Why did my dog collapse after using flea shampoo and topical?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I definitely understand how you feel and I am so sorry for your loss. It is very unlikely that this happened from applying too much flea medicine. This is more likely due to the other symptoms you mentioned including the diarrhea, difficulty urinating and fatigue. This could have been due to a disease that had not been identified. Again I am so sorry for your loss and I will keep you in my thoughts as you go through this difficult time.

I am very sorry for your loss. Fleas drink blood. It is possible if your cat had a lot of fleas that it made him anemic which can be fatal. However fleas carry diseases too which can make them sick. I do not think you using an all natural flea prevention caused snowy harm

If the episodes occur in close proximity to administration of one of these products (24-48 hours) then it could be related to the medication. In these cases the product should be stopped and the pet should be transitioned to a different one. Another potential cause could be a type of seizure. You did not mention an age for Max, but seizures in dogs can be due to epilepsy (typically diagnosed at a young age but can be diagnosed later in life), metabolic cause (hypoglycemia, Addison's disease), central nervous system infections/inflammation, or an intracranial mass (typically more of a concern in older patients). If he has not had a full physical exam performed recently by his veterinarian I would recommend having it done, along with routine wellness blood work (serum chemistry, complete blood count) to rule-out organ dysfunction/metabolic cause.

Nitenpyram is a short acting medication. It kills adult kills rapidly and should not last past 24 hours. If he is having abrwaction, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian. If an adverse reaction is not the cause of the symptoms described, then a more comprehensive exam and diagnostics may be required to diagnose the underlying cause. If he has been intentionally poisoned, an exam is strongly recommended. The sooner a toxicity is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chances for a positive outcome. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing options, such as CareCredit ( www.carecredit.com ), with the veterinarian or office manager. Friends and family can also be asked to assist you financially.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I’m so sorry to hear about Misty! If you want an answer you need to have her neceopsied (autopsy for animals). Fleas can kill a pet if there are so many they suck all the blood out of the pet. Typically we don’t see this in adult pets but it can happen. Because Misty died suddenly I would be more suspicious of underlying heart disease. Cats can have undiagnosed heart problems which can arise suddenly. If not, I would be concerned of a toxin. Again, it’s hard to say for sure but at least you know she didn’t suffer. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.

Hi there. There are many things that we cannot know without a full exam here. First I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your kitten. Secondly, yes-flea and tick medications can have adverse reactions in some of our patients, albeit somewhat rarely. If you have used a dog medication on your kitten or one too large, they can definitely cause seizures and death. Your kitten could also have had some underlying issues like congenital heart disease or congenital kidney disease that could have caused sudden, unexplained death. Sorry for the loss of your friend. I hope this helps.

It is possible that Crickett was showing a reaction to using these products. It is also possible that she was having something like a seizure that was unrelated. I recommend to play it safe and have a Crickett examined by her veterinarian and have her blood work checked to make sure everything is normal. It also sounds like your flea prevention is not working. Please do become immune to products. Speak with your veterinarian about what type of flea product is best to use for Crickett. The oral flea products are best for dogs but some dogs who have seizures cannot tolerate them. I hope this helps.