EPA: Cat flea product can kill pets (MUST READ)
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:21 am
Safety concerns have led Hartz Mountain to stop selling several of its flea and tick remedies for cats.
The Environmental Protection Agency said the products are associated with a wide range of adverse reactions including hair loss, salivation, tremors, and even "numerous deaths of cats and kittens."
The products include:
•Hartz Advanced Care 4 in 1 Flea and Tick Drops Plus+ for Cats and Kittens
•Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea and Tick Drops Plus+ for Cats and Kittens
•Hartz Advanced Care 3 in 1 Flea & Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens
•Hartz Advanced Care Once-A-Month Flea and Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens
The EPA said Hartz Mountain agreed to halt all new production of these products by September 30.
Existing products will be immiediately relabled to warn consumers that they should not be used on cats weighing less than six pounds, cats older than 13 years or kittens less than five months old.
"Pet owners should be alerted to these concerns, and may choose to transition to alternative products," said EPA spokeswoman Susan Hazen. "We take seriously our obligation to ensure that pesticide products, when used as labeled, are safe."
Consumers should contact Hartz at 800-275-1414 for information about returns and refunds.
Hartz said it was preparing to introduce alternative products that would meet EPA standards.
WFAA ABC 8 and Associated Press contributed to this report.
Click for EPA Fact Sheet.
The Environmental Protection Agency said the products are associated with a wide range of adverse reactions including hair loss, salivation, tremors, and even "numerous deaths of cats and kittens."
The products include:
•Hartz Advanced Care 4 in 1 Flea and Tick Drops Plus+ for Cats and Kittens
•Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea and Tick Drops Plus+ for Cats and Kittens
•Hartz Advanced Care 3 in 1 Flea & Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens
•Hartz Advanced Care Once-A-Month Flea and Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens
The EPA said Hartz Mountain agreed to halt all new production of these products by September 30.
Existing products will be immiediately relabled to warn consumers that they should not be used on cats weighing less than six pounds, cats older than 13 years or kittens less than five months old.
"Pet owners should be alerted to these concerns, and may choose to transition to alternative products," said EPA spokeswoman Susan Hazen. "We take seriously our obligation to ensure that pesticide products, when used as labeled, are safe."
Consumers should contact Hartz at 800-275-1414 for information about returns and refunds.
Hartz said it was preparing to introduce alternative products that would meet EPA standards.
WFAA ABC 8 and Associated Press contributed to this report.
Click for EPA Fact Sheet.