Help - emergency permethrin toxicosis in cats

[paulo]

looking for some advice , maybe some of you have experienced similar problem.

My 12 yr old cat has fleas and I stupidly bought Bob Martin Flea spray from tesco I treated my cat as directed, shortly afterwards he began twitching , moving his legs strangely and looking very off colour. I have looked it up on net and found reviews saying this product contains pemetherin which is toxic to cats! I have bathed him in warm water to wash the product off but he is still twitching alot... help!

 

[paulo]

Just to let you all know, just had my cat at the emergency vets. They confirmed the flea spray was toxic to cats therefore do not use !!! My cat has had treatment with diazepam to prevent him seizing , billed £150!!!

 

[Guinness]

poor kitty is it going to be ok? i cant believe tesco sells flea treatment which is toxic to cats?! surely they cant get away with that?

 

[alicep]

What??? does the product say you can use it on cats??? o dear

 

[Dovorian]

Are you sure it isn't the product recommended for dogs? there are usually 2 types....

 

[bex1984]

that's terrible - if it's the one designed for cats and was used exactly as directed I'd be sending that bill straight to Tesco/Bob Martin along with a very strongly worded letter.

 

[honeymum]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you sure it isn't the product recommended for dogs? there are usually 2 types....

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes definitely check this out as A LOT of dog flea treatments have this ingredient which is potentially fatal to cats. Am sure yours will be ok now.

 

[paulo]

Hi,
Yeah the treatment was specifically for cats and i stuck to the recommended dose. I have just spoken to Bob Martin who advised me to write to them with all the details.
My cat is still unwell, tremors, and shaking and foaming at the mouth, he's had to have more diazepam today. Apparently the active ingredient pymethrin is to blame. Hopefully he will be o.k.

 

[honeymum]

Poor puddicat, fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

 

[star]

permethrin is in the dog spot-on flea treatment and these all carry big warnings saying do not use on cats because it is highly poisonous. pymethrin is in the cat stuff and should be ok for them, but as far as my experience goes i've seen hundreds of cats after use of it with either side-effects or simply that it hasn't worked.
i had a cat in this week who had had bob martins spot on applied, then they washed him in a flea shampoo 1 week later and then applied frontline the next day - the poor thing has been vomiting ever since the bob martins stuff and is now really sick. these products contain dangerous chemicals and in my opinion should be taken off the market. chemicals like this should be banned and only decent products like frontline should be sold.

 

[Theresa_F]

I don't use anything but frontline.

My vet who is also a personal friend, advised me not to use Bob Martin products for the reason that you have suffered.

If this happened with people, the stuff would have long been banned.

 

[paulo]

I've bought Frontline but think i will wait a few days before treating him since he's been through enough stress.
Have you had any problems with Frontline?

The vet called yesterday she is preparing a report about the product to try and get it banned.
Bob Martin have advised me to send them the bill.

 

[_jetset_]

When I had to take Tia to the emergency vets (she came out in huge lumps, was burning up and was having difficulty breathing) there were two ladies who brought their cats in. Both had used the Bob Martin Spot On treatment, and both cats had ended up with seizures!!!!

 

[paulo]

I've since read lots about it causing seizures on the net , and also my vet had experienced it several times, I cant understand how Bob Martin/ Tesco are still allowed to sell it.

 

[glinda]

Hi

Just had to add...I am a Vet Nurse, we have treated loads of cats who have suffered after their owners have used such products, some have made it, some have not- so be warned

Best advise....if you want decent flea products then go ask your vet first. IMHO these sorts of products should never be sold in supermarkets and the like but only by people who undestand their use and can give good advice. These cheap(or even not so cheap) and nasty products should be taken off the market.

 

[TheresaW]

I use frontline on my 4 cats and have never had a problem.

 

[Fantasy_World]

What a frightening post and I'm so glad to hear your cat is ok after his experience.
Currently we have 4 cats that I use frontline on for flea treatment.
Have been brought up with cats all my life as mum had 6 at one point, oldest was 21 when she died.
I'm very close to cats and a post like this disturbs me as cats are as good as companions as dogs imo.
I also feel that products like this should not be on the shelves. However I do feel that the price of frontline is disgusting and if cheaper off the shelf products do eventually get banned then there should be a serious rethink into how much vets charge for frontline and similar products.
I don't use spot on I prefer the bottle because imo spot on is too expensive if you have several cats to flea.
I have also used frontline on my ferrets as well so the bottle is more convenient to me.
I hope you get an apology at the very least from Tesco and Bob Martin, Foxi as it is the very least you and your cat deserve

Cazx

 

[star]

[ QUOTE ]
there should be a serious rethink into how much vets charge for frontline and similar products.
Cazx

[/ QUOTE ]

actually, we charge the same as our local chemist for frontline and only £1 than on the internet. you cant charge less for products than it costs to buy them! a lot of research has gone into the products that we sell, hence why they are effective, but also cost more than bob martin rubbish - research is expensive, as is going through veterinary licensing - this all pushes the price of the product up. if even the internet cant sell it cheaper, then i dont see why vets should be expected to lose money over it.

 

[TheresaW]

One day last year, we noticed one of the cats had fleas. It was a sunday afternoon and we were out of frontline. Went to Tesco to see what treatments they had, and in all honesty, the Bob Martin Spot On wasn't a lot cheaper than Frontline.