Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Beware ProMeris Flea and Tick Preventative

Below is a post that came across the Newf-tech list. With all the stuff that we worry about with AIHA, I think it's important information. Ruth Below is a cross-post, originally said to be on a Golden Retriever list, that appeared on the Scottish Deerhound list today. Has anyone had a similar experience with this new flea & tick product from Fort Dodge? Priscilla I got ProMeris this week for my 7 dogs = (6 Huskies & 1 Golden-Airedale) , and the results were debilitating for nearly allof 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.

Ruth CA

Ruth, I am on a moderator forum for a large number of dog lists, including one you mention. We are currently watching this cross post for authenticity. There is no corroborating evidence available currently. There is no available original poster information. Some are suspicious that this has supposedly out for a number of days yet there has been no statement by Fort Dodge. I would wait a few days before assuming this is true. Patrice

Patrice NYS

Patrice, I am curious.... I notice you appear in previous posts to be somewhat of a proponent of big pharma flea control products although many members of this board have repeatedly revealed their own horror stories of advere reactions using such products. Folks look up to you for your veterinary medical knowledge, research skills and personal concern for individual situations in which you take interest. I am very perplexed in this one very important area.... apparently you have not done much research in the toxic/adverse effects of many of these flea control products. I am uncertain where your opinions/knowledge arise. Do you work for a veterinary clinic that sells these damaging products? Please do not minimize the effects of these pesticide laden products to members /readers of these posts. Whether ot not the particular post above is authentic is not the point. Take a look at the Elverson website to read hundreds of letters that are revealed by distraught pet owners. Jan http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv11.html

jan philly

I will NOT use this junk or any other junk! I have found holistic remedies that are nothing but herbs and olive oil....there are products out there IF you take the time to research them and do your homework. I still have a bottle in the cupboard for the ragweed itching on Tillie...it says to USE GLOVES before applying to your dog! Makes perfect sense right? NOT! Drugs are the big $$$ item in both animals and humans...it's push, push, push. I for one am sick of it! And I question EVERYTHING!

Mrs. Gates Michigan

One Comment in this thread is bordering on a personal attack. One may disagree with the comments posted by another but not personally attack them. When views are expressed please remember to be kind and treat the person you are reponding to as you would want them to treat you. If comments do become personal attacks they will be deleted.

Joanne/Moderator MN

Joanne, I think you are over-reating. My comment was not a personal attack. I am trying to save lives. If I did not borrow $9,000 to keep Choe alive after an adverse reaction to a flea product laden with toxic pesticides, he would be dead. I will shout it to the world and anyone who listens.....DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT USE COMMERCIAL FLEA CONTROL PRODUCTS. If you or anyone else on this board feels personally attacked with this opinion, then you can't be too concerned about the reality of what these products can do to our companion animals. I'm not on this board for a lark. My boy didn't have to suffer for the past nineteen months, but it did happen. If I can save other pets then perhaps a few 'feelings' will have to be sacrificed. Oh, well. Jan

jan philly

I have found this forum to be a place to come when we are desperate for help and support. We may not always agree with what someone says on here, but the messenger deserves better than to be thrown under the train. We are all supposed to be compassionate adults and that includes being thoughtful of what we say to someone who is just trying to be helpful. Joanne and Patrice have helped me more than they will ever know. Thanks to both of you! Nancy and Lindy

Nancy CO

I second Nancy's comments. I am grateful for the knowledge & info Patrice has posted on this forum. Joanne is also a wealth of knowledge. Linda & Fitz

linda asheville nc

I also agree with Nancy's comments. I mostly lurk and rarely post but still am thankful for the support and information Joanne and Patrice have shared. And although I believe it is good to share one's skepticism regarding various products we routinely use on our dogs, it should also be viewed as a personal decision each owner must make regarding their own circumstances.

karen arkansas

Geez, gimmee a break. No one is throwing anyone under a train. I asked Patrice why she is so pro-flea control products when Big Pharma has proven (not just with my pet) to manufacture products laden withh pesticides that are so adverse to our pet's system. In previous posts she has minimized the danger of using flea control products, frontline specifically. I stated that people look to her for help and advise and that is a good thing, but I am curious if she works within a vet/pet environment where they sell/promote these commercial products. I do not see where I was insulting or disrespectful in my mail. As I said, my goal is to protect other pet owners from my boy's horror and my incredible anger at these big-pharma companies who lie through their teeth promoting their products as 'safe and gentle.' I have done a year's worth of research and can provide reference to anyone who cares to learn more scientific data regarding the dangers of these products that would make your blood boil big time. And simultaneously go read the elversonpuzzle website where folks reveal their horrifying experience with flea control products. Many of us are intelligent well-read folks and try to share what we have learned for the sake of not repeating our mistakes. I'm allowed to ask others on this board bonafide questions of where they solicited their experience and knowledge of such dangerous products without being told I am a monster. I love my dog(s) more than anything in this world and what happened to my boy, poisoned from frontline, should never happen to another pet. So I will challenge and ask questions to those who state otherwise, with requests of proof of their knowledge and expertise in the field of pesticide toxicology. Jan

jan philly

Emotions are running high on this thread and many are feeling threatened. This sort of thing looks real bad to anyone new coming here for help for their newly diagnosed AIHA/IMHA dog. I suggest we all just take a "time out" on this for a while to calm down.

Joanne M N

I have read this a another one on all the golden forums I belong to and I have no idea if they are true stories One thing, on this one 2-3 vet tech memebers posted that the vets they work for are not using this because they do not feel there has been enough testing/research. Aother reported that her vet does use it and the only reactions they have seen are due to other dogs licking the application site. To me, both of these things are red flags. I also understand one of the two main ingredients is very dangerous. I won't be using it. I went blinding into giving my Hunter ProHeart6 inejction to prevent heartworms--and it killed him. I learned that when it first came it out was pronounced perfectly safe for heart worm positive dogs. Only h eart worm positive dogs started dying, so the FDA made them change the label to say dogs needed to be treated before hand. Then all these other reactions--AIHA being one of them--cropped up and the FDA once again had them change the laberl o incuding the wrnings of AIHA and a few other things. THEN the day my Hunter got his fatal injection, DEATH was also included on the label. And twn months after his death on Oct. 16, 2003m the FDa had them pull it from the market. I do not trust this new stuff and will not use it.

Sandra Slayton sandraslayton45@hotmail.com

The new drug ProMeris for cats and ProMeris Duo for dogs is an EPA-regulated product because it has a pesticide. The EPA has a hotline you can try to contact to find out how to report adverse events. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/contacts.htm As for waiting for Fort Dodge to make a statement, please, don't hold your breath. Drug manufacturers won't point out any possible problems with their drugs. Case in point: Fort Dodge's ProHeart 6, the heartworm prevention injection that was taken off the U.S. market in 2004 after the FDA had received over 5,000 complaints. No drug manufacturer is going to admit to possible wrongdoing and potentially expose themselves to lawsuits. Unfortunately, because vets don't always know how our pets will react to vaccines and drugs and won't provide us with Client Information Sheets (PLEASE ASK!), we shouldn't even question this woman's recount of her experience with ProMeris and what happened to her dogs. Just like us former ProHeart 6 victims, if it weren't for us "ordinary citizens" on the Internet alerting other unsuspecting consumers of what could happen to their dogs (including death), this drug would still be wreaking havoc on dogs in the U.S. The bottom line is: STAY AWAY from "new" drugs on the market, if you can't stay away from them completely. Better safe than sorry!

Jean Colorado

I probably should have mentioned how I ended up on this AIHA/IMHA thread. Like Sandra, I had a dog, Tasha, who died of this horrible disease. I had a second dog die from hemangiosarcoma less than two months after Tasha. My third dog had his immune system compromised, and he is on medication to this day, which is over five years after each of my three dogs were exposed to ONE injection of ProHeart 6. Three different breeds and three different ages. Only one of the dogs had PH6 in combination with vaccines. So I can certainly understand how the woman who had all her dogs allegedly affected by ProMeris feels. Because of my very PAINFUL loss, I have made it my life's mission to try to alert unsuspecting consumers to the dangers of vaccines and drugs and hazardous pet products. If anyone is at all interested in visiting my site, see www.thepetguardian.com.

Jean Colorado

Thanks Jean. Jean was one of the first I "met" afetr losing my HUnter to AIHA back on Oct. 16, 2003. Her Tasha was a 45 pound cotton ball mix that collapsed one day--and diagnosed with this horrible diesase. The very first one I "met" was Joanne while researching AIHA, and the next was a lady in NC who lost her dog to AIHA following it's ProHeart6 injection.Many of us are still trying to alert people to the dangers of these drugs, not just ProHeart6 bercause of the death of our dogs to AIHA.

Sandra Texas

thank you Jean!! Those were my sentiments to a tee. My mission is also similar - to alert others to the absolute disgraceful allowance given to Big-Pharma sans accountability of the adverse effects. The pharma companies will not only NOT make statements when challenged admitting any error, they will tell you their product could have never called such illness and death, even when they have thousands of adverse reaction reports in their database. Great 'actors' are they. Very adept at lying with a perfectly straight face.. as you stated....stay away from the new product treatments.... as well as any of the existing commercial flea treatments/heartguard treatments. Jan

jan philly

I ran a check on that ingredient, Amitraz and it left me shaking! How in the world it can be used on dogs is beyond me. Check out this site by Dr. Foster & Smith where it gives a despcription of do's and don'ts. One that shook my hubby--don't touch your dog for 5 days after it has been dipped using this product in a dip! http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&articleid=1376

Sandra Texas

That write up from Drs. Foster and Smith web-site is just scary. In 1994, our breeder told us to spray our beagle puppy, who was our dear Wiley, with Avon Skin So Soft after bath spray, and it would keep the fleas away. Throughout her life, we bathed her every 4-6 weeks and after toweling off, sprayed and rubbed the SSS into her coat. She never had a flea problem. We used Frontline off and on for the tick control, and also had her vaccinated for Lyme. If we ever add another dog to our family, I will not use Frontline and I will take my chances with the Lyme.

Brenda VA

Jan... I think if all the adverse reactions to the various flea and heart products are valid, there are numerous attorneys that would be glad to take this issue on a class action lawsuit. All of us going on and on within this forum, only satisfying our own frustrations, but it has no influence on the drug companies. If you are seriously convinced this is the issue, we all have our records from our vets to back up dosage, times, and amounts....go for it. All of us here will provide whatever documentation is neeeded. No one wants to benefit from any lawsuit, (and most don't from a class action), except the attorneys, and that is fine, if the cause is brought to the public's attention. Any proceeds could go to Misha's Hope or to Jean Dodds, but press the issue....Ron

Ron B San Mateo

Ron, I have been working on it. Unfortunately, since pets (legally) are still viewed as 'property' and big pharma has their own set of high paid atorney's this type potential suit is not embraced by law firms with open arms, as I have sadly found out. Jan

jan philly

Jan, I know of at least two animal attorneys who have suggested a class-action re vaccines, and given what is known about flea control products as well, it would be eligible for a class action. There are very good animal lawyers in this country who could get the ball rolling. BTW there has been a landmark case out west where a family was compensated by a jury for the loss of their dog as a pet as opposed to property.

betty NC

I apologize in advance for this rather lengthy post. Ron, Jan, and Betty, the whole class action thing is not as easy as you think. I'm kind of surprised that there are some attorneys out there that are so willing to take something like this on. God bless them for their willingness. I hate to rain on people's parades, but I know how it works because I've been in the legal industry for 30 years (yeah, poor me!) and actually tried many sources to get attorneys to take on a class action about ProHeart 6 -- even approaching attorneys in Texas who are still handling the Fen-Phen cases against Wyeth, attorneys who are familiar with Wyeth's tactics. Of course they turned us down. It takes years and it takes huge bucks -- more than you'd ever believe -- for attorneys to secure experts that would actually testify against drug companies, if they're lucky to find the experts to begin with. And except for us pet people, I hate to say that not that many other "people" seem to care. There's a lot of the mentality of "just go get another one." In my opinion, it's gotta be a big law firm with a lot of dollars in their bank account because there is no guarantee they'd ever win. And if they "win," they will make peanuts. Attorneys, because they have to pay their bills like the rest of us folks, obviously would prefer to take on an "easy" case, or at least one where they can get their money back and then some. The law firm finds an expert or two, and then Big Pharma will have four. Law firm has four, Big Pharma will have eight. And so it goes . . . Then for a class action, you have to have enough victims who will actually come forward and share all their vet records (if their vet will turn them over), those who have actually filed reports with the FDA, had their dogs autopsied, whatever. Let me tell you, I was one of those people collecting written complaints with Companion Animal Protection Society (they got us media attention on what was happening to the dogs with ProHeart 6), and you might be surprised how many people will cry and scream and yell about what happened to their dogs and won't do whatever it takes to report to the EPA or FDA and/or the manufacturer. It was so sad to me that after people got over their initial grief, they wouldn't take these simple steps in their pet's memory and help other guardians out there. (Filing a written report with the FDA doesn't even cost the price of a stamp!) The attorneys have to meet a certain dollar threshold in order to file their case. Like we were told that one of us victims would have to have spent like $70,000 in vet expenses. I think that was for a federal (meaning U.S.) class action. While there were some of us who had spent many thousands of dollars on vet care, not a single one of us spent $70,000. Now, for a state class action case, I think the threshold is much different, so one would have to check with an attorney on that. But which state would the class action be filed in? The attorneys would have to have "class representatives" (victims) for the suit, people that would be willing to assist the attorneys make decisions on behalf of the "class." As a class representative, you'd have to have your deposition taken (not fun). Sounds like that'd be easy enough to find people to come forward, but that's not necessarily the case. Because guess what? Class representatives are not getting paid for their time. Jean Townsend was one of the class representatives for a suit against Pfizer for Rimadyl. She made a mere pittance (a real slap in the face) for all she had gone through with her dog and the countless hours she worked with the attorneys, and I remember her turning over her settlement *pennies* to something or someone to benefit another animal(s). Jean T. could give the particulars of her situation plus what the attorneys were able to settle for. And guess what? After the class action, Rimadyl is still on the market! And then all the members (victims) who are a part of the class action, won't even begin recouping their vet bills. I can't give you an amount because the settlement dollars have to be divided among the victims. What if after a case settles you got a check for like $3 for your pain and suffering? This kind of stuff happens in the real world. Now, on the bright side, let me share with you what a then 70-year-old or so (Wyeth-hater) vet told me when us ProHeart victims started our fight. "Use the Internet. It is your greatest tool." He was SO RIGHT! Sandra can attest to this. It was her and I and growing numbers of people like us who were constantly on the message boards working through our grief and anger and doing whatever we could to raise awareness that what happened to our dogs could happen to other dogs. All the typing snowballed, people had garage sales, printed business cards, decals, brochures, whatever, to raise public awareness. Eventually the "right" people showed up to help us. We got the media attention, we had people file adverse reaction reports with the FDA, and then the FDA asked the manufacturer to take the drug off the U.S. market. Thank God it is still off the U.S. market today. I just gave you the highlights, but because of the grassroot efforts of "ordinary citizens" or "fanatics on the Internet" (as we were called), the drug that killed/harmed Sandra's and my dogs is the first veterinary drug in the U.S. to ever come off the market. We hoped for that result, but we were stunned that it actually happened! So let me tell you, change for the better CAN happen. You have to believe in what you're doing, work harder than you can ever imagine, and never give up. Never underestimate the power that we as "ordinary citizens" have!

Jean Colorado

right on the money, Jean. Very well written explaination and subsequent frustration in bringing pet big pharma to the place where they belong.....in the courts and in their pocketbooks!! I don't want to go into all the contacts I have made, but suffice it to say I have come up with the exact same result. I am still working on it so don't want to jinx myself, but it is not an easy road to travel. It has taken this very long journey because, as you state most attorney's do not see a 'win-win' situation for themselves. So you may have a group express interest initially but after further review they indicate that 'proving' the animal(s) were rendered ill by this product takes time and $$ they are not willng to donate. Betty, if you know of animal attorney-specialists who would be interested in reviewing a case that reveals much documentation from myelf and others, please let me know their contact information. I had recently contacted one very notable attorney in the NJ area involved in the tainted pet food case who was cordial and wished me well in my efforts but ultimately declined pursuit of this (pesticide/ flea cntrol product) case. He mentioned that the bottom line was $$. I continue to pursue but the statue of limitations is fast approaching. I really need to capture the attention of an attorney group who understands the dynamics of the importance of makng a difference in the lives of companion animals. Jan

jan philly

i work at a vet in louisiana-and i was raised by a holistic therapist- trust me, without good flea control those little bugs would carry us all away! we sell frontline, promeris, and advantage- i have used all of them on my 3 dogs and my cat- i haven't had any problems with the promeris other than the horrible smell, but i can see how it would be easy for a pet to ingest it- leading to other reactions, the frontline i find doesn't last the full 4 weeks, and it makes one of my dogs skin a bit red where i would apply it- so i use advantage- not advantix(although this is also a good product if you have tick trouble)for 10 years i have used it on my dogs, i've given to neighbors, my parents- lots of pets- no trouble- ever- even if they lick it- and it lasts a full month- unless you are always bathing your dog- i stand behind advantage even with all of the other choices i have, and with access to the field reps and their opinions. i know garlic and other natural remedies don't work here- my holistic friend found that out the hard way- and she uses advantage now on her 4 dogs and her 4 cats- i agree that we should use the gentlest products- as long as they work- advantage is both, but i don't see any one saying they have tried it! give it a shot- do some research- you'll see that it's one of the safest products out there... for now we're keeping an eye on the promeris- no reactions from clients yet- but hard to sell after they smell it!

KATIE louisiana

Hi Jan. Much good luck with your endeavors. You know, these attorneys are out there, but half the battle is finding them. You've probably tried in Defense of Animals and places like that. I hate to say it, but the horrible pet food recall I think is somewhat of a blessing in disguise as far as bringing issues affecting our pets to the forefront. Katie, I'm sure pets have a real tough time in your climate. I used to live in Georgia (I know, not as bad as Louisiana), so I get the fact that people have to use something on their pets. In parts of Florida, where I also lived, it could be really bad, too, with those sand fleas. Thank God my dogs didn't experience problems with fleas and ticks. Maybe I got lucky, I don't know. For a while I used Frontline (in Georgia) and never experienced any problems with it. Here in Colorado, we don't need anything because we don't have many bugs -- worth moving out here just for that fact alone! I found a flea or two on one of my dogs after picking up my dogs at a pet spa. Didn't have the fleas beforehand and after he got that second bath from me! What a waste of money that was! Anyway, to get rid of that flea problem, I bought some Halo products -- www.halopets.com, and things were just fine. I understand Halo (all holistic grooming products, supplements, and food) is now in Petsmarts. I think people need to know they have options out there, and I'm going to write to the Halo people and ask them to advertise by TV like Big Pharma is. With Ellen Degeneres as one of the owners, she'd be a natural in their commercials. Also, Cain & Able products are all-natural. And whatever happened to people using Avon Skin So Soft? And you really cannot discount a homemade diet. Any holistic vet can advise on how to feed your pet with a good homemade diet. I really do feel that diet plays a large part in why some dogs have fleas and others don't. Anyway, back to the Frontline, etc., etc., these products do NOT stay on the dog's skin. The chemicals seep into their system causing neurological problems, etc. I've gotten reports and photos from people whose dogs suffered "chemical burns" over a large area of their body. Nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a dog with raw, bloody, oozing skin. Another person sent me photos of her Sheltie after surgery to remove large areas of skin that had been sewed back together. I think that was an Advantix dog, but I can't remember now. Then I heard from a woman in the last six months whose cat died from giving it a bath in Sergeant's flea & tick bath. Pesticide, once again. Either way, never again would I put any chemicals on my dogs. I want everyone to think about this. If you treat your lawn with fertilizer, you don't let your dogs on the grass for a good 24 hours and make sure that fertilizer has been watered into the lawn very well and doesn't get on your dog. So how are these flea and tick products any different than the fertilizer except now you're applying them DIRECTLY to the dog? That's asking for trouble. Granted, your dog might be okay, but then he may not be. It's just not the worth the risk - ever. Katie, I'd like to know if your vet's office distributes Client Information Sheets for everything dispensed to the pets. And if not, why not?

Jean B. Colorado

Hi All, My 2 cents in this.....but first: to Katie in Louisiana. I understand if you support these biologics. Often they may help many animals. I know that in my case, they caused my dogs hematocrit to come down, for him to get sick, and then to relapse. That is in my case. So for my dog, he gets no more of these things, ever. My holistic vet agrees (and yes, she is also a 'real' vet). I understand your position, but i very much understand the position of those who like me have to deal with the devastating side-effects of these drugs on our animals - and there will always be side effects on a 'small' percentage of animals. Having said that, i do think that a class action lawsuit could be successful. Saying that, it is alot of time energy frustration etc and any lawyer taking it up would have to do so as a labor of love. I believe creating awareness and public sentiment is the most timely and effective way to go. Steve is working on this and i wonder what is happening? Just last weekend i met a woman whose dog died three days after diagnosis. It turns out that the boutique where she gets her dogfood, a woman who works there told her about 2 other dogs that also died in the last two weeks. I believe that if every case were reported and there was awareness that things could change. Vets are the first line here - they should be encouraged to report all of these cases. Maybe a national walk for aiha awareness? A dog walk in every city, with news coverage? Its an idea.... Christine and Kent

Christine FL

Kate: Hope you get a chance to read the adverse reaction letters from advantix/frontline/Hartz/biospot, etc. on Jim Terbush's website. http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv11.html It is really difficult to use the word 'safe' after reading these hundreds of lettters. I think people are struggling to find an outlet to vent their anger and frustration following their pets adverse reactions and they have few. He has been collecting letters and datas for several years. James is a wealth of knowledge in the area of adverse reactions. I wish the products proved 'safe'....believe me. After having one dog die a number of years ago from kidney failure after a frontline treatment and then having Choe's reaction from frontline result in catastrophic illness, I only wish I could be a believer in these products and my case and animals were unique. But I don't think that is the case. Will keep you posted on the progress of my 'legal' outreach. It may not work, but if we continue to raise awareness through networking and keeping advocacy groups up-to-date on adverse reaction events the sheer volume of the experiences will influence others to a red light 'warning'. Their decision to decline pesticide use on their pets wil ultimately save lives. That's really what it's all about. Jan

jan philly

Chrstine, I am sorry for your experience with your pet's relapse FROM FLEA CONTROL and hope Kent is doing well. PLEASE KNOW THE SIDE/ADVERSE EFFECTS ARE NOT CONFINED TO A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE DOG/CAT POPULATION. it is, sadly quite a significant percentage. Truly, you do not need to minimize your terrible experience because another writer disagrees. Your idea for public awareness of the disease (and the products that can iniaite it) is a good one.....we have not heard any uodates about Steve's outreach so I am not certain what the plans, but I hope there is follow-through on a national level. I'm sure many of us would reach out to assist. Jan

jan philly

Jan, I'm sure Joanne and/or Steve will be along to report what Steve is doing when the timing is right. Meanwhile, here's Fort Dodge's press release about the woman and her dogs that "allegedly" were affected by ProMeris. http://www.promeris.com/ProMeris_com_Response.pdf

Jean Colorado

Response not unlike (two) letters I received from a Dr. Dixon, staff veterinarian at Merial about the 'uniqueness' of my (particular) case. They have some good copy writers and pr damage control folks. I'm sure they receive nice salaries.

jan philly

Geeez, that announcement is very, very similar to the one about ProHeart6 when we first really started talking about on the net. I know Jean remembers--we were called "web fanatics", etc and accused of making up stories, spreading rumors, etc. Yeah, well, My 4 year old golden retrieverm, dead of AIHA, was buried under the sycamore tree in our back yard. I hardly call that rumor or "story." It was fact. Same with Jean's dogs. If we4 wer such "fanatics" why did the FDA---due to it's high number of rep[orts--have it pulled. They had been caliming that out of the 280 field trial dogs, 3 eiher died or was put to sleep because of PH6. BUT, those 2 were old, sick, underweight dogs. Then when the hearing, Jan. 341, 2005 was done, it came out that acutally 12 or those 280 dogs either died or had to to be put to sleep. When asked wht happened to the other dogs--some were lost in hunting accidents, some got ran over, some "ate" antifreeze. Another interesting thing--at the same time 280 were doing ProHeart6, another 100 plus were doing the monthly proheart tablets. No deaths were listed amaong them--proheart related or "accident. When asked why it was that 12 of the 280 ProHeart6 dogs died and non of the proheart tablet dogs died. I think the ratio was 2/3 6 month injected dogfs with the PH6, and 1/2 monthly tablet. So, according to the panel, of 12 died on PH6, due to accidents, etc, then 4 should have died on the tables. FD then tied to say they did have an equal ratio, but didn't have the firgures. Do you think I believe that. Not on your life. At a ProHeart6 seminar, the pitchman actually referrred to it as a "hook". One the pills, the dog only aqctually had to be brought in once every year or two for heart worm test. With the injectins, they hafd to be brought in twice a year--extra office visit, vet could suggtest shampoos, foods, vitamins, etc that he carried. Could say the ears were a little red and sell products for ears, etc., No wonder so many vets went along with it. Sorry to rant, but I just don't trust drug compnaies. When I got the report back from the governemtn on Hunter, I learned that the sponser (Fort Dodge) had listed his health before PH6 as FAIR. He had never been sick a day in his 4 years, waqs full of energy, etc. Well, I went to my vet over that and he said no, Hunter had great health. They had also made a couple of other statements to make it look like Hunter was a victim of his own health. My vet said that wasn't true. Also in their original report, they didn't list his liver damage. I did in my report and the FDA had me send his complete files. I think any dog with AIHA should avoid this new stuff like a plague.

Sandra Slayton Texas

Correction, Sandra. ANY dog should avoid this new stuff like the plague!!

Jean B. Colorado

You are right Jean. I was just thinking the chances of an AIHA dog would be worse than a healthly dog when this was applied.

Sandra

If you asked the pharma spin doctors, they probably would tell you the plague was a figment of the public's imagination!

jan philly

Do Not Use ProMeris on your Dogs or Cats. In January My Vet sitched our JackRussel Terrier from Frontline to ProMeris. The results have been terrible. His neck and back are raw, constant itching,many trips to our vet and or sweet dog is suffering, having to take antibiotics, prednisone, and benadryl twice a day now for over two months plus we have to bathe him twice a week. Fort Dodge refused to contact our Vet by phone or email. Our vet confronted them at a Seminar this past weekend and they promised to take care of our dog with a dermatologist, turns out that was them dodging the issue, we would have to pay upfront and then they would reimburse us. Probably not likely since they refused to ever get in touch with our vet till he confronted them in front of other vets at this seminar. Fort Dodge and ProMeris, a Class Action Lawsuit is necessary to stop them for one and for all. Sue them folks , Sue them!!!!!!!

pat maryland

I just have to add my experience. Holly was diagnosed March 2007 and last year late summer the vet found one tiny flea on her and immediately they wanted to start her on frontline. I told them no immediately. So they called Merick and Merick told them over the phone while I stood there, that it was perfectly okay and that it did not enter the bloodstream. I told them I did not care Holly was not going on this as we are still not sure that this cause her IMHA. It was either the frontline or the Parvo vac that she was given both down at the animal resuce when they got her in. I mean how can they say it does not enter the bloodstream, in my opinion it has to! I will never use any chemicals on either of my dogs again!!! Thanks, Linda

Linda Sapphire

This is a great thread because I believe there has been very important data disseminated. I hope many readers have learned that it is not at all easy to bring legal action against big-pet pharma, they have minimal interest in/and lack of fear of damage results reflecting adverse reactions to these flea control products as experienced by your pets. 98% of attorney groups have absolutely no interest in filing class action suits for these cases. I have personally contacted twelve. They have all turned me down. The vet hospitals will continue to reap hundreds of thousands of dollars of your monies when your pet becomes ill from pesticide poisoning. Do you really think they are going to buck the system that keeps them booming in mega dollars?? You read it all the time regardng people drugs..Merck was called today for producing tainted children vaccines...first page of the Philly Inquirer. This process will not be changing anytime soon. Linda, it is people like us who just have to SAY NO and be resolute in our knowledge the stuff being sold is pretty scary. No doubt the consumer advocates will make the biggest impact. Big Pharma and government sure won't. Jan

jan philly

Jan I was wondering how you treat you dog against fleas and ticks? Have you found anything safe that works and if so what is it. I would love to find a safe alternative to front-line but I have not had much luck. Thanks for your help, Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Cheryl & Ginger, how about looking into Halo holistic pet products? See www.halopets.com. Also, I don't know what you feed your dog, but a lot can be said about proper nutrition. Some pets never seem to be bothered by fleas and ticks, no matter where they live. Sorry for the sales pitch, but I carry several good references on nutrition in my shop, http://www.kindredspiritsgiftshop.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_list&c=10, and portions of all sales go to nonprofit animal-based charities, like Meisha's Hope, for example. Yes, it may cost more to feed your pet an all-natural homemade diet, but as far as I'm concerned, I'd rather pay the money up front than at a vet's office any day!

Jean Colorado

Hey Jan, Here's another one for you. This one on Profender for cats and Bayer getting their hand slapped for misleading advertising. http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Documents/Profender_03062008.pdf I'm glad the FDA is worried about children and exposure to these products, but what about the animals who are "absorb"ing these chemicals into their bodies. I thought these chemicals were NOT supposed to be "absorbed"??? One can sign up for these FDA/CVM updates that will appear weekly in your e-mail.

Jean Colorado

Has anyone been offered Comfortis - the 'newest' flea pill taken 1X a month? If so, please share. Thanks, Ann Marie

Ann Marie FL

Jean, the FDA is not our (protective) friend by nature but I will say there are many more powerful children's advocacy politicos than there are those working on pet protective legislation. No doubt there were many children who suffered an adverse reaction of some type from interacting with a pet after the topical treatment and it was reported to the FDA. They just don't write such a warning letter for one or two 'isolated' incidents as they call it.....indeed, the 'absorption' component that all of these topical products spout as being 'safe' for your pet is clearly fraudulent advertizing. Jan

jan philly

I think animals could be dropping dead by the dozens and the manufacturese would not care as long as they were raking in the dough. I know it took the FDA to get Fort Dodge to change the labels on it's ProHeart6 every time it was changed. They sure didn't do it on their own.

Sandra

Ann Marie, Probably don't need to tell you, but anything "new," offered at a vet's office or otherwise, RUN NOW. "New" to people like me and Sandra means these manufacturers are looking for test subjects, meaning our pets, to do their testing for them.

Jean Colorado

This thread was discussed between 13/04/2008 and 01/05/2008

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