New incident report
Incident Report Number: 2024-1480
Registrant Reference Number: 2024-CA-000045
Registrant Name (Full Legal Name no abbreviations): The Hartz Mountain Corporation
Address: 200 Plaza Drive, Suite 402
City: Secaucus
Prov / State: New Jersey
Country: USA
Postal Code: 07094
Domestic Animal
Country: CANADA
Prov / State: ONTARIO
PMRA Registration No. 31724 PMRA Submission No. EPA Registration No.
Product Name: Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea Dog Shampoo Citrus Scent
Yes
Unknown
Site: Animal / Usage sur un animal domestique
Animal's Owner
Dog / Chien
German Pomeranian/American Eskimo crossbred
1
Male
5
6.8
kg
Skin
Unknown / Inconnu
>24 hrs <=3 days / >24 h <=3 jours
System
Unknown / Inconnu
No
No
Unknown/Inconnu
Treatment / Traitement
(eg. description of the frequency and severity of the symptoms
On 05-Feb-2024, a 5 year old, approximately 6.8 kg, neutered, male, Spitz - German Pomeranian/American Eskimo Dog crossbred, in unknown condition, with no known concomitant medical conditions, was bathed using Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea Dog Shampoo Citrus Scent (Phenothrin (Sumithrin)) by the animal owner. On 06-Feb-2024, the dog developed decreased appetite, fell over, was unable to stand and was unable to move or control its hind legs (hind limb paralysis). This was a first time use of the product. The dog had not been evaluated by a veterinarian, no medical treatment had been performed, and the clinical signs continued. The owner indicated they were unlikely to be able to seek veterinary evaluation and care for the dog. Product removal by thoroughly bathing the dog with dish soap was advised, as long as the dog was stable and not overly stressed. Follow-up was attempted but no further information was received in this case.
Major
Assessment: This product contains a pyrethroid insecticide in low concentration giving it a very wide margin of safety in dogs. The active ingredient is poorly absorbed across intact skin and not expected to cause systemic effects. Even if the product was ingested directly during bathing only minor signs of GI upset would be expected. Severe neurological signs including hind-limb paralysis are not anticipated and do not fit the toxicological profile of the product. True paralysis was not confirmed by a veterinarian. Other causes should be considered including underlying severe flea-bite anemia leading to weakness, tick-borne disease, unknown trauma, and intervertebral disk disease. Without a veterinary evaluation and diagnostics, the cause of the reported signs remains unknown and the relationship to product use is inconclusive. The information contained in this report is based on self-reported statements provided to the registrant during telephone interview(s). These self-reported descriptions of an incident have not been independently verified to be factually correct or complete descriptions of the incident. For that reason, information contained in this report does not and cannot form the basis for a determination of whether the reported clinical effects are causally related to exposure to the product identified in the telephone interviews.