WARNING!!! To anyone using Hartz pet products!

[Little Miss Liberty]

I posted this on the Canadian board but wanted to spread the message. I recently gave my dog and cat the "Hartz Control One Spot" for fleas. My cat became very ill he didn't eat, he had a fever, he stayed in a ball on the sofa with his head tucked under his paw and wouldn't move, he didn't use his box his muscles were so weak he had a hard time getting up and down the stairs. He has lost his fur and a there is a scab where I placed the medication on the back of his neck. I rushed him to the Vet where they helped him with medication and an IV because he wasn't drinking. I am now continuing medication and he is doing better and eating (knock on wood). But his muscles are still weak and I hope it is not long term damage. I have done several searches on the internet and it seems that there are thousands of animals that have been affected by Hartz products especially since the family that owned it for over 70 years sold it to some big corporation. Many have died. Just do a google search and type in problems with Hartz flea meds. There are hundreds of pages on this. I'm just posting this in order to stop someone else from unknowingly hurt their animals.

http://www.animalhelp.com/hometown/...l.cfm?artid=353

 

[SUSIEQ]

Did it say on the package it was safe or cats?
I know you aren't supposed to use anything with permethrin in it on or around cats.
Did it contain this ingredient?

 

[NikiM20]

Hartz is BAD news, I only use stuff from my vets office on my animals

 

[Cindyluwho]

My vet bill after using the Hartz flea stuff was over $500. Hartz paid it with no problem BUT my poor dog was in such pain from the burn on his neck! Never, never, never buy Hartz!

 

[Little Miss Liberty]

Did it say on the package it was safe or cats?
I know you aren't supposed to use anything with permethrin in it on or around cats.
Did it contain this ingredient?

This product was specifically for cats and kittens. I don't see anything on the label with that ingredient on it.

 

[Little Miss Liberty]

duplicate

 

[Little Miss Liberty]

With so many problems, why is this product still allowed to be on the market?

 

[tiggersmom2]

I had a very long thread here on the DIS. I lost one of my beloved cats to Hartz and very nearly lost another one.

 

[Little Miss Liberty]

I had a very long thread here on the DIS. I lost one of my beloved cats to Hartz and very nearly lost another one.

I'm very sorry to hear that. I seem to be one of the lucky ones.

 

[Kitty 34]

I had a very long thread here on the DIS. I lost one of my beloved cats to Hartz and very nearly lost another one.

I remember your thread and to this day I stay way far away from Hartz products!

 

[NikiM20]

With so many problems, why is this product still allowed to be on the market?

Because there will always be the person who says "This wont hurt MY cat/dog..etc"

 

[Evil Queen]

With all these type of meds, be it buy it in a local store or from your vet, animals CAN have reactions.

I have one cat that can't even be close to the others after a treatment, she drools, and just lies there. We have to comb her nightly just to TRY to help her with grooming and fleas. Plus, lock her ina room for a few days, after the others have been treated.

It's not only Hartz.

 

[SUSIEQ]

This product was specifically for cats and kittens. I don't see anything on the label with that ingredient on it.

That's scary! I've got some Hartz in the garage, and I'm going to throw it away right now.
Thanks for the warning.
I've been using Advantage lately, I hope that's safe.
Best wishes for your cat's recovery.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Hartz has a bad rep - there is a reason why it's so cheap. They have actually pulled some of their products but have kept others. Consumers and pet owners need to scream louder in order to get more pulled.

I boycott ALL Hartz products because they *know* some of their items kill animals (esp cats) and yet they continue to produce them. I won't buy any item with their name on it - toy, treat, anything.

I'm so sorry about your cat... hopefully more and more people will learn about the harmful products Hartz sells and less animals will be treated with it. It's bad bad stuff.

 

[Honu]

I'm sorry about your kitty.

My border collie can't tolerate any of the topical flea meds. He jumps around and yelps in pain immediately. The oral med called Program is all I can give him. Thankfully, it seems to work.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

I've treated countless flea med reactions over the years. Almost all of them were from over the counter products. It has been my experience that Frontline and Advantage are much safer than the OTC ones. The one exception is Advantix, which contains permethrin. Permethrins are very dangerous for cats and if a cat rubs up against a dog who has just had the product applied, the cat can have a severe reaction.

*public service announcement*
Pay the extra money and use Frontline Top Spot. In my experience, it really is the most effective and safest product.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I've treated countless flea med reactions over the years. Almost all of them were from over the counter products. It has been my experience that Frontline and Advantage are much safer than the OTC ones. The one exception is Advantix, which contains permethrin. Permethrins are very dangerous for cats and if a cat rubs up against a dog who has just had the product applied, the cat can have a severe reaction.

*public service announcement*
Pay the extra money and use Frontline Top Spot. In my experience, it really is the most effective and safest product.

I think with OTC, you get what you pay for in way of meds like that. Hartz really does tick me off.

I have been using K9 Advantix for over 2 years and LOVE it but I know the risks and my dogs are never exposed to cats - they've never even met one. I love it because it repels mosquitos, which is a huge issue in my area. My very first vet recommended it for cat free households due to the mosquito issues. If we weren't using this, I would be using Frontline. I wish Frontline covered mosquitos! Mine have never had a tick, mosquito bite, or flea so I guess it's effective. =)

 

[Squidrific]

Oh my god - thanks so much for posting this. I used Hartz on my kitty two weeks ago and I noticed a sore right where I put it. I thought it was the fleas had bit her - but it is exactly as you all have described. I will throw the Hartz away now.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

I think with OTC, you get what you pay for in way of meds like that. Hartz really does tick me off.

I have been using K9 Advantix for over 2 years and LOVE it but I know the risks and my dogs are never exposed to cats - they've never even met one. I love it because it repels mosquitos, which is a huge issue in my area. My very first vet recommended it for cat free households due to the mosquito issues. If we weren't using this, I would be using Frontline. I wish Frontline covered mosquitos! Mine have never had a tick, mosquito bite, or flea so I guess it's effective. =)

A few years ago, I was working at a clinic that switched from Frontline to Advantage/Advantix (financial decision by the boss). Clients were outraged and we eventually had to go back to Frontline. The two main complaints I heard were 1.) didn't seem to control fleas as well 2.) washes off too easily and has to be reapplied.
Personally, I never took too much stake in the mosquito repelling theory. They make a big claim about it, but when asked if animals with their product are more protected against heartworms (mosquitos are the vector for heartworms) they hem and haw and squirm on the answer.

 

[NikiM20]

A few years ago, I was working at a clinic that switched from Frontline to Advantage/Advantix (financial decision by the boss). Clients were outraged and we eventually had to go back to Frontline. The two main complaints I heard were 1.) didn't seem to control fleas as well 2.) washes off too easily and has to be reapplied.
Personally, I never took too much stake in the mosquito repelling theory. They make a big claim about it, but when asked if animals with their product are more protected against heartworms (mosquitos are the vector for heartworms) they hem and haw and squirm on the answer.

Water resistance is the main reason I use Frontline. all my babies are inside and I like to keep them smelling good!!!