FDA’s new warning about flea meds

[Kathy and Ruby Skye]

if this has already been asked and answered, I apologize in advance. I still struggle with finding everything I want here. Lol! I received a notice from Whole Dog Journal recently advising people to hold off giving their dogs and cats four flea preventatives due to an announcement by the FDA. Here is the article: https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/Hold-Off-on-Those-Oral-Flea-.... 

On September 20, the FDA issued a communication for pet owners and veterinarians, warning about the potential for neurologic adverse events following the administration of certain flea and tick products to dogs and cats. The products named in the release are oral products, available by veterinary prescription only, that contain isoxazoline-based ingredients. These include Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard, and Simparica.

I’m wondering what people think about this warning. I am currently using Nexgard, but think I will hold off on giving my girl any more, but what to use in the meantime? Thoughts? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi Kathy,
Here is a discussion from last week on this same topic. The responses may give you some ideas on alternative preventatives:

https://doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/fda-common-flea-and-tick-warn...

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Karen, I saw that you give Jasper Sentinel.  I notice Sentinel Spectrum kills adult fleas and ticks. Is that the one your vet recommends?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't think so. It just says Sentinel; flavor tabs. 
Sentinel Spectrum adds another drug and isn;t as safe. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We have to do fleas out here and once in a while ticks - I found a dead tick on Clancy this summer - thanks to Frontline it was dead, but with Frontline, the flea or tick has to bite the dog, so that isn't pleasant.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think they all work that way. None of them repel fleas or ticks, to my knowledge. 

[Kathy and Ruby Skye]

Thank you Karen. I knew you would show me the way! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The new one from my vet is a topical and is supposed to repel fleas, ticks, biting flies and mosquitoes.  I threw away the box and I can't remember the name of it.  It is a generic and very new.  It attracts dirt like crazy and Ned spends the month with dirt spots on his back.  I think it makes Charlie itchy - we've only used it twice so I can't be sure his itchness was caused by the flea preventive.

[Stacy]

I'm looking at the website. It looks like sentinel spectrum adds praziquantel to kill tapeworms but they're otherwise the same. I use the old original sentinel. Both of them claim to prevent flea eggs from hatching but do not treat adult fleas. Neither one of them do anything for ticks. 

^† Prevents flea eggs from hatching; does not treat adult fleas.
* A. caninum.
HEARTGARD and the Dog & Hand logo are registered trademarks of Merial.

[Serra N Snickers]

Oops, you asked about Flea Treatments. Well, that might be found on the recalls.gov

 here is a good one for Pet food recalls:

  These sites usually have the names and lot numbers of the pet food being recalled. 

To find out which dog foods exactly were recalled, Try checking here:

        https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/types/petfood/index.html

   ( And this is an all-around good one to keep:

               recalls.gov )

  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't think recalls are the issue here. There haven't been any recalls on flea/tick preventatives, this is about an FDA warning that the active ingredient in certain products has caused neurological issues in some dogs. The products themselves have not been recalled. The OP is looking for alternatives.
As for food recalls, we have a section in the Food group here on DK where we post all the food recalls as soon as they are issued. :)