Xepidemic

My dog recently got fleas. I think she got it when I went down to West Covina and my cousin took her for a walk. There were these two stray dogs running around and my cousin, who loves dogs, decided to go near them. Well I guess the strays had fleas and gave them to my dog.

Anyways, its been a couple weeks now and Ive been using hartz flea and ticket drops. Tonight I saw a flea crawling around my dogs belly so i decided to put some more drops on her. Afterwards, I wanted to look up some tips on how to get rid of fleas. I bump into a website that said to stay away from hartz because their products have been known to have killed pets. I started to have this sick feeling. I immediately googled up more info to see if it was true. Then I bump into this website http://hartzvictims.org/. I was horrified by now and worried sick. I read the stories of how people pets have gotten sick and died from the same product Im using.

I grab my dog and take her to the bathroom. I give her a shower, trying to rub out the places where I placed to drops. My whole body was shaking in nervousness and thoughts ran through my head of what i would do if I lost her. Its a sickening feeling. Right now, I got her dry and Im just going to watch her tonight. I hope she will be fine. Please pray for her!

and Dont ever use Hartz! I wish i would have known earlier...

xepherys

Xep-

If she seems fine now I wouldn't worry too much. I will pray for her though. I'd personally suggest looking into Lambert Kay Flea&Tick Shampoo. CombatmedicJen and I use it on our dog and even now, living more in the country, less in the city, she doesn't seem to ever have a flea issue. Lambert Kay also makes a good oatmeal conditioner for the dog so that in the event that she gets fleas and you wash her more regularly to try to cure it, the conditioner will help prevent her skin from drying out and getting dandruffy.

Hope all is well this morning.

Unright

You can always try taking the dog swimming in a chlorine pool. It will drown out fleas and/or ticks.

MSD

I have a pack of drops for my cat, I think the name is "Tender Drops" or something like that. It's basically ammonium lauryl sulfate, which is the active ingredient in many shampoos, and a few other ingredients. It's kind of nice to know that it's all the same stuff I use on my head, since the cat loves to curl up next to me on my pillow.

Bamrak

If the dog doesn't have the symptoms by now, you should be okay. We were using the same drops and it caused the violent shakes that the side effects described within 48 hours of use.

Xepidemic

yeah, she seems fine this morning. i guess shes not sensitive. maybe i overreacted. but when you read stories like this.
Its really frightening. thanks guys.

*Nikki*

First off don't ever use flea/tick products that you buy at a grocery store or walmart like enviroment. Odviously if you saw MORE fleas the product didn't work in the first place and using more of the product would not be effective. The only safe products to use are sold at veterinarians offices. While they are more costly, they actually work.

Try a product called Advantage.

shakran

That's exactly right Nikki. In fact, I'll go one farther and say NEVER put ANYTHING on or in your pet without consulting first with your vet. This includes new foods, whether pet food or people food.

ForgottenKnight

I hope you're dog doesn't get sick or anything. And I hope you find a way to get rid of the fleas. Other than that, I don't know what to say. I've always had cats my whole life, and we never had a flea problem, so there's not any advice I can give you other than to talk to a vet about which products to use, even if it's just over a phone.

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Diamond

I heard the story about Hartz products harming pets was an internet BS rumor. but you are always better off buying a quality product, try calling your vet and see what they recommend.

shakran

It was enough of a rumor that one of the news magazines (Dateline, 20/20, can't remember which one now) did a full show on it around 10 years ago. And the rumor turned out to be accurate.

william

I've used Hartz products on my Shar-Pei her whole life (7 yrs so far). If Hartz was that dangerous, they'd be out of business by now.

Carno

My parents always use Advantage for our pets. We live out in the woods so fleas are guaranteed, but one treatment with Advantage kept my dogs flea free for a month. Great stuff but kinda pricey. You can buy it at any vet. I'd highly recommend it.

Btw, it's just a little pill so you don't have to mess with drops. Dogs don't notice it when you wrap it in cheese or meat or something.

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timalkin

I'd be more worried about putting the dog type of treatment on a cat. My cousin did this and it crystallized the poor cat's blood. Not a good way to leave the world.

We use Advantage on my cats and dog, and it works very well.

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shakran

*grin*

Sorry, can't help myself here, but um. . .


Tell that to Marlboro

*Nikki*

Advantage is a LIQUID drop that you place on the back of the neck. It is not a pill. Please do not feed it to your pet!

xepherys

Advantage does come in a pill form as well Nikki... Don't feed your pet the liquid, don't smear the pill all over it. Tab A into Slot B.... hopefully they'll get it right.


Hmmm, okay quick edit... Bayer also makes PROGRAM which is the pill/tablet form, and ADVANTAGE which is the topical. My apologies all around... same brand though... and I think Bayer is pretty well trusted pharmaceutically speaking.