'He's never going to be the cat he was born to be'
PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland cat is disabled for life and his owner blames pet products from store shelves.
Claudia Tietze rescued “Timmy” from owners who said he had a muscle disorder and were going to turn him loose in the woods.
“I guess he tugged at my heartstrings,” said Tietze.
Timmy’s previous owners also handed over a can of Sergeants Flea and Tick Spray, a product Tietze said they used repeatedly on Timmy.
“The vet said he was having a clearly classic toxic reaction to the flea treatment and didn’t give him 48 hours to live," she said.
Timmy survived, but wobbles when he walks. He inspired Tietze to launch a website in Timmy’s name to find out how many other owners had pets with similar reactions to flea and tick products. She’s backing a group of pet owners in a lawsuit claiming flea and tick products are making pets sick.
She also made her case to the Environmental Protection Agency during two meetings in Washington, D.C. At the same time, the EPA launched an investigation into Spot On flea and tick products, which you apply monthly to the back of your pet.
Complaints about flea and tick products have decreased recently, according to EPA data, but the agency still received 34,849 complaints in a 16-month period. Many pet owners are accusing companies in federal product liability lawsuits of harming their animals.
“We certainly see toxicity, especially in cats, to over-the-counter flea products,” said Dr. Cornelia Wagner with Hawthorne Veterinary Clinic.
Dr. Wagner says cats are more susceptible to the pesticides in flea and tick products than dogs are.
“The majority of cases we see are probably due to people not reading the label and using a dog product on a cat for example,” said Wagner.
The EPA also says pet owners often don’t use products according to the directions, which Tietze argues are confusing in many cases.
Tietze wants consumers to know what they’re buying and the potential consequences for their pets.
“He's never going to be the cat he was born to be,” Tietze said.
Read the Humane Society's research on over-the-counter pet products.
Read the EPA's evaluation of pet products like flea repellents
Statements from flea and tick repellent companies:
Sergeant's statement:
Sergeant's welcomes the actions that the EPA has announced to improve the labeling and instructions for the use of flea and tick spot-on products for dogs and cats. Sergeant's has been concerned about this issue for some time, which prompted the launch of the Sergeant's "Look at the Label" campaign a few years ago to educate consumers about the proper way to use flea and tick spot-on products. All Sergeant's flea and tick products are safe and effective when used properly. It is important for the safety of pets that their owners and handlers know how to safely and effectively use flea and tick products.
Sergeant's has already taken steps to make its labels easier to read and instructions more specific. Sergeant's will be working with the EPA on specific recommendations for label improvement to make sure that consumers know how to correctly use flea and tick spot-on products. Sergeant's continues to innovate through product development and enhance current flea and tick formulations in order to improve the lives and pets and their families.
Hartz/Summit Vetpharm statement:
While Hartz is the leader in flea and tick retail sales, Hartz flea and tick drops accounted for only four percent of all adverse effects reported to the EPA in 2009 for topical dog and cat flea
and tick treatments - the lowest reported of all major manufacturers. In addition, from 2008 to
2009, Hartz reduced the amount of adverse effects reported per total Hartz doses sold by over
36 percent. During this same time frame, Hartz increased doses sold by almost three percent.
Per the EPA, most reported incidents were classified as minor, meaning effects were minimally
bothersome and rapidly resolved.
We are confident in the quality and safety of our products, and will continue to work with the
EPA on labeling and other matters to make sure our consumers better understand the proper
use of these products and use them with confidence. Hartz agrees with the EPA on the
importance of carefully following label directions when applying topical flea and tick control
products to pets.
The Hartz Mountain Corporation believes that all pets deserve the best care possible. Safety is
our number-one priority. We want to help families use our products properly to ensure the
safety of their pets.
We are confident in the quality of our topical flea and tick products, including Hartz®
UltraGuard® and Hartz® InControl® brands for dogs and cats, all of which are held to the same
safety and efficacy testing standards and labeling direction as all EPA-registered flea and tick
products.
Because safety is our number-one priority, we undertake rigorous clinical tests on all our
products. All EPA-approved topical flea and tick products sold through retail channels are held to
the same safety and efficacy testing standards as those brands purchased from veterinarians.
Labeling direction mandated by the EPA is also consistent for all flea and tick prevention
products sold through retail channels or veterinarian offices.
Customers who would like more facts about Hartz can visit www.hartzultraguard.com.
Bayer statement:
On April 16th, 2009 the EPA issued a Public Advisory regarding an increase in pet adverse effects
from the use of spot-on flea and tick products. The notice also included guidance regarding the
proper use of these products and instructions on how to report any adverse effects. All spot-on
flea and tick products registered by the EPA were involved in this review.
During the period under review by the EPA, there was not an increase in the number of reported
adverse events for Bayer's spot-on products in relation to the number of pets treated. Those
rates have remained constant at very low levels since the products launched.
The EPA Analysis and Mitigation Plan announced on March 17th, 2010 was fully analyzed by
Bayer. At that registrant meeting, Bayer and EPA agreed that Bayer spot on products had a very
low rate of adverse events, and that there was no increase in rates during the period in
question. Bayer has and will continue to work with EPA regarding further analysis and
outcomes.
Bayer firmly supports efforts by EPA to increase consumer education regarding the responsible
and proper use of flea and tick products.
Bayer Animal Health strongly encourages consumers to seek guidance regarding the proper use
of all products administered to their pets. The division is committed to ensuring that its products
are used correctly, according to label directions.
Merial statement:
The EPA flea and tick products initiative was prompted by what it characterized as a 'sharp
increase' it had noted from 2007 to 2008 in the number of reported adverse events related to
the use of these products. Merial's data indicate that this is not the case for FRONTLINE. In fact,
the number of adverse events reported for FRONTLINE has remained consistently low since the
product's introduction in 1996.
The EPA's analysis also shows that the overall numbers of adverse events reported for
FRONTLINE products are extremely low and the vast majority are minor, for example, skin
irritation at the application site. Furthermore, the analysis showed that many adverse events
were due to misuse of products.
Over one billion doses of FRONTLINE have been sold, so there is extensive experience with the
product in marketed use. FRONTLINE remains the number one flea and tick product
recommended by veterinarians. We are currently working cooperatively with the EPA to help
pet owners continue to use our products properly.
FRONTLINE brand products are applied on the pet's skin, between the shoulder blades.
Following application, the product spreads over the pet's body by a process called translocation
and is gradually dispersed by the pet's natural oils, collecting in the oil glands in the skin. It is
then "wicked" onto the hair over the next 30 days. The translocation process can take up to 24
hours to complete.