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Wednesday, February 26, 2003

By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Thousands of cats and kittens experienced adverse effects from two Hartz Mountain Corp. flea and tick control products and "unfortunately, in some cases death has also been reported," says a news release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The corporation has agreed to enact measures to reduce potential risks to pets from using these products, the release says.

It plans to pull products with old labels and replace them with products with new labels that have more information. The company also has changed instructions for applying the pesticide and launched a consumer education program that includes a toll-free line to answer all questions: 1-800-275-1414.

The products are Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea and Tick Drops Plus for Cats and Kittens (EPA Reg. No. 2596-148) and Hartz Advanced Care Brand Once-a-Month Flea and Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens (EPA Reg. No. 2596-151).

Questions can be e-mailed to the company at its Web site: http://www.hartz.com

The re-labeled products have been on store shelves since January.

The new labels include "stronger precautionary statements and use directions," the EPA says. Revised directions limit application of the products to a single spot on the back of the animal's head.

This should reduce the chances of cats ingesting pesticide while licking and grooming their fur.

The original instructions told owners to apply the pesticide in a stripe down the cat's back.

"The new labels will also direct users to consult with a veterinarian before use of these products on debilitated, aged, medicated, pregnant or nursing animals or animals known to be sensitive to pesticides."

"We have worked with the EPA to enact an orderly product exchange," said Dr. Albert Ahn, a veterinarian and Hartz vice president.

In other words, this is not a product recall. After a lengthy investigation, the EPA has not pulled the products from the market.

The EPA began getting preliminary reports of "adverse effects to cats" from the Hartz products in May of 2000. In March 2001, EPA "found the number of adverse incident reports and effects to be mounting" and began investigating, including interviewing pet owners.

Reports came from cat owners, veterinarians and from Hartz, EPA spokesman David Deegan said. The agency requires companies to pass on pesticide complaints received from consumers.

Flea and tick control products are pesticides designed to kill insects. Poisons that can kill must be handled with care, which is why the EPA is involved here.

Personally, I would never use any over-the-counter pet remedy without first consulting my veterinarian.

Speaking of veterinarians, we have them to thank for sounding the alarm on this. They have an article on the Hartz re-labeling in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. You can see a brief summary of the article on its Web site, www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/feb03/030215c.asp

That site refers you to the EPA site for further information: www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/hartzq_a.htm

Here's what the EPA says about "adverse health reactions associated with exposure" to the two Hartz flea and tick products:

"Incident reports ranged from minor adverse effects including skin irritation or hair loss at the application site and salivation to more serious effects on the nervous system, such as tremors (twitching of muscles) and in some circumstances, severe full body tremors (convulsion). Unfortunately, in some cases, death has also been reported."

Neither the EPA or Hartz could provide me with figures on the number of cats who died or became sick.

Ahn said that in 90 percent of the cases involved in the investigation, either the Hartz products were not involved or there was improper product usage. Most of the cases involved minor injuries like reddening of the skin or skin irritations.

"One of the biggest reasons" for problems was "people using dog products on cats," he said.

Products designed for dogs can be deadly for cats. Pesticides formulated to kill fleas and ticks on dogs should never be given to cats.

The new labels also will advise owners to watch cats carefully after the products are applied. If adverse symptoms are observed, the animal should be washed immediately with mild soap, rinsed with water and evaluated by a veterinarian.

If you have either of the two products, you are supposed to be able to send them to Hartz for a refund or for a new re-labeled product. Fleas and ticks don't thrive in cold weather, so you won't have to worry about them until sometime after the spring thaw.