Pesticides in Pet Products

[Cataholic]

I still think the best person to consult with about product safety is your vet, even though he/she may try to sell you a more expensive product.

I disagree. I think vets, like people doctors, sell what the reps 'push'. The reps 'push' what the manufacturer makes, and the manufacturer makes the product that generates the revenue. I don't mean to sound all paranoid, as I am not. BUT I think we are too blind to the EPA/FDA (not just in the pet arena) and somehow think $$$ is the secondary factor, that safety is first.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I've known about this problem for quite some time and even posted something about it in cat health a long time ago. I once bought Hartz flea drops for my cats thinking that I would save money. I only used it once and luckily none of them had any reactions. When I learned how it was unsafe, I threw the rest away.

Now I'll only buy products that are veterinary approved and I've been using the large dog advantage and measuring the correct doseage for my cats for years without any problems. My vet was the one who told me that it was safe to do so because it's made out of the some stuff that the cat advantage is made from.

The public needs to be warned and more educated about using over the counter flea products. I still see them at stores all of the time.

[Catlady711]

I disagree. I think vets, like people doctors, sell what the reps 'push'. The reps 'push' what the manufacturer makes, and the manufacturer makes the product that generates the revenue. I don't mean to sound all paranoid, as I am not. BUT I think we are too blind to the EPA/FDA (not just in the pet arena) and somehow think $$$ is the secondary factor, that safety is first.

I don't know how all vet hospital's work, as I've only worked for the one, however the vet doesn't have to buy anything the reps bring in to sell. I've seen more reps leave without a sale than the ones that get a sale.

Yes the EPA/FDA isn't perfect, we all know that. However there are much stricter testing requirements on vet supplied/prescription products because of their ingredients. And despite the imperfection of the EPA/FDA, we'd be in alot more trouble if those agencies didn't exist at all and companies could just sell anything they wanted without testing or proving that the product works and what side effects, if any, that it has.

Yes there's always a possibility of reactions to any product, from OTC human asprin, to your pets flea products, there is no such thing that I know of a product that has absolutely zero side effects/reactions with every single person/animal in the world. I know many people that are allergic (and I mean go to the hospital allergic) to fish, or nuts, or even milk products, does that make them unsafe and we should not use them in case someone has a reaction?

Prescription meds (human or animal) are prescribed by a licensed dr/vet and are taylored to the individual based on a patient/dr relationship by a person with years of schooling/experience in the area of disease and medicine. Vets or dr's do not randomly dole out meds with no considerations to the patient just because the most recent rep says it's good stuff. Any good dr/vet knows the reps will almost always slant info in favor of their product. Instead dr's/vet's do their own research into the product before agreeing to try it, usually as a small amount on selected patients to be sure it works and has minimal side effects before commiting to carrying and selling in volume.

In this world it's impossible to avoid chemicals altogether, to do that you'd have to literally stop breathing, bathing, eating, drinking, and living (well not even then if you're buried). There's always a risk, the difference is does the risks outweigh the benefits or visa versa?

With OTC flea products in particular I can tell you from thousands of clients we've dealt with, that the OTC stuff has more reactions/risk with minimal usefulness compared to the minimal reactions with the vet flea stuff with maximum effectiveness.

I'm not going to change anyone's mind on the subject, I'm just expressing my experience as a vet assistant for many years, and as a pet owner.

[IRescue452]

45% pyrethrins!!!!!!!!! That would kill a flea the size of an elephant. I won't use anything on my dogs over 1% pyrethrins. There is no need for something over that amount. The best flea shampoo I've used was only .8%. It killed everything.