A friend's dog had a bad reaction to Advantix II, one of several types of topical flea and tick products. She lives in an area with lots of ticks and had used the product for years without a problem.
But recently her dog became agitated and anxious. He ran around the yard like he was panicked, hid in the bathroom and behind a table.
He'd just had a dose of Advantix II the evening before.
When she called the Advantix emergency number, she was told "it feels like tiny needles and burning all over his skin." She bathed him with a degreasing soap (Dawn) and gave him some Benadryl. Luckily the dog is doing fine now.
What you should know
Advantix II can cause:
- skin irritation such as redness, scratching, or other signs of discomfort
- gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting or diarrhea
- lethargy or agitation
- sensation of burning, tingling, itching, redness or numbness of the skin
If you search on 'Advantix II Paresthesia' you'll find several cases where dogs have had a bad reaction.
Also keep cats away from treated dogs for 24 hours. Cats can't metabolize some compounds in tick products which may cause serious health issues.
Someone who replied to her post, suggested avoiding Nexgard because her friend's dog started seizing after using it. That dog died.
Another reply talked about a dog that "started having grand mal seizures. Over time they got worse and started clustering." They traced the reaction to Frontline, and the seizures stopped when they stopped using Frontline.
Yet another reply said she "used K9 Advantix one time and my girl had a stroke from it!!"
Bravecto is another product that was discussed. Some people like it, but it's suspected of causing sterility.
Bottom line?
Be very careful of chemicals used on your dog. Flea and tick products are designed to spread and coat the whole body. Although that may help prevent fleas and ticks, it could cause health issues.The skin is the body's largest organ and plays a big role in the maintenance of health.
Instead, check your dogs when they've been in a tick-filled area and pull any ticks off manually.
One product I use with good results is Dyna Shield. It's a blend of essential oils, herbs and plant extracts and can be used on people, dogs, cats and horses. Click to learn more about Dyna Shield and other products from Dynamite Specialty Products.
If you must use some sort of chemical, check out diatomaceous earth. I haven't used it, but I've heard it has good results with few to no side effects.
Originally posted June 11, 2018.
