Normally, I'm highly skeptical about Net *health warnings* but we just got back from the vet where I was given some really horrifying info about Bio Spot (a topical flea preparation that is available OTC). The clinic has seen 8 dog and 30 cat deaths from this stuff (this is a small town clinic, city pop is only 25,000!
We don't have a flea problem here in the Hi Dez, but I thought this was worth passing along.

Joy,
I work at a vet clinic and know that we have seen several cat deaths and several dogs that have become ill from the Bio-Spot. I can't say that the ones you get from the vet are completely safe but we have had no deaths that we have heard of and very few reactions...the worst I have seen is a bare spot where it was applied or a rash.

The other thing we saw a reaction to was a Pro-Heart 6-month injectable heartworm prevention. We gave it to a boxer that was allergic to everything...even down to cleaners used in the house and things like that. We advised not giving it but the owner insisted. We agreed to do it only if the dog stayed for observation afterward. We knew if she did not get it done by us she would go elsewhere and they may not be as cautious. Sure enough, within about 10-15 minutes she started getting a swollen face and eyes, hives all over her and she looked pitiful!!! We gave her injections of Benedryl and cortizone to ease that up and within a few more minutes she was fine. We made the owner wait with her to see the reaction to help convice her not to do it again...needless to say she listens to us a lot more closely now and the dog is doing fine. That is the only time we have seen any problem with this injection but it is still enough to know that anytime there is an injection of any kind given you need to watch your pets closely for awhile to be sure there are no problems.

I've used bio- spot and after applying it on my dog it caused pain and alot of discomfort the first few hours. IT made me stop using insecticites thinking all the products would be like that. How good can any of them be if they kill fish and cats who are in contact with it. Ed if you read this post I would like to hear your input since you have been my guru in raising my dog.

I used this on my cocker and GSD once. My GSD was fine, but my cocker developed severe diahrea for days. When I took her to the vets they gave her atropine. Isn't that an antidote for nerve gas? She was really sick. This started the day after, so I could only conclude this was due to the Bio-spot.

I have been using Bio-Spot on my GSD's and greyhound for a couple of years now with no adverse affects, but I hadn't heard of any warning until now either. I'm going to watch them more closely. If any of them were to have problems, I would expect it first from my greyhound given their inherent sensitivity to just about everything.

I used Biospot once but it didn't work very well for the fleas (strays love to drop fleas in the yard <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ) so I will be sticking with Advantage. Thankfully there weren't any reactions.

Has anyone used Preventic collars?

Laurn
We sell the Preventic collars where I work and I have not seen many (if any)problems. It is going to be about the same as with flea collars..some dogs will be sensitive if they are prone to it anyway.
I do not like flea collars...let me say that up front..I think most of them are just great breeding grounds for fleas!!! On the other hand I have seen first hand at the clinic how well the Preventic collar will work...you have to understand it does TICKS only..not fleas..not matter what it may say...I don't think it claims to do ticks. We have sold them for many years and have many clients who won't use anything else during tick season.
We had a Sheltie who would come up to see us once a week for a dip several years ago. We would remove 30-40 ticks each time. They were having their yard treated but nothing was working. We finally talked them into trying a Preventic collar and we continued to see the dog for a couple of more weeks...but this time there were less that 10 ticks each time..and each time there were fewer than the week before.
As the commericals for everything else says "Your results will vary !!!" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> But this was about the best advertisement I have found for it. Most of clients use the Frontline for ticks and fleas because we have not had good results with the Advantage for dogs...cats yes, but not dogs.
I know that a lot of people on this board don't like using insectisides and such but there are times (I live in the south) that you have to do something. I apply this stuff about once every 10-12 months...I don't need it more than that now that I have things more under control. I just apply it to everybody when I see a couple of fleas on someone and no problems!!!

Sorry, I read my post...meant to say it DOES do ticks and it does NOT claim to do FLEAS...that is what I get for not checking before I hit that send button. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

No problem. I knew that the collars only worked on ticks, but the vet that I worked for treated mostly pets so I didn't know how well they worked for someone that lived in the middle of the woods <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> . Frontline spray didn't work for us, and I am trying to decide if I should either try Frontline spot on or Advantage/Preventic (Advantage works for the fleas, but the ticks are getting worse and I will need something for them soon).

Strangely enough, I have had really good results with canine Advantage (even though I split the big dog tube between the 70 lb GSD and the 12 lb cat).

What we tell clients about changing to something else is if you have something that works for you...DON'T change it...even if we would get more money from it!! Just our idea anyway!!!

If the Advantage is working for you then just try a Preventic collar...it is a lot cheaper to try than getting the Frontline. You may reach a point where the Advantage doesn't work (fleas just become immune to it sometimes) then consider going to Frontline..or the other way around. The Frontline only kills ticks for thirty days and to me is not quite as effective as the collar...God, I never used to think I would say I liked a collar to kill anything going around my dogs neck!!! I have not had to use them but I have just seen it work very well for others....