New incident report
Incident Report Number: 2014-6036
Registrant Reference Number: 140146279
Registrant Name (Full Legal Name no abbreviations): Wellmark International
Address: 100 Stone Road West, Suite 111
City: Guelph
Prov / State: Ontario
Country: Canada
Postal Code: N1G5L3
Domestic Animal
Country: CANADA
Prov / State: BRITISH COLUMBIA
PMRA Registration No. 28743 PMRA Submission No. EPA Registration No.
Product Name: Zodiac Spot On II Flea Control For Cats And Kittens
Yes
Units: mL
Site: Animal / Usage sur un animal domestique
No
Medical Professional
Cat / Chat
Domestic Shorthair
1
Female
14.0
8.0
lbs
Skin
Unknown / Inconnu
>24 hrs <=3 days / >24 h <=3 jours
System
Persisted until death
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Died
Treatment / Traitement
(eg. description of the frequency and severity of the symptoms
On November 9, 2014 the cat presented to the veterinary clinic with anemia, with a hematocrit of 25 percent, and a severe flea infestation, after the veterinarian removed at least 200 fleas with a flea comb, and then kept the cat overnight so the owner could treat the home for fleas. On November 10, 2014 the veterinary clinic administered a flea tablet to the cat and used the flea comb again (removed another 200 fleas). That afternoon the cat then had a seizure, bloody vomitus, and died as she was being taken out of the cage. On November 17, 2014 the attending veterinarian called the Animal Product Safety Service (APSS) to complain about how small the writing on the box was, which is why the elderly owner inappropriately dosed the cat. The attending veterinarian stated the cat was cremated. The APSS veterinarian stated the Zodiac spot on contains s-methoprene which is an insect growth regulator (IGR). The APSS veterinarian also stated if ingested there could be hypersalivation and nausea. The APSS veterinarian stated the flea tablet contains spinosad which is an anti-parasitic agent in the chemical class of tetracyclic macrolides. The APSS veterinarian further stated it is used in dogs at doses of 30-60 mg/kg for fleas and Plumb does not list a therapeutic dose for cats, but it is marketed for cats. The APSS veterinarian finally stated usually adverse reactions that can occur are vomiting, diarrhea, and mild lethargy; serious risks, seizures, and death are not expected. A necropsy was not available.
Death
The APSS veterinarian stated that the Zodiac topical was not considered to be related to causing the clinical situation.