Protect Pets From Seizures Caused By Toxic Flea And Tick Drugs

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Deadly side effects from common flea and tick medications are putting beloved pets at risk of seizures and death—together we must call for stronger warnings, transparent data, and safer solutions for every animal.

Protect Pets From Seizures Caused By Toxic Flea And Tick Drugs

Flea and tick preventives are supposed to protect pets from dangerous parasites. But for too many families, these medications have caused harm instead. Drugs in the isoxazoline class—Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica, Credelio, and Revolution Plus—have been linked to seizures, tremors, and sudden loss of coordination in otherwise healthy dogs and cats1. These reactions have been documented by the thousands, yet warning labels remain vague, and safer alternatives lag behind.

The Risks Lurking Behind the Label

Since 2013, the FDA has approved multiple isoxazoline products to fight fleas and ticks. While most pets tolerate them, adverse event reports continue to mount. Some animals with no prior history of seizures developed them within days of receiving these drugs2. Even young puppies in pre-approval studies showed troubling neurological signs at higher doses1. For pet owners who trusted these medications, the consequences have been devastating.

What Surveys and Studies Reveal

A large-scale survey of veterinarians and pet owners found that nearly two-thirds of dogs treated with flea and tick medications experienced an adverse reaction3. Reports included seizures, ataxia, and in some cases, death4. Independent veterinary case reports from around the world echo these findings, describing tremors, twitching, and neurologic distress following treatment5. These data make one thing clear: the risks are real and demand stronger action.

Why Stronger Action Is Needed

The FDA has updated product labels to acknowledge neurologic events, but pet parents are still left in the dark2. Information is scattered, and adverse event data is not easily accessible to the public. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies continue to market these drugs aggressively, despite growing concerns about their long-term safety. Our animals are paying the price for inadequate warnings and incomplete science.

Time to Put Compassion First

Pets give us unconditional love. They cannot choose the medications placed in their mouths or applied to their skin. That responsibility falls on us—and on the institutions and companies that regulate and sell these products. Compassion demands more transparent reporting, clearer warnings, independent safety studies, and a commitment to developing safer alternatives. Without these changes, families will continue to face the risk of preventable suffering.

Take Action Today

It is time to call for accountability from the FDA and pet pharmaceutical companies. Our pets deserve protection from fleas and ticks without the threat of seizures or worse. Add your name to the petition and call for stronger labels, transparent data, safer research, and better alternatives. Sign now to protect the animals who trust us most.

More on this issue:

  1. AVMA News (31 October 2018), "Four flea, tick products linked to seizures, ataxia."
  2. FDA (20 September 2018, updated 8 Aug 2019), "Animal Drug Safety Communication: FDA Alerts Pet Owners and Veterinarians About Potential for Neurologic Adverse Events Associated with Certain Flea and Tick Products."
  3. Palmieri V. et al., Vet Med Sci (2 June 2020), "Survey of canine use and safety of isoxazoline parasiticides."
  4. Barri J. Morrison DVM, PetMD (6 May 2024), "Flea and Tick Medicine Poisoning in Dogs."
  5. Andrew Spanner, Walkerville Vet (8 December 2022), "Do Popular Dog Tick Treatments Cause Seizures?"

The Petition

To the Food and Drug Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Pet Pharmaceutical Companies,

Every pet parent deserves to know that the products they trust to protect their animals from fleas and ticks will not cause lasting harm. Yet thousands of reports have shown that isoxazoline-based flea and tick medications, including Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica, Credelio, and Revolution Plus, have been linked to seizures, tremors, and sudden loss of coordination in dogs and cats. These adverse events have occurred even in pets with no prior history of neurological problems.

We call upon the Food and Drug Administration and the companies manufacturing these products to take immediate action.

First, warning labels must be stronger, clearer, and placed prominently on packaging. Current language does not fully convey the risks to consumers. Pet owners should not have to search through technical inserts or online forums to understand the potential dangers. Labels should plainly state the possibility of seizures, ataxia, and even death.

Second, independent long-term safety studies must be funded. Most approval trials for these drugs involved limited populations and did not reflect the vast diversity of breeds, ages, and health conditions seen in real-world use. Independent research will provide a more accurate picture of risks and allow veterinarians and owners to make informed choices.

Third, adverse reaction reporting must be made transparent. At present, data is scattered and often difficult for the public to access. A centralized, open-access database maintained in real time will allow pet parents and professionals to evaluate risks honestly and quickly.

Finally, we call for safer alternatives. Innovation in veterinary medicine should never come at the expense of companion animal welfare. Companies that profit from the love and trust of pet owners must commit to developing treatments that protect against parasites without putting our animals’ lives at risk.

This issue is not just about science or regulation. It is about compassion and humanity. Our pets are family members who give us unconditional love. They cannot consent to medications placed in their mouths or on their skin. We, as their guardians, must be given every opportunity to protect them fully.

Taking these actions will ensure a better future where effective parasite control does not mean gambling with the health and safety of our beloved animals.

Sincerely,

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