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JRS___B's avatar
JRS___B
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013

HARTZ Ultra Guard Drops - Use Extreme Caution

I searched but did not find a thread on this.

There evidently has been a real big problem with Hartz Ultra Guard Flea and Tick DROPS for both cats and dogs. Animals have had all kinds of bad reactions, including death. The product must still be out there since my breeder has been contacting everyone who has adopted a dog from her and warning them.

Lots on information available on the internet - just Google it.

We switch our dogs from flea only treatment to flea and tick when we go to Florida for the winter, since we camp in a wooded area loaded with ticks.

I do not normally holler wolf when I see these claims, but I saw the picture of a wheaten terrier that looked like someone took a blow torch to the dog's whole back.

I apologize if this is old news to everyone else, but it was new to me.

8 Replies

  • magnusfide's avatar
    magnusfide
    Explorer II
    Oct 29, 2013
    We only use Frontline or Advantage now after one of our fur children reacted badly to Hartz ten years ago. Never will use Hartz again.
  • tplife's avatar
    tplife
    Explorer
    Oct 29, 2013
    dturm wrote:
    We have seen serious reaction and a death, most were owner errors (using dog products on cats), but I don't recommend these products.

    Doug, DVM

    Advantage is what we use, it's the same formulation for dogs or cats, the shelters post the weight charts online so people can save a ton of money by using a 1 ml syringe, a glass vial, and Extra Large Dog tubes. We don't have tics here in SoCal, otherwise we'd use Advantix. I currently meter out Advantage for two dogs and two cats in the extended family - saves a TON of money1 :)
  • dturm's avatar
    dturm
    Moderator
    Oct 29, 2013
    We have seen serious reaction and a death, most were owner errors (using dog products on cats), but I don't recommend these products.

    Doug, DVM
  • xteacher's avatar
    xteacher
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2013
    On other dog forums I'm a member of, I've heard horror stories about Hartz flea meds. I wouldn't use them.
  • resmas's avatar
    resmas
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2013
    The Fipronil products should be safe, but I have heard reports that the OTC's aren't very effective. That could be due to fleas/tick becoming resistant to fipronil, or it could be the manufacturer "diluting" it down to increase profit. The amount of fipronil should be listed by percentage, but you do have to wonder, especially when it is sold so cheaply by companies other than Merial.

    Hartz, Bio-Spot, Sargeants, and any other "over-the-counter not sold in vet clinic" brands that are NOT fipronil should be avoided. Lots of the issues are due to pyrethrins vs. permethrins and it is difficult for the average pet-owner to know the difference. Just don't use them and you will be safe.
  • BCSnob's avatar
    BCSnob
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2013
    BuckBarker wrote:
    Those old school Hartz remedies are nothing more than pesticides.
    Fipronil (Frontline) is also a pesticide.

    Fipronil is used in a wide variety of pesticide products, including granular
    products for grass, gel baits, spot-on pet care products, liquid termite
    control products, and products for agriculture. There are more than 50
    registered products that contain fipronil.
  • Pawz4me's avatar
    Pawz4me
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2013
    When I took my first dog to the vet many years ago, one thing he told me was to never, ever use anything made by Hartz or Sergeant's. Like most things he's told me over the years, that turned out to be good advice.

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