[TK9NY]

So, my dad just sent me a link to an article about the Seresto collar and how dangerous it apparently is. I did some digging and found several similar articles. They all seem to be recent (posted in 2021) and have similar findings. That there have been more reports of incidents regarding this collar than any other flea/tick pesticide on the market, but that the EPA hasn't done anything about it or issued any warnings.

Incidents range from chemical burns to seizures to neurological issues to death and some humans have been affected as well. I can link one of the articles for reference, but i was just wondering if anyone else has seen them and if there are alternatives for flea/tick prevention that may be safer? Or is it all just a bunch of hype?

We used Advantix2 on Kiley for most of her life, but switched to the Seresto collars when we got Dublin - figured it would be safer considering he mouthed/licked her a lot. Now i'm wondering if it was a good choice. I get that with any product like this there are risks but the "most incidents of any pesticide pet product" part is worrying.

Any input?

Seresto Linked to Thousands of Pet Deaths

 

[Fenix&Felix]

So, my dad just sent me a link to an article about the Seresto collar and how dangerous it apparently is. I did some digging and found several similar articles. They all seem to be recent (posted in 2021) and have similar findings. That there have been more reports of incidents regarding this collar than any other flea/tick pesticide on the market, but that the EPA hasn't done anything about it or issued any warnings.

Incidents range from chemical burns to seizures to neurological issues to death and some humans have been affected as well. I can link one of the articles for reference, but i was just wondering if anyone else has seen them and if there are alternatives for flea/tick prevention that may be safer? Or is it all just a bunch of hype?

We used Advantix2 on Kiley for most of her life, but switched to the Seresto collars when we got Dublin - figured it would be safer considering he mouthed/licked her a lot. Now i'm wondering if it was a good choice. I get that with any product like this there are risks but the "most incidents of any pesticide pet product" part is worrying.

Any input?

Seresto Linked to Thousands of Pet Deaths

I saw this story in USA Today this morning, it actually had a detailed explanation of why this particular collar is so dangerous to dogs. My dog is not currently on any preventatives, but he’s 9 months old, the weather is getting warmer, and we now have heart worm in Western Washington, and I find myself wondering what’s the best thing to do. Protecting against heart worm is a no-brainer, but that preventative also kills fleas and other parasites, how much chemical burden does that come with. I’m a nurse and have a pretty good idea how to determine the risks to benefits ratio of human medications, but canine physiology and drugs are something of a mysterious realm to me!

 

[Rose n Poos]

To limit various exposures to the ingredients, I chose to go with seasonal use. The heartworm preventative I use also deworms for several other types. The flea and tick preventative is also used seasonally so I can reduce the chemical exposures.

I also have to plan ahead for any trips we take with the boys, making sure we have the right coverage for the locations we'll travel thru and to.

For the articles, my instinct is always to search for scientific studies from recognizable entities to confirm the data. I'm not doubting the number of reports and I'm definitely not dismissing the possibility that the pesticides are responsible but two things should be considered.

One is that these are reports from owners, vets. clinics of coincidental happenings. How many of these very sad incidents are proven to be from the collars?

The other is the number of reports vs the number of uses. The numbers of deaths are hard to hear, but statistically, many things in life are dangerous.

Some of the oral class of flea and tick preventatives are facing similar press.

I try to balance the risk by not using more than I need to, more often than I need to.

 

[Liz]

We use an oral preventive. When Mia was a puppy, her first vet gave us a free collar. The instructions warned that you should not touch the collar with your bare hands. I accidentally brushed the collar with my fingers while putting it on, and my fingers were numb for several days. Obviously I'm not a dog, and the collar may be interacting with dog skin differently, but it was worrisome enough to me that I took it off her and threw it away. We used topicals for a few years, because they were the only other option available, but we switched again when oral preventives came out.

 

[Mufar42]

I live in an area where mosquitos, fleas and ticks are always there. My dogs get Heartgard plus, for prevention of worms and NexGard for fleas & ticks, which I think now always prevents some diseases caused by ticks . I do not like to use collars or the liquid on them. While I'm sure then ingesting a pill monthly must have some disadvantage along the line I have not had any reactions in any of my 4 dogs. (now 3) and many had been on this for 9 years. The other advantage I found is my indoor cats do not take anything for fleas and they no longer pickup fleas from the dog walking into the house. (hope I didn't just jinx myself). At this point I like the oral preventatives and will continue with their use.

 

[TK9NY]

I get that the use of any flea/tick preventative is potentially dangerous - they're products designed to kill things, right - and there are some unanswered questions like Rose said. Who made these reports? Did the vet 100% determine the the collar was the cause of these incidents? Where are the studies? Why isn't the EPA doing something to warn people? Are we getting the whole story?

Also - i've seen knock off versions of these collars (bootleg marketed as Seresto usually sold from China), even found an article about them. How do those play into this? What about the generic versions? Is there any difference?

It's just alarming to see a former EPA official stating that this product had the most incidents of any similar product on the market. Maybe because it's so popular, maybe because of all the knock off versions, who knows? Just makes you worry. Or, makes ME worry.

Dublin had a seizure a year and a half or so ago. Vet couldn't determine the cause (best guess was stress from grooming since it happened in the bath tub but he's been groomed his whole life so i don't buy that was the only cause). Breeder said no history in his bloodline and specifically asked what flea/tick prevention i was using, wasn't impressed by the collar and said she used topical Frontline. Because of this seizure we can't use the oral stuff (vet advised against it). Which also has been linked to seizures.

I think just to be cautious i won't be using this collar until i know more about these articles... but what to use in the mean time?!? Are there any other collars that work well, or should i just go with a topical? Which topical?

I'm like Rose - we only use prevention seasonally. Annual heart worm tests and heart guard when mosquitoes come out, take a break during the winter months. Flea/tick only when it's warm enough out for them or when boarding. For the last two summers he only wore the collar when we went hiking. Not at home, not on regular walks (unless we went on the trails). I might go back to the topical for now and just only plan to use it during the months we hike or something..... or try a different collar that i can take off when he's home.

 

[Johanna]

I used to live in Florida where fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are certainly a problem. I have never, ever, used flea collars or the liquid you put on their backs because I strongly feel that such chemicals are harmful. Instead, I used boric acid in the house and diatomaceous earth outside. Diatomaceous earth is absolutely the best and safest thing you can use - it is like powdered glass that gets under the outer shell of an insect and dehydrates them. The only health issue is to be careful not to inhale it or let your pet inhale it. Also be aware that it will kill beneficial insects as well has harmful ones, so use it wisely around a garden.

Diatomaceous earth is the powdered shells of extinct sea creatures. If you use boric acid, be sure it is placed where your pets cannot reach it.

 

[Michigan Gal]

I find chickens are the best flea and tick deterrent. If you don't have chickens, try lavender essential oil- a few drops in a full spray bottle. Insects do not like lavender, but it will not hurt the dog.

 

[kontiki]

I hadn't been paying attention to Poodle Forum lately, and didn't recognize the Seresto name. But I just got this today: Seresto Flea and Tick Collars and the EPA | Hemopet
I don't think the collars work if just put on for a walk here and there, because it is something that gets into their bloodstream from what I understand that gets the mosquitos.

My Spoo is very sensitive to chemicals. The spot on Frontline formula gave him truly awful seizures. We ended up as part of a class action suit. I went to Ecuador year before last (I have stayed home all of Covid and not used anything). When we went there I used oral Bravecto and he did not have a major reaction to it.

Sometimes I have actually sprayed him with Off of there are a lot of mosquitos. I put a cover over his head when I do so. He is white so I can more easily find ticks, but have only ever found one. My neighbors dogs all use the poisonous preventives and we go to the same woods. They have a terrible time with Ticks. The only difference I can tell is diet. I do also sometimes spray him briefly with an essential oil combo.

I am curious about the Diatomaceous earth. If they shouldn't breathe it, how can you prevent that if it is sprinkled on them, even if rubbed in?

 

[Skylar]

I asked my vet about this Serestro collar issue last week during our puppy visit. My dogs don’t wear this product so I was asking to satisfy my curiosity.

She said when the story came out their office was surprised and worried as to be expected. Then they got together and discussed it. In this busy suburban practice they never saw any seizures etc. The worst they saw was a few pets had irritated necks which resolved when the collar was removed. They then called other vets in our area and found the same experience. She did mention that they have some cats with serious reactions to flea bites in which the use of this collar has been life changing keeping the cats healthy.

 

[Liz]

I am curious about the Diatomaceous earth. If they shouldn't breathe it, how can you prevent that if it is sprinkled on them, even if rubbed in?

DE is used in the yard, not on the animal. Like @Johanna , I used DE in my yard with good results - not that there's any way of testing this, but it seemed to work well. Mia is a tick magnet in a way that Zulu never was, and I tried every suggestion - from essential oils to adding garlic to her food - before oral preventives came along (they've been a game changer for us). Back to the DE - the only thing I was never sure about was how often to reapply, since rain and even humidity could affect performance. I was also concerned about the beneficial critters in the yard that I could be hurting.

 

[TK9NY]

I find chickens are the best flea and tick deterrent. If you don't have chickens, try lavender essential oil- a few drops in a full spray bottle. Insects do not like lavender, but it will not hurt the dog.

.... chickens? Like, chicken chickens? Bird chickens? My landlords wouldn't go for that and i'm allergic to feathers (no joke) so.... but interesting to know!

My bosses mom makes her own flea/tick stuff out of essential oils for their dog, who has had bad skin reactions to just about everything else on the market... i might see if she would be willing to make me some to try with Dublin. There are also some collars out there that are essential oils - lavender, citronella, etc etc.

Our vet appointment is next week, i'll be asking advice from the vet then as well.

 

[kontiki]

I am pretty sure I heard that someone had used DE actually on their dog, rubbing it in. I could be wrong though.