Seresto Flea/Tick Collar Linked to Pet Deaths

[Charlie]

I thought I would post this article from the US, but some of you may use this brand. A worry. xxx

Seresto flea collars have been linked to nearly 1,700 pet deaths

Seresto, a popular brand of flea collars that have been linked to the deaths of nearly 1,700 pets yet the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not issued a warning to the public.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Beanwood]

Hmmm... I would rather look at more credible sources of information tbh....

 

[Beanwood]

Data sheet

NOAH compendium SERESTO

As more data comes to light (post marketing pharmacovigilance report from vets) then the incidence of side effects report on the data sheet gets updated.

 

[Charlie]

Hmmm... I would rather look at more credible sources of information tbh....

I would have thought the EPA was credible.

I was just linking as a matter of caution just in case anyone on here was using it on their dogs. They can then make their own choices and research if they see fit. After almost losing Hattie this time last year due to a spot on I am super worried. xx

 

[Cath]

Fred and Annie wear them in the Summer for France and never had any trouble. They do not wear the all year or when we are not in France.
We use the collars to stop getting ticks.

 

[Beanwood]

I would have thought the EPA was credible.

I was just linking as a matter of caution just in case anyone on here was using it on their dogs. They can then make their own choices and research if they see fit. After almost losing Hattie this time last year due to a spot on I am super worried. xx

Of course you are super worried. I understand that, and I imagine your choices are based on this, as well as informed discussions with your vet. Articles like this, from the Daily Mail which reference the EPA, are not necessarily accurate and good sources of information and therefore could skew decisions if considered as such.

It is important when looking at flea/tick prevention, (and we could include wormers...) to consider the individual needs of our dog and look carefully at risk vs benefit wrt different options. Spain vs Scotland, dogs with history of low seizure threshold vs those without... and numerous other factors not withstanding observing the manufacturers guidance notes with care.

My point is, consider information sources carefully, and not take what you read as necessarily accurate.

 

[Boogie]

Wise words @Beanwood.

I find Nexgard the best flea/tick prevention. Guide Dogs and pups are on it year round. I tend to use it for Tatze from April to November (due to cost).

 

[Charlie]

Remove the thread if you want @Beanwood I was just trying to help. I won't link anything any more. x

 

[Jacqui-S]

I think these articles are really hard to comment on.
The headlines are designed to cause maximum alarm.
I know there have been worries about all the flea and tick treatments, and seizures and allergic skin reactions are the most commonly reported, along with the same in pet owners and their children.
I think most of us are aware of the issues surrounding flea and tick treatments, particularly with some of our own members dogs being affected.

Weighing up the pros and cons of any treatment for your dog can be hard, and it is important to be aware of these.

 

[FayRose]

I've used Seresto collars on our dogs and cats for many years, in fact since they were recommended by a vet (Spanish) I trusted, when they hadn't been around very long. She was the best vet by far with our epileptic lab. When he started fitting in the surgery, she seemed to react spontaneously, did exactly what we did with him, and was excellent.

I know, that's got nothing to do with the collars though was just an aside. As for the collars, our animals have never shown a bad reaction and we've never seen a flea or tick on any of them. However, having said that, I do keep a watch on reports of reactions. I believe, as with food manufacturers , ingredients are sometimes 'tweaked' and unless we keep a close watch, we miss that happening.

 

[Stacia]

I never use flea preventers as a matter of routine, it isn't necessary. However, tick control is, in some parts of UK.

 

[kateincornwall]

Deer are the vector for ticks in our area and deer are increasing in numbers and becoming more bold too . I guess its the lack of humans using the paths and trails , so they are drifting down from higher ground . Reubs would be covered in ticks if I didnt use a deterrent , I dont usually bother for Nelly as she tends to stay on the paths with me , plus being white I can see if she picks up the odd one as she did last year xx

 

[Cath]

I was just trying to help

Yes, we know you are trying to help us Helen

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I won't link anything any more. x

Don't do/say that.

Discussion is good and because I've now seen this here - your post and the replies - I won't just immediately panic if I see it elsewhere. It's so hard to know what is real, or semi-real or semi-false these days. Better to be aware of what's out there and how to fact-check or interpret.

Personally I dislike using any flea/tick chemicals. However I did use Seresto in Spain because the risk of a reaction to the collar is lower than the risk of the dog getting Leishmaniosis. Before Seresto it was Scalibor, but the general consensus in the area I lived in was that Seresto was better, once it came on the scene.

There are warnings all over the packaging, so they're not selling it as a natural risk-free product. It's a chemical. I'd just cringe every time I had to put one on, but like I said, Leish is worse, so you pick your devil...

 

[snowbunny]

Just to clarify for anyone else that may be viewing (public forum and all that) but ticks do not transmit Leishmaniasis. It’s a particular sand fly. The collars offer some protection against them, but sand flies are little gits that not a lot stops. For those people travelling with their dogs within Europe, however, ticks do transmit other very serious diseases over here which aren’t an issue in the UK.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

The collars offer some protection against them, but sand flies are little gits that not a lot stops.

Good point. If I'm remembering correctly, the collar provides about 80% protection, as does the vaccination. However the vaccination is only for dogs who are Leish negative, so that's not an option for Carbon. I used both with Brogan.

I imagine that the effectiveness of the collar also depends on the region, if the sandflies develop resistance to the chemicals in the collar?

 

[snowbunny]

The difference between tick-born diseases and sand flies is that the ticks attach and the longer they are attached, the higher the risk of transmission. The tick medications kill the ticks when they feed, so they don’t hang around long enough to transmit the disease. Sand flies are a “bite and bugger off” insect, with disease transmission happening immediately, so even if the medication does kill the fly, it can be too late by then. So you’re relying entirely on the repellent properties of whatever you’re using. In a couple of (small) studies, both the Serestro collars and Advantix spot-on showed efficacy of around 90% at preventing Leish infection.

 

[Oberon]

That’s interesting to know. I’ve wondered about the efficacy of things like spot ons and NexGard for tick borne diseases. Good to hear there‘s some protection. Here in this part of Aus we have mainly worried about the toxins from ticks themselves (some ticks in coastal areas will cause paralysis and death) rather than the diseases they transmit, but it looks like diseases are on the rise here as the tick species that carry them expand their range.