Are “spot-on” flea and tick medications safe?

From NewsNet 5’s On Your Side Investigation: The safety of products like K9 Advantix and Frontline is being questioned, as pet owners have reported spending thousands of dollars to treat their pets after applying the products.

Veterinarian David Koncal, vice president of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), believes spot-on products are safe.

“I’d be willing to bet that 99 percent of the adverse reactions that are reported, there is something else going on in that animal that created that demise. It’s just a coincidence the flea product was used on them,” Koncal said.

He points out that billions of pets are treated with the products, yet only 34,000 have experienced problems.

You can read the whole story here, and a follow-up here.

Talk to your vet before treating your dog with spot-on products, as even the experts can’t agree on whether or not they’re dangerous.

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

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One thought on “Are “spot-on” flea and tick medications safe?”

  1. I am from Scotland I have had dogs all my life and refuse to put “Topical flea medications” on my dogs. When I came to the USA I was surprised that dogs were given flea medication and heart worm on a regular basis. I only treat fleas when it is nessessery as for heart worm if you have inside dogs/pets they do not need it, at least that has been my experience I have been in the USA over 30yrs now and can count on one hand how often I have had to used flea treatments, and have never used heart worm. my first dog here in the USA lived for 19 years my second dog is now going on 14yrs and her daughter is now 8yrs and still going strong. I do take them for yearly check ups and give them the shots needed to be boarded while on vacation my older dog in now on an antiinflamitory med so she can have quality of life without pain. The only thing is she still acts like a puppy now that her joint pain is under control, 🙂

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