A popular flea and tick collar has reportedly been making thousands of pets sick and even killing some of them – and critics are blaming the Environmental Protection Agency for turning a blind eye to the problem.
The EPA, which is responsible for regulating the products containing pesticides, has received 75,000 incident reports about Seresto pet collars developed by Bayrest and manufactured by Eleanco, as they were introduced in 2012, according to public records.
They include 1,698 pet deaths and about 1,000 incidents, which are harmful to humans. Explosive report published on Tuesday Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and USA Today.
According to reports by Karen McCormack, a former EPA official, after seven years of increasing numbers of incidents, they are telling the public that they are monitoring the situation. “But I think this is a significant problem that should be addressed as soon as possible.”
Cersto, McCormack said, “has the highest incidence of any pesticide pet product” he has ever seen.
German-based Bayer and Elanco, a Louisville, Ky.-based company, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The EPA also did not immediately respond to comments.
A spokesperson for the EPA said “no insecticide is completely without harm,” according to the report, confirming that the agency has found that Seresto callers “are eligible for continued registration.”
“The EPA ensures that there are risk mitigation measures on product labels,” the spokesperson said. “Some pets, however, like some humans, are more susceptible than others and may experience adverse symptoms after treatment.”
Reportedly, Ronda Bomwell of Somerset, NJ, said she lost her nine-year-old Papillon service dog Pierre in June. A day later, Pierre had a seizure. He was rushed to the hospital but died before treatment. Bomwell did not think of unloading Pierre’s collar at the time, the report states.
“I just didn’t put it together,” Bomwell said.
On Amazon, Seresto has been the best-selling caller. Nevertheless, there are many disturbing reviews about the collar, which is worn for six to eight months and gradually releases chemicals on the animals.
“10 days after a dog placed a serresto collar on my dog, he encountered a neurological problem diagnosed as ‘meningitis of unknown origin’,” one client wrote. “He has temporarily lost the use of his hind legs and vet bills have already exceeded $ 5,000.”
Another reviewer stated, “Put this collar on my 10 pounds of Maltese and 14 pounds of Shih Tzu in May 2016. Within 3 days Shih Tzu lay on my bed all day and every time I picked him up he cried, As if he was in pain … remove the collar, give it a bath and it will return to normal by the next morning !!!! My vet and buyer were called and told they were allergic to one of the components of the collar needed. “
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