Accepted Answer

Hello,

We have seen twitching coming from some of the Flea control products used that are over the counter products.The fact the tremors have started may be from the flea control products. The treatment is done by a Vet to stop the twitching is a sedative and a muscle relaxant to help stop what you are seeing. At this point I would wash the dog well with Blue Dawn Disg Soap to get all the excess treatment off the dog. Hopefully this will lessen the tremors. I would see a Vet as soon as possible to get the right medications to help your baby.Joan

This comes from INFOVET.COM:

Flea and Tick Products: Flea and tick killing products can cause severe, unwanted side effects in pets. These products are available as dips, sprays, shampoos, spot-on topical solutions, and collars. All forms of the products can cause poisoning in pets. Many cases of toxicity caused by these insecticides could be avoided if label directions are followed exactly. Label directions will list the species that the product is intended to be used for, the amount to use, the method of administration, the frequency of administration, and the active ingredients.

Because a manufacturer may give the same name to products with different ingredients, labels may be confusing. A flea product made for cats may have the same name as a flea product with different ingredients made for dogs, with only the word "cat" replacing "dog" on the new product label. This can be extremely dangerous, because many dog flea and tick products are toxic to cats. This is true of flea spot-on products that use highly concentrated permethrin as the active ingredient. Cats have been poisoned by rubbing against, sleeping next to, or grooming a recently treated dog. Cats that are erroneously treated with the products can die from the poisoning. Always read labels carefully. Do not ever use an insecticide labeled for a particular species of animal on another species without consulting a veterinarian.

Clinical Signs: The signs of flea and tick product toxicity may include tremors, salivation, depression, skin irritation, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, and seizures. Difficulty breathing, coma, and death can follow. Signs often appear within minutes after using the product.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis is typically based on signs, physical examination, and a history of exposure to flea and tick products. Owners may notice signs immediately after administering a flea dip or moments after applying a topical spot-on product.

Treatment: Treatment involves removing as much product as possible from the animal. Animals can be bathed in soap, detergent pet shampoos, or diluted dish detergent and rinsed copiously to remove shampoos, sprays, dips, and topical solutions. Collars should be removed. Veterinary treatment may involve gastric lavage and the use of laxatives to remove the toxin, along with intravascular fluid therapy and medications to control seizures and neurologic signs. Depending on the exact chemical involved, atropine sulfate may be needed. Pralidoxime chloride (2-PAM) is used for some poisonings.

Expert:	Joan
Pos. Feedback:	99.9 %
Accepts:
Answered:	8/9/2008

Vet. Tech.

I am a Vet Tech for over 30 + years and have four rescued dogs of my own