IT'S THE VECTRA!! - UPDATE #2

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

So some of you remember last month when Bandit was afflicted with a temporary paralysis after I had given him his monthly dose of HeartGuard and Vectra 3D...The vet said muscle spasm.. and sent us home with some painkillers which I never gave him... He was better after about 24 hours, or 48 after the given dose...And has been fine all month

 

Last week I gave him his HeartGuard with no issue.  Today we were going hiking in the woods and I felt compelled to give Bandit some topical because he hadn't had any in 5 weeks, so I gave him his last dose of Vectra, that was around noon.. And sure enough about 8 pm he is acting like he can't walk.. WTD??  Should I give him a bath or is it too late???  I knew it was the Vectra... I feel terrible for giving it to him again..  And I am peeved at the Vet for pretty much disregarding that his symptoms could have anything to do with these meds...I will be calling them tomorrow to tell them he is doing the exact same thing in about the same time frame as last month....

 

I am definitely calling the vet in the morning.. but should I bathe him??

 

So Bandit is definitately not is usual doodley self... I couldn't get him up this morning.  I had to carry him outside but he did manage a nice long pee and poop.  But then he just ran back to me and sat on my lap while Rosey did laps around the yard.  I think it is affecting him somewhere in his lower spine as he keeps turning his head and biting that area.  And he seems to like to be scratched there. 

 

I am at work, but he was more than happy to be settling on his couch in their room with his marrow bone for the day.  Hopefully by the time I get home he will be doing better.

 

Update #2:  He seems to be doing better!!  I got home and he was shakin' his tail and wiggling his butt!!  We went on a nice long walk and he did fine.  This is pretty much the same timing (48 hours) after Vectra dose last month that he is doing better.  So now I need to report to the EPA and still call the vet, I didn't get to that today but should have time in the morning.

 

Well I guess the strangest thing he did was hide under Rosey's bed for about 10 minutes...

 

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

This is just horrible! I'm glad you gave him a bath. Even if he had some in his blood stream, you are preventing it getting any worse than it already is.  Hoping to hear that Bandit is fine tomorrow.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Oh no! I'm glad you found out what it was though...

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Suzann, just a thought.  Maybe you should insist that your vet make a report of this reaction to both the product company, and to the EPA (not the FDA--the FDA doesn't oversee insecticidal chemicals). Reporting adverse reactions contributes to the total number of pets that may have to suffer/cope with similar problems. The EPA is unable to instruct companies to label their products if side effects and dangerous reactions are not put on record.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I can try... but the vet completely brushed off that this could have been an adverse reaction to the topical... I can try to contact Vectra and the EPA....do they only take reports from vets?

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

This is from the EPA's website

What to Do if Your Pet Shows Adverse Effects
EPA recommends that veterinarians use the National Pesticide Information Center’s Veterinary Pesticide Adverse Effects Reporting portal to report incidents.

Pet owners can report incidents through several routes:


Tell the Registrant: Pet owners should always report adverse effects to the product registrant. Pesticide manufacturers are required by law to report incident information to EPA. Contact information can be found on the product label. Clearly identify the name of the product used, the EPA Registration Number, the type and breed of animal affected, symptoms observed in the pet, and any other details pertaining to the incident.

Tell EPA: Forward the information in our “ask a question” site:
Go to the Pesticides Frequent Questions Web page
Select "flea and tick products" on the left sidebar
The question that will give you the information about reporting an incident will be one of the first questions. Or you can search for ID number 18052 using the advanced search function near the top of the left sidebar.

Tell Your Veterinarian: Veterinarians have access to a reporting mechanism called the Veterinary Pesticide Adverse Effects Reporting portal to report incidents. This portal is not for use by the public.

Tell the National Pesticide Information Center: Call 1-800-858-7378 to report an incident.

 

Here's a link to the page  http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/health/petproductseval.html#info

 

You can locate the EPA registration number on the tube of Vectra.  The ones I have are EPA Reg No 83399-6  and EPA Est no 68669-NC-1

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Okay I will have to do this when I get home... and get the tube of Vectra out of the trash!!

[DeeDee and Sheila]

How smart of you to only give one medication at a time!  Now you know the culprit.  I agree w/ Karen to try to get the rest off.  Then I would use this as a test with your vet.  See how he/she reacts, suggests.  I love Karen's comment of checking the ingredients, and that is something that the vet should know right away.  The obvious is Frontline, but as Karen says, does it have same ingredients?  I'm assuming Vectra is for ticks???

It may be time to switch vets.  I had to.  It was very hard, but now I have a smarter vet that has had more training.

You are right.  Your intuition was right on.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Suzann, how is Bandy doing this morning?  I'm hoping the bath helped, and he's back to normal.

[Sally]

Duncan was just switched over to vectra two months ago. Thank god he has not had an issue. He was on frontline prior. I hope he will remain symptom free with it. But my friends dog actually starting having seizures the first time she used frontline plus on her pup (a terrier not a doodle) and her vet told her it had nothing to do with it but a month later when she gave his next treatment he had another seizure. Not sure why these vets are always adamant that these chemicals aren't ever the cause. Grrr! Hope bandit is ok. 

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Keep an eye on him... Bandit has been on Vectra for a long time and didn't have any issue until last month.... I agree on the vet!!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Is Bandit feeling better?

[Leslie and Halas]

I hope Bandit is back to his usual self this morning.  I'm sorry you and he had to go through this again, but at least you know the cause now.