FDA warns of unapproved products claiming to “treat and control” seizures in pets
Six different companies were named in warning letters sent by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this month. Officials with the FDA say the firms selling these various products claim that they can “treat and control seizures in dogs and cats.”
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Buyer beware! A release published by the FDA on Jan. 7 warns that some seizure-related products are not FDA-approved or even conditionally approved. These unapproved seizure medications for canines are listed below.
The six sellers
The FDA’s release mentions that the six unapproved companies are selling various products online. In addition, merchants are selling these products without the need for a prescription or veterinary oversight.
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At present, the six different sellers named in those warning notices are:
- Nutrition Strength Ltd. EOOD
- Evolution Pets
- Doc Ackerman’s Pet Products
- Energetic Essences, LLC dba Pet Essences
- HD Frenchies, LLC/Bully Baum
- Vet Select Formula, Inc.
In spite of these sellers, the FDA does mention in the release that they have conditionally approved KBroVet-CA1 and Fidoquel-CA1. These are used to treat idiopathic epilepsy, one of the most common seizure disorders in canines.
In the warning letters sent by the FDA, the six companies are supposed to respond within 15 days of receiving the notification. In brief, their response must outline how they plan to “address the violations cited in the warning letters.”
Consequently, some of the online URLs mentioned by the FDA in those warning letters are no longer live. However, others are still up and selling the products on sites like Amazon.
Client communications surrounding unapproved seizure medications for canines
So, when a client comes through the door asking about a product like this, what should you do? Well, there are a few important things to note mentions Dr. Bobwealth Omontese, DVM, MS, PhD, FCVSN, MPA, MBA, who is an FDA Veterinary Medical Officer in the Office of Surveillance and Compliance.
First, Omontese mentions the importance of being involved in the conversation from the get-go. But explaining that just because something online says it can help, doesn’t mean it actually does.
“Clients may be under the impression that products that are available online without any veterinary oversight are ‘just as good’ as FDA-approved products. Conversely, they might be attracted to claims of products that are “’all-natural,’” Omontese said. “The fact is that there are only two FDA-approved animal drugs that have met the agency’s high standards for safety, effectiveness, and quality manufacturing.”
Furthermore, the FDA mentioned that they will continue to “monitor the marketplace and take necessary steps to protect human and animal health from unapproved animal drugs that can put people and animals at risk.” In doing so, the FDA hopes to increase consumer safety surrounding unapproved seizure medications for canines.
For our coverage on the most recent FDA update, click here.
Photo credit: hapabapa via iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus
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