Parasite Prevention

Keeping your pet safe from fleas, ticks, heartworms and other intestinal parasites is not only important, but also requires up to monthly maintenance. The type and number of parasite preventative and treatment medications that are available can often be confusing and overwhelming.

The veterinarians at Saugus Animal Hospital will be happy to discuss the different options with you and help you identify which treatments are best for your pet. We have many parasite preventative and treatment medications available at our on-site pharmacy for your convenience and ease of mind.

Avoid Counterfeit Pesticide Products for Dogs and Cats

EPA is aware of counterfeit pet pesticides designed to look like legitimately registered pesticide products. The information on this page is intended to help consumers avoid unregistered pet products. In addition, EPA may take civil or criminal enforcement action against those who sell, distribute, or import unregistered or counterfeit pet products, and has done so in the past.

• For example, EPA cooperated in the prosecution of a Rhode Island man for the Internet sale of counterfeit pet pesticides, leading to a prison sentence.
• In addition, in 2004 EPA issued stop sale, use, and removal orders to retailers and other distributors of counterfeit products for use on pets.

FAQs

How can I identify counterfeit products?

There is no single characteristic that will identify all counterfeit products. Some of the issues that have been found include:

• Differences in weight between the outer package and the product inside
• Lack of directions in English
• Products not packaged in child-resistant packaging
• Missing directions for use
• Product in the container is not appropriate for the animal or size of animal pictured on the outside
• Stickers on the box hide foreign labeling
• EPA registration number is missing
• Foreign labeled product with stickers containing some US information
• Foreign labeled products

I discovered that a dog product was contained in a package intended for use on cats. Will my cat be harmed if I apply the product to him/her?

If you discover inconsistencies like this, do not use it. Some dog products are toxic to cats. EPA encourages consumers to dispose of counterfeit pesticides they may have inadvertently purchased.

How should I dispose of a counterfeit product?

If you discover that you have one of the counterfeit products, you should contact your local solid waste agency for information on proper disposal in your community. Your local government may recommend that you take the product to a household hazardous waste collection program. If allowed by your local government, you may put the counterfeit product in your trash.You may also contact Earth 911 at 1-800-CLEANUP to obtain community disposal information.You can read more about safe disposal here.

To identify your local solid waste agency, look in the government section of your phone book under categories such as solid waste, public works, garbage, trash or refuse collection.

Who should I contact if I discover counterfeit products in a store?

You should notify the store staff. You may also alert the EPA of counterfeit products by visiting the Agency’s website or by contacting ourregional office serving your state.

Who can I contact if I suspect my pet has been harmed by counterfeit products?

First, contact your veterinarian for medical assistance and advice. In addition, the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) is a toll-free help line designed to assist in providing answers to most questions regarding pesticides and pesticide poisonings. You can reach NPIC at 1-800-858-7378.

Are counterfeit products a continuing problem?

EPA is continuing to pursue this issue. Unfortunately, it is likely that counterfeit and other illegal products may still be available. You should be careful when purchasing pesticide products – please be sure to look for the indicators described above. In addition to the aforementioned counterfeited products, other illegal versions of these products may be available. These illegal versions pose many potential risks, including inconsistent units of measure, lack of child resistant packaging, lack of precautionary statements and the potential for the pesticide itself to be other than what’s advertised.

Is there a penalty for purchasing the counterfeit products?

For individual consumers, there is no penalty for purchasing a counterfeit product. Penalties only apply to persons who distribute or sell counterfeit products. However, purchasing a counterfeit pesticide may place you and your family at risk. For example, first-aid treatment directions may not be immediately available in case of an emergency. Further, a child may be harmed if he or she is able to open a package that is not child resistant. Thus, the EPA recommends that consumers dispose of any product that has been discovered to be counterfeit.