CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) — An investigation found that more than 75,000 complaints about the Seresto brand of flea and tick collars have been sent to the Environmental Protection Agency. Investigators have linked the deaths of nearly 1,700 dogs and cats, according to a report co-published by Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and USA TODAY.
The collars use two types of pesticides to kill fleas and ticks. The EPA said the collars are safe but that some pets may be sensitive to the pesticide combination.
“I know one of the biggest concerns that people have: ‘We hate ticks. We hate fleas.’ And so do I, but when I go out in the woods, I don’t put a pesticide collar around my neck so that I don’t get fleas and ticks, because I know it’s probably a bad idea to have a pesticide on me,” said Dr. Barbara Royal.
The Chicago-based veterinarian joined NewsNation Prime on Saturday to discuss the reporting.
“It’s disturbing because I know people are always trying to find something a little bit less toxic and effective at the same time, and it can be very difficult for them to find a product that’s going to work,” she said.
The popular collars, sold at Amazon, Chewy.com, big-box pet stores and often in veterinary offices, release a small amount of the pesticides over eight months.
The EPA regulates pesticides. NewsNation reached out to the agency about the reporting but has yet to receive a response.
“No pesticide is…
