The democratic flea and check mark prevention collar have been link to the deaths of nearly 1,700 pet . Here ’s what you should do if your pet wears one .
On Tuesday morning , USA Todaypublishedan investigationwith startling findings : The pop Seresto flea arrest has been connected to the deaths of almost 1,700 ducky and injuries to thousands more .
Documents from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) disclose the link to the collars , which excrete pesticide to hopefully keep pets pest - free for up to eight calendar month without harming them . However , some pet owners have luff to the collar as the reason their dogs have suffered from lethargy , personnel casualty of motor role , peel problems , and capture .
Photo: kaciforrest / Getty
" My takeaway is that it should be looked into , " saysElizabeth Trepp , DVM . " I want to recommend the good safe products for my patients , and therefore as a veterinarian I rely on agencies like the [ Food and Drug Administration ] and EPA to do their due diligence . "
If your hotdog or cat is currently wear down one of these collars you intelligibly have questions . We talked with some veterinarians , like Trepp , about the Seresto flea and tick collar so you could make the best decision about your darling ’s upkeep .
My Pet Wears a Seresto Collar. What Should I Do?
For that , we ’ll employ a phrase you ’ll read a lot on Daily Paws : Talk with your veterinarian ( about whether they recommended using the neckband or not ) .
Your vet librate what ’s best for your ducky and commend what they believe to be safe , effectual products , says Randy Wheeler , DVM and executive director of theIowa Veterinary Medical Association . You ’ll also want to be sceptical of what you find on some corners of the cyberspace — outside of Daily Paws , of course — so it ’s good to talk to a professional .
" You should experience comfortable with their opinion , " Wheeler say .
If you trust you want to take the dog collar off , you’re able to . But you should still call up your veterinarian . They ’ll give you other options for flea and tick prevention .
You might also want to retard and ensure your pet is wearing the flea collar correctly . It might be tempting to put it on and then will it for eight months , but these collar do command a little bit of upkeep , saysAlicen Tracey , DVM and member of the Daily Paws Advisory Board .
" Flea - tick neckband solve by interacting with the skin for distribute the preventative medicine and should therefore be place around the neck opening snug enough to create skin link , but allowing the applier to fit two fingers beneath the choker , " she publish .
If you do n’t check on a regular basis , the collar can get too loose or too tight , which can cause excitation .
How Widespread Are the Seresto Collar Problems?
We do n’t really know .
The Book of Numbers in the EPA reports are frightening , with Seresto apprehension apparently related to to the destruction of nearly 1,700 pets and injury and illnesses in another 75,000 . The number of actual incidents might be higher , noted one expert in theUSA Todaystory , because it ’s improbable everyone who experienced problems took the time and energy to report them to the EPA .
But how do the numeral of incidents liken to the bit of Seresto collar , which are manufactured by Bayer and distributed by Elanco , out there ? The flea and check mark neckband , which are available for large and small bounder and cats , are thetop sellersin their category on Amazon . The modest - sustenance collars are also available at retailers like Wal - Mart .
Trepp is one of many vets who ’s recommend the Seresto arrest to her patients . She tell Daily Paws that she ’s " never " had any issues with them , and none of her veterinary colleagues have either . Tracey say something interchangeable : Flea and check collars " are generally involve as secure preventatives for computerized tomography and Canis familiaris . "
Trepp also direct out the idea of correlation not equalling causation : Some pet owners might consider the Seresto collar is to blame when it ’s possible that the wienerwurst or African tea is suffering from an unrelated wellness problem .
It ’s one of the reasons Trepp hopes for a more thorough examination of the collars that does n’t rely on ego - reporting favourite parents .
" While the clause itself does n’t have great statistical information , I do experience that mayhap the safety studies should be looked at or perhaps some new safety studies should be done , " she wrote in an e-mail .
Keri McGrath , the film director of communications for Elanco , told our sister site , People , that there is no " established link " between the collars and the pets ' health problem and the theme to the EPA do not indicate causality .
" It is critically important to understand that a report is not an indication of cause , " she pronounce .
" If a dog were to be wearing a dog collar and feel any kind of inauspicious event , the apprehension would be refer in the report , " she continued . " Drawing a causal link from individual incident study is misleading . "
McGrath contribute that more than 25 million Seresto collars have protected dogs and cats from gadfly , and " reporting rate " about the collars have minify over the pinch ' lifespan and Elanco " continuously monitor the safety of its products . "
Most Medications Aren’t Risk-Free
The same goes for the Seresto collars . Your vet should be capable to walk you through the risks associated with flea and tick collars and help decide which treatment is best .
" There are precaution and warnings with everything , " cyclist says .
He added that , in general , old and younger dogs can be more susceptible to health issues . Plus , every dog is just unlike when it comes to their wellness and biology . That ’s why you should talk with your vet about whether a collar is the best estimate .
( For example , if your dog is probable to take off into a pond or flow while wearing the Seresto arrest , it might not be the good melodic theme because the catch is n’t speculate to get loaded . )
imitative mathematical product could also be more potential to have problems , Tracey says .
" These product are typically purchased online , and are designed to look identical to the troupe they are strain to knock off , " she writes . " The easiest way to prevent purchasing a counterfeit product is to buy through a reputable reference such as your veterinary office , their online drugstore , the marketer ’s direct website ( if applicable ) , or online pharmacies that require veterinary foretoken off . "
Are There Other Flea Prevention Methods?
Oh yeah . Namely , you may prefer for topical drops or oral medication for your pet . They ’ll keep the plague away otherwise than the flea neckband , but they still work .
" Your veterinarian can help you decide which preventative will be best for your pet based on the risks of your sphere , the pic your pet has to parasites , and the deliverance route that would work best for your dearie , " Tracey says .
After verbalize with other vets in Iowa , Wheeler recommend the topical and unwritten alternative rather than the collars . Those first two choice have what he called " a extensive safe margin , " meaning that if you accidentally dish out more than the normal dot , your pet should still be all right .
Bottom line : Your vet is the best source for recommend flea and check bar that ’s right for your pet . Give ‘em a call .
