This flea collar is believed to have caused more than 2,500 pet deaths
File / eExtra News
Lawmakers are calling for Seresto flea and tick collars to be recalled after more than 2,500 pet deaths and nearly 100,000 pesticide poisoning incidents have been linked to it. However, despite calls for a recall, they’ve remained on the market, according to a 16-month investigation by a congressional subcommittee.
In the report, which was issued by a subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accused of continuously ignoring concerns about what “may be the most dangerous flea and tick product on the market.”
“The convenience of eight-month flea and tick protection, when many other products must be reapplied monthly, made the Seresto collar hugely popular with pet owners,” the report stated. “EPA knew about the dangers posed by the collar—and the many consumer complaints about the collars—for several years yet failed to take action.”
The exact same pet collar is labeled as highly toxic in Columbia, and with a label that reads “POISON” in Australia, but in the U.S., the parent company, Elanco – and its previous parent company, Bayer Animal Health – fought to omit those warnings from the labels.
According to a March 2021 report by USA Today, more than 75,000 pesticide incidents and about 1,700 deaths have been linked to the Seresto collar… with about 800 more pets dying since the report was published, according to the subcommittee. In addition, investigators said the EPA knew as early as 2015 that the Seresto collar had almost five times the death rate compared to the second most dangerous flea and tick product.
According to FOX4, internal messages from the EPA showed scientists asking things like, “Why is Seresto even registered?” and telling others they hope “this time someone can blow the lid off this travesty.”
The investigating committee has called for a recall of the collars and revoking their EPA registration since Elanco “has refused to voluntarily recall the collar.”
What do you think? Should this collar be off the market in the U.S.?
I got my dog a seresto collar (62.00) by morning he was puking all over and I took it off of him. I did give it to a friend who does use them and while her one dog is fine the other is hairless around the neck and has mega ear problems. I would never do that again
Do everything to stop the manufacture and sale of this horrible collar!!!!!!
stop the sale of this horrible collar and start a class action lawsuit!!!!!!
Yes!!! The flea collar should be banned, and the companies fined. All pet owners should refuse to support Elanco and Bayer animal products. Who knows how many of their products are dangerous and should not be given to or used on your pets?