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May 12th, 2009 By Diane C. Lade. Federal environmental regulators are warning pet owners and veterinarians to closely follow instructions if they use several popular flea and tick treatments, and monitor their pets, as they investigate thousands of reports about the products, some involving animals becoming sick or dying. The Environmental Protection Agency last year received 44,000 complaints about "spot-on" pest prevention products -- liquid pesticides, usually packaged in small tubes, that are squeezed onto a dog or cat's fur and rubbed into their skin. The reactions ranged from mild skin irritation, to seizures or death, the EPA said.
Among the well-known brands on the review list: Hartz Mountain, Sergeant's and Frontline. Others include Farnam Companies, Zodiac, ProMeris and Tradewinds.
ProMeris for Dogs is one of 24 products of the 44 on EPA's list registered in Florida, said Charlie Clark, state environmental administrator for pesticide registrations. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs officials, who by law must examine even EPA-approved pesticides before they can be sold in the state, last year flagged ProMeris when they discovered it contained the chemical amitraz.
Last week, EPA posted the list online, but the agency has since removed it from its Web site. In its place, the agency posted a note saying it is "reviewing the completeness of the list" and will re-post it when finished.
While none of the items have been pulled or labeled hazardous, all still are being reviewed, EPA spokesman Dale Kemery said.
"We are advising consumers to take precautions, to make sure they use the products correctly," he said.
Kemery did not know how many cases were from Florida or how many were fatal. Canadian authorities also are looking at spot-on pest control products being sold in their country.
Regulators required manufacturer Fort Dodge Animal Health to draft an advisory for veterinarians to give their clients. It warns that amitraz can cause neurological damage, especially to children. In a written statement, Fort Dodge said consumers might be confused about how to use ProMeris because it is a new product, and that the company is cooperating with the EPA.
The EPA said in late April that it was concentrating on those products that had comprised about 80 percent of the complaints. The majority were lower-cost treatments available in pet and discount stores, not products that must be purchased through veterinarians.
