PSA: Do NOT use Farnam Bio Spot flea medicine on your pets!!!!

[blurredvision]

Last Wednesday, the wife went to get some Advantage flea medicine for our 8lb Chihuahua. While she was at the pet store, she noticed another flea control product called Bio Spot, produced by Farnam. She said the Advantage was $40, this stuff was $20, so she opted for the cheaper product. I mean, flea medicine is flea medicine, right?

Well, she applied the medicine on our dog's back as instructed about 4pm Wednesday. I came home from work later that day, and noticed that the dog was getting irritated by the medicine, constantly trying to shake it off and scratching at it. Since it was oil based, we decided to just give her a bath, wash it out really well, and be done with it. Chalk it up to being cheap.

Over the past couple of days, our dog has continued to feel like something is on her back, trying to shake it off (like she is wet or something) and keeps scratching at it occassionally. My wife asked a friend who works at a local vet, and as soon as she mentioned this Bio Spot stuff, the vet lady's eyes lit up. Needless to say, the vet lady told a couple of stories about this stuff, and it's horrific at some of the things people have went through with this poisoning their pets.

Since our dog was acting perfectly normal besides the shaking and scratching, we decided to take her to vet this morning. However, last night I decided to do some research on this product, and, holy hell, did I ever find the biggest source of outrage I've ever seen against a product.

http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv13.html

There are thousands of letters dating back to 2002 of people and their horror stories after using Bio Spot. Pets having grand mal seizures after applying the medicine, foaming at the mouth, lethargy, losing fur, just horrific stuff. I couldn't believe some of the stuff I read. Most stories didn't end happily I can't imagine what these people went through. A lot of the stories are with cats of all ages, but quite a few dogs in there as well.

In most cases, symptoms started within hours of applying the medicine, people waking up to their pets seizuring, throwing up and losing bladder control in the middle of the night. There were many letters describing the battle to save their pets, only to have them euthanized days later. Some pets made it through, but suffer with effects that will last the rest of their lives (epilepsy, blindness in a couple of cases, among other things).

Permethrin is is the main ingredient in Bio Spot, and from I've read, it also is found in K9 Advantix and Frontline (among other lesser-known brands), although there are MANY less reports with problems with the latter two, although they are still there. The majority of letters on that site are with Bio Spot. Permethrin is apparently a pesticide, which is absorbed through the pet's skin and into the bloodstream. It can then attack your pet's nervous system almost immediately.

I called no less than 5 vets this morning, and all knew of the dangers of Bio Spot. Turns out my dog has had a mild reaction to the medicine, of which was recommended to give her some children's Benadryl. It has helped her somewhat, although she is still trying to shake it off over 72 hours later. We're not really out of the woods yet, although she is still acting normally besides this side effect. She's still eating normally and is as active as always.

Just an FYI, if it ever becomes handy to anyone, it is recommended to immediately wash the applied area with Dawn dish detergent, or Tide if it's your only option. Maybe if you have a friend or family member call you with concern, you'll have read this and know what to tell them. However, once it's absorbed, there's nothing you can do about it.

If I can keep one person on these boards from buying this sh!tty product, then the 20 minutes I've spent typing this will have been worth it.

 

[compuwiz1]

Wow! Scary stuff. I have a Chihuahua myself. I was going to get something for her, as a preventative measure against fleas, but she has no symptons of having any, at this point. We've only had her 3 months, since she came from the SPCA.
She's 2 years old. I've become quite attached to her, and she gives back all kinds of love.

Thanks for posting. Hope your dog recovers.
Here's my pup

 

[judasmachine]

Yeah I've been working in vet clinics for quite sometime, and I can verify that. My doc would go on and on about using Advantage or Frontline, and nothing else. Well yard sprays too, but they only work for the one time kill.

 

[tk149]

Sorry to hear about your dog. Hope she gets better.

You can file a complaint with the FDA CVM (Center for Veterinary Medicine) and the EPA (if it's truly classed as, or should be classed as, a pesticide).

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: tk149
Sorry to hear about your dog. Hope she gets better.

You can file a complaint with the FDA CVM (Center for Veterinary Medicine) and the EPA (if it's truly classed as, or should be classed as, a pesticide).

Really! Now, how is this company still selling this product, and not been shut down yet? :|

 

[MrDudeMan]

thanks for the info. passed along to several people...

 

[d3n]

I just went through this myself. I do know that permathin is one of the nerve toxins suspected of Gulf War sickness. Most dips and flea bombs have this stuff in it even the pricey ones. It sticks around on carpets and gets absorbed into the skin especially with kids Walmart has a Sgt Peppers brand thats pretty holistic. It has oils that give fleas a hard time. The powder for the carpet is salt and silica. It dry out flea larva before they can mature. Works just as well as chemicals with the proper amount of vacuming. Im not to keen on breathing in the silica but its better the alternative

 

[doze]

I tried the bio spot stuff a few years ago b/c it was cheap. Dog had no problem with the medicine but it only kept the fleas off for about a week. Stick with frontline, or other name brand and only use as needed. I only have to give my dog flea medicine about 3 times a year.

 

[Shadowknight]

I almost gave my cats some stuff by Hartz when I first got them, but I found out from the vet that some pets have a toxic reaction to it. They recommended using Revolution instead. Because of this, I prefer spending the extra cash at a vet when it comes to anti-flea stuff, shampoos, and any specialty treats (to prevent tooth decay, etc). Making sure they don't get poisoned is worth the premium, imho.

 

[arcas]

Permethrin is indeed a pesticide. It's becoming hard to find so I assume it's being phased out in favor of "safer" pesticides. It's pretty effective against mosquitoes. The instructions for the permethrin-based mosquito spray I used this summer were quite specific about not allowing people or animals in the area until the stuff had dried so I'm a little surprised that they'd use it as an ingredient in flea treatments that are applied directly to pets.

 

[alkemyst]

most pet store and grocery store pet meds are terrible for your pet. The smaller the animal the more risk. Especially flea DIPS....

With any pest problem consulting your vet is the best bet from most people.

 

[alkemyst]

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1588&articleid=598

Pyrethrins
Pyrethrins are one of the most widely used insecticides in today's flea and tick products and have been used as insecticides for over 100 years. Pyrethrins are natural extracts made from flowers of chrysanthemum plants. These plants grow naturally in the Middle East, Europe, Japan, and most importantly, Kenya. There are six different pyrethrins: pyrethrin I and II, cinevin I and II, and jasmolin I and II. All six are found in flea and tick products, but generally, the label only reads 'Pyrethrin,' regardless of which of the six types is actually present.

Mode of Action: Pyrethrins affect the nervous system of insects and result in repeated and extended firings of the nerves. They do this by affecting the flow of sodium out of nerve cells.

Use: Pyrethrins are used to control ticks, fleas, lice, Cheyletiella mites, and mosquitoes. They are mainly found in products applied directly on the pet. Household products generally contain either pyrethrins, a combination of pyrethrin and permethrin (see below), or pyrethrins plus a synergist. Synergists are chemicals that enhance the performance of other drugs. The synergist most widely used with pyrethrins is piperonyl butoxide.

Safety: All pyrethrins are easily hydrolyzed and degraded by stomach acids so toxicity following ingestion by pets is very low. Toxicities, although rare, do occur. A dog or cat with pyrethrin toxicosis generally will salivate, tremor, vomit, and may seizure. Generally, signs of toxicosis will be gone after 24 hours. At the Drs. Foster & Smith Animal Hospital, we have never seen a case of pyrethrin toxicity in many years of extensive usage. This leads us to believe that it is one of the safest ingredients available, especially when one expects ingestion may occur, as is the case in cats and kittens. If we have to treat infant, lactating, breeding, or pregnant animals, we generally select a pyrethrin-based compound.


Pyrethroids (e.g., Permethrin, Phenothrin)
Pyrethroids are synthetic pyrethrin compounds. That means they are made in a laboratory and are not natural plant extracts. Common synthetic pyrethrins are allethrin, resmethrin, phenothrin, and permethrin. Allethrin and resmethrin are commonly used as flying insect killers, while phenothrin and permethrin are used to control fleas and ticks. Permethrin and phenothrin are slower in action than the natural pyrethrins, but have a longer effect.

Mode of Action: Pyrethroids, like pyrethrin, affect the nervous system of the insect, causing repetitive nerve firings.

Use: Pyrethroids are used for the control of ticks, fleas, lice, Cheyletiella mites, and mosquitoes. In addition to killing these parasites, they also repel them. Because permethrins last longer than natural pyrethrins, they are commonly found in premise sprays and in products intended for slower, but sustained action. Permethrins are soluble in oils, but not in water. This is used to advantage in products, which use an oil carrier to enhance distribution of the pyrethroid over the animal's body and prolong his activity, e.g., once-a-month Bio Spot for Dogs, Defend, K9 Advantix, and Adams Flea and Tick Collars. Permethrin should NOT be used on kittens or cats.

A pyrethroid that is often used in the environment is fenvalerate.

Safety: Pyrethroids are less easily broken down than pyrethrin, so this makes their toxicity, though low, higher than that of pyrethrin. As with any pesticide, some animals may show a temporary sensitivity where the product is applied. A patient with pyrethroid toxicity will salivate, tremor, vomit, and may seizure. If these signs occur, consult your veterinarian.

When pyrethroids are used in the outdoor environment, there is virtually no leaching into the soil, and when used properly, pyrethroids are very safe. The World Health Organization states fenvalerate 'will only cause a problem if spilled.' Permethrin and most other pyrethroids should NOT be used on kittens or cats.

Advantage and the like are made up of two different compounds that can cause animal fatalities but given in the recommended dosages are pretty safe.

 

[blurredvision]

Thanks for posting that info alkemyst.