Can Etofenprox cause allergic respritory failure in cats?

Question
QUESTION: My cat died recently after applying a product for flea control that contained Etofenprox. Symptoms onset was she became very lethargic and then quit eating and started demonstrating breathing problems. By the time I got her to a vet her lungs were full and there was nothing the vet could do to save her. I am curious if the product was to blame for her death, in your opinion. Her gums were almost white indicating no oxygen in her system and her heart failed. She was only 6 years and had demonstrated no other health issues except occasional vomiting from sensitive stomach/hairballs. Thank you for your reply to my sincere need to know. I feel I have been the cause of her death by applying this product to her skin.

ANSWER: Hi Cheryl,

I'm so sorry to hear about this.  How awful!

It is possible that this flea product could be responsible for the death of your kitty.  Etofenprox is a pyrethroid.  We know pyrethroids to be toxic to cats, and breathing problems are one of the reported reactions.  The folks who make lower-end flea treatments keep coming up with "new and better" pesticides to put in their products.  They are supposed to be safer than the older chemicals, but I still can't understand why they're using products in a family we know is highly toxic to cats.  I don't know if you could ever be 100% sure that there was no underlying health condition with your cat that just happened to surface coincidentally, but I think I would be very suspicious that the flea product had to do with this.

I encourage you to report this to the company whose flea product you bought.  They, in turn, are required to report the adverse effects to the Environmental Protection Agency.  The EPA has some involvement in which products will be allowed to stay on the shelves.  You could also ask your vet to file a report through the National Pesticide Information Center's Veterinary Incident Reporting portal.  This is a database where vets and techs can share information about adverse reactions to pesticides that their patients have experienced.  Your cat's case could be a warning to others.

I'm very sorry for your loss.  I wish you the best.

Jessica



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Should I report the case number, from the manufacturer, to the EPA myself? Are there other places I should contact to get the word out on these deadly across the counter flea and tick products? I have already warned my family and friends of this incident, but feel I need to help others avoid my horrible experience and possible death of their beloved animal. Thank you again for your response.

Answer
It won't hurt to report it to the EPA yourself.  It would be most helpful if you could send your case in with vet records indicating that this was most likely a reaction to the flea treatment, however.  Unfortunately, if your vet isn't cooperating, that will make things difficult.  Still, there should be no problems getting a copy of her records, and I don't think the timing is a coincidence.

As far as a place to report her adverse reaction, I'm not sure exactly which product you used, but I know there is a site dedicated specifically to getting the word out against Hartz products.  It's hartzvictims.org.  You can post your story there to help warn others.  

I nearly lost one of my kitties to a similar product years ago.  He went into full convulsions and was unconscious by the time we got him to the emergency vet.  After a 3-day hospital stay, he recovered.  But we were very lucky.  I have been dead set against any flea treatment that isn't available from my vets since then.  I can't understand how a company concerned with the welfare of pets can slap a "safe" label on something they know contains toxic ingredients, just because most pets tolerate them in small doses.  If the amount of CHILDREN were reacting to a product this way that pets are, it would be illegal.  They fail to understand that to many of us, our pets are just that.  

Please don't hold yourself responsible for this horrible tragedy.  When a company markets something as safe, you expect it to be safe.  We shouldn't expect any less.  These companies, who are fully aware of the potential of their products, are solely responsible for the outcome of their use.