Flea & Tick Medication Injuries

There is a plethora of flea and tick preparations on the market today aimed at ridding your pet of its more common and adversarial parasites. Many preparations are effective at killing both fleas and ticks but can produce mild to serious side effects.

  1. Pyrethrin

    • Pyrethrin is an all-natural pesticide that is derived from the chrysanthemum. The most common side effect of pyrethrin use is skin irritation.

    Lufenuron

    • Lufenuron is an oral flea preparation and is sold under the trade name Program. Side effects of lufenuron use include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, hives, anorexia and difficulty breathing. Hives and difficulty breathing indicate a serious allergic reaction to the drug and should be treated as an emergency.

    Imidacloprid

    • Imidacloprid is a topical flea preparation sold under the trade name Advantange and Advantix. Localized skin irritation and temporary drooling when accidentally ingested have both been reported.

    Fipronil

    • Fipronil is a topical flea preparation sold under the trade name Frontline Plus. Side effects reported for fipronil are similar to imidacloprid and include localized skin irritation and temporary drooling if ingested.

    Anaphylaxis

    • All flea and tick preparations should be used as directed by the manufacturer to reduce the risk of adverse side effects. All flea and tick preparations have the potential to induce a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms of anaphylaxis includes hives, swelling (especially of the face and tongue), sweating, and difficulty breathing.