Canine Hemolytic Anemia and Flea Products
Oct
27
Written by:
10/27/2008
Several weeks ago I wrote to the College of Veterinary Medicine division of the FDA with my concerns regarding the number of sudden deaths in canines due to autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In some cases, the owners have associated these incidents with various flea products including Frontline. There are also reports on Shirley's Wellness Cafe of flea products causing adverse reactions. See the comments in my articles on Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia on suite 101.com.
In response, the FDA wrote:
"Dear Elaine Moore;
Thank you for contacting the Center for Veterinary Medicine. You can access a cumulative report from our Adverse Drug Experience database at http://www.fda.gov/cvm/adetoc.htm. The drugs are listed by generic name rather than trade name (i.e., Baytril would be enrofloxacin).
Another you you should keep in mind is that many of the flea control products available (especially those in the grocery store, pet store, etc) are actually pesticides, not drugs, and are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov) Office of Pesticide Programs. I know EPA working on mechanism for collecting adverse reaction reports, but I don't know how far along they are.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Sincerely, CVM, FDA"
I'd like to encourage anyone who has lost a pet to immune hemolytic anemia that may be associated with pesticides to report their concerns to the FDA.