Important Information About Flea/Tick Treatment
April 12, 2008 – 1:34 pmMy Breeder passed this email on to me. As a fellow dog or cat lover, please read and take the advice 
Hi Everyone— the following message is from a very good friend. If you don’t have a pet, please pass this on to anyone you know you may have a cat or dog….very important. Mary Hurst
This is Jo and this is a very important message to my family & friends who have dogs—cats–and to alert you to the hazard of using a new Flea & Tick Preventative called ProMeris.
This is a new product designed to be a more effective product than other flea/tick treatments that was just released this year. It is available thru a vet and not currently on-line. I got ProMeris this week for my 7 dogs (6 Huskies & 1 Golden-Airedale), and the results were debilitating for nearly all of them—including me. Since my incident this week, my vet has pulled it from distribution and alerted the manufacturer, Fort Dodge.
Here are my results: Within less than 2 hours after applying, 4 of my dogs had vomited from 2-4 times, 3 were disoriented and stumbling, 1 was dragging his back leg, 1 was salivating. I had very similar symptoms like an allergic reaction—my lips were swollen, eyes very red, mucous membranes such as eyes, nose, and mouth were stinging. I was very disoriented—dizzy equilibrium and not able to drive. To make this a short story—all 7 of my dogs were admitted to the hospital for veterinarian care, and 3 of them remained for care, IV fluids and observation for 24 hours. I was in the emergency room. I’m home now and so are the dogs. We’re all feeling much better. Vet bills were over $2,500 and Fort Dodge is paying for these. Not only can the product cause this reaction, it has a highly noxious odor that permeated the house and is just starting to dissipate after 3 days.
Your dogs/cats might not have the same reaction, but given my experience—I wanted to help you all become well-educated about the product.
Thanks everyone, and be kind to your pets
10 Responses to “Important Information About Flea/Tick Treatment”
This is very useful information. I have two beautiful dogs and I would hate for anything to happen to them. Thing is, this medicine is supposed to make my dogs FEEL BETTER, not get deathly ill!
By Reem Abeidoh on Apr 12, 2008
@Reem Abeidoh
Given all the mishaps with the dog & cat product industry this past year, better safe then sorry. Pass the information along to all animal lovers! Thank you!
By Michelle on Apr 12, 2008
I have contacted my Fort Dodge Rep, on you blog about the Pro Meris. I am using and have sold Pro Meris without one instance of or mishap from the use of this product. I have also passed this blog to my Fort Dodge rep.
By Lawrence on Apr 13, 2008
@Lawrence
This information was passed along from my own breeder. I’m certainly happy to hear you haven’t had any mishaps. Keep us posted on your findings. Thank you.
By Michelle on Apr 13, 2008
Spring is here; I found a tick on my leg yesterday. I don’t use ProMeris though so I’m not vomiting or anything.
By S.P. Gass on Apr 13, 2008
Fort Dodge Animal Health IS NOT paying this lady!!!
By FDAH on Apr 14, 2008
Do you always believe anonymous emails from an unamed “good friend”?
I don’t use it, the tick preventive I use has a decent safety record and works well so I see no need to try something new I know nothing about. But I also have a strong scepticism about emails like this that cannot be traced back to anyone.
By Gil. Ash on Apr 14, 2008
@Gil. Ash
Honestly, no. Of course I don’t believe anonymous emails… This was sent to me be my breeder. A VERY reputable breeder. No where does it say anonymous. The name of the person that experienced their dogs going through this is right there in bold lettering.
As a dog lover and owner, I felt the need to post this. I am in no way telling you what product to use or not use. Nor do I advocate any specific product. This is only one woman’s experience. (and unfortunately her 7 dogs. Maybe there are more incidents, maybe there aren’t.
I always take the advice of my own breeder whom I know and trust. So should you.
-Thanks for taking this matter seriously,
michelle
By Michelle on Apr 15, 2008
Michelle,
As you might of guessed I work within the veternary field, and I go to every product information lecture given by manufactures. These include Frontline, Revolution, Cap Star, as well as ProMeris. All of these products can give an allergic reaction, this is normally kept to one dog, but to have seven dogs and one adult effected, raises warning signs of an individual with an axe to grind. We in the veternary field continue to stay on top of product and its use and mishaps. Breeders though wonderful friends are not normally trained or have gone to college. All I suggest is to ask your vet prior to passing along information as this.
Larry
By Lawrence on Apr 15, 2008
Michelle and Larry, I am a breeder, a pet groomer and have worked in veterinary hospitals. Most of my life has revolved around dogs in one way or another. I have read several similar cases where dogs have had serious reactions to Promeris. I’ve also read them about Frontline, Advantic, Hartz, Sargents,etc. The important message in all of these is that it is VERY important to know what the side effects of any medication or flea & tick product are and to monitor your animals after they receive it.
Larry, Breeders are a resource because we often have decades of experience with our breeds and stay current on breed specific health issues. Different breeds can react differently to medications as is demonstrated by Collie’s hypersensitivity to Ivermectin products.
I am not taking anything away from the knowledge and training that vets have. My vet and I consider it a partnership. I stay up to date on the health issues in my breed and often pass research along to her. She stays up to date with the rest of the veterinary stuff and passes information back to me.
Michelle’s breeder did not suggest that she not use the product but that she be educated about it. I think that is a responsible thing to advise any pet owner.
By CindyS on Apr 15, 2008