In the spring of 2009, in response to an increase in adverse reaction reports to topical flea and tick control products, both the EPA and Health Canada issued advisories to consumers about their safe use. Incidents with flea and tick products involve the use of spot-on treatments, sprays, collars and shampoos, although the majority of the incidents relate to spot-on products. Between April 2009 and March 2010, a safety review was conducted on flea and tick control products that are marketed as pesticides. These products can be identified by a Pest Control Product or PCP Registration Number on the label. This advisory does not include flea and tick products sold as veterinary drugs; these products are identified by a Drug Identification Number (DIN) and are regulated by Health Canada.
The safety review was conducted in response to to a sharp increase in adverse reaction reports. The number of reports of adverse reactions in the United States increased from 28,000 in 2007 to 44,000 in 2008. While the majority of pet owners have used these products without noticing any harmful effects on their pets, some pets have experienced adverse reactions that range from mild effects such as skin irritation or digestive upset, to more serious effects such as seizures and in rare cases death.
A panel of veterinary experts conducted the safety review and found that most adverse events were associated with improper administration of the products. One finding was that the likelihood of a reaction increased when cats were either inadvertently or intentionally treated with products packaged for use in dogs. Another finding was that smaller dogs were more likely to react adversely to these products.
In response to this review, the EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances concluded that current label warnings are inadequate. To combat this, the EPA is calling for new labeling requirements to include warnings and a list of possible symptoms that indicate an adverse reaction, better labeling instructions and dosage guidelines for consumers. In addition to the new label requirements, The EPA will launch a public information campaign and a new information website for pet owners, and will conduct increased monitoring for adverse effects as part of the standard regulatory enforcement efforts for these products. Pet owners are advised to follow these important safety tips:
- Use flea and tick control products only on the animal specified by the product label ─ dog products for dogs, cat products for cats.
- Apply only the amount indicated for the size and/or weight of the animal being treated. Consult your veterinarian if your pet is sick, aged, pregnant, nursing, is on medication or is exposed to other pesticides, as it may have additional sensitivity to the product.
- Consult a veterinarian if your pet experiences an adverse effect such as described above.
- Observe your pet closely during and after the treatment and monitor for any signs of an adverse reaction, particularly when using these products on your pet for the first time, as pets have varying sensitivities to pesticides.
- Report any adverse effects to the manufacturer who is required by law to report it to Health Canada. Contact information can be found on the product label.
- You may also report an incident directly to Health Canada by completing the appropriate form ( http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/protect-proteger/incident/index-eng.php ) and send it by mail to the address on the form.
To summarize, the majority of problems with these topically applied flea and tick control products stem from misuse. These products are very effective at killing fleas and ticks, and when used properly on healthy animals, the likelihood of severe adverse reactions is low. If your pet has health concerns or is very young or very old, you should seek veterinary advice before using these or any other medications. Your veterinarian can help ensure that the specific product is appropriate for your pet’s individual circumstances and can instruct you in its safe use.
