Flea and Tick Medicine may be Dangerous for your Pet
According to a press release by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, certain medicine against ticks and fleas can put your dog or cat right on harm’s way.
The culprits are treatments in the isoxazoline class, which includes well-known brands such as Bravecto, Nexgard and Simperica. The products may be safe for most animals but it has been shown that they cause aggressive side-effects like ataxia, seizures and muscle tremors in select cases.
FDA said that the target products will include a warning on the label which will clearly mention the possible risks as the symptoms are recurrent across the whole class.
In a pet fact sheet of owners the FDA notes that most pets can take the drugs safely, but some have exhibited seizures without having despite having no previous issues. The alert was issued after data collection revealed that some pets which received isoxazoline-based treatments have started to experience adverse side-effects.
The vast majority of the affected products are sold as flavored consumables, in order for the pet to take it willingly. Most labels already mention the risk of potential neurological side-effects.
Recently, the United States Congress has also passed a bill that bans the consumption of dog and cat meat nationwide. The law may have come as a surprise for some, but according to official data, while slaughterhouses were not allowed to process dogs and cats, consumption was legal in 43 of the states.
This marks a landmark for animal rights, as the measure may serve as a model for countries in which citizens actively consume such meats, and they are even considered delicacies in certain corners of the world. It remains to be seen if it will make a real impact
For concerned people, FDA has also offered a phone line where they can ask for more information about the drugs or report any incidents.
As our second lead editor, Anna C. Mackinno provides guidance on the stories Great Lakes Ledger reporters cover. She has been instrumental in making sure the content on the site is clear and accurate for our readers. If you see a particularly clever title, you can likely thank Anna. Anna received a BA and and MA from Fordham University.
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