"The misuse of flea and tick products is, unfortunately, fairly common and often is harmful," says Joel Adamson, senior vice president at Sergeant's. "Taking the time to read a product label can mean the difference between the life and illness or death of your pet."
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are many EPA-registered pesticide products on the market today for the treatment of fleas and ticks. The EPA warns pet owners to choose the correct product for their specific pet and for the particular pest problem, as certain products are approved only for dogs or only for cats. "For example, there are many brands of spot-on products for flea and tick control that are labeled for "use on dogs only" due to common ingredients they contain, such as permethrin," says Adamson.
"While permethrin products may have a good safety record when used on dogs, studies indicate that a few drops of concentrated permethrin could be harmful or lethal to a cat," says Adamson.
Sergeant's recommends pet owners look for the following information on product labels:
•Look for the dosage amount for the size and age of your pet. Products are specially formulated for pets based on weight. This information is usually on the front of the product package, making it easy reference for consumers as they shop.
•All flea and tick product labels indicate for which species the product is intended. Never use any flea and tick product intended for dogs on a cat, and vice versa.
•Check the back label for active ingredients and warnings. The warnings are there for a reason; read them thoroughly.
•Look for the manufacturer's contact information should you have questions or need help. Typically this information can be found at the bottom of the back label.
•And, as with medications for humans, carefully read and follow all label instructions.
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Larry Nouvel, a pet product chemist and industry expert, says that consumers need to use product labels to educate themselves on the differences between products.
"For example, the ingredient etofenprox, which is found in Sergeant's Gold Squeeze-On for Cats, was selected due to its safety profile. In addition, it contains only hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. It is rare to find an effective pest control product with such a make-up. Most other products contain chlorine, phosphorus or other elements that often raise concerns," says Nouvel.
"Sergeant's has safely and successfully treated hundreds of thousands of cats since the product's introduction in 2004," says Adamson. "Adverse reactions can occur if all products are not applied properly. To the nation's 78 million cat owners, our message is simple: Look at the label.
