Man blames popular flea and tick medication for his beloved dog’s death

WINDHAM, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - An Ohio man blames a flea and tick medication for the death of his dog, saying his veterinarian didn’t warn him about the possible side effects.

Ted DeSalvo’s dog, 3-year-old Greta, was euthanized last month. He blames her death on Simparica Trio, a chewable tablet used to protect dogs against heartworm disease, ticks and fleas.

“She was a companion to me,” DeSalvo told WOIO. “She was murdered in my view. She was murdered by this product.”

Greta had a chewable Simparica tablet June 1. The next day, she had seizures. She had been taking the medication once a month for two years.

“Usually, she runs out of her crate, but this time, she didn’t run out; she hesitated. We looked inside, and she was shaking. She was having seizures,” DeSalvo said.

He immediately took Greta to the vet, where he says he was told it was a “neurological issue.”

“We asked about the medication then, and at that time, she did admit ... she’s seen that product do that to other dogs,” DeSalvo said.

Greta progressively got worse over time, and her owner was forced to put her down.

“She had no action. She was dead weight,” DeSalvo said.

DeSalvo claims his vet didn’t initially warn him about the possible side effects of Simparica. On the back of the box, it says adverse reactions may include tremors, ataxia and seizures due to the ingredient sarolaner.

“Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders,” the box reads.

DeSalvo says Greta had neither before this incident.

“This was not explained to us. This is not explainable that it was neurological, that it wasn’t the product,” he said.

WOIO called the vet but did not hear back.

The Food and Drug Administration put out a fact sheet about adverse events associated with isoxazoline flea and tick products in August 2023. Simparica Trio is in the isoxazoline class. The FDA says while the products can and have been safely used in the majority of cats and dogs, pet owners should still consult with their vet to determine what product is best for them.

Zoetis is the company that makes Simparica Trio. In 2022, it put out a statement responding to another dog’s death after a pet owner took their frustration to social media.

The company said:

“We are confident that Simparica Trio, which has been prescribed to protect over 10 million dogs since coming to the U.S. market in 2020, remains an effective and safe parasite preventative option for most dogs.”

DeSalvo warns other dog owners to research every product before giving it to your dog and always ask questions.

“Why are those warnings on the box if it’s safe?” he said.

WOIO reached out to Zoetis. The company says they have spoken to DeSalvo and are investigating Greta’s death.

The company also released a statement:

“We are committed to providing safe and effective products to veterinarians, pet owners and the animals in their care, and we sympathize with fellow pet owners when they experience a loss. We take the reporting of any adverse event very seriously, and our team works to understand each situation.”

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