Bayer Corporation and Elanco Animal Health, Inc. together are responsible for Seresto Flea and Tick Pet Collars, says the complaint for this class action. What’s wrong with the collars? The complaint alleges that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has had reports of almost 1,700 pet deaths plus some 75,000 adverse incident reports associated with the collars.
The class for this action is all persons in Pennsylvania who bought a Seresto flea and tick collar between March 31, 2015 and the date the class is certified in this case.
The complaint alleges the problem is with the pesticides used in the collars: “Seresto Collars use a combination of pesticides that are known to be harmful to human beings if ingested as they could adversely impact the nervous system. In fact, the pesticides used should not be handled without first donning personal protective equipment.” Nevertheless, the complaint claims, the companies market the collars as safe for pets to wear on their necks and for the human beings that are with the pet every day.
The two pesticides are imidacloprid and flumethrin. The complaint alleges that the EPA has found that “when imidacloprid is ingested orally it impacts the nervous system, causing tremors/trembling and decreased motor activity, in multiple neurotoxicity studies in both dogs and rats.” As to flumethrin, the complaint quotes a registration statement filed by Bayer with the EPA warning of “Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals,” including that the substance “may be fatal if swallowed or absorbed through the skin[.]”
The packaging for the collars provides mostly mild warnings. The complaint quotes it as saying, “Individual sensitivities, while rare, may occur after using ANY pesticide product for pets. Rarely, mild application site reactions may occur, such as scratching, redness, and hair loss, which usually recover within 1 to 2 weeks without the need for collar removal. … In very rare cases, application site reactions such as dermatitis, inflammation, eczema or lesions may occur. In these instances, collar removal is recommended.”
The packaging also warns, “If signs persist or become more severe, consult a veterinarian immediately.”
The complaint takes issue with the designation of problems as “rare,” given the 1,698 pet deaths reported to the EPA and more than 75,000 incident reports.
Plaintiff Anita Boulware-Jones bought a Seresto collar for her dog. While wearing it, the complaint says, “he suffered a series of adverse reactions for which her veterinarian could not identify a cause. Ultimately, [Boulware-Jones’s] dog suffered from a lymphatic cancer diagnosis and had to be put to sleep.” It was only later, the complaint claims, when she heard about the reports of problems with the collars that she noticed the correlation between the dog’s health and the collar.
The complaint asserts, “To Plaintiff’s knowledge, information and belief, Defendants have taken no curative action.”
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Seresto Flea Collars Illness or Death in Pets Pennsylvania Complaint
May 12, 2021
Bayer Corporation and Elanco Animal Health, Inc. together are responsible for Seresto Flea and Tick Pet Collars, says the complaint for this class action. What’s wrong with the collars? The complaint alleges that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has had reports of almost 1,700 pet deaths plus some 75,000 adverse incident reports associated with the collars.
Seresto Flea Collars Illness or Death in Pets Pennsylvania ComplaintCase Event History
Seresto Flea Collars Illness or Death in Pets Pennsylvania Complaint
May 12, 2021
Bayer Corporation and Elanco Animal Health, Inc. together are responsible for Seresto Flea and Tick Pet Collars, says the complaint for this class action. What’s wrong with the collars? The complaint alleges that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has had reports of almost 1,700 pet deaths plus some 75,000 adverse incident reports associated with the collars.
Seresto Flea Collars Illness or Death in Pets Pennsylvania Complaint