The popular Seresto flea and tick collar should be remembered after research shows that the $ 70 device carries risks for pets and their owners, according to a new Congressional report. The findings link the necklace to nearly 100,000 incidents and 2,500 pet deaths.
Nearly 34 million of the necklaces have been sold to American pet owners, who have been drawn to the product’s commitment to conjuring up ticks and fleas for up to eight months, compared to other treatments. they must apply monthly. But the collar, made by Elanco Animal Health, is linked to a higher number of reports of deaths and injuries than competing products, according to the report of the Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee of the Supervisory and Reform Committee.
The report may prompt some pet owners to ask if they want to buy or continue using the product, which is part of the $ 232 billion pet care industry. During the pandemic, more Americans adopted pets, while spending on pet-related items has increased during the health crisis, according to Grand View Research.
The subcommittee’s report highlighted the number of reports of injuries or deaths that owners linked to the necklace, as well as Canada’s decision to ban the sale of the Seresto necklace for its review of U.S. incidents and studies. of toxicology found that “it posed too great a risk to pets.” and their owners to be sold in Canada “.
During a hearing before the committee on Wednesday, Elanco Animal Health CEO Jeffrey Simmons said the collar was safe and had been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, which has undergone more than 80 safety studies. toxicity and efficacy.
“Reporting adverse events is not proof of causation,” Simmons told the hearing. “No deaths were found due to neck ingredients.”
In 2021, there were just over 17 reports of incidents per 10,000 necklaces sold, with most of these problems related to irritation or redness, according to Elanco. In a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, the company said an analysis of all these reports between 2013 and 2021 shows “no established link between Seresto’s active ingredients and the death of pets.”
Elanco added: “Given the strong scientific evidence of Seresto’s strong safety profile, we are proud to maintain the product as an important tool to protect pets from fleas and ticks and the harmful diseases they carry.”
Symptoms: Skin lesions, lethargy
The report cited the findings of the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), which Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat and chairman of the committee, said resembles the EPA .
The PMRA’s analysis of symptoms experienced by hundreds of pets included skin lesions and irritated skin, which sometimes covered large areas of a pet’s body and did not resolve after removing the collar, according to the report. . Other symptoms include lethargy, abnormal behavior, excessive cleaning and vocalization, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia, according to the panel.
“These worrying symptoms appeared shortly after starting the use of the Seresto necklace, especially during the first month,” according to the report. “Many pet owners reacted by removing their pets’ collars prematurely, ”he said.
Pet owner Thoomas Mairino of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, told the audience that the family dog was suffering from increasingly severe symptoms, such as bleeding patches in the stomach and a seizure, after they began wearing a Seresto collar according to the advice. from your veterinarian. Although they consulted with several other veterinarians, his condition worsened and the family finally decided that the dog should be slaughtered.
“The last 18 months of his life were agonizing to watch,” he told lawmakers. “If I could help prevent another family from going through what my family went through, I wanted to take action.
Some pet owners also reported side effects, the panel’s report added. These include skin and immune system disorders, as well as respiratory, neurological and digestive impacts such as throat irritation, dizziness and nausea, he said.
The report included several recommendations, including a voluntary removal of the collars by Elanco. He also suggested that the EPA update its pesticide product review process.
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