Jun 1, 2009 11:20 pm US/Eastern
Pet Owners Report Side Effects With Tick Meds
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
You want to protect your pets from fleas and ticks this summer. But could a common treatment cause health problems, including death?
Many pet owners, including Judy Whalen, think they can.
To protect her dog Rudy from Lyme disease, Judy used what's called a spot-on flea and tick product. It's a topical medicine usually applied between the pet's shoulders.
Just days after Rudy got the treatment, he needed emergency care, "He started to vomit, he wasn't keeping his food down….as I was petting him, big gaps of hair were coming out," says Judy. Rudy's doctor believes the dog developed an auto-immune disease, "One of the possibilities is that is from a topical spot-on flea and tick medicine," says Dr. Kenneth Shanley.
Last year, the government received 44,000 complaints concerning flea and tick control products. The reactions ranged from mild skin irritations, to seizures, and in some cases deaths. "He lived a life of dedication and love and was an amazing dog."
Cindy Tanghetti is talking about her golden retriever Lincoln, who died in February. Lincoln battled cancer for four years, but Cindy believes it was a reaction to the flea and tick medicine that ultimately took his life. "His back legs were shaking and I couldn't get him to get up," recalls Cindy.
She says the symptoms started right after she gave Lincoln the spot-on flea and tick treatment. The veterinarian who OK'd the medicine said it would pass through Lincoln's system in 48 hours. But Lincoln only got worse, "The breathing was bad, the shaking, the lethargy, I felt like I was losing him."
There was a 53 percent increase in the number of incidents reported about spot-on flea and tick products from 2007 to 2008. The Environmental Protection Agency has launched an investigation to try to find out why.
At Angell Memorial in Boston, veterinarian Dr. Joel Kaye has seen only a few mild reactions to these products.
He believes the increase in the number of complaints may be due to the fact that doctors are recommending them more.
EPA information on specific flea and tick products
In addition, there have been several new products put on the market in recent years that may contribute to the increase in reactions. But Dr. Kay believes they are safe if used correctly, "When we see a problem, frankly, is when people use them inappropriately. They tack a dog product and put it on a cat or vice versa."
His advice to pet owners? "Everything has potential side effects. However, I think the risk benefit ratio is much higher on the benefit end."
Pet owners like Cindy Tanghetti want the public to be aware of the possible side affects of tick and flea products, so what happened to Lincoln doesn't happen to someone else's pet. "Don't be afraid to question someone, don't be afraid to ask what you're giving your dog or cat."
Dr. Kaye says if your pet does react to a flea and tick product, you can bathe it with a mild soap. If that doesn't help, get medical attention immediately.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments