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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum DIET & CARE Frontline = very bad idea for bunnies

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    • Spazydoo
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        I feel so stupid. I bought a bunny and took him home a couple weeks ago. I found that my cat had fleas a few days ago. I was surprised because he is an indoor cat. So I bought frontline for my cat and used it on him.. I started searching the bunny for fleas and found a couple so I went online and found a site that told me to use frontline on the bunny but in small amounts. So being the idiot that I am I went ahead and put it on him. I thought I was doing the right thing. I was very wrong!!!! I noticed almost immediately he stopped eating and pooping.. I then started researching frontline more and found out just how bad it is for bunnies! I took him in to the vet and they told me to wash him with dawn dish soap to get the rest of the frontline off him. So I did and he seemed to be improving.. He started eating a little that night. The next morning I noticed he wasnt eating anymore and he still hasnt pooped. So I picked him up and then in my arms he had his first seizure that I am aware of. It was the scariest thing I have ever seen. I took him back to the vet immediately and he has been there since yesterday afternoon.. they have him hooked up to all these tubes and are feeding him and he has a collar on to prevent him from chewing through the tubes.. He had another seizure yesterday and a mild one thismorning.. I just got back from visiting him and during my visit he had another seizure!! They tell me they think he will be ok. but I am so afraid. I know this is entirely my fault for not reading the packaging and doing more research before I went ahead and did the first thing that I read! I feel like a terrible person for this. I didnt mean to hurt him but my actions caused this. I will never forgive myself if he dies!

         

        If anyone has experience with this I would love your advice.. I was supposed to take him home today but the vet said he had 2 more seizures today so I am leaving him in their care until monday..

          Thanks  Rebecca


      • LBJ10
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          Oh dear! I am sorry that this happened. Yes, frontline is very very bad for bunnies. Where did you read that frontline is okay? I only ask because perhaps someone needs to alert this source of the inaccuracy so someone else doesn’t read it and do the same thing.


        • LittlePuffyTail
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            How is your bunny doing now?


          • Spazydoo
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              I am going to go see him in about an hour.. They are keeping him there until Monday. They have him on fluids and are force feeding him at times but he is also starting to eat on his own again. They told me that he has been pooping a little which is very good news.  I am hopeful but very scared.


            • MimzMum
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                ((((((((((((((Healing vibes))))))))))))) for your bun. I hope he is feeling better today.


              • LittlePuffyTail
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                  Eating on his own is good. (((((((Feel Better Bunny)))))))


                • Spazydoo
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                    I went to see my baby bunny around 1pm yesterday and at that time he had already had 10 seizures that they know of. He had another while I was visiting. It is breaking my heart. I miss having him here so much. My cat and bunny quickly became best buds when I introduced them. My cat misses him too. He will go over to the bunnys cage and look up at me and meow. I have seen 3 of his seizures so far and I can only pray that they will stop. The vet is keeping him fed and are still flushing out his system. But they are not as optimistic anymore. I am going to go see him in a little bit. I hope to hear some better news. wish me luck.


                  • jerseygirl
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                      Healing {{{vibes}}}

                      I think contacting the webmaster of that site is good idea too. I’m not sure if forum guideline would allow you to share site name here though. But that false information definitely needs to be amended.

                      How obvious is the caution on the packaging? Maybe that’s something to campaign to change.

                      It’s not uncommon mistake unfortunately. A new member lost her rabbit right after adoption. The shelter did do a flea treatment and it was speculated if that was the cause.

                      Hope to hear a happy update from you soon.


                    • Spazydoo
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                        I just got back from the vet and I have some good news to report. They put him on a low dose of Valium and he has had no seizures at all today. He was very active and alert during my visit. He ate a bunch of pellets and pooped a little while I was with him today. They still have him on the IV and he chewed the line so they had to take him back and fix it. But I am so happy that we are having a good day. They are going to stop the Valium tomorrow and see how Tazzy reacts. Hopefully no more seizures. yay for da bunny bunn bunnzzz..


                      • LBJ10
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                          That sounds promising! Keep us updated!


                        • pitbullsNbuns
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                              Glad I read this ! I have a bottle of it for my dogs and it says on it that its safe for rabbits,cats,dogs


                          • Spazydoo
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                              pitbullsNbuns you have some frontline that says on the label that its safe for rabbits?? wow Well I am glad you saw this post.


                            • Spazydoo
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                                I left the vet around noon yesterday and they were taking him back to change his IV line that he chewed. At that time he had no seizures all day. I got more good news. Around 5:15 when the vet left a message on my phone saying that they changed his line and took him off the Valium and he ate well and was being very active. I was all smiles at work last night!! I am expecting a call from the vet in about an hour so ill post again and let you all know what they had to say.


                              • LittlePuffyTail
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                                  I’m glad to hear the good news. Really hope he continues to improve.


                                • pitbullsNbuns
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                                    Posted By Spazydoo on 09/30/2012 05:09 AM

                                    pitbullsNbuns you have some frontline that says on the label that its safe for rabbits?? wow Well I am glad you saw this post.

                                    Yes I have the spray kind not the drops but it does say it on my bottle and me too!


                                  • lindsay715
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                                      Hugs & thoughts for your bunny. How is he?


                                    • jerseygirl
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                                        @ pitbullsNbuns:
                                        Woah. So this frontline (spray) main ingredient is fipronil?

                                        @ Spazydoo: Great! You must be so relieved!


                                      • Spazydoo
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                                          Sunday morning the vet called and told me that Tazzy started seizing again right when she turned the lights on in the morning. I have heard that bright or flashing lights can cause seizures. She put him back on the Valium drip and fed him.

                                          She called me again at around 5:00 and told me that as far as she knows there have been no more seizures and he took his feeding well. And said he was very active. They still have him on the Valium.

                                          I am supposed to be taking him home today (Monday). I Have completely drained my bank account so I can no longer afford to keep him there. I have been wanting him to come home ever since his first night there. But now I want him to stay at the vet until I know he is going to be okay. I am so afraid. I love my bunny so much. If I had a million dollars I would spend it all getting him better.

                                          I will keep you up to date on how he is doing. Thanks for caring


                                        • jerseygirl
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                                            What kind of rabbit is Tazzy?


                                          • Spazydoo
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                                              Netherland Dwarf Angora, 15 weeks old now


                                            • jerseygirl
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                                                Haha! Oh wow, that’s a cute combo!


                                              • Spazydoo
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                                                  Tazzy bunny died over night last night. I am going to bury him tomorrow morning. The vet is going to do some tests today to try and find out exactly what in the frontline killed him. I thank you all for your support. Tazzy will be missed by so many people that have grown to love him as much as me in the short time we were together. My cat misses him too. Today is a very sad day.
                                                  Thank you all again.


                                                • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                    I’m so very sorry to hear this, I was really hoping everything would turn out okay. Losing a bunny friend is so hard.

                                                    (((((Binky Free Tazzy)))))))


                                                  • MimzMum
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                                                      My deepest sympathies on the loss of Tazzy. I hope your vet will be able to give you some answers. Give your kitty a cuddle from me.
                                                      ((((((((((Hugs))))))))))
                                                      Binky free, Tazzy.


                                                    • luvmyhunybuny
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                                                        I am so sorry for your loss of Tazzy. Binky free sweet boy.


                                                      • jerseygirl
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                                                          Oh I’m sorry to be reading this. : ( I’d really thought he’d turned the corner I’m so sorry for your loss.
                                                          ***Binky Free Tazzy***


                                                        • Spazydoo
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                                                            I am about to go to the vet to pick up Tazzy and bring him to where I will bury him.

                                                            My vet told me that he could find no information on what in frontline causes seizures and death in rabbits. He even called the makers of frontline and they never did any research on it. They just know it kills them.

                                                            I am going to find out what it will take to do this research and maybe start a fund raiser to get it done. This research needs to be done because my case will not be the last. It WILL kill more bunnies! Maybe sometime soon there could be a way to prevent death if I can get this done. At the very least I want to push for a warning on the front of the box. I pray that my case will be the last.

                                                            I love Tazzy bunny with all my heart. It breaks my heart when my cat Spazy meows at his cage. I have video of the two of them playing together and lots of pictures. I will never forget our time together.


                                                          • Kayle
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                                                              Wow its so great that you’re doing research and want to put a stop to cases like yours! <3 Me and my mum are going to write letters to frontline today. As soon as I saw your post I was saddened by what happened They should put clear warnings on the boxes.
                                                              I’m so sorry for your loss & I also hope your kitty feels better about this! **Binky Free Tazzy**


                                                            • IsabellaRobyn
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                                                                I was following this thread praying your little bun would get better. I’m so sorry for your loss – binky free Tazzy <3


                                                              • LBJ10
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                                                                  Sorry to hear he didn’t make it. He sounds like he was such a sweet bun. I hope Frontline at least puts a warning on the label so others won’t make the same mistake.


                                                                • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                                                    I’m so sorry to hear!!!! How devastating-I think it’s wonderful you want to spread the word and try to prevent this from happening again. Please keep us posted, perhaps we can sign a petition or something to have a warning added to the label. I wonder if you found the website that said was ok to use, and maybe let them know.

                                                                    Gosh I’m so sorry-how terrible

                                                                    {{{Binky Free Tazzy}}}


                                                                  • jerseygirl
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                                                                      Ditto. I’ll sign a petition. I think you can do this thru causes.com if you’re interested.

                                                                      Aren’t rabbits the third most popular pet after cats and dogs? It’s really in their best interest that these companies that make fipronil based treatments be clear about safe usage.


                                                                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                                        I think it’s great that you want to help spread the word. I would gladly sign a petition too.


                                                                      • FlemishBlueBunny
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                                                                          Sherlock is on Revolution… Our vet said it was the only safe option and he is on the larger side he expected him to have no problems at all. We only apply every 6 weeks our vet said that would also help aviod any ill affects. Hope this helps alittle.


                                                                        • tanlover14
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                                                                            This is a terrible, terrible story. Please let us all know if there’s anything we can do or if you can get anything started that we can promote. I’ll help you in any way possible. I’m so sorry for your poor little bunbun. Binky Free, Tazzy! <3


                                                                          • Spazydoo
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                                                                              I haven’t been on here since Tazzy’s passing. I felt very ashamed and very guilty about how he died. I felt that I should have done more research before i put the frontline on him. I have learned a very hard lesson. I will always talk to my vet and read the materials that come with any medication from now on. Tazzy is laid to rest in a beautiful spot overlooking a lake. I visit with him often.
                                                                              I have 2 new bunnies now. There is Larry (lop) and Sienna (lion head). They love each other so much. They are always together. Both are very healthy bunnnzzz.. Sienna is a rescue bunny. She was found outside and she had an eye infection. The people I got her from told me she was very social and would let you put bows in her hair n stuff, but I think they said that just to find her a new home. I love her very much, and she is a very sweet bunny. She is just very afraid of people. Usually the only time I can pet her is when she is next to Larry. I think he makes her feel safe. Since I got Sienna her eye has cleared up a lot mostly due to Larry. He keeps her eye clean. They take great care of each other. Larry is a very social bunny. He loves to be pet and he loves to snuggle. He loves to play with my cat Spazy. They play very well together. Larry likes to play sometimes when Spazy isn’t in the mood to play and Larry ends up getting bopped in the head. Spazy is a very gentle cat. The claws never come out. He loves the bunnies. On rare occasion they even sleep together. Anyway Ill post some pics. They are so cute.


                                                                            • jerseygirl
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                                                                                Thats great you have 2 new bunnies now. Congratulations!

                                                                                I can understand that you still feel so bad about Tazzy. It is very easy to blame oneself wholly. But it is also very easy for anyone to make mistakes. There is so much information available and it’s difficult to discern what is what. You’ve helped an awareness about Frontline grow in having posted about your experience here.
                                                                                You honour Tazzy in giving 2 new rabbits a home. I hope you are enjoying them and they help you in dealing with the loss of Tazzy.


                                                                              • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                                                  I’m glad that you were able to move on and give a home to new bunnies. It was a very sad situation but bunnies are so fragile and it’s impossible to know everything. You will never forget Tazzy. (((Hugs))))

                                                                                  Would love to meet your new buns. You should post pics in the “Welcome” section.


                                                                                • tanlover14
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                                                                                    Awww, I am so happy for you! Tazzy would be happy that you decided to open up your heart to two more bunnies in need. It’s heartbreaking what happened to Tazzy but I know when I first got my little ones, I would never have known that either. I hope you have begun to heal from his loss and I hope your new little ones are helping you do so also.

                                                                                    I’m excited to see pictures of your bun bunz!!


                                                                                  • Jessie1990
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                                                                                      I would just like to let you know that your post saved my rabbit, Ash. I haven’t had him long, but when I first got him he had skin mites. I decided to research what was wrong with his skin and eventually came across your post when I was considering options for treating the skin mites myself. My mom was trying to tell me to just get the extra frontline she had left from her cats when I went to her house… luckily I read this post (it randomly came up in a google search) and it has stuck with me ever since. I ended up treating with Ivermectin for horses (EXTREMELY small dose) and they mites cleared right up. So, I would just like to thank you for saving my bunnies life, and probably the lives of a bunch of other bunnies. I know it probably doesn’t make Tazzy’s death any easier, but I just thought you should know.

                                                                                      I am now going to look for your new bunny photos! (Hugs)


                                                                                    • MeggoWaffle
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                                                                                        I am really sorry about your loss and proud that you are using your experience to educate others.

                                                                                        One thing I should add is if your cat and new rabbits get along really well you might not want to use frontline on your cat, either. She might rub off on surfaces that they touch, or they might even groom her and ingest some.

                                                                                        Again, sorry about Tazzy and keep fighting the good fight!


                                                                                      • The boys mom
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                                                                                          I am SO upset!!!! I used Frontline on my bunny and he is so sick!! My mom took my dogs to the vet for me and I personally called them while she was there and asked them to refill my shi-tzu’s heart meds and give me something for fleas for my bunny. I told the lady he was only about a pound. They had give me something last year – no problems. I am so mad at myself for not researching it first!!!! I put it on him on Monday and looking back things went bad fast.
                                                                                          It’s awful!! The first seizure we saw was Wednesday night. But it wasn’t a “big” one so we didn’t know what was going on. Then I noticed he had stopped eating on Thursday. I was going to take him to the vet on Thursday but a friend that came over said that he needed some sunlight and fresh grass and to move his hutch outside. So we did. We brought the hutch back in that night. Then on Friday morning we moved his hutch outside and I reached in to get him out and he started kicking (not like him) but I went ahead and got hi. Out thinking he would calm down once he was against me. But he didn’t and so I put him back in his hutch and he was having a horrible seizure. As soon as it was over my husband got a towel and I grabbed him up in it and jumped in the car for the vet. (BTW we moved to the lake for the summer the week before Father’s day which is 40 min from our vet) On the way there my husband started texting me stories on the Internet (including yours) about Frontline!!! When I got there I told my vet about the Frontline and his first question was, “who sold you Frontline for a rabbit?” He was terribly upset to find out it had come from his office. The girls up front were new. While I can’t help to be upset with the girls I can really only blame myself for not being more careful. My vet said because the amount if time that had already passed the best thing would be to keep him as stressed as little as possible and to take him back home, make him start eating, and bathe him as often as I can without over stressing him. Well, I have been force feeding by syringe feeding him peanut butter and bathed him Friday & Saturday. There is a little poo and he is drinking on his own and T-T ing. He has had two horrible seizures tonight. My boys get so scared and disturbed when he has one. He isn’t acting like himself at all. He tries to bite me when I hold him, but stays so still for a bath, and lethargic.
                                                                                          Are there any cases that anybody has heard of where the bunny lives through this and ends up normal again? I know he is so uncomfortable at best. This may sound heartless but (I promise I’m not) if he is going to end up dying in the next few days or live the rest of his life like this I’d rather go ahead and stop his misery. Has anybody found out any moe info??
                                                                                          I plan to call frontline in the morning.


                                                                                        • Roberta
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                                                                                            HI TBM,
                                                                                            Because this thread is over 3 months old the forum leaders may lock it and ask you to restart it a fresh…
                                                                                            Mean while, who suggested feeding peanut butter ? That really does not sound good especially when he is already in distress. Critical care wouyld be the best option or a pellet slurry if you can get it fine enough to go in the syringe.
                                                                                            So far I have yet to hear of a bunny surviving treatment with Frontline, your little guy must be one hell of a fighter. I would have to go looking to see if anyone has been through this.


                                                                                          • Roberta
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                                                                                              Just snagged this off the House Rabbit Society.
                                                                                              If he survives it looks like there is hope.
                                                                                              Alert on Topical Flea Products
                                                                                              Jeffrey R. Jenkins, DVM

                                                                                              Related Articles
                                                                                              Flea control
                                                                                              Medical Alert: Problems Reported with New Topical Flea Products

                                                                                              Our hospital has become aware of problems with one of the new topicalflea products, Frontline, marketed through veterinarians by Rhone MerieuxInc. To date, we have consulted with veterinarians who have prescribed Frontlineresulting in the death of three rabbits; another rabbit has been successfullytreated for severe seizures it developed after Frontline was applied.

                                                                                              Question is what treatment was done ?


                                                                                            • LBJ10
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                                                                                                I would sue the vet office. Seriously. If those girls were new, it was the vet’s responsibility to make sure they knew not to do such a thing. Yes a pet owner needs to do their research. But you went to a vet office and they gave you Frontline for your rabbit. You should be able to trust they aren’t doing something that will cause harm to your pet.

                                                                                                That being said, yes this thread will most likely be locked. So don’t be alarmed if it is. Just start a new one and we will continue to help you.

                                                                                                Roberta, I think any treatment would be supportive like fluids, oxygen, and anti-seizure meds. Do they have anti-seizure meds for bunnies?


                                                                                              • tanlover14
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                                                                                                  Who in gods name suggested you give him peanut butter?????

                                                                                                  Give him CC and I would talk to your vet about giving him Sub-Q Fluids also.

                                                                                                  ((VIBES FOR BUN))


                                                                                                • Chronicambitions
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                                                                                                    I found this from February:
                                                                                                    https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/123798/Default.aspx

                                                                                                    I’m so sorry this happened. I do know that the frontline that I use for my dog clearly says not to use on rabbits. A couple days after I got my buns, my dad made sure I knew to wash my hands after petting my pup because I could rub the medicine off on them.

                                                                                                    (((Healing vibes for your bunny)))))


                                                                                                  • jerseygirl
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                                                                                                      Do they have anti-seizure meds for bunnies?

                                                                                                      Meclizine I think (???)

                                                                                                      There are reports of rabbits been treated with fipronil and there being no issue. But that is with larger or adult rabbits. Generally it’s considered unsafe for rabbits.

                                                                                                      The boys mom, is there another rabbit knowledgeable vet closer to where you are currently? Your bun is likely going to need supportive care for a while.
                                                                                                      (((Vibes!)))


                                                                                                    • jerseygirl
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                                                                                                        Oops, not meclazine.

                                                                                                        I’m reading anticonvulsant therapy for fipronil overdoses using diazepam on couple sources. (Here’s one: http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/msds/fipronil.large.roach.bait.sta.pdf)

                                                                                                        Shampoo him well with the bathing as the frontline is spread through fur and oils in skin and released into the body over time.

                                                                                                        I wonder if Questran could be used? It’s recommended for gut stasis to absorb toxins.


                                                                                                      • Sarita
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                                                                                                          I am going to lock this thread since the member has not replied and it’s an old thread…

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                                                                                                      Forum DIET & CARE Frontline = very bad idea for bunnies