The Danger of Over the Counter Flea meds.
By minx267
@minx267 (15527)
Hartford, Connecticut
October 19, 2010 12:12pm CST
Some of you pet lovers may have heard, some may have not. Just beware that every time you use those cheap flea medications, you are putting your life at risk.
I have a cat that now has permanent neurological damage due to using one of those Hartz or the like type drops on my kittens.
My little girl got off better than many, Lots have died, suffered severe burns or have worse damage than what my little girl has.
I just uploaded a video to youtube that shows her playing with my little kitten her baby sister and she gets a long pretty good but does not have full control of her back end and so walks a little funny and runs even funnier, but she is tough.
I just want everyone to remember that you are risking death when you treat your pets (dogs too) with this stuff.
here is a link to my videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5GKkM5iU-A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymIoiOv3l34
3 people like this
8 responses
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
24 Oct 10
Hi Minx
What I do not get is.........why do they not bann these things, I have heard so much now, I mean I have to buy from the Vet because of Gissi's Condition but I have to say it was very expensive and Gissi still got the Fleas I was very angry about that
I just wish that if the Items you can buy in Shops do this Damage they should be taken of the Shelf's, so that the poor Babies do not get hurt or killed
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
25 Oct 10
I don't know why they don't do it Gabs.. It seems like a logical thing to do.. if a product is killing, burning, and causing neurological damage to even some of it's recipients it should be removed. But I guess they think pets are expendable -it's horrible.
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
20 Oct 10
It's been a while since I have had a dog or cat but back then I did use the flea collars, not realizing they were that dangerous. Thanks for the info. I plan to get a dog or cat soon so I'll definitely be more aware.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Oct 10
I'm so sorry that your cat had to go through that. I knew that there was a reason that I was leary of these things and that is the reason that I agreed this past summer to bathe our animals on a regular basis as opposed to getting the flea drops to put on their necks. I don't like the fact that these kinds of medications for animals don't have to go through the same testing that medications for humans do, you see I see our pets as being as much a part of our family as our children are and for this reason I think they should be taken care of in the same way.
@nangisha (3496)
• Indonesia
20 Oct 10
Hi Minx!.
I think I need to consider myself as a lucky owner because my dog don't have any flea. I think its because in our house there is no open land all has been harden by cement.
All I have to do is bathe him every two week with shampoo for white dog so his fur will be more bright and combing him every 3 day, so I don't had many shed hair all over the house.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
19 Oct 10
Yes sadly I'm all too aware of how dangerous those flea/tick medications are and in a sense that was due to the info I've gotten from Facebook, especially from a cat member there called Tiny Timmy of whom your a friend of also.
Thankfully I've never been in a situation where I've needed to use any of those medications for any of my cats.
One of the real problems as I see it is that the FDA and other govt agencies HAVE known how dangerous these toxic chemicals are for pets yet so far have refused to take them off the market and ban them
@Miner49r (568)
• United States
19 Oct 10
Poor kitty meows....yes those OTC flea can be really hard on animals or worse even deadly.
I remember when I was kid we used to put flea collars on the both our cats and dogs. We would take them out of the package and let them hang outside for a good 24-48 hours before putting them on our furry family member. Otherwise, they would just be too strong and make the animal sick.
Even the flea stuff we get from the Vet for our dog now days make him a little droopy for a day or so. Unfortunately he hates it... and it is a fight to get him to take it... I don't blame him! We have since stopped giving him the flea meds, and he get a bath about once a week or more if he "rolls"... dogs.. you gotta love them.
