Since their release in 2012, there have been over 25 million Seresto Collars sold. In fact, data released by the Bayer Pharmaceutical Company in 2019 showed that over $300 million in revenue had been collected from the purchase of Seresto collars alone.
The collars work to prevent flea and tick infestations in household pets by releasing two active ingredients that spread across your dog’s skin and coat over time. The draw of this product, for many pet parents, is the affordable cost and the fact that Seresto claims to provide a full eight months of protection so long as the collar is properly fitted and maintained.
As great as this product may seem, there have been many reports surfacing of illness, injury, and even death occurring to beloved companions that sport the Seresto collar. And many parents are concerned that there may be a link between the collar and the health issues arising in dogs and cats with no history of physical illness.
Common issues referred to in client complaints include redness and irritation of the skin underneath the collar, hair loss, and even gastrointestinal abnormalities such as vomiting, diarrhea, or sudden loss of appetite.
What Are Veterinarians Saying?
In March of 2021, the Veterinary Information Network interviewed two licensed veterinary toxicologists in an effort to discover whether or not the link between Seresto collars and the reported health issues can be scientifically proven. The consensus was that these toxicologists would have a hard time making sense of the connection between the symptoms reported and the collars themselves due to the nature of the symptoms.
“Looking at these reports, these are very random things, ranging from ruptured ear drums… to liver failure, to heart problems, to kidney failure. The fact that the signs are very random makes me think that probably (the collar) is not involved.” – Dr. Tina Wismer, medical director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
What Does Elanco Have To Say?
On March 18, 2021, a representative for Elanco Animal Health, the pharmaceutical company that currently owns the patent for Seresto collars, released a press statement defending the integrity of the collars. This came after a hearing at the U.S. Court of Representatives was held requesting the temporary removal of Seresto collars from the market while an investigation was performed. In response to this request, Elanco stated the following:
“All data and scientific evaluation used during the product registration process, and through Elanco’s robust pharmacovigilance review, supports the product safety profile and efficacy. Therefore, no market action, such as recall, is warranted, nor has it been suggested from any regulatory agency.”
While there have been rumors circulating of the possibility of counterfeit collars coming from big-name production giants such as Amazon, these rumors have not been confirmed by any research or scientific data.
Regardless of these rumors, veterinarians continue to encourage pet parents to purchase their flea, tick, and heartworm prevention from verifiable manufacturers and distributors for the continued health and safety of all pets.
Toledo, United States.
