The Environmental Protection Agency has received thousands of complaints about a popular pet flea collar, including more than 1,600 incidents of pet deaths and 1,000 cases of harm to humans who have had contact with it, USA Today is reporting.
Seresto, a flea and tick collar, has been linked to the pet deaths and human injuries, according to EPA documents that show the agency has received more than 75,000 complaints in the past eight years.
The collar, designed to release small amounts of pesticide onto the animal for months at a time, is advertised as a flea and tick killer that is safe for cats and dogs.
“No pesticide is completely without harm, but EPA ensures that there are measures on the product label that reduce risk,” an EPA spokesperson told USA Today in a statement.
“The product label is the law, and applicators must follow label directions. Some pets, however, like some humans, are more sensitive than others and may experience adverse symptoms after treatment.”
According to the USA Today story, Bayer, the company that made the collars, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. To read the entire USA Today story, click here.
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