In addition to flumethrin (4.5%), Seresto collars also contain imidacloprid (10%) as an active chemical ingredient. However, animal deaths appear to have been very sudden. In many cases, clinical signs improved after the collar was removed. These signs appeared after placing the collar on the pet and nuzzling them, or after sleeping with the pet.
#Flea and tick collar skin
In people, clinical signs varied widely: skin rashes or lesions numbness, tingling, or pain and nasal, ocular, or throat irritation were among them. In 2019, the EPA issued an internal memo that looked at flumethrin - one of Seresto collars’ active ingredients - and reviewed the human incidents that had been reported. The piece draws from documents obtained from the Center for Biological Diversity, an EPA watchdog. The reports were made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but unfortunately, the organization has not made the public aware of the collar’s risks - which is why the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting co-published an investigative piece on the issue with USA Today.
Among the incidents, 1,698 were pet deaths and 1,000 indicated harm to people. But if you've relied on Seresto’s flea and tick collar, you may want to switch brands: A recent report found that over the course of almost a decade, Seresto's flea and tick collar reportedly harmed 75,000 dogs, cats, and humans.
As a responsible dog parent, you give your pup the preventive treatments they need like heartworm and flea and tick meds.