[jp4m2]

I'm so glad for your MIL's pup is going to be ok, that had to be so scary for all of you.....

These products are not without risk, I think we have become so complacent with them that their use is something we tend to give little thought about.....This is from the EPA, keeping in mind that this number is much high because the reporting of incidents and deaths greatly under reported....

"According to the EPA, in 2008 there were more than 44,000 incidents reported from customers who used these treatment products. Of those, 600 cats and dogs died. Little dogs were the most affected, as were dogs less than three years old. A number of cat incidents were also attributed to dog products either because the cat was intentionally or unintentionally treated with a dog product, or because the cat was exposed to a treated dog."

In actuality none of us know what we're putting on our pets. The manufacturer doesn't and tell us what the "inert" ingredients are in the product. The "active" ingredient may be as little as 1% to 15% of a product. The remaining 85% to 99% of the formulation is made up of ingredients that are listed as "inerts," but which often consist of chemicals that are classified as known, or suspected carcinogens. ...... The manufacturer does not tell us what the "inert" ingredients are in the product because this considered a "trade secret". A lot of the inerts are more toxic than the "active" ingredient that is listed on the package. We will/may never know the cumulative damage these chemicals are doing to our pets....... Maybe this is is part of the reason close to 50% of our pets will die of cancer.......

This explains why we may see some immediate reactions in some dogs and why it may take longer in others.....

"Not all dogs exhibit immediately noticeable symptoms when dosed with a commercial spot-on flea product. Adult animals and those in peak of health are less likely to show immediate signs compared to animals that are young, old, or suffering from chronic disease. Animals with a heightened sensitivity to chemicals or with exposures from multiple sources such as a flea collar; other dips, sprays, dust, or flea bombs; yard pesticides; and house termite extermination, are most likely to react. The cumulative and synergistic impacts of pesticides can take a heavy toll on animals. Dr. Jerry Blondell, of the US EPA Office of Pesticides, has indicated clearly “not to use pesticides on the old, the sick, or the young.” While some of the literature for the spot-on products does discourage this usage, many dog guardians and veterinarians overlook or disregard these written precautions.
Although the number of dogs reported to react to these products may seem small, this does not suggest the overall impact is small. First, spot-on products are relatively new, and many problems are cumulative.
Second, reactivity to chemicals in a population is similar to other population statistics and is represented by a bell-shaped curve. In other words, at one end of the spectrum are sensitive individuals, and at the opposite end are resistant individuals; these groups are relatively small compared to the vast middle group, who show varying degrees of susceptibility – but who are all susceptible. Thus the sensitive group – dogs who have displayed signs of toxicity – happen to be the sentinels for the younger, healthier ones who will eventually be affected; it’s just a matter of time.....