Advantix Alert!!!! -- Update on Chloe & Lexi

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Update 3/15/2009 - Thank you everyone for your prayers and good wishes. After three weeks I think we are totally out of the woods. Financially, it took around 2K to get both my dogs right (read on if you want the history of this message). Chloe recovered after one week of fluids and Lexi is rebounding very well. After the swelling we changed her out to Benadryl, an ECollar, and her antibiotic to ensure no infection to the open sores. She had chewed all the hair off her paws and started on her hind quarters. She looked absolutely pathetic.

I finally took the brush to her last night and she had a lot of dried skin (like large dandruff) coming off as well as almost all of her undercoat. I had a huge pile of hair (keeping in mind this is a Golden Retriever that is low shedding). I brushed from her and all of the sores she developed in the midstream finally dried up and started coming off. The inside of her ears are all healing and we're almost completely white from drying out last week.

Sorry for all the gross details. The moral of the story: "Consider reading about other experiences with products before putting anything like this on your loved ones."

Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers. It's certainly worth knowing we can all reach out to each other and Adina is wonderful for keeping this site going for all of us to share the good and the bad.

-------------- INCIDENT INFORMATION ---------------------

Incident on 2/21/2009 - This week has been the most unbelievable week I have spent since I have owned dogs (which has been for all my life). I read several blogs about Frontline not working and decided to alternate products and purchase Advantix -- alternating between Frontline. Living in Georgia, I don't ever have problems with fleas, but after reading some of the blogs about problems, I decided that this would be a good thing to do. NOT!!!! Advantix wreaked havoc on my homelife and my budget.

Chloe, my Goldendoodle spent the entire week being fed with fluids to correct her runny/bloody stools and vomiting. After a late Saturday dose of Advantix, Monday morning she was running to the straw to poop and stopping in mid stream to vomit. She went to the vet that day and spent from Monday-Friday on fluids to correct the problem. What was the problem? The vets kept asking what was in the mix? Nothing.... Chloe is three years old and has never had runny stools except when she had her two litters (twice -- diarhea two times in three years from eating a Placenta).

On Tuesday I came home and noticed Lexi, my Golden Retriever chewing herself. I turned her over and to rub her and soothe her and saw a patch of red. Well, this got worse. Once again, the vets couldn't believe that the product was a problem and asked several questions until Friday... Lexi was seen at the vet. She was fire engine red in the ears, and all over her body. They finally decided that this might be a bad batch, or maybe a changed effort on behalf of Bayer without telling their customers.

During all of this I read several postings on the internet about the product and how some dogs almost died. Most everyone had similar stories of Chloe, some had the same as Lexi. Unrealistically, it's hard to believe that some dogs have one and the other have the other symptoms. Not fair dog lovers! I'm in to it for $1500 and it's not over. Lexi was at the emergency vet today and she looked like a Shar Pei. She has a slim face and had wrinkles on her forehead and swollen eyes. She was absolutely miserable. This is one week and one day later and I'm still battling.

The good part, Chloe is recovering. She is still on meds but picks up the ball and is eating chicken and rice with a little dog food. Lexi, my Golden Retriever on the other hand, is not out of the woods.

If you use Advantix, reconsider if you have just purchased a new batch. Is it a new blend? Don't take the chances. Is it Bayer finally taking the opportunity to make good to their customers by changing the blend and not telling anyone because they read all the blogs? We called 4 times now, no admittance to any problems. The vet has called, no admittance to anything. Please note, the EPA is aware of the problem because we reported it. Bayer is aware because we reported it. No excuse Bayer. Own up! Stand up dog lovers! If you have a problem and they don't own up, let them know you have a great rapport with friends from Doodlekisses and that we all love our dogs. I have more things to do then spend one hour writing a message about the problems they are introducing to our loved ones if they think these messages are all crap. I need to be in there making sure my dog doesn't chew her paws raw and to be sure she understands that I'm here for her if she needs me.

If you are concerned about a lot number it is as follows: KP059V(U)L & KP057DB

If you want pictures I have them.

The Problem

Lexi's Ear

Lexi's Belly -- It's gotten worse

All the Drugs - More than I want to own

My Girl Lexi - Just Wants to Play Ball Again!

[Mishon]

I hope your poor dogs get better! Your story is awful :(. And a great warning for the rest of us!!

[Missi]

I am so sorry to hear about your dogs!! I'm glad they are both pulling through, and I will definitely NOT be using Advantix in the future. Hope to hear an update that they are doing well soon!

[Sam]

Thanks for the warning Donna - we have been using Advantix on Ollie and another person mentioned to be careful with it as their friend had had problems with it (not sure to what extent though). Different packaging though but surely the same product (we are in Australia). Do you know if Frontline covers the dogs for paralysis ticks which is our main concern? We actually use the advantix once a fortnight which I am feeling pretty bad about at the moment...... :-(

[Denise, Winnie, and AngelAbby]

www.dogsonly.org/Woof/toast.asp?sub=show&action=posts&fid=2...
I did a search on Advantix and this is what I came up with... I can't believe this.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Penny, Comiskey & Beemer]

Just had our new pup to the vet yesterday.....wellness check....discussed this....vet recommended the Advantix....shows you how much vets know.....! Thanks for the info....

[sian]

OMG your poor babies. Thank you so much for the warning, I really appreciate it.

[2SCdoodles]

Oh, my! This is horrible! Your poor, poor dogs. My heart feels for you!

This posting has really been timely for me! I too am battling fleas! Frontline did not work, and when I was desperate the vet gave us Comfortis last month. It is time to make a decision on what to administer next, and I was thinking of Advantix. NO WAY! I am going to stay with the COMFORTIS!

Thank you for sharing. Please keep us posted on your dogs!

[Joy Originator of GiantSchnoodles]

Oh poor baby. May I have permission to cross post? PUppy love from Joy & furry folk

[Chris & Boys]

Oh, those poor babies! My heart goes out to all of you! I will be seeing the vet next week, I will make sure to discuss this with her. We should try to educate as many people as possible.

[Anthony & Lori Jacobs]

I have been using this since Nancy told about this it works great.I will never use anything else it is all Natural and really works and smells good too.

Comment by Nancy @ Doodlesville on May 30, 2008 at 6:20pm Delete Comment This is what i send home with my puppy families

Natural Repellent Recipe
Repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies and also makes the van/car smell great. Spray dogs and blankets. Use before going into the show ring instead of those other sprays; no chemical smell spray. Stuff smells great. Dogs look great and gives an additional shine to their coat.
Ingredients are full strength oils:
Tea Tree Oil
Rosemary Oil
Sage Oil
Cedarwood Oil
Peppermint Oil
Orange Oil
Eucalyptus Oil
Citronella Oil
Pine Needle Oil
DIRECTIONS:
Mix 4-6 drops of each with 32 oz of any natural shampoo and now you have a natural flea shampoo OR Mix 2-3 drops each with 16 oz Water in a spray bottle. Shake before each application and spray light over entire body. Health food stores in your area sell the oils or you can purchase online

CITRUS REPELLANT: Cut a lemon into quarters and place in a pint jug. Cover the lemon with boiling water and let it steep overnight. Next day you have a flea repellant that you can use in a spray bottle. Spray all over your dog remembering especially behind the ears and around the head generally (careful of eyes), around the base of the tail
(once again keep away from delicate bits) and under your dog armpits.

AROMATHERAPY REPELLANT. Using 10 ml. of sweet almond oil as your base, add 10 drops of lavender and 5 drops of cedarwood. Shake well and use 1 or 2 drops spread over the skin at least twice a week to keep the fleas away.
A flea collar can be made by rubbing a few drops of one of the following into an ordinary webbing or rope collar or even a doggy bandanna: eucalyptus oil, Tea Tree Oil,
citronella, lavender or geranium. Don’t forget to do this weekly.

YOUR HOME: Fleas spend most of their time in your furnishings and only hop onto your dog or you for their next meal. Make sure you wash your dog’s bedding regularly
because no flea ever survived a hot wash cycle. If you add eucalyptus oil to the final rinse it will also kill 99% of house dust mites.
Vacuum your home very thoroughly and sprinkle a fine layer of ordinary table salt over your upholstery and carpets and leave overnight before vacuuming again to evict your
unwelcome guests safely but don’t forget to empty your vacuum bag.

BATHING: A badly infested dog really needs to be bathed so use your favorite dog shampoo. Rinse the dog off very thoroughly and in the final rinse add a couple of drops of Tea Tree Oil or Lavender oil. An alternative is to make your own herbal flea dip which will also work on ticks. Steep two cups of fresh rosemary in two pints of boiling
water for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid, discard the leaves and make it up to one gallon (8 pints) with warm water. Pour this mixture over the dog until it’s saturated. Do not
rinse off and allow the dog to dry naturally so this is a remedy to use on hot summer days.

INTERNAL FLEA REPELLENTS: Garlic may not be your favorite cologne and it’s not the flea’s favorite smell either. When your dog eats garlic, the smell is excreted through the dog’s skin making your dog less likely to be the flea’s next meal.
Brewer’s yeast tablets will also help to make your dog less attractive to fleas because once again the smell is excreted through the skin.
Adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the water bowl will make the skin more acidic and unpleasant to fleas and ticks. If your dogs don’t fancy apple cider vinegar in
the water bowl, dilute it 50/50 with water and use in a spray bottle instead of the citrus rep

[Mommy2Max]

Oh My!

I'm so sorry to that both you and your "babies" had to go through this.

Thank you so much for allowing us to learn from your experience!

I hope they are feeling better.

~Danielle