IF YOU HAVE A CAT YOU LOVE PLEASE READ THIS NOW! by Caite

TALK STORY

IF YOU HAVE A CAT YOU LOVE PLEASE READ THIS NOW!

POSTED BY: CAITE
UPDATED: Sunday, April 10, 2005 08:25
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VIEWED: 8036
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Saturday, March 5, 2005 7:42 AM

If you have a cat please do not use HARTZ FLEA AND TICK TREATMENT FOR CATS AND KITTENS!!!! I just found out that it causes major problems (seizures) and sometimes death in many cats. My cat Angel almost died last night after I applied the treatment in the afternoon. He started having seizures and had to be taken to a 24 hour vet at midnight. When I called them to ask what I should do, and mentioned that I had just given him a flea treatment they said "It wasn't Hartz, was it?" I just about died. He should be okay, but now I have a huge vet bill to pay and I'm a very poor college student.

Please, don't let this happen to you!

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Saturday, March 5, 2005 12:20 PM

HELIA

What an awful thing to have happen. Best wishes for your kitty's speedy recovery.

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Saturday, March 5, 2005 6:08 PM

SGTGUMP

That sucks. I hope you cat gets better, and thanks for the heads-up.

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Saturday, March 5, 2005 6:25 PM

CAITE

Thanks for the support. Little Angel came home tonight and the pronosis is very good :)

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Saturday, March 5, 2005 6:33 PM

NEEDLESEYE

I've heard of this problem with Hartz and with a few other flea products.
Just want to say that should you choose another flea product, I have never ever had a problem with Advantage. I've used it on around 15 animals (cats/kittens/dogs/pups) my family and I have, without a single reaction. It's excellent. Not to say that some animal out there might not be allergic.
Anyway, I get it from www.jefferspet.com . You don't net a vet prescription and it's packaged dosage based on animal's weight. It may cost a little more, but I have found it so reliable to be worth it.

I hope your kitty is better soon. He's lucky to have a caring human like you! :D

Keeper of Jayne's goggles. 8)

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Saturday, March 5, 2005 7:00 PM

MAI

Thanks so much for the information. I hope Angel is doing better.

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Saturday, March 5, 2005 7:28 PM

CAITE

Once again, thank you to everyone for their support. This is why I love fff.net. Everyone is so caring about one another. I am truly touched, and it has helped me to get through this tough time. Angel has been home for a few hours now and seems to be back to normal! He's grooming, walking around like normal, and eating. It looks like a horrible event was averted.

I know that the animals lovers out there realize how much love their is between an owner and their pet, and I don't believe there's much worse than losing a cherished pet. My little one has helped me through some hard times when I was down and feeling lonely, and I'm glad that finally I got to return the favor by getting him the care he needed.

Thanks again, and please spread the word about the dangers of Hartz products, okay? I wouldn't want anyone to go through the emotional and financial hardship that I went through.

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Sunday, March 6, 2005 2:44 AM

FREMDFIRMA

I love my kitties, and use only anti-flea products containing Pyrethin, which is based off a natural 'pesticide' created by daisies.

Quite effective for all that, low risk of reaction to it, and it fits the natural order of things better than dangerous formulated chems.

Nice cat story for ya folks in the meantime, since this thread seems most appropriate and I have a few minutes.....

My girls' cousin is a vet's assistant, and their office wound up with this tiny little mangled half dead cat prettymuch dumped on their doorstep in a horrible downpour... she'd gotten really badly mauled somehow and had wedged herself under a rock and nearly drowned.

Being the decent human beings they are, her office patched up and saved the poor lil critter, but were unable to save it's right-rear leg, which had to alas, be amputated.

Now, because there are so many unwanted kittens, and people are as a rule... jerks, most of the time a "defective" animal is simply put down, but no one in her office could even suggest it, as this lil kitten was the sweetest, most loving, energetic and friendly critter they'd seen in a long while.. so they got to thinkin about who they knew who would take and love the kitty.

Then it occured to my girl's cousin who would.. you see, I lost my lower right leg in a near fatal accident over ten years ago, I know *exactly* what it's like... ironically, basically the same leg this one was missing (oh and ain't we a pair hoppin to the kitchen for some food?)

And thus, now we have five cats, the others have adapted well, since our house is large enough that territorial disputes are few, and food/water and litter is quite sufficient (they're Soooo spoiled!) for five or more cats.

Sorry for the mild threadjack, but this tale is so sweet I couldn't help sharing it with fellow Felidae fans.

Now if I can just teach the adoring lil monster not to slam her head into my face when I'm asleep cause she's booooored...

-F

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Sunday, March 6, 2005 7:26 AM

DTUCK

We decided not to use Hartz when, last year, it sent 2 of our 5 kittens into seizures 5 minutes after we applied it to their backs. We contacted the vet, and he also said it was the Hartz.

Luckily, the seizures only lasted about a half-hour, but it was one of the strangest 30 minutes I've ever experienced. They just lay down and shook. Didn't make a sound at all.

Every so often, they would stop, but then it would start up again a minute later, not quite as severe, until they stopped shaking completely, and just seemed exhausted.

The odd thing is, we've had lots of cats, and it was only those two who responded badly to Hartz.

__________________________________

The best way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.

- Oscar Wilde

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Monday, March 7, 2005 6:02 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Caite, thanks for the warning about Hartz. I am glad to hear your cat is home and doing better. I know how upsetting those close calls w/ our furry friends can be when they happen.

My wife and I use Advantage products on our cats and dog. They are a bit more expensive, but we have found the results to be better than other products and Advantage is recommended by vets.

I had never heard about the problem w/ Hartz, but I will pass the word along to everyone I know.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Meet Up:
http://firefly.meetup.com/9/boards/

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Monday, March 7, 2005 6:25 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by Caite:
Please, don't let this happen to you!

If we have a cat, but we don't particularly like her, is it ok to use this stuff?

Its not my question, my dog Willy wants to know...

H and W

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Monday, March 7, 2005 6:47 AM

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Hartz has been infiltrated by the FeLine Extermination Association.

I jest.

My cat had a bad reaction to a flea prevention stuff. I don’t remember what it was. May have been Hartz. It’s a risk you take when you put a highly toxic substance on your cat. It’s like putting a dab of cyanide on the back of your neck. The results aren’t always going to peachy. But my house was awash in fleas and I had to eliminate them. So I poisoned the house and poisoned my cat and hoped both would survive. I keep my cat inside to prevent that from happening.

Also I live on a mountain where there are coyotes and lynx prowling about which would eat my cat. And since my balcony overlooks a cliff and my cat has no front claws, I can’t let out on the balcony either. This dumb animal just falls off stuff for no reason. It’s really rather useless.

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Monday, March 7, 2005 7:30 AM

ODDNESS2HER

I have some Hartz at home and it's going in the trash the second I get in the door. On behalf of Edie and Joe I thank you for the warning! Thank heavens Angel is OK!

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Monday, March 7, 2005 3:27 PM

CAITE

Yes Yes YES!!! I am so glad that you got my message before using the stuff! That is why I am posting everywhere I can think of about the product.

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Tuesday, March 8, 2005 7:01 AM

ODDNESS2HER

You done good, Caite.

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Tuesday, March 8, 2005 9:00 AM

KNIBBLET

I get all supplies for my pets through their vet, Grand Avenue Vet in St. Paul MN. They've always taken such good care of all the brainless twits who drop fur around my house.

My sheltie, Connor, has epilepsy and is medicated to prevent seizures. Both he and his brother, Duncan, had them bad. It was heartbreaking to see and am so grateful for GAV and their care.

Good luck to Angel baby.

"Just keep walkin, preacher man."

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Tuesday, March 8, 2005 9:22 AM

WHISPER

Thanks for the info!! I am a certified veterinary technician and i had not heard about this. I will certainly pass it on to my clients.
Another good product (you do need a prescription for) is Revolution. It prevents/treats fleas, ticks, heartworm, and some intestinal parasites. It is more expensive but a very good product.

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Tuesday, March 8, 2005 10:35 PM

CAITE

You're very welcome...

The only sad thing now is coming up with the money to pay the vet bill. While I'm grateful Angel's well again, I'm about to cry from the stress of trying to come up with almost $400 because I'm a broke college student....any suggestions LOL?

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Tuesday, March 8, 2005 10:55 PM

NEEDLESEYE

Do you have a trade skill? Sewing or carpentry, painting or somesuch. I find a quick way to earn cash is to offer services. NO "servicing" jokes! :P
Really though, Proof read someones papers, sell some CDs. (You can always replace them)
Sell cookies and tell people what it's for, You'd be surprised how many people who won't spare a penny for another human being are suckers for cute little animals.
Sort of dumb example is when I was in college I was taking too many art classes at once. I was so broke, I had no credit card and I needed art supplies bad. I dug into some of my mothers oils from college and used machine oil because I couldn't afford linseed oil! LOL! It worked great! later my teacher was asking how I got some effect on the piece I turned in for my final. When I told her she looked at me like I was a complete LOSER. Ah well, she had graded it already and gave me a super high score!

Anyway, sorry for the sort of thread jack. My point is, theres lots of things you can do.
Be creative!

Maybe you could "zazzle" or "cafe press" some t-shirts with your kitty on em??

Keeper of Jayne's goggles. 8)

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Thursday, March 17, 2005 6:59 AM

CHANNAIN

i DO aim to misbehave

So going home now and dumping it in the trash. Thanks for the heads-up, Caite.

Whisper: Thanks,for the recommendation. Simon LUVES the outdoors. We put him on a harness and a leash, thanks to the local leash-law, so he doesn't get out of our yard... well, not too often, anyway.

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am. http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922
Minnesota Meetup - join us! http://firefly.meetup.com/45/

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Thursday, March 17, 2005 7:40 AM

DIEGO

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
I
Being the decent human beings they are, her office patched up and saved the poor lil critter, but were unable to save it's right-rear leg, which had to alas, be amputated.
-F

A friend of mine has been a vet tech for many years and she has had a history of adopting amputee cases. She has three dogs. One has four legs and is normal albeit grumpy, one is missing a front leg, and the other is missing a hind leg. It's amazing how fast those tripod dogs can run! They have appropriate appelations: one is named Peggy and the other is named Tippy.

Interestingly enough this pet karma extended outside of the vet office hor my friend. She even found a hamster with no feet in a parking lot and took him home. His name became Nubs.

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Thursday, March 17, 2005 10:22 AM

LEEH

SO sorry you found out the hard way about Hartz products. I had a dog get very sick off a Hartz bone 25 years ago, and have stayed away since. Basically, avoid any pet product that you can buy in a grocery store--that goes for foods too.

Others are right that Advantage is generally much safer. To hedge your bets, though, you might want to underdose your cat: buy a flea comb, and only use Advantage when the comb detects either fleas or "flea dirt" (dried blood that looks like little black specks). You comb the back part of their back, above their tail, to look for fleas or flea dirt. I only do my cats a few times a year, to minimize overtoxicity. Your vet tech can show you how this is done.

As for paying the vet: it depends on where you live, but some animal rescue groups will help people struggling with vet bills. Try calling your local Humane Society or other rescue group to ask for suggestions. Also, see if your vet might let you "work off" part of the bill--vets often need people to clean out kennels or cages. It's kind of like washing the dishes to pay the restaurant for the meal, you know? At the very least, your vet might let you pay on an installment plan, since you are a broke college student. And if that doesn't work, put up signs in pet shop windows, with a pitiful picture of Angel and your story, and you will probably get some donations. I've seen it work before!

Good luck.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle. . . ."

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Tuesday, March 22, 2005 1:24 PM

CAITE

Just a little bump on my own behalf so people on this board can continue to get this information

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Friday, April 8, 2005 2:29 PM

FAY

I don't have a cat my self, but my best friend does. I will tell her about this. That's just horible what hapend to your cat. I hope it does not cause a long term damage.

Anna

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Sunday, April 10, 2005 8:25 AM

CAITE

It does not appear to have caused any damage. He seems to be back to his "normal" self hahaha. Thank you though for the response.

Quote:
Originally posted by Fay:
I don't have a cat my self, but my best friend does. I will tell her about this. That's just horible what hapend to your cat. I hope it does not cause a long term damage.

Anna

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