Thousands of pet owners experienced devastating and deadly effects of Seresto flea collars. Since 2012, they trusted the company’s safety claims. Now Elanco, the company selling these dangerous products, has agreed to a $15M court settlement.
Two pet owners filed this class action lawsuit in California. They allege the company misled consumers about the safety of Seresto collars. The suit states Elanco “misrepresented the Product through affirmative statements, half-truths, and omissions regarding the safety of the Product.”
The complaint states, “While the Seresto Collar Product is designed to harm and kill fleas and ticks, it is not supposed to harm and kill its wearers and their caregivers.”
But there’s no reason to celebrate. Unfortunately, $15M is only a drop in the bucket for Elanco. Elanco is owner of Bayer Healthcare, maker of the Seresto flea collar. The companies deny any wrongdoing. And they deny that the collars pose serious safety risks, says the lawsuit.
The lawsuit detailed that Seresto flea and tick collars made over $300 million for Bayer in 2019. Since 2012, Bayer and Elanco have sold over 25 million Seresto collars in the United States.
And … Seresto flea collars still sell on Chewy.com and Amazon for $59.98 and up.
RELATED: Seresto collars for dogs: Are they safe?
Reports About Seresto Flea Collars
Since 2012, when Seresto flea collars entered the market, there have been:
- 100,000+ incident reports
- Reported deaths of 2,500+ pets
- Reports of 894 human incidents
- A congressional investigation and report
Two other class action lawsuits with similar complaints are still in litigation. Pet owners filed these complaints in Pennsylvania in 2021, and Indiana in 2022.
The California lawsuit looked back at 16 years from 1992 and 2008. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received around 4,600 incident reports about tetrachlorvinphos. It’s an insecticide. There were 363 reported deaths related to collars containing this active ingredient. It’s linked to cancer and brain development issues in children.
16x More Reports For Seresto Flea Collars
In 2012, Seresto products hit the market. In just 8 years, Seresto flea collars caused 16 times more incidents than tetrachlorvinphos. This happened in half the time. Compared to tetrachlorvinphos, deaths were 4.6 times higher. EPA data shows 75,000 incident reports and at least 1,698 pet deaths. There were almost 1,000 reports of harm to caregivers.
It’s apparent Seresto flea collars posed an even greater risk to pets and their families than tetrachlorvinphos.
“On a per year basis,” the California lawsuit states, “the incident reports for the Seresto flea collar Product are 30 times greater and reported deaths 10 times greater than for pet collars based on tetrachlorvinphos.” The true figure is probably much greater. This is according to Nathan Donley. He’s an “expert on US pesticide regulation and a scientist with [the Center for Biological Diversity].” He believes many consumers might not make the connection. And that many don’t report adverse effects with their pets.
Safety Testing On Seresto Flea Collars
Before launching these collars in 2012, Bayer funded 2 studies. The lead researcher and 4 other researchers were employees of Bayer Animal Health.
The first study looked at the efficacy and safety of the flea collars. Big emphasis on efficacy. They discovered that a mix of 2 key insecticides was more effective at killing fleas. Seresto flea collars use both flumethrin and imidacloprid.
Researchers observed and evaluated the fleas at various states of mortality. They did additional testing … on the fleas. And measured and weighed flea collars throughout the 8-month study. And examined the fur “harvested” from the pets.
The study stated the flea collars didn’t affect dogs systemically. However, there was an obvious gap in the data. There was no systemic testing done on the animals used. There was no testing or bloodwork done. They only made physical observations of the dogs and cats in the study.
And yet the study concluded: “results strongly support a non-systemic, obviously external mode of action.” A second study examined the synergistic effect of the 2 chemicals. It found “the application of both compounds together leads to a much higher level of activity than either compound alone.” The study didn’t involve any comprehensive testing on the dogs or cats either.
So, with research focused on the lethal effects on fleas, Seresto flea collars went to market.
Claims of Indiana Plaintiff Against Seresto Flea Collars
From the year of the release of Seresto flea collars, reports of incidents flowed into the EPA. Pet owners faced huge vet bills and medical expenses for their injured and suffering pets. But Elanco continued to state the flea collars were safe.
The plaintiff in the Indiana lawsuit reported the collars affected both of his dogs. One dog developed serious health issues. He suffered with a cough, heart murmur, and congestive heart failure. Ultimately, he euthanized his dog. The other dog developed tumors at the site of the collar.
The 88-page Indiana lawsuit states Bayer and Elanco:
- “Downplayed” the serious side effects.
- Falsely claimed the product was safe for pets.
- Continued to make safety claims despite public reports and regulatory scrutiny.
The lawsuit goes on to note that Canada banned Seresto flea collars in 2016 due to safety concerns. Other countries require explicit warnings about the potential hazards.
The Indiana lawsuit quotes a retired EPA employee. She said the Seresto flea and tick collars “have the most incidents of any pesticide pet product” she’d ever seen.
Media reports caught the interest of Congress. So while lawsuits were being prepared, Congress was looking into Seresto flea collars.
At the time the $15M settlement was announced, the EPA Office of The Inspector General produced a harsh report. It looked into the EPA’s actions, or failure to act. It determined the following: “The EPA has not provided assurance that they (Seresto flea collars) can be used without posing unreasonable adverse effects to the environment, including pets.”
The report revealed that the EPA had failed to follow the rules regarding pesticide products. This placed pets and people in danger.
RELATED: Report questions EPA handling of Seresto flea collars …
Link to come ……….
In 2022, Congress released its 24-page report: “Seresto Flea and Tick Collars: Examining Why A Product Linked To More than 2,500 Pet Deaths Remains On The Market.”
The report stated the product had “nearly three times the rate of total incidents, and nearly five times the rate of ‘Death’ or ‘Major’ incidents, as the second most dangerous flea and tick product.”
The Congressional hearing included testimony against Seresto from six witnesses. They included 2 owners of pets who had died, a former EPA scientist and a policy analyst. The director for the Center for Biological Diversity was also a witness.
The Congressional subcommittee recommended:
- Recalling Seresto collars
- Canceling the collar’s registration
- Strengthening the EPA’s scientific review process
- Improving incident data collection
And what did Elanco do when told by Congress to recall its collars? Elanco refused.
Elanco continues to sell Seresto flea collars … while the EPA faces 8 recommendations to correct its own actions. They address its safety, reporting and reviewing processes.
History of Seresto Flea Collars
The EPA registered Seresto pet collar in March 2012. The registration included the insecticides flumethrin and imidacloprid. In the 9 years since the collars were approved, The EPA received more than 100,000 incident reports about them. Then in 2021, news media reported that over 1,500 pets had died. Many more had fallen ill while using Seresto flea collars. By November 2022, the EPA received more than 2,500 pet death incident reports. There were nearly 900 human pesticide incident reports naming Seresto pet collars. The EPA took no action.
And unknowing pet owners continued to place these collars on their pets.
How Do Seresto Flea Collars Work?
Flea collars use an insecticide that attacks the nervous system of insects. This kills or repels them.
Seresto flea collars use 2 insecticides. Flumethrin (4.5%) and imidacloprid (10%). Flumethrin is a synthetic chemical used as an insecticide and insect repellent. It disrupts the nervous system of insects. It leads to paralysis and death. Imidacloprid is an insecticide with similar effects to nicotine. It’s widely used in crop and pet insecticides. It also contributes to honeybee decline.
These chemicals release slowly over 8 months. They were designed to “unload” onto your dog’s fur.
What Is The Problem With Seresto Flea Collars?
All 3 lawsuits make similar allegations. They state the problem is a combination of the pesticides imidacloprid and flumethrin. Together, they “magnify their harmful effects.” Two studies by Bayer don’t address what happens when the chemicals come into contact with a pet’s skin.
Side Effects Of Flumethrin In Seresto Flea Collars
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Skin lesions
- Weight loss
A 1998 study was done on rats, rabbits, Beagles and cows. They showed skin lesions, weight loss, and higher BUN levels. This indicates possible kidney damage at higher doses. They also showed central nervous system toxicity. This included reduced motor activity, respiratory disorders, altered gait, and salivation.
Side Effects Of Imidacloprid In Seresto Flea Collars
- Thyroid damage, abortions, seizures, liver toxicity, and other organ damage
- Skin or eye irritation
- Dizziness and confusion
- Breathlessness, confusion
Imidacloprid caused vomiting in farm workers. The European Union banned it for outdoor use in the European Union.
Seresto flea collars also contain a third inactive ingredient that they don’t disclose. In high doses, it can be toxic to test animals through the skin or if ingested. If injected directly into the bloodstream, it’s much more potent. Additionally, this undisclosed chemical can make the harmful effects of flumethrin even worse.
RELATED: Find out how flea and tick prevention products rank for safety …
Injuries Caused By Seresto Flea Collars
There are Facebook Groups about the harm Seresto collars do. Pet owners report serious problems like:
- Seizures
- Ataxia
- Tremors
- Lethargy/fatigue/depression
- Lack of appetite
- Diarrhea, vomiting, blood in stool
- Skin problems
- Vision problems
- Hair loss
- Tumors
- Death
Even though it’s a small price that Elanco is paying, it’s available to all purchasers of the Seresto pet collars. In exchange, they agree not to pursue Elanco or Bayer for further damages.
$15M Settlement For Purchasers Of Seresto Flea Collars
The company offered $13 for each collar purchased to a maximum of 2 per person without receipts. There is no limit for claimants providing proof of purchase. Also, those with pets injured by Seresto collars can get a $25 payment for losses. They’ll receive 100% reimbursement for documented medical treatment costs. For those whose pets died, a $300 payment is available. They can get 100% reimbursement for medical treatment. They can also get reimbursed for burial, cremation, or other disposal costs.
This $15M settlement applies to consumers in the United States. This includes its territories, and the District of Columbia. This is for those who bought these collars before July 8, 2024. To be eligible for a settlement payment, class members must submit a valid claim form by July 23, 2024. The amount is awaiting approval in court before they make disbursements. The hearing to approve the settlement is Dec. 4, 2024.
