Some Pet Medicines Make Animals Sick
BOSTON (CBS) -- Most of us would do just about anything to protect our pets from getting sick. Sometimes, the medication we give them could have even worse consequences, however.
Aundria Arlandson still feels tremendous guilt about the death of her cat Oliver. He was like a member of the family.
"We just called him jungle kitty," she recalled. "He just loved to play back there in the wooded area."
Woods and tall grassy areas are where pets often get fleas and ticks. Aundria used an over the counter product on Oliver.
"Oliver died. He didn't have to. If I hadn't put that product on him, he would be here right now. I know that," said a distraught Arlandson.
Arlandson used Sergeant's Flea and Tick Powder. Like many over the counter medications, it contains pyrethrin which is derived from chrysanthemums. It can also be toxic to cats.
"It's just ridiculous that no one has stepped in to really do anything about this," said Arlandson.
Arlandson is now part of a lawsuit against several major pet product suppliers, including Sergeant. Their spokesman said they won't comment on a pending suit, but added "Sergeant's flea and tick products are safe and effective when used as directed."
Last year alone the Environmental Protection Agency logged about 40,000 complaints from pet owners. Many of them said these products had injured or even killed their cats and dogs.
The Hartz Corporation was also named in the suit. In a statement, a spokesman said that many of the incidents report to the EPA were minor irritations and were resolved quickly
Veterinarian Lisa Powell describes some of the symptoms she has seen: "Salivation, lethargy, vomiting, and in the worst scenarios, you can see seizures and even death"
Marty Montell is the deputy director of the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs. She said pet owners need to be careful with these products. "These are pesticides. These are designed to kill things, so they have to be taken very seriously."
The EPA is now changing how it monitors these treatments. To begin with, instead of once a year, complaints will have to be filed quarterly so they can better track potential problems.
Secondly, new product labeling will be mandated. And finally, clinical trials will be necessary before a product is sold.
Still, Dr. Joel Kaye of Angell Memorial Medical Center in Jamaica Plain says consumers should avoid products with pyrethrins. "There are better products out there that are safer that I would choose over pyrethirin containing products," he explained.
Pet owners shouldn't use these concerns as an excuse not to treat their dog or cat according to Kaye. He stresses that they need to be applied correctly to protect pets against serious diseases.
"The most common reaction that we see here are people taking a dog product and using it on a cat, using a product for their bigger dog and thinking that, oh, I will give less to my smaller dog. They are not splitable doses."
