Pills or chews that protect dogs and cats against fleas can cause neurological problems such as stumbling or seizures
, and pet owners need more warning, the Food and Drug Administration said Thursday. The FDA issued an alert to owners and veterinarians and said it was requiring clearer labels on the products.
Can fleas affect the nervous system?
Flea control is one of the few times we bring toxic chemicals into our homes on purpose, but we may not be aware of how dangerous many of these chemicals are.
Often, these pesticides, which are designed to be toxic to the nervous system of the pest, also interrupt critical functioning of the human nervous system
.
What happens if a dog has fleas for a long time?
Your dog's constant scratching may lead to
visible patches of hair loss and reddened, irritated skin
. Fleas may also cause skin allergies and can transmit other parasites, such as tapeworms, to your dog.
What health problems can fleas cause in dogs?
If a large number of fleas bite and feed, your dog can develop
anemia, or low red blood cells
. This serious medical condition must be promptly addressed through veterinary care, especially in puppies. Symptoms of anemia include weakness, lethargy, rapid breathing and potentially death if the fleas are not killed.
Can flea bites cause neurological problems?
The FDA is warning pet owners and vets that
certain flea and tick medications have the potential to cause stumbling, seizures and other neurological effects in cats and dogs
.
Can flea medicine cause paralysis in dogs?
Pills or chews that protect dogs and cats against fleas can cause neurological problems such as stumbling or seizures
, and pet owners need more warning, the Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
What happens if fleas are left untreated?
Left untreated,
fleas can multiply rapidly and make your dog seriously ill
. That's why it's important to check your dog for fleas on a regular basis and act quickly to eliminate any outbreaks that occur. Some dogs are severely allergic to flea saliva and can experience extreme discomfort even from a single flea bite.
Why does my dog keep getting fleas even after treatment?
Not treating often enough
Fleas go through a life cycle of egg, larvae, pupae and adult. Most flea treatments just kill adult fleas, but fleas can continue to emerge for months after you think an infestation has ended. When a newly emerged female flea finds a host, she can lay eggs within one day.
What is the fastest way to get rid of fleas on a dog?
- Give Your Pet a Bath. One of the first solutions to get rid of fleas is to bathe your pet. …
- Comb Your Pet's Hair Using a Fine-Tooth Flea Comb. …
- Kill the Fleas. …
- Spray an Apple Cider Vinegar Solution on Your Pet. …
- Do Regular Checks. …
- Let Your Pet Groom Itself.
Can fleas cause tremors in dogs?
FDA: Flea and tick medications may be causing seizures, muscle tremors for dogs and cats. The FDA is warning pet owners that
some flea and tick medicine could cause seizures and muscle tremors for dogs and cats
.
What is the safest flea treatment for dogs?
- Frontline Plus is an OTC product that uses fipronil and (S)-methoprene to attack fleas and ticks at every life stage. …
- Trifexis employs spinosad and milbemycin oxime to keep dogs protected from heartworms and intestinal parasites as well as fleas, but it does not work against ticks.
What is the safest flea and tick prevention for dogs?
If chemical products are necessary for additional flea or tick control, NRDC recommends
s-methoprene or pyriproxyfen
, which are less toxic ingredients—but read the labels carefully because some products use them with other, more harmful pesticides.
Can fleas cause breathing problems in dogs?
Hookworms and fleas ingest blood meals, so
overwhelming parasite infections can result in anemia and difficulty breathing
.
What is Bartonella dog?
Bartonellosis is
an infectious disease caused by bacteria in dogs
. The bacteria that causes the disease, bartonella, can infect humans and cats, too. In humans, the infection has been known as cat scratch disease, though the infection is rarely transmitted either through cat bites or scratches.
Can fleas cause lameness in dogs?
These symptoms are lethargy, lameness, fever, joint swelling and sometimes lymph node swelling
. Most of the time we find dogs with these diseases by routine blood tests and start treatment immediately. Of course the earlier we diagnose and treat the more successful we are. Tapeworms.
Can Frontline cause neurological problems?
Frontline Side Effects
There are many concerns about possible side effects, the most common being skin reactions like hair loss, itching, and redness, and
neurological issues like uncoordinated movement and lethargy
. However, these side effects are not addressed anywhere on the US website for Frontline.
Can fleas cause seizures in dogs?
Bartonella. Bartonella is a common flea-transmitted illness in dogs and especially cats.
It is often associated with numerous conditions including heart disease, eye inflammation and seizures
.
Can flea bites cause paralysis?
In addition to being downright gross, fleas and ticks can cause a number of health problems for your pet. These little pests can transmit life-threatening diseases, cause severe allergies, and,
on rare occasions, lead to paralysis
.
Does flea treatment have side effects?
The most common signs of toxicity from pyrethrum-based flea products are
muscle tremors and excessive salivation
. Common signs of toxicity from flea products containing organophosphates are diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling.
What are the neurological symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs?
In dogs, the most common signs include fever, loss of appetite, painful or swollen joints, lameness that comes and goes,
swollen lymph nodes, and lethargy
. If Lyme disease is left untreated it can lead to damage in the kidneys, nervous system, and heart.
What is dog ataxia?
The word ataxia means
incoordination within the nervous system
. The abnormal movement can occur in the legs, the head, the torso, or all three.
Can vet get rid of fleas?
Call your regular vet to find out how to obtain flea treatment under the current restrictions
. They may have a delivery service or be able to give you a prescription to allow you to buy the product online. Treatments come in different forms such as spot-on solutions, oral treatments and sprays.
Will fleas eventually go away?
As they can't take a blood meal from people
the fleas will eventually die off
(as they need a blood meal to produce eggs), although it's possible that your human family might get bitten frequently until that happens.
Can you see flea eggs on dogs?
You also want to know how to recognize flea larvae or eggs on your dog. Flea eggs are about the size of a grain of salt, oval-shaped, and off-white. They're tough to spot, so
you might only see them in bedding
. Flea larvae, which hatch from flea eggs, look like very tiny, off-white worms.
Why does my dog still have fleas after using FRONTLINE?
A. The active ingredient in FRONTLINE (fipronil) kills fleas by affecting their nervous system, making them hyperactive before dying. These dying fleas often rise to the top of your pet's haircoat, so the presence of visible fleas after treating your pet, is
a sign that the product is working
.
What do you do when FRONTLINE doesn't work?
Speak to your veterinarian about this first if your flea medicine is not working. One Frontline alternative is to
switch to another topical product
. Another alternative is to supplement the topical product with another product that works internally, such as Capstar.
How do you break the life cycle of a flea?
Fleas cannot fly, but they move by jumping from object to object. It can take up to 3 months to break a total flea life cycle by
using monthly flea treatments
. For indoor flea control, vacuuming all floors, carpets, baseboards, pet bedding and furniture will help remove adult fleas and eggs.
