For People Who Own Dogs & Cats And

[petsearch]

My vet recently notified us of the toxicity of Permethrin to cats, as we were purchasing some dog flea and tick treatments at the time and she knew we cared for cats. They told us that products like advantix and some other products on the market contain Permethrin and we should not use it in our house. I have just seen a veterinary board article on it and thought I would share it with everyone else as well as I am sure a lot of people are in the same situation and didn't realise how easy poisoning could occur.

http://boardtalk.vpb.nsw.gov.au/index.php?...p;article_id=11

Not sure if it has been posted about previously, but thought I would put it up just incase it hadn't.

A quote from the article is below: (PSOs mean "spot on" over the counter flea and tick treatments).

The CURRENT PROBLEM is that PSOs are sold through supermarkets, pet stores and produce stores, generally with labelling that is hard to read and does not convey the extent of the potential toxicity. Many products only have a warning on the outer packaging – which is lost when the packet is opened or the ampoules loose stored for future use. The problem is amplified in poor socioeconomic areas, where families purchase a large dog product and used it to treat many cats – resulting in multiple fatalities. Other multiple poisonings have resulted from as simple an action as using the dog’s brush to comb the cats in the family.

Edited December 24, 2008 by petsearch

[Dogsfevr]

Just sounds like vets wanting the alternative market stopped so you can only buy from them.

I see nothing wrong with making people more aware but people really need to take more care & read the companies fact sheets.

Edited December 24, 2008 by settrlvr

[Clyde]

Permoxin binds instantly to the dogs coat so unless you spray it directly on your cat it's fine.

If using Advantix cats should not be allowed to groom or snuggle up with the dog for 24 hours as it doesn't instantly bind.

I accidently put a large breed dose on my cat some time back, he only just scraped through and is now slightly brain damaged. Completely my fault as I should have double checked the vial. You would think with one being so toxic to cats that the vial between Advantage and Advantix could be completely different rather than exactly the same.

The Emergency Vet said it happens alot in multiple houses.

I still continue to treat my three dogs with Advantix fortnightly and also use Permoxin.

Edited December 24, 2008 by Clyde

[Dogsfevr]

"That the vial between Advantage and Advantix could be completely different rather than exactly the same."

I think this is a great point & maybe people should email the companies saying they would prefer a more defined vial between cats/dogs.

[petsearch]

I thought I should test out if I went and bought this stuff from a pet store rather than my vet, so I went to a pet store near me and just asked them about advantix and asked why it said it do not use on cats, I was told "nah it is just that it is a stronger dose for a dog than a cat". So I said, does this mean that I could use 1 dog tube for 2 or 3 cats? She said yeh probably.

I can see how easily people can be misled.

[Dogsfevr]

I thought I should test out if I went and bought this stuff from a pet store rather than my vet, so I went to a pet store near me and just asked them about advantix and asked why it said it do not use on cats, I was told "nah it is just that it is a stronger dose for a dog than a cat". So I said, does this mean that I could use 1 dog tube for 2 or 3 cats? She said yeh probably.

I can see how easily people can be misled.

Argh but when we had a breed that suffered from CT & you couldnt feed a certain brand of food every vet we went a did a test with all insisted that food was the best for our breed.Not one was aware that feeding that brand to a CT suffer would kill them in 10 days.

Very few even asked us what breed we had .

It really seems us humans are better at doing our own research & going from there.

I would write a letter to that pet store explaining what happened when you went in making an inquiry.

Edited December 24, 2008 by settrlvr

[Clyde]

I thought I should test out if I went and bought this stuff from a pet store rather than my vet, so I went to a pet store near me and just asked them about advantix and asked why it said it do not use on cats, I was told "nah it is just that it is a stronger dose for a dog than a cat". So I said, does this mean that I could use 1 dog tube for 2 or 3 cats? She said yeh probably.

I can see how easily people can be misled.

OMG, I would definitely be calling head office of that company, your call will no doubt save lives!!

That's terrible that sales staff have had no training about the POISONS they are selling.