The Dog Blog

From the Vet

IN THE NEWS | Seresto Collars

by Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH

Jun 1, 2021

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IN THE NEWS

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Seresto Collars

[/trx_title][trx_title type=”4″ align=”center” color=”#434544″ weight=”700″ bottom=”mini”]by Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH[/trx_title][vc_column_text]

Seresto collars obtained EPA approval in 2012 and have been used safely in hundreds of thousands of pets since that time. Recently there was a report published claiming that this product is killing animals. This article relied on reports of pet owners as a source. (Note: Anyone can report side effects of a product to the company. These complaints are then logged and become record. You do not need medical testing or proof that it was a product alone to file these reports. There is no mention if these pets that have died have pre-existing or current diseases that could have contributed to death. It also does not require people to show proof of purchase or way to verify that the product was not counterfeit. These two things create huge problems when trying to interpret the reports and verify what is going on.) I do believe that any medication can cause side effects and potentially death. This is true of anything in excess or even in normal amounts – if the patient is unable to metabolize certain medications. The concept is not unique to veterinary medicine, there are people that have a horrible reaction to sunlight, antibiotics, or even some foods. The fact that some people can sun bathe, take penicillin, and eat any kind of food is not the fault of the product -it’s genetics. How do most people find out they are allergic to certain foods or medication? They are prescribed medication or eat food that causes a reaction. The patient is treated and in the future, medication or foods are avoided to prevent reactions.

All medications have an inherent risk associated with them. When prescribing medication to patients, veterinarians (and physicians) do so with the intention of improving the health of our patient. We then rely on pet owners to report and monitor for adverse events and report them in a timely manner- we cannot offer help on problems we are not aware of! We have alternative medications for most things we need to care for our patients. If your pet is not tolerating a medication well we want to know so we can try alternatives. Some pets are not necessarily reacting poorly to the active ingredients in the medication but carriers or other ingredients utilized to deliver the medication.

The bottom line with the Seresto article, in my opinion, is the lack of proof of purchase of true product versus counterfeit product. The complete medical history is not evaluated for all reported complaints. Correlation does not mean causation! This is a globally distributed product and there are more regulating agencies other than the EPA that have reviewed the safety and efficacy of this product. Accidents and reactions are going to happen, I urge you to work with your veterinarian if you are concerned with adverse reactions. It is additionally important to purchase animal related products from reputable companies (Not AMAZON) or veterinarians.

If you have ever concerned about pet products check with the company directly to see if there have been recent recalls, check with the regulating body about recalls or problems with the product (primarily the EPA or FDA), and discuss concerns with your veterinarian.

[/vc_column_text][/trx_section][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1533135180690{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1533134942241{background-color: #d9ae4c !important;}”][trx_title type=”2″ align=”left” color=”#f6f2e4″ left=”20″ right=”20″]About Dr. Eileen Savier[/trx_title][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1533135315368{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]Dr. Eileen SavierBarks & Recreation is proud to feature Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH as our Veterinary Blogger in our “From the Vet” Series. Currently part of the team of doctors at Keystone Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Savier is a 2012 Graduate of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, She completed her clinical experience at The Ohio State University and after veterinary school she pursued further education and certification in Veterinary Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Fear Free veterinary visits. Dr. Savier has a special interest in integrative medicine, animal behavior, and internal medicine and is committed to improving animal health care by integrating Eastern and Western philosophies. She enjoys working with fearful & aggressive dogs and cats and she has had additional training in low stress handling techniques and encourages positive reinforcement during exams and procedures. Her clinical interests include pain management, animal behavior, geriatric patient care, and internal medicine. Dr. Savier is a member of the following associations:

Dr. Savier shares her home with two (soon to be three) dogs, two cats, and a toddler. She lovingly refers to her two dogs as Coconut Retrievers as they were rescue dogs she brought home from the island of St. Kitts. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and planning her next Disney vacation.

Join us every month for Dr. Savier’s “From the Vet” series to get more information related to the health and welfare of your furry family members![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

About Dr. Eileen Savier

Barks & Recreation is proud to feature Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH as our Veterinary Blogger in our “From the Vet” Series — offering information related to the health and welfare of your furry family members! Currently part of the team of doctors at Keystone Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Savier is a 2012 Graduate of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, She completed her clinical experience at The Ohio State University and after veterinary school she pursued further education and certification in Veterinary Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Fear Free veterinary visits. Dr. Savier has a special interest in integrative medicine, animal behavior, and internal medicine and is committed to improving animal health care by integrating Eastern and Western philosophies. She enjoys working with fearful & aggressive dogs and cats and she has had additional training in low stress handling techniques and encourages positive reinforcement during exams and procedures. Her clinical interests include pain management, animal behavior, geriatric patient care, and internal medicine.

Dr. Savier is a member of the following associations:

Dr. Savier shares her home with two (soon to be three) dogs, two cats, and a toddler. She lovingly refers to her two dogs as Coconut Retrievers as they were rescue dogs she brought home from the island of St. Kitts. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and planning her next Disney vacation.