site. I also went to the EPA site and saw that the product I used on our dog is indeed on the list. It is so hard to realize that the seizures that our beloved golden has been experiencing were caused by something I did. In April of 2008 I put Frontline Plus on our dog, within days I noticed a funny jolt that seemed to go through him periodically. This jolting continued to get worse where he would actually drop to the ground each
time it happened. We have been through an MRI and multiple tests. He has been on phenobarbital since May of 2008 and the seizures finally appear to be gone. However, he is not the same energetic dog that we had before. He has now been diagnosed with "some kind" of infection that no medication seems to cure. At this point we are talking about quality of life choices with our vet.
I suspected that the Frontline Plus caused the seizures when they began but all of the vets we went to said that that wasn't it. We have been to the best vets in the area as we live within walking distance to one of the best veterinary hospitals, Tufts Cummings Vetreinarian School. How sad that no one was aware of this. This has cost us a great deal of heartache and money.
Thank you for your web site and your work.
Kathy 7/3/09
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(Below is email that I received from the EPA on 7/6/09)
Dear Mr. TerBush:
Thank you for your e-mails of June 5 and 15, 2009, regarding the underreporting
of adverse incidents by pesticide registrants and the regulation of flea and tick pet products by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). You suggest that the problem of underreporting could
be solved by requiring product labels to include the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) contact information on the label, along with the symptoms of toxic exposure and a statement advising consumers to report suspected adverse
reactions to NPIC. You also suggest that the confusion about which agency
regulates a particular pet product could be eliminated by EPA’s transferring
jurisdiction of all pet pesticide products to the FDA. I am pleased to have an
opportunity to respond to your suggestions.
As you know, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently scrutinizing
the spot-on pet insecticides to determine what regulatory changes need to be made. Changes will depend on the results of the investigation and may range from new
label requirements to new testing or reporting requirements. We at EPA share your concerns and the concerns of pet owners, and we are committed to the protection
of our companion animals. Your suggestions will certainly be taken into consideration as we proceed with our investigation. We will continue to keep the public apprised
of our investigation through our Web site at
Again, we appreciate your active participation in this important issue.
Sincerely,
Claire M. Gesalman, Chief
Communication Services Branch
Field and External Affairs Division
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I found my Jeanne Kitty having seizures on July 4, 2009. She passed on July 5, 2009. She was having seizures. I searched the internet and found that many flea & tick products for animals can cause seizures & death. I viewed a video of a cat presenting the same symptoms as my Jeanne Kitty. On July 3, 2009 I had applied BioSpot onto
her fur and had treated my carpets with Hartz Flea & Tick product. I am very mad that such a product can be manufactured.
Anonymous 7/7/09
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I used Bio Spot on my shepard who is fine. On my springer spaniel who with in days
got a dry patch of skin on her neck but I didn't think anything of it and 1 month later reapplied biospot again to which with in 3 days caused an open golfball sized wound
on her neck. On 2nd month application to my 3 shitzu/bichon's; 1 started whining and scratching and trying to lick at her neck so I bathed her but is still irritated. the other 1 is slightly irritated licking and scratching and will bathe him after writing this the 3rd little dog slept alot the next day after application but seems fine today, but will still wash the product off. I will not use this product any more, the chemical in it is obviously too high
of a dose.
Lloyd & & Maralee 7/7/09
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James, my name is Eric [deleted], and as well being a current vet student, I have also been employed at an emergency clinic for more than 4 years. The amount of cases we see here at the ER is astounding, when dealing w/ hartz, sergeants, biospot, etc. I was recently browsing websites like your own, and read a post by a person asking about
3-d. In your response, u noted that you don't trust any flea and ticks products, because they can ALL cause the toxic reactions seen in the OTC products, and that its a way for us to make more money. First off, as a student about to graduate and step into the field, as a doctor, and as the manager and lead technican at the emergency clinic I am employed, let me be the first to correct you. Number one, every person in this field understands we will not get rich working in this profession. I will be able to provide my family and myself a comfortable life style, and pay my bills, but making money, is not why people attend vet school. It's actually quite the opposite, and while mark-ups are and always will be a part of any business, we simply do not make a substantial amount of money on products like flea control and many others. Secondly, and more importantly, your statement about there being no safe flea control medications are very bias AND unaccurate. While it is always a very good idea to use caution with these products, you have to remember that in any public forum, what you say, will be taken as truth by the same people that made the mistake in buying the cheaper product. Companies and products like frontline for example, have done thousands of clinical trials, to ensure the safety of their products, and have gone as far as to allow oral ingestion, with outstanding results in regards to animal safety. While there will always be harmful cheap products, that are simply on the market to "make a buck", there are those of us in the field, that are more concerned for not only our pets, but animal welfare as a whole. Products such as advantage, (not to be confused w/ advantix), and frontline plus, are very safe, and relatively inexpensive when compared to the bills one faces at a clinic such as the one
I am employed at. Not only was your response inaccurate, but very demeaning and offensive to those of us, who pay tens of thousands of dollars, (I myself have over 90k in student loans, and will make 50-60k until I can afford to open my own emergency clinic, at which point, I will be required to work 70 hours a week+, if my current bosses own experiences are any indication of what the future holds for me, at which point I have the chance to make 100-150k a year). Thank you for your time, and your dedication to the public, and the education you provide for so many people. My only request is that you use this forum, for just that....unbiased education.
Sincerely,
Eric 7/9/09
Thank you for taking the time to write, and for sharing your thoughts and concerns with me. I am sorry if you found any of the advice on my website to be demeaning and offensive. I would like you to know that I have the highest regard for veterinarians, veterinary technicians and assistants.
I was responding to someone who had asked if I knew anything about a new flea and tick product called Vectra 3D. The poster had concerns about it because her vet had stopped recommending Frontline in favor of that new product. Her original message and my response can be found here:
http://www.biospotvictims.org/2008-03.html (see Laura 3/6/08)
Here was my response:
"I have real concerns about ALL veterinarian-prescribed flea/tick prevention products. Many vets claim that these products are safer than the over-the-counter products because they do not get into the bloodstream. That simply is not true. Some of the pesticide in these products is absorbed through the skin or accidentally ingested and can cause symptoms ranging from vomiting and weight loss to seizures. They may also be a possible cause of immune-system related diseases. That is why these products warn you to use the correct dosage for your pet and not to get it on your hands when applying it. "
"Vectra 3D is a new product that is being marketed exclusively by veterinarians. Vets like being the exclusive distributor of products because they have better profit margins. The manufacturer of Vectra 3D and the Hartz Mountain Corporation (maker of over-the-counter flea/tick products) are both owned by the Sumitomo Corp. of America. In fact, Vectra 3D was created by the Chief Scientific Officer at Hartz."
"Vectra 3D contains almost as much permethrin (a pesticide) as many over-the-counter flea/tick products. There was a time when the veterinary community was critical of flea/tick products that contained a large percentage of permethrin because of its potential to cause adverse reactions, particularly in cats that were accidentally treated with it or that came into close physical contact with treated dogs. Now that vets have become the purveyors of this poison (with products like K9 Advantix and Vectra 3D), you don't hear those concerns anymore."
"There are several links on my website that discuss ways to control fleas and ticks without using pesticides. I encourage everyone to read them, and only use a pesticide product as a last resort."
As I have stated on my website in the FAQ, many veterinarians consider products like Advantage and Frontline to be safe, but it's important to recognize that these products are registered pesticides, and are capable of causing adverse reactions, including vomiting and seizures, in pets.
As you are probably aware, the NRDC has a website concerning dangerous flea
and tick products, www.GreenPaws.org. They caution against using Advantage and Frontline if pregnant or around small children because the pesticides in these products are toxic to the nervous system and are possible endocrine disruptors. In fact, a recent study out of Australia found that pregnant veterinarians who have occupational exposure to pesticides may have twice the risk of miscarriage.
You claim that companies like Frontline have done thousands of clinical trials to ensure the safety of their products. Have these clinical trials ever been published or peer reviewed? If you have access to these clinical trials involving thousands of animals, perhaps you could send them to me because as far as I know, they have not been published. To the contrary, companion animal safety studies that are required by the EPA involve only a small number of healthy animals and are limited to a single breed (beagle).
I do not fault veterinarians for making a profit from the sale of flea and tick products, but I do have concerns about manufacturers that offer incentive programs to veterinary staff members (who sometimes make less than $10. an hour) for selling their products. Here is one example:
Companion animal owners are often encouraged to use these products year round, regardless of geographic location and the age and health of the animal. I believe these products should only be used as a last resort, and never on animals that are aged or debilitated.
The EPA is currently scrutinizing all registered flea and tick products (including those sold by veterinarians) due to over 44,000 adverse incidents that were reported last year, including major incidents like seizures and death. Perhaps they will find that several of the over-the-counter products are significantly more dangerous than some of the vet-prescribed products, but any product that contains a high concentration of pesticide has the potential to cause harm to pets and people.
I wish you the best in the veterinary profession. Please use the knowledge that you have gained by working in the emergency clinic to urge the EPA to remove dangerous flea and tick products from the market.
Sincerely,
James TerBush
Website Administrator
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On 7/9/09, Eric wrote:
Products such as advantage, (not to be confused w/ advantix), and frontline plus, are very safe, and relatively inexpensive when compared to the bills one faces at a clinic such as the one I am employed at.
Response to Eric...
I find it a bit curious regarding your concern that Jim Terbush publishes inaccurate information about flea and tick spot-on products. I have been corresponding with Jim
for several years and he is probably one of the most researched, knowledgeable advocates for pet health and welfare as reflects resulting adverse reactions from flea and tick products. His website information stems not from opinionated rhetoric but rather from scientific and other published data he has painstakingly researched and captured as well as adverse reaction data reported by thousands of pet owners who
are seeking assistance after going through horrific experiences watching their pet
suffer following application of these varied products. We (as pet owners) would be
very pleased if indeed we could rely on product manufacturers to assure us that the products are safe. I'm uncertain how you as a soon to be veterinarian, are able to provide this bona fide reassurance. Similar to Jim's request, I have also have
attempted to find the actual clinical study trials used by Merial (Frontline). Following
two letters to their head vet requesting such information I was told the material is
`proprietary' and would not be released. My pet was severely affected by a Frontline application administered by my vet. He developed acute anemia. He required four blood transfusions and three years of immune suppressant therapy with additional hospitalizations for infections that were a result of his immune system being compromised. The cost has been over $10,000. I'm sorry, Eric, but there is no way
I can feel comfortable with the word Safety and Frontline in the same sentence.
44,000 other consumers in 2008 apparently had experiences worthy of a reporting
base last year (and those were the ones who knew the EPA was the reg. agency).
No doubt there were many more adverse reactions NOT reported. I wish you the
very best in your future veterinary career. Please take the time to research and learn more about the toxic ingredients allowed to be included in these flea and tick
products and more importantly the adverse reactions many, many animals experience. You may learn by reading Jim's base of information listed on the website, quite a bit more than vet schools teach in this area. There is a great deal of material to cover in your studies and I give you much credit for desiring to be a caregiver for our wonderful companion animals. One area I believe is lacking, however is in-depth pharmacology classes in vet schools for certain products. If you are receiving `safety' information
from Pharmaceutical sales reps, they have an agenda that is obviously self-serving.
Indeed, if you can locate the clinical study trials for Frontline, I would be most appreciative in reviewing.
Sincerely,
Jan 7/11/09
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My 5 year old Golden Retriever, Emma, who was in perfect health died suddenly today from a seizure that I am sure was caused by Bio Spot. I have never trusted any of those products and never bought over the counter until last month. I gave her a dose yesterday and today she just dropped dead after a seizure. NEVER USE BIOSPOT.
Carole 7/12/09
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HI! I AM HOPING YOU CAN HELP ME? I USED SERGEANTS GOLD ON MY DOG
8 DAYS AGO AND NOW HE IS MUCH BETTER BUT WE WENT THRU HELL AND BACK. TODAY I NOTICED HIS TAIL WAS BOTHERING HIM.....AGAIN! I LOOKED AND THERE IS BALD PATCHES AND RED, BLOODY SKIN ON HIS TAIL! SHOULD
I PUT A TOPICAL ANTIBIOTIC ON IT OR MAYBE BAG BALM? I PUT NEOSPORIN
ON IT AND HE SEEMS TO BE RESTING. ALSO, WHAT CAN I USE THAT IS SAFE FOR FLEAS AND TICKS, AS I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND HE GOES OUT JUST
TO POTTY BUT THERE ARE FLEAS THIS TIME OF YEAR. SERGEANTS SHOULD BE ASHAMED. THIS STUFF IS ACID ON THEIR SKIN. IT WAS SO SAD!!!!!! OBVIOUSLY THEY STILL SELL IT BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT IN THE SPRING OF
THIS YEAR!!!!! THANKS AND I HOPE THIS IS STILL YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS!
TINA 7/13/09
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I have never used Bio Spot before, but I will never use it again nor any other flea
and tick product. I have a shih tzu that I love very much that was deathly ill from this product. It is hot outside so fleas and ticks are bad where I live right now. I bought
this product and put it on my dog and the next morning we could barely get him
to wake up. He laid around like he was dead. We couldn't get him to eat or drink
all day long. My dog is one of the most playful pups ever and he couldn't even
open his eyes. The funny thing is on that same day I had someone from my local
telephone company to fix my internet. He had overheard me talking about me sick
dog. He said that he used that product on his dog and it almost died. It shut his
dogs kidney's down. The next day I go to work and heard two more stories about
the same product. When is enough going to be enough? How many pets will die
or get ill before they stop selling this?
Shasta 7/13/09
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I just wanted to share my experience with BioSpot. I have three small dogs;
all of them under 9 lbs. My smallest and oldest dog, a MalteeChi (we're
mutt lovers), was recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure. When we
visited the vets office we caught fleas - never had them before, EVER! I
didn't notice the fleas until a few days following our second visit to the
vet. A little shocked that my dog had fleas, I had a minor break down and
sent my daughter to PetSmart for flea solution. I had just bathed my dog
and was still panicked over the 40-50 fleas on him when my daughter returned
with the BioSpot. She had asked the associate at PetSmart for Advantage and
was redirected to BioSpot. She said the associate said it's what they
recommended and it was cheaper. I applied one dose to my MalteeChi's neck
and hip area as directed. After a few days we noticed our other two dogs
had fleas so we treated them with the other two treatments in the package.
Within hours my Yorkie Poo was chewing at his rear and hiding under the
furniture. Kelso is a five year old male and has always been rather hyper,
very friendly, a 'space invader', wants to cuddle, never met a stranger,
etc. In the two days following the treatment Kelso was lethargic, hiding in
the dark, shaking constantly, and had chewed a raw spot on his rear end. He
wouldn't jump, come to me for love or hugs, and he wouldn't sleep on the bed
- which he's done since he was six weeks, without fail or question - that
was his spot. I spoke to a friend that breeds Shitzus and she said to bath
him in Dawn dish detergent and look it up on the web for reactions to this
product.
When I found biospotvictims.com I thought I'd throw up reading all the
postings and what the pets had suffered. I gave my other two dogs baths and
prayed they would all be okay. I'm absolutely appalled that this product is
on the market.
After the Dawn bath, Kelso was at least letting us hold him but a day later
he's still under the sofa and has to be dragged out to go outside. He's not
eating, still lethargic, has the raw spot, and just doesn't seem to be
himself. The vet says to let it work out of his system over a period of
about two weeks but I'm concerned that he won't ever be the same loving mutt
he's always been.
On a positive note: my other two dogs, even the one with CHF, haven't had
the slightest reaction and the fleas are almost gone.
I'll NEVER use chemicals again. I've submitted a letter to the Natural
Resources Defense Council and the EPA. I'm desperately praying that my dogs
will be okay and this product will be off the market.
Please whatever you do - DON'T USE BIOSPOT.
Regina 7/15/09
Warner Robins, GA
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I just put my cat, Nala, to sleep. She was only 5 years old. I started using
BioSpot when it was recommended to me at PetCo. It was cheaper than
Frontline so I tried the cat version for Nala and the dog version for my dog,
Lilly. It seemed to work fine--no fleas. I bought BioSpot about 4 months ago.
Over the past month I’ve noticed small changes in my cats behavior. She
stopped eating her dry food, which I thought was due to the fact that I switched
food brands and she seemed to love her new wet food. Then I noticed about
a week ago she looked thinner than normal and thought I would keep an eye
on her. Then that weekend, this past Sunday, I woke up and Nala was barely
moving. I then took her to the vets office. She was at the vets until yesterday
when she wasn’t improving I decided it was best she rest in peace. It was
such a sad experience. The vet couldn’t figure out what was wrong. She was
an indoor cat. We couldn’t come up with any answers. The only thing I could
contribute to the change was the recent use of BioSpot. So I decided to look
online and that’s when I found your website.
Jeremy 7/16/09
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Our dog has had a severe reaction to Adam's Spot On flea & tick control. We did
what the Animal poison control center had advised us to do with little results. He seemed to be jumping out of his skin (Literally) and became lethargic. He has seen
a vet, and was given a shot of cortisone and now seems to be improving. The person we spoke to at the poison control center said that these symptoms are common in
dogs that are sensitive to this product? Why are they marketing this stuff??
Robert 7/16/09
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Thank You !!! James, and to the many others who have posted their similar experences on the web site using the various other flea & tick control products on their animals as well. I just knew that there was a connection somewhere. I have been searching for
a long time for some answers to these very same questions. Thank's to all of you, there is no doubt in mind now that alot of these products out there on the market today are not safe to use on our pets, and should be recalled in my opinion because of their adverse reactions !!!
In my case, I had been using Bio Spot Flea & Tick Control for large dogs over 60 lbs. for several years on my Australian Shepherd / Border Collie mix named " Carly Simon". It wasn't until towards the end of the summer of last year, that she started developing a skin rash or allergic reaction to something. I just didn't know to what at the time that could be causing her all at once to start itching. So I decided to do a little research on my own and learned that sometimes with long-haired dogs if they don't completely shed their undercoat from year to year that this can happen, and also that just like people pets can grow into and grow out of allergies.
I even called my vet and asked about various flea & tick control products & heartworm medications, and if they knew of or had heard of any known adverse side effects, drug interactions, or recalls with any of them. They said that they thought it might be a possibility but that they really did not know of any off hand. They told me to give her benadryl and if that didn't work or seem to help to bring her in and let them take a look
at her. It seemed to work. By then, the season was coming to an end and I had stopped putting Bio Spot on her around the 1st of Oct. for the last time. It was starting to get cooler outside and she stopped itching so I didn't think or worry anymore about it, that is until when I went to put it on her once again the 1st of Apr. of this year. The skin rash had come back. I think that overtime she had developed an adverse reaction to this product after many years of use, or that they had added to or changed the ingredients of their product.
Either way, I agree and think that this product along with the rest of the Bio Spot line
and sounds like many other various flea & tick control products as well be taken off the market pending further oversite and investigation by the FDA. In the meantime, try Revolution from the vet it's quite a bit higher in cost but overall I think that it actually saves you a little money in the long run because it has the heartworm meds and flea control all in one monthly application. Hope this info has been helpful to you. I know that
I have learned more than I really wanted to know about adverse reactions to flea & tick control products from all your e-mails on line. A real eye-opener. I will pass this info on
to all of my freinds and family out there who love their animals as much as we do and want the very best for them !!!
Marcia 7/17/09
Indiana
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I too noticed an adverse reaction when I used BioSpot on my dog. He became
very agitated and began running around the house and rolling on his back. He also frequently wiped his snout on the carpet and clawed at the carpet as if digging a
hole. I immediately bathed him thoroughly. Needless to say, I will never use BioSpot again.
Donna 7/17/09
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Hi. I believe my 5 yo male Rhodesian Ridgeback suffered neurological problems from Frontline TopSpot applications I gave him from March, April and May of this year. I used it every prior to this and had not had any problems. I must say though that this batch was bought on-line. Any bogus Frontline out there?
He had paw buckling, front leg scissoring/ataxia, tremors, rear paw dragging, thoracic leg incoordination in the stairs and drooling off and on for three months. Vet exam was negative. TBD negative. Blood chem negative.
We did a Degenerative Myelopathy DNA test at home which was negative (new test out last year for 7 highly affected breeds).
I feed raw but had been giving him Innova EVO kibble as training treats throughout the winter for about 3 mths before the neuro problems started.
I stopped applying Frontline TopSpot and threw out the Innova (he is highly allergic to grains and starches and grain treats as a pup had elicited neuro fly-biting episodes; I wasn't applying Frontline then though) and all symptoms ceased. If they return, I will be seeing the neurologist. But for now, all is good.
I believe the Frontline was the culprit.
Wondering if anyone has links to the latest news about Frontline causing problems. I can't seem to find anything.
Sandra 7/20/09
Billerica, MA
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(Below is email that I sent to the EPA on 7/21/09)
Dear Mr. Lesher,
I would like to file a formal complaint with the EPA in regards to three new commercials for Bayer Advantage pet products, which contain false and misleading safety claims. The commercials can be viewed here:
They contain the following claims:
"Advantage topical solution is soft on cats, but hard on fleas. So ask your veterinarian for Advantage, the flea specialist, for gentle, but effective flea control."
"Advantage topical solution is soft on cats, but deadly on fleas. So ask your veterinarian for Advantage, the flea specialist, for effective, but gentle flea control."
"Advantage topical solution treats dogs, but destroys fleas. So ask your veterinarian for Advantage, the flea specialist, for gentle, but effective flea control."
On April 4, 2008, the EPA sent a letter (see attached 2-page letter) to Bayer in regards to similar pesticide safety claims which appeared on their K9 Advantix and Advantage websites. Your agency advised Bayer that its use of the word "gentle" to describe these products "provides a false impression and misleads the public that K9 ADVANTIX and ADVANTAGE pesticide pet products are "safe" for children and "harmless" to children and pets."
Please advise Bayer that the above mentioned commercials are in violation of FIFRA. Also, please consider imposing a penalty on Bayer for their willful and repeated disregard of federal pesticide laws.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
James TerBush
Website Administrator
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We were given Promeris two years ago for our dogs. It was new, the vet told my susceptible boyfriend. He took it home and immediately applied it to our dogs.
Within 30 minutes our 3 year old Schnoodle, Maisey, was seizing violently. She
had no history of seizures. He rushed her back to the vet and she gave Maisey
Valium. The "vet", and I use that loosely, called the rep and the Promeris rep
assured her that it was not the drug.
Over the next many months Maisey seized violently. This vet wouldn't prescribe preventative meds, only Valium for afterward. Finally, one Sunday, when the seizures were so violent and racking her tiny body at the rate of one every 2 minutes over the period of an hour, we called another vet. They did what should have been done to
begin with. They did blood work and prescribed Phenobarbital. She is considered "epileptic" now. There is no doubt in my mind that Promeris caused this!! Her reaction was almost immediate. I would like them to explain the coincidence. And seizures are
a "neurological" disorder. How they can get away with issuing a statement that warns that some dogs are more sensitive is beyond heinous! They should be required to
slap a big sticker on the box that says, "May kill your dog, but not your neighbors--
It's a toss-up." If I want to buy flea control in a grab bag, I should at least be warned. Unbelievable. Phenobarbital twice a day for the rest of her life because of these
lowlifes!
Amber 7/21/09
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I am at my wit's end today. I applied Frontline last week and my cat has been
twitchy, freaked out, and it dawned on me this morning as his symptoms seem neurological - sure enough, I googled adverse reactions to Frontline and he has
a lot of the symptoms. I'm beside myself with guilt and called my vet and they
said just to bring him in and I said "no, unless you can tell me what to do to help
him, I'm not going in for tests - I KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT"- and they just told
me to wash with Dawn. I can't believe vets are not aware of this problem and
don't have a way to "fix" or reverse these side effects. This is criminal. I hope
my cat lives through this.
Anyway, Avon Skin So Soft, original formula, seems to work for some people.....
Anonymous 7/22/09
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I have to say when I searched Biospot complaints, I was astounded at the number
of complaints against Biospot. I have a 4 month old Boxer, Blue Tick Hound mix
named Thumper and I too applied the Flea & Tick Spray for puppies. He had a
severe reaction 3 days later. I mistakingly took the cheap route because I was
informed by a PetSmart employee that Frontline had started developing resistance
to some animals over the past couple of months. I've always used either Frontline
or Advantage in the past and never had a problem, but the moment I purchased something cheaper I regretted it. I applied the spray to Thumper on Friday night.
He seemed fine over the next couple of days. When I came home Monday afternoon,
he was lethargic, unable to stand up, and just not very responsive. I immediatly took
him to my Veterinarian. After a night at the vet, IV fluids, and injections of steroids
and valium, the conclusion was Biospot was the culprit. I called Biospot seeking reimbursement for the $350 bill and at first it sounded as if I might actually be reimbursed. After speaking with another Veterinarian linked with Farnam Pet
Products, she claimed the problem did not come from Biospot because it was too
long of a period between the application and the reaction. I being a nursing student questioned this because a reaction can be delayed and occur 72 hours later. Is the immune response in a dog that much different than a humans? Is a response 3 days
later that unusual? I can still pursue this by having my Veterinarian call the other Vet
I spoke with and discuss Thumper's case, and I plan on doing just that sometime next week. Luckily, Thumper is doing well. I should have gone with my gut instinct and not purchased the Biospot.
Anonymous 7-24-09
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I just buried my cat, Jynx. He was just a little over a year old, a beautiful black and gray tiger with a white chest and four white feet.
I treated my animals for fleas on Thursday a.m. Jynx went outside, insulted, and I didn't see him again until late Friday night. He was yowling and his skin was rippling. The greasy spot from the flea medication was still apparent.
I read some info online about treating adverse reactions and naively thought that if I washed the medication off, we'd be alright. I washed him as thoroughly as I could and went to bed thinking I would take him to the vet the next morning if he wasn't better. He did seem better in the morning, so I thought we were out of the woods. I bathed him again, gave him a can of cat food, which he ate, and left him in my bedroom while I ran some errands.
I came home a couple hours later to find him in a pool of blood, unconscious and convulsing. He died without gaining consciousness.
I feel like I murdered that poor, sweet, little kitty by my ignorance. Please, folks, be careful. I've always had animals and NEVER has any of them had a reaction to flea meds, but it can happen in an instant and with absolutely disastrous results.
Jan 7/25/09
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We have used Bio Spot for some time on our dogs, and recently used it on our adult
cat ( Bio Spot for cats) and within 30 min. she started to drool heavily and became
very limp. We immediately took her to the sink and washed her with dish detergent
and rinsed completely for several minutes. Almost instantly she regained her stamina, no more drooling and returned to her normal self. If my wife had not acted quickly we
are almost certain we would have lost our cat. We are rethinking how we treat our pet's flea problems.
Dave 7/31/09
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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.
