DoggieNews: Sentry Natural Defense

Sentry Natural Defense

Monday, March 27, 2006

Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. unveiled its Sentry Natural Defense line of flea, tick and mosquito control products last week at the Global Pet Expo.

The company claims it's the first natural product formulation from a major pet products manufacturer clinically shown to kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. They claim to have clinical data showing that Sentry Natural Defense products kill or repel high percentages of insects within the first 24 hours and have efficacy rates comparable to some of the leading conventional flea and tick products.

Sentry Natural Defense uses natural pesticide botanicals such as peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemon grass oil and thyme oil.

The company expects to start shipping its new product to PETCO and other retailers this April.

Update: Geoff Mott over at PetGadgets says that Sergeant's also bakes cookies using these ingredients.

85 Comments:

I just tried this product on my dog because I don't like the idea of all the poisons on her or us. I have no idea if it will be effective but she definately doesn't smell like cookies!

By Anonymous, at 11:47 AM, May 22, 2006
We tried this thinking it would be better for our cat (yes, cat). The cat hated more than anything else we've tried and IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL and left her in flea misery. Then the question of putting another medication on her and if the they would interact badly. Trying something else today, hopefully she will still be alive tomorrow...

By Anonymous, at 6:23 PM, July 10, 2006
i put this on my 4 month old kitten. He ran all over the house, itching the application area and in great distress. It really frightened me and I ended up bathing him as soon as I could catch him (usually he is docile and friendly). I am returning the remaining applications to the pet store.. never using again

By Anonymous, at 4:59 PM, August 27, 2006
I am online looking for answers & warnings about this product. I just put it on my 2 cats and they are in extreme distress. Both are running around the house, seemingly running from their fleas. One is really scaring me as he is blinking rapidly, drooling extensively and trying to hide. I just washed it off of him and he almost tore me to shreds in the process. NOT something typical of him. Meanwhile, it has spread all over the other one's body. Now they are both really lethargic and I remain scared. Who would have thought this would be worse than the chemical alternative. Don't use it.

By Anonymous, at 7:49 PM, September 16, 2006
I used Natural Defense on two of my cats and had terrible experiences. First of all, the smell was so strong, I could barely sleep that night. I had to open all the windows and it was still making me nauseous. I had to drink lots of water. Then my cats were itching the area (behind the neck) a LOT, and my one cat seemed really bothered constantly. It took about 4 or 5 days for the "greasy" spot to go away (the area of application) so after giving them a bath and applying the flea med., I felt like they weren't too clean.
Finally after a week the smell was gone, only if you sniffed their fur. But then the last straw was when I started seeing bald spots on my cats' necks. Apparently the ND burned or irritated their skin so much, that they had extreme dandriff and clumps of hair were falling out.
I am planning to write the company and possibly sue for damages. This "natural" product is not good at all. They even have toxicity warnings all over the box, in case children ingest it, AND they tell you not to throw an applicator away if it's still part full, they say get rid of it to your local waste disposal service! They also say don't put it down any septic system, and this is supposed to be natural? I wish I would have read the fine print BEFORE buying this product.

By Anonymous, at 9:13 PM, October 17, 2006
i too tried this product on my two cats thinking it would be better than the checmicals in other flea treatments. it is AWFUL! the smell is bad, my cats clearly were in distress and after several days they were still smelling like menthol, greasy, and covered with fleas. i finally took them to get groomed. one of my cats is now losing her fur where the AWFUL sentry treatment was applied. what a horrible product. i wish i had looked at this site before i used it.

By Anonymous, at 6:31 PM, November 12, 2006
I agree with you all. I used it on my two dogs also. My beagle absolutely hated it, and caused her to go nuts, trying to rub it off of her. My rat terrier didn't seem to mind. But seeing how my beagle reacted, and how intense the smell is, I won't be using it anymore.

By Steve, at 1:52 AM, November 13, 2006
I also tried this product on my dog, hoping to avoid harsh chemicals. After I applied the squeeze-on stuff, the dog started to whine and kept rolling around on the carpet to wipe it off. The strong smell lasted over night and was making me gag at one point. It's been almost a day since I put that on him and his fur looks greasy and he apparently still has a couple of fleas so I guess I will have to try the vet or a flea dip at the groomer. Anyway, I wouldn't use this product again.

By Robyn, at 11:28 AM, November 29, 2006
I am in complete agreement with the comments already said. I am SO sorry I didn't come to this site before buying this TERRIBLE product. My poor cat has lost nearly ALL his fur where the product was applied, and I weep to think of the suffering he endured while it was there, burning his skin. I've also since learned that peppermint oil is highly toxic to cats, potentially causing significant liver damage, so I'll be taking him to the vet tomorrow. I would love to see this company sued into the ground for the suffering they've caused so many pets and owners.

By Anonymous, at 4:25 PM, December 23, 2006
I tried this product because I use lots of the oils that this is made with on myself and the kids. I really felt like it would work. It did get rid of the fleas and like others said, it smells horrible. I have five cats, none are related, and they are all different ages. Every one of them had tons of hair come out on the backs of their necks and shoulders where I had placed the product. It was the biggest mess. The hair didnt start falling out until about two weeks after using the product. I noticed the skin where I had put the product was very dry and flaky. I think that if they could research what is causing that and take it out of the product, I would try it agian but otherwise, I would not recommend it.

By Anonymous, at 11:17 AM, January 08, 2007
worst product ever...everything bad about this aweful stuff is true! I just finished giving my cat a bath, the poor thing is covered in that stuff and I can still smell it even after rinsing him several times. Too bad I came to this site after realizing this stuff had spread all over rather than staying in one area. Im hoping my cat doesnt get any weird side affects. This stuff is seriously annoying... No one and especially no kitty deserves this .Again this stuff is DISGUSTING!

By Anonymous, at 10:00 PM, January 17, 2007
We put this junk on our two boxers and our cat. I had an immediate allergic reaction to the stuff and I've never had any allergies before in my life (30 years)! The smell permeated my house and I still can't get rid of it. My allergic reaction turned into a sinus infection and I'm still fighting it a week later. I think my dogs fared worse. Immediately after application, they began acting strangely lethargic. Later that night, my male dog had severe diarrhea which persisted for three days. It was so bad that the vet didn't believe that it was caused by this stuff and asked for a stool sample. She (vet) found no bacteria or parasites in it. My female now has balding spots on her hips and near the base of her tail. The cat was just upset in general. I called the number on the back of the box and they recommended that I wash all animals with dishsoap (Dawn, Palmolive, etc.) to cut the oil. It took two baths before they didn't wreak of that stuff. I even had to buy all animals new collars because the others were full of the oil. They had no recommendations for me other than to see my doctor. They also said they would call back to check on us but they haven't yet. It's been 6 days. I really can't believe this company. Did they test this at all? I'm going to call them back and at least try to get reimbursed for the vet bill and new collars. I'm thinking of also alerting PetSmart to this blog. Good luck to everyone else who finds this...

By Sheldon Esteb, at 4:25 PM, February 06, 2007
I am glad I found this website before I decided to use this stuff on my two new puppies!!!
Thanks Everyone for your comments

By Anonymous, at 7:39 AM, February 07, 2007
i had a similar experience but my dog kudo calmed down after a couple of min and he was fine and he was free of fleas and a nasty tick after a day or so, the smell was pretty strong though.

By Anonymous, at 7:12 PM, March 09, 2007
Unfortunately with all the "natural" craze going on, people forget that "natural" does not necessarily equal "safe." Snake venom is natural too, but I wouldn't pour it on my dogs.

I can't believe that Sergeant's is marketing this crap for cats with all of the hard evidence on how bad several of the oils it contains are for cats.

By Anonymous, at 9:49 AM, March 14, 2007
Do NOT use this product. My cat did all the other things mentioned such as acting lethargic, drooling, fussing, etc., but he went one step further and he just died early this morning. He was an older cat, but right before using this product he was in great health, zipping up and down the hallways so fast you'd miss him if you blinked.

Goodbye Buddy, we'll miss you! I'm sorry I didn't find this information out sooner. :(

RIP Buddy

BTW, this post is in reference to their 8oz. spray bottle product which was on 'clearance' at Petco, who are some of the most insensitive people I've ever known. When I asked them why it was on clearance, the first thing out of the associate's mouth was "Not because it's a bad product." I think they knew there were problems with this product, despite their claims to the contrary, but they were just too damn concerned about making money instead of caring about animals, so they left it out to sell.

I plan on researching this further and if some of the comments made in this blog are true, i.e. some of the ingredients in the product are known to be toxic to cats, I'm going to be looking for a very good explanation as to why this happened.

By Anonymous, at 8:44 AM, April 05, 2007
Thank you all soooo much for your comments. I've got this crap recommeded from the local Petco and will return it today. I am so glad you took the time to write this and prevented me from putting it on my pets.

By Anonymous, at 1:14 PM, April 06, 2007
Okay, My cat is having the same problems. I applied it about 4 days ago. Now she has burns on her back and is losing fur at the application site. Other than washing the product off of her, any other treatments for the burns and scabs that any of you can recommend?

By Anonymous, at 11:10 AM, April 08, 2007
OMG Im so sorry all of you are having so many problems with this product. And Im so very sad you lost your cat. I just bought this product yesterday and wanted to do some research before I put it on my little dog. Thank you all for sharing your experience and taking the time to post. You saved me and my baby alot of grief. Its going back to the store today. I was so happy to have found something else to use. I just KNOW Advantage is killing our animals and I cry each time I have to put that stuff on her. Thanks again...and Im so sorry for everyone

By Anonymous, at 8:36 AM, April 27, 2007
I just used the Flea and tick squeeze on, and I didnt do my homework before I used it ( shame on me).
I was looking for a good alternative to the harsh chemicals.
I put it on my boys, and they immediately started scratching at there necks, running around and howling.
I could tell something was wrong with them.
I bathed them within 5 minutes of noticing their very odd behavior.
My one little guy has a huge bump where I put the stuff, and his skin is bright red.
He is doing better.
I did some research, and the peppermints and thyme oil is TOXIC to cats!
It can cause liver failure!
They are okay at the moment, and are back to themselves, I think that I got it just in time, even just applying the oils to their skin it toxic.
I am writing the company, and contacting my local news station to make them aware of these dangers...

DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Anonymous, at 10:56 PM, May 01, 2007
I tried on this so called natural product on my chihuahua and she reacted in a way she never has with a flea/tick product. she was very distressed, scratching at the site continually, and went off her food. then she became lethargic and I was concerned because of the change. unlike her at all. I am surprised that Sergeants is allowed to sell this crap at all.

By Anonymous, at 4:06 AM, May 05, 2007
Gotta agree with the other posters, this stuff doesn't work and stinks up your house! I put this on my cat and a week later she has more fleas than ever. I'm going back to "harsh" chemicals. I mean this natural product contains toxic ingredients for cats! Now that's harsh.

By Anonymous, at 4:42 PM, May 13, 2007
Hey dumb asses that used it on your cats. The box on the right hand side of this page says it's for dogs and puppies. Why would you put it on your cats? It's toxic for cats people, wake up!!!!!

By Anonymous, at 2:27 PM, May 14, 2007
Actually they make another kind specifically for cats, that's the one I used. You must be a dumb ass for thinking we'd put dog flea control on cats. :P I'm just posting here because it's a blog about the product and the dog and cat versions are similar. The peppermint and thyme oil toxic to cats is in the cat version.

By Anonymous, at 5:12 PM, May 14, 2007
for the comment above mine, Totally wrong and disrespectful, what are you thinkin calling people outta their names, thats simply wrong..anyhow I hope and pray you never have to go through what some of these people have went through, It would have been nicer for you to have a heart and wish all these people well instead of calling names, for those of you who have went through hell because of this product, I hope all works out for each of you and I pray that all of your fur-kids are okay, for you that lost your sweet lil kittie, Im so sorry, I hope somehow someone (the company, the maker of this product) gets a major law suit against them for all the pain they have caused many many animals and animal owners..

By LovinAl, at 6:55 AM, May 15, 2007
I'm so glad I search this before I put it on my Dachshound. I just got back from Pet Supplies Plus and thought I better look it up first. It'll go back to the store and I'll spend the extra money on Frontline. I know that works and it's better than fitting a house full of fleas!!

By Diana, at 11:47 AM, May 26, 2007
I am sooooo glad I found this site on google. I was shown this product at a specialty all natural and organic petstore and decided to research it before purchasing. I am an all natural and organic user and have done the same for my pets but I do research products before using them. I checked out Sentry's site and downloaded all their information on this new product which sounded fabulous to me. Then as I scrolled down on google, saw this blog and began reading and was horrified by the stories. I have a 7 month old kitten who is indoors but loves to go outdoors for walks and I was considering purchasing this instead of Frontline, but I will get the Frontline instead until Sentry gets this product tested and fine-tuned. I feel so sorry for all of you pet parents who have endured seeing your babies have the side effects from using this product on them. I hope Sentry has been contacted as this is alarming.

By Anonymous, at 9:01 AM, June 05, 2007
I hate to read that so many pets had bad reactions to the Natural Defense.I dont think I will be using it on my two dogs.It's going back to PetCo.

By Brenda, at 1:40 PM, June 09, 2007
man oh man, the pet smart people were like " yeah this stuff smells great and works the best" hah I so wish I'd came here and read what you fine folks advised... poor kitties and dogs with scabs, what fun is that?

I know I hate scabs from all my dirtbike crashes, can't imagine how the pets feel sheeish

By Anonymous, at 8:46 PM, June 13, 2007
I bought this product thinking it was natural and would not harm my cat. No sooner had I applied it, then he went nuts. He ran around the house crazy, scratching at the sight. His eyes were huge and he kept shaking his head. I got online and read these comments, immediately got him and gave him a bath with pet shampoo. The greazy spot diminished but some remains. And he smells. I put some baby powder on the area to absorb the odor and it did help. I'm glad for the mention of dish soap. I will try it. I'm just afraid my cat is going to loose his hair or get really sick.
My god the smell is horrendous! All through the house. Made me sick.
How can this company market this product? I will never buy anything from them again. I plan to march right back to the store today where I bought it and demand my money back and tell them what happened. THIS PRODUCT SHOULD NOT BE SOLD ANYWHERE. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE THAT PUT IT OUT THERE FOR SALE!

By Rita, at 6:35 AM, June 28, 2007
I tried this product in Oct. of 06 on my min. schnauzer.She had an episode and had to go to the emergeny clinic the following night and straight to the vet the next morning for an imediate blood transfusion to save her. After another one and complications and constant testing and ultra sounds and blood levels tested and three wks later. We finally got thru it. how this crap got on the market is beyond belief! It is so dangerous! it literally sucked the oxygen right from her blood, can you imagine how scarry that would be? I'm still paying on a $3000. vet bill! I'm warning you, don't try it!!!!!!

By Anonymous, at 9:21 PM, June 29, 2007
I used this on my two barn cats and they both had bad reactions at the application site. Both had scabs and sores and lost all of their hair where the product was applied. I would not recommend or use this product again!

By Anonymous, at 2:31 PM, July 03, 2007
I am so glad that someone else had the same experience.The smell alone made me sick. I can imagine that cats with their keen sense of smell may be really bothered. I put it on my old cat, she screamed and ran through the house and ran all over the yard for hours. I wiped her down with a wet towel but the smell persisted for a week.Neem Oil is base of the product.

In the meantime, she lost her fur right at the site where I placed the solution. I had to toss the whole packet out and not give it to the other cats. I could not do anything until her fur grew back. Terrible product.

By Anonymous, at 7:48 AM, July 11, 2007
I bought a canister of the Flea and Tick Carpet Powder hoping to head off a possible tick problem. As soon as I started to sprinkle the stuff on the carpets, I thought I was going to explode with the smell. As if the devil had been eating some sort of extra strength breath freshener...camphor and peppermint and cloves!!!! It's the middle of flea and tick season here in NC which means it's also 95 degrees outside. I had no choice but to open the windows to air out my apartment and my dog and I are baking in the heat.

Luckily, I bathed my dog with another flea and tick product but I was worried that the powder would irritate his skin so I vacuumed it up waaaaaay earlier than recommended. Then I went to the grocery store for baking soda. I emptied three, one pound boxes on my carpets and I can STILL smell the stuff. I'm leaving the baking soda there for at least 24 hours. Yuck. I won't be purchasing this product again. I only hope it keeps the promise to kill ticks. I'm thankful that my dog doesn't have a flea problem (thanks to garlic and yeast tablets) but my heart goes out to all the pet owners who have had such a problem with this product. I too have great hopes and preferences for "natural products" but agree with the previous poster's comment about snake venom...

BTW, I contacted Sergeant's for the MSDS sheets on this stuff. There better be some in existence...I'll let you all know what happens.

By Sarah, at 2:26 PM, July 18, 2007
I have owned and cared for dogs and cats for nearly 40 years and have used various "spot" flea treatments since they became available.
Like other people have stated some dogs and cats react differently to these treatments.
There are several things that are very important to consider before treating your pet with any pesticide er flea & tick preventative.
1. The pet's age, weight. Never treat a puppy less than 12 weeks with an internal or external flea & tick preventative. For Cats it is even more important to read the label for every product for age & weight restrictions.
2. Health, look for signs of allergic reaction to the flea bites. It's fairly common and can cause health concerns if your pet is chronically infested. How long have you noticed the infestation? If it's been ongoing then your pet is already in compromised health. It's wise to take alternate steps such as more frequent bathing, grooming, manual de-fleaing (not fun but it could mean the difference in a compromised pet). The alternate option might be slower going but it's better than overworking a stressed pet's system. Treat your home and yard for fleas before treating your pet.
3.I had to learn the hard way but keep track of how many treatments, flea dips, flea baths, or powders you have given your pet. It's important not to double or triple up on these types of treatments. You can easily harm your pet by just using any combination of flea & tick preventatives in a short time meaning days to weeks depending on the treatment. Always read the label for precautions and wait time between applications. Even if it's a different product wait until the old one has worn off.
4. Always do your homework, your pet can't do it they depend on you for everything and more. Always consult a trusted vet before you do anything you aren't sure of. A well meant guestimate can have ramifications you are unprepared for.
5. Remember, if you act like you are afraid, concerned, upset, worried, or unsure your pet knows this and will respond in kind. So always be happy or at least calm when taking care of your pet; that's why you have them in the first place. Your emotional fortitude will be rewarded.

By Anonymous, at 7:24 AM, July 19, 2007
i just tried this product and started getting worried when she started running around frantically, scratching and trying to rub off the product on the carpet. Thank you for your comments, i bathed her after it being on her for 10 minutes, and she is still just laying around with her eyes open, after she let me brush her completely - which NEVER happens. something is definitely wrong with this product. i'm returning it and will NEVER even think about getting it again.

By Anonymous, at 11:51 AM, July 21, 2007
Wish I had checked this site first. I too was looking for something natural instead of the chemical formulas on the market . My dog actually hasn't seemed to have any kind of reation to the product, other than a slight red area where it was applied. After reading these comments, I will keep a close eye on his skin. But OMG!! The smell!! I couldn't wait to give him a bath to get rid of that horrible smell. It gave me a nasty headache and sore throat, so I hate to think how he must have felt, with the product on him. I threw the rest away and will never use this again.

By Anonymous, at 11:00 AM, July 23, 2007
I purchased this product maybe late last year and my dog did not experience any of the mentioned problems...I used the whole tube the first time and nothing happened, no hair loss, itching, strange behavior, nothing. BUT lol that cinnamon man oh man, i smelled my poor baby a mile away and he couldnt get in my bed until it wore OFF, being that i used the WHOLE tube the first time it was more than over baring so yes that took a long time.....now i use 1 tube over a period of time, still from the nape of the neck to the top of his tail and i do that for 2 reasons because of his size and of course because of the oh so sweet and lovely smell is maintains lol.....i just put some on him and still nothing, i will monitor him though....but honestly this product is just like anything else on the shelf for humans or pets....EVERYTHING isnt for EVERYONE and thats the bottomline....i would like to know why the company is using an ingridient that is toxic to cats though...someone didnt do their homework

By Dee Cee, at 4:35 PM, July 24, 2007
I just washed he Sentry Natural Defense off my dog. The cinnamon smell remains everywhere. My dog, a sharpey/dogo mix weighing about 50 lbs., did what other bloggers described. She also developed an oily spot on her sides. I'm amazed how jittery she got. I gave her a long shower, and she is calming down. Not a good experience for either of us.

By JOHN, at 10:34 PM, July 24, 2007
Buyer beware!!!!!!
This is a nightmare! The horrible, pungent, eye-stinging and near noxious odor is cause for alarm. My 25# little guy went out of his mind with discomfort immediately. I had watery eyes and felt nauseated while trying to comfort the poor dog! Do we even know what it is doing to his body? We were up ALL night trying to wash and re-wash much less try to rest with that smell and concern about his well-being.
All directions were followed and all label info read - natural oils should be safe as I am very careful about chemicals, etc.
This company is liable for the pain but will never admit that type of accountability - the pet owners will be those who "did not do something right".
I am angry and will spread the word to any store who sells this poison. How DARE they promote anything so seemingly dangerous ??
We all need to let Sergeant's know how derelict they are, please....
Denise Seematter, Age 55 in Iowa

By Anonymous, at 10:29 AM, July 26, 2007
My cousin and I bought this product for cats 5 days ago and she put it on her 4 month old kitten and two days later we were rushing it to the vets office! They said the spray was toxic to the kitten. I had not used mine yet thank God but I am trying to let people know that after I looked up the ingredients I found out that peppermint oil, lemon oil, cinnimon bark oil, and thyme oil are all toxic to cats!!!! And if you look at the ingredients these are all in there!

By Anonymous, at 11:10 AM, July 27, 2007
It will be 3 weeks tomorrow since I used Natural Defense carpet spray. I cannot get the smell out of my apartment. Bought a new vacuum, new steam cleaner ( I have steam cleaned it 6 times. I cannot stay at my apartment because of the horrible smell and due to the fact that my eyes and throat burn and I get a headache. I sprayed some on my new bed also because my dog sleeps with me. I am extremely stressed out . Product said tested by a vet . I cannot pull up the carpet living in an apartment . Any ideas ??????
I just want to be able to take my dog and go back home...

By Anonymous, at 6:51 PM, July 28, 2007
I tried this product on my dogs last month. Let me tell you they all ran around the house for half an hour rubbing on everything in the house. I immediately washed it off and they calmed down.

This month I went to the vet and paid the 50 dollars for for Frontline. They were even more freaked out by it, panting and rubbing themselves on any surface available at the vets office.
Panicking I confronted the vet, he said it's normal for the dogs to react because it contains things that may cause tingling or cold sensations and the dog is going to act instinctively by rubbing around.
Either way I don't like the fact that I paid $50 for something vet approved that caused the same reaction as Natural Defense for $10.

By Anonymous, at 11:04 AM, July 29, 2007
GAWD I wish I had read this site before I purchased this stupid stuff. My cats are not happy and now I get to give them both a bath to get this crap off. I HOPE THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR HAIR OR GET SICK!!!

I am going to write the company and also Pets Mart where I purchased it.

By Anonymous, at 5:50 AM, August 05, 2007
I don't know what you are all talking about - until I found this product I was lost. Nothing would work on the fleas in my area. My cats love the way it smells and actaully have gained weight while I've been using it.

By Anonymous, at 12:53 PM, August 08, 2007
Sorry to hear about your comments, folks. My dogs loved it -- in fact, it chilled them out for an evening. I don't mind the smell. Now I don't have to pay $15 for a room infuser from Bath and Body Works! :)

What it comes down to, for me at least, is this: Advantage, Frontline, Advantix, etc. are harmful chemicals that are absorbed into the animals skin and cause cancer. I'd rather deal with a smelly home than a tumor-ridden animal.

By Anonymous, at 7:20 PM, August 08, 2007
Sorry about your troubles, folks, but I've had nothing but success with this product. Not only do the dogs smell great (no more expensive plug-ins!), but I've noticed a dramatic drop in fleas in the house. Now, I read somewhere that this stuff doesn't kill the eggs, but rather the adults/larvae only. I'm thinking about getting a fogger, bomb the house, then keep reapplying the Sentry.

I also noticed that I need to reapply every two to three weeks, instead of four to six with Advantage, but at least I'm not putting cancer-causing agents on my dog. For the dog owners (as it seems cats don't fare well with this stuff), an oily back and smell are minor inconveniences to watching a friend struggle with cancer.

By Anonymous, at 7:45 AM, August 09, 2007
My friend purchased Sentry Natural Defense Carpet Spray and could not get the smell out of her carpet. She called Sergeants at 1-800-224-7387, option 5, and spoke to Danielle Farnsworth about the continuing problem. I hope this helps those who have this type of situation.

By Anonymous, at 12:08 AM, August 10, 2007
I used this product on my nine year old male cat and my brothers one year old female. Within minutes both were shaking [the female did groom herself a little before I could stop her, but the male did not ingest ANY] from what looked like muscular spasms. I called our vet and he immediately informed me that the ingredients of this particular product are TOXIC and that they would both need injections of Robaxin, or methocarbamol [http://bullwrinklerx.com/detail.aspx?ID=65]. It surely saved their lives, he said. My old cat is not back to normal, and this happened six hours ago. My boyfriend and I went to Petsmart, got a refund, and spoke to the manager, who promised to send the info we gave them to corporate. I encourage everyone who has had a bad experience with this product to do the same. It's ridiculous that they're allowed to sell this product still.

By Anonymous, at 8:57 PM, August 14, 2007
PS- I used Dawn dishsoap to get it out only minutes after I had put it on. It works wonders with the smell, though I had to bathe them a few times. Dishsoap is the best thing for getting it off.

By Anonymous, at 9:03 PM, August 14, 2007
I just wanted to say...there was someone on here that called everyone a 'dumbass' for using on their cat..well..we have a cat and a dog. We looked at the ingredients for both the CAT formula & the DOG formula..GUESS WHAT?! EXACTLY THE SAME! EXACTLY!!! Our dog has acted odd when we gave it to him as well..drooling and lethargic..hoping it is because it might be similar to 'icy hot'...when u use that stuff it numbs up your body part where you used it..so maybe the menthol is relaxing them??? UGH...stupid natural chemicals!

By Anonymous, at 6:58 PM, September 27, 2007
Yikes... my dog did not react well to this product either. Immediately after application, he started roaming around restlessly and wouldn't stop bothering me. I immediately googled, found this site, and gave him a long bath. It took 3-4 full washes to remove this goo (and I still think there's a little around his tail), but he's doing much better. Terrible, terrible product.

By Anonymous, at 9:51 PM, October 02, 2007
Well, after reading all of the comments, my experience with this product is pretty much the same as everyone else's, unfortunately - this product needs to be BANNED IMMEDIATELY. I used this on my 7 lb Pomeranian (the kind for dogs 15 lbs and under, of course), and I have NEVER seen my dog so sick. 4 hours after the application, he was barely breathing and kept dry-heaving and shaking. Not to mention it made his fur DISGUSTINGLY greasy, and it smells like pure hell. He is getting better after his 3rd bath (in the last 12 hrs) - thank god the symptoms are going away - I thought we were definetely going to end up at the emergency vet last night (tho I still don't know if we're in the clear yet, I'm watching him closely). I feel SO bad for putting him thru that, I can't even imagine how horrible it must have felt. Please don't use this product, it's truely horrible.

By Anonymous, at 1:27 PM, October 08, 2007
I bought the cat/kitten brand. Used it on my cat, and like all of you, she hated it. She hid wherever she could for the first couple days. When I finally got a hold of her again, her skin was all scabbed over, and flaking off like dandruff. Also, it was cracking and bleeding and the fur was coming off in clumps.

This product is HORRIBLE! I emailed the company. Does anyone know if there are any class action lawsuits over this? It seems there should be one. This is a horrible horrible product.

By Anonymous, at 2:44 PM, October 10, 2007
I am amazed by the number of people who have had bad experiences with this product. I used it on one of my girls (dog) this summer and loved it! The past two years, we have tried both Frontline and Advantix and she had scratched and chewed herself to a sore, scabby mess. I wasn't going to use chemical products on her any longer. Someone had recommended this Sentry product to me, and although I am totally skeptical of 'natural' products actually working, I thought I'd give it a try figuring 'better something than nothing'. She never caught fleas all season (and they were bad in our area), plus in all truth, I really like the spicy scent. I think you smell more clove than cinnamon, actually. I would hug her more after an application just so I could take a whiff! lol! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - and pleasant smell is in the nose of the sniffer! I had to add to this list because it worked great for me (and Missy) - we will not go back to using anything else.

By Anonymous, at 2:09 PM, October 15, 2007
I wold recommend anyone who has used any Sergeant's Pet Care Products and had a negative reaction to contact a lawyer, the Consumer Dept of Affairs, the Pesticide Regulation Department, Better Buisness Buero of your state and the U.S. SOMETHING has to be done about this company.

I just lost my best friend and gaurdian angel of 16 years to Sergeant's flea shampoo. She died last Monday (10/21). The shampoo had a chemical called Pyrethrum, which is used in pesticeds to kill bugs. It is a known chemical that is very toxic/lethal to cats. Sergeants put this in their products....it caused me cat to have a seizure and died within 9 hours.This was the most horrific thing to see and watching her die was even worse.The vet said there has been in increase in cats coming in with the same problem from this product.

I'm already in the process of contacting every department in the U.S that can help and I'm on my way to getting a lawyer.

I think we all need to come together and make the company pay for the pain they have caused all of us affected.

By Anonymous, at 7:55 AM, October 30, 2007
I used Sentry Natural Defense flea and tick spray on my small dog about 3 weeks ago,October 13th. He had been itching for about 3 months and I wanted to use something "natural". Immediately after applying a small amount of the spray on him I was overcome by the intense smell of the essential oils in this product.Since the directions which I read 3 times said it was safe to use the product indoors I had applied it in our bedroom where he also sleeps.I woke up many times that night coughing and it felt like my adams apple was on fire!! My sinus and eyes felt all dried up like all the moisture evaporated from them. If the "on fire" feeling didn't go away after a couple hours I would have gone to the emergency room asap.I checked my dog who weighs only 12 pounds to make sure he was ok, which thank heaven he was and went downstairs with him to sleep on the couch.I called the number on the bottle first thing when I woke up but since it was a Sunday I was told to call back on Monday.I did give the information of what happened to the person who assured me that the product was all natural! Actually I added up the percent of oils from the back of the bottle and I came up with less than 8% of the product being from essential oils!! I then washed and rewashed my dog with dawn detergent and washed all the bedding,his and ours and wiped down all the surfaces in the area I sprayed. I left the door open to the slider to air out the room all week and slept on the couch all week! My husband was working out of town during the week so I just closed the bedroom door upstairs with the window open! I had a doctor appt. that Tuesday for an unrelated health issue and asked him to check my lungs as I was still coughing and wheezing. He freaked....and had me get a chest xray and bloodwork right there as he thought I may have chemical pneumonia.It's been over 3 weeks since I used Sentry and the update is I have chemical asthma from using this product!! I have been on oral steroids, steroid inhaler still, antibiotics and am still coughing and wheezing. I now need to see a Pulmonary doctor since it didn't respond to initial treatment. I was told the asthma may be permanent. I have been in contact with Sergeant's and they with me but do not want to comment about the legal part of this right now anyway. I would like to have anyone else who had problems from using this product in particular contact me. I would especially like to hear back from the people that posted who said they did or were going to contact Sergeant's or an attorney because of expenses involved with adverse reactions from using Sentry's Natural Defense Spray. Since I am new to blogging, I don't know if you can reply to me directly or need to get my email address or just want to post your reply in this catagory. I am so sorry for all of you who had animals who suffered or died from using products bought to help them. My heart goes out to you all.

By mick, at 2:01 PM, November 07, 2007
I have a tea cup chihuahua and was in the best of health until I used natural defence.
After two weeks in the vets office we finally found out how toxic this stuff is to an animal. My beautiful dog started out with a rash at the sight the medication was put then her whole body started to peel, like she was being skinned alive. She almost looked like a snake.
I set with her, and comfort her but all I can think of is what the hell kind of people could make a product this lethal and not care who it hurts.
I put it on my cat the same day and she has lost much of her fur.
Natural Defense, I hope your pockets are full and you take much pride in killing. You are no better than a suicide bomber!

By Anonymous, at 12:11 PM, November 12, 2007
I also tried this product on my 2 dogs and the intense smell drove me crazy. My beagle hated it, she ran everywhere trying to rub it off. My Jack Russell seemed lathargic. I finally washed it off of them but that smell is still there. I do not recommend this product at all.

By Anonymous, at 9:42 AM, November 19, 2007
I use the spray on my dog (Welsh Terrier) to control a recent tick infestation at my house. My wife had just given birth to a baby and I didn't want to use harsh chemical sprays. The spray has a strong smell much like all the other chemical sprays, but at least it smell some-what good. It kills ticks quickly, even faster than Adams flea and tick spray. I spray the dog and the areas he sleeps in 4 times a day. It works great, he has had no problems.

By Anonymous, at 6:26 AM, November 20, 2007
I have been using this product on my dog for 6 months and it seems to work like magic to kill and keep away fleas. The intense smell wears off in a day or so, and is a better than putting horrible chemicals on your baby! In fact I find the smell less offensive than the sickening perfumes and colognes that many people wear these days.
*Before I tried this on my dog, I tried a spot on myself- it tingled, like Tiger-Balm or Ben Gay does, that may be what the dogs are reacting to. My dog has not had any adverse reaction- BUT as with any product for you and your pet if the skin reddens significantly, bathe immediately.

By Anonymous, at 12:24 AM, December 23, 2007
I hope everyone who has stated their animal had fleas or had been scratching for, in at least one case, months, should have done something about the fleas a VERY LONG TIME AGO. Not treating your animal immediately at the first sign of fleas is stupidity and worse neglect. It’s important to remove fleas from pets because they carry diseases like plague and tapeworm.

If you have fleas in your home you need to eradicate them using flea bombs or the like. ALL pets must be away from the home for ususally 2-4 hours. As always you must read the specific directions on the product you purchase. Then vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. It's your best defense against all stages of fleas. Your animals should have a spot on treatment on them for at least 24hrs before reentering the home, otherwise, if all the fleas aren't dead they'll find Fido.

Flea eggs, larvae, and the pupal or cocoon stage of the flea is very resistant to insecticides or pesticides and is often the reason people’s homes and animals are re-infested even after bombing and vacuuming the house.

NO FLEA PRODUCT WILL KILL THE IMMATURE FLEA (any stage other than adult) in the environment (house or lawn). Exterminators are often the only answer to a recurring flea problem in addition to defleaing the pets and protecting them with spot-on prevention.

Fleas can cause severe allergic reactions, dermatitis and alopecia in some animals by biting the animal to drink its blood. Common signs are red, irritated skin, and loss of hair at the site of the bites. Some dogs that are infested with fleas will have this reaction as well as those that have never been exposed to a flea and are bitten for the first time.

By Anonymous, at 5:46 AM, January 23, 2008
I had customers (at the pet shop I worked for) who HATED it, and it wasn't just a couple people who complained to me.

Like most of the comments I read on this, it smelled TERRIBLE, made the animal crazy and worst of all, it DIDN'T WORK! If anything, It just made the animal feel more o\itchy and left with OILY FUR!

By Twylight Fading, at 3:16 PM, February 12, 2008
I just tried the shampoo on my dog he's a 65lb mutt and it seemed to work fine it smelled a little strong when i washed him with it but i took him for a walk after and he got dry and does smell so strong anymore. He only had a couple fleas before I used this on him though. He used to not have any fleas because he was living at a high altitude but now he's down in a lower altitude for a month and I didn't want him to develop a flea problem but I didn't want to use any harsh chemicals though this natural stuff seems just as bad in certain cases. At any rate he was scratching himself every now and then for the last couple days and since i bathed him this afternoon i've only seen him scratch himself once. I should also mention I combed him with a flea comb for a while after bathing him and he was dry and I only found one flea so he either didn't have many to begin with or the shampoo helped

By Anonymous, at 2:59 AM, February 27, 2008
i have a ratt terrior and he is sick blood in his diearia short of a doc what can i do besides wash him and wish i would have read comments before use of the product

By Anonymous, at 12:45 PM, March 11, 2008
I used the natural defense on my great dane, and she lost all the fur on her back, and the worst part is that is has not grown back. The company is not very responsive either!!!

By Anonymous, at 6:42 PM, March 19, 2008
I tried this product for my 2 collies and I don't recommend it. I can still smell it on them weeks after using it. One one of the dogs the skin is all irritated. On both of them it yellowed the white in their ruffs where I applied it.
I didn't have any of these problems with Frontline so I'm going back to that product.

By Anonymous, at 7:54 AM, April 06, 2008
This product is way too harsh and concentrated for a pet's sensitive skin. I run a volunteer cat rescue and tried it on several cats that were all in good health. They suffered terribly. One of them seems to have survived it after the initial misery, but this was the exception. Pet owners should get together and threaten to sue the company if they do not at least take this product off the market. I accidentally got some on my hand yesterday and it is so strong it penetrated my skin. Also it does not completely wash off. I can feel it still, 16 hours later.

6:00 AM, APRIL 10,2008

By Anonymous, at 6:06 AM, April 10, 2008
I don't know if I'm crazy or not, but I have used it twice so far on my dachshund and it has worked. No fleas, ticks, or mosquito bites. I applied it outside and let it dry before coming in. My dog didn't even notice it was on him (he usually rolls all over the carpet to get Frontline off). After taking a quick walk, the only remaining scent is sort of nice- like cloves and mint. He smells like a little hippie! :)
Also, it is not meant for cats & says "NOT FOR CATS" on the box. Why are almost all of the responses from cat owners?

By Anonymous, at 7:12 AM, April 23, 2008
This product is amazing, I use it on my Labrador Retriever who has a history of allergies. It smells like cinnamon and clove, and my dog hardly noticed.

Don't use chemical stuff on your pets as you wouldn't use the same on your human babies.

By Lily, at 12:45 AM, May 07, 2008
This product SUCKS! It almost killed my kitty and I have a high vet bill for tring to kill some fleas and ticks... What are these people thinking selling this stuff. I am in the process of talking to Pets Mart about pulling it off the shelf. My kitty is doing better but she went through hell.

By Tara, at 6:44 PM, May 10, 2008
I noticed only a few fleas on one of our 2 dogs last fall, I had some Advantage and Frontline left over from the previous season, but since one of my dogs is quite elderly, 15 years plus, I was afraid to use the chemicals on her. I like using natural products on myself and my children, so I was so happy to find Sentry Natural Defense squeeze-on at a fraction of the price of the chemical brands! I did make the mistake of buying the box for small dogs, as my dogs are medium to large sized. However I used it on them anyway as directed on the box. It worked great! There were no more fleas noted all season, once I treated the dogs, my cat never did get them. The smell is a bit strong, but I don't think it's unpleasant, just spicey. My teenage daughter didn't like the smell though. There were no ill effects to either of my dogs. In fact they stopped itching. My younger dog likes to roll around on my bed, so she did get the scent on the the bedspread and it did linger for quite awhile, but my husband and I didn't mind it.
I'm very sorry so many others had such problems with this product, but I would use it again and have recommended it to others. Perhaps I was lucky that I used the smaller dose.

By Anonymous, at 10:08 AM, May 21, 2008
Just bought this stuff for my two chi's and thank goodness I researched it first. This stuff is going back to Petco. Petco also bears responsibility for recommending and selling this crap.

By Anonymous, at 3:27 PM, July 26, 2008
im sorry all of you are having problems with this,i have 9 dogs and non of them have problems,and not onw flea,they never had any before but i use frontline plus,which is also good,but cost more and toxic.

By Anonymous, at 7:00 AM, August 07, 2008
I wish I would have read these comments before I used this product on my 5 month old cat! I too prefer natural products because in most cases they are better, except in this instance! My kitten would not stop foaming at the mouth! She was irritated and angry. I'm scared by these comments others have written. I just finished giving her two baths, wich she let me do lethargically! I just got off the phone with the company and they recommended what I had done. They also recommeded putting tuna "water only- not oil based" in her water to help her stop foaming. It did work. They said the salivating is due to the bitter taste of the product...I hope she does not loose her hair! I feel like a horrible owner right now for using this!

By Anonymous, at 6:49 PM, September 09, 2008
I used the dog spray for the first time earlier today - one of my dogs has had terrible reactions to Frontline and I wanted something natural. I have two dogs...NEITHER of them acted strangely when it was applied. In fact, they usually run when they see flea spray. Both stayed obediently while it was put on. Neither of them started rolling crazily, like they did when Frontline or other flea products have been applied. My cocker spaniel had tons of fleas on her belly that Frontline did nothing for. As I sprayed her, I watched the fleas die INSTANTLY. I also sprayed the house with the household spray. Yes, it smells strongly - but it smells like Burt's Bees all-natural deodorant, which is *not* a bad smell. It smells way, way better than chemical agents.

By Glynis, at 3:02 PM, September 11, 2008
I've been using this product for awhile now. It's works great on my dogs. I don't know about toxicity for cats but for my dogs, I love it. They have NEVER had any bed reaction to this product. Frontline always left a much larger grease spot on my dogs then Natural Defense does. The smell is strong at first but is fine after a day. Plus people always comment how nice my dogs smell. I'd rather deal with the smell then putting the Frontline chemicals onto my dog. Make sure to not cause an overreaction in your dog. I'm sure if I applied this then started chasing my dog and gave her a bath she would be stressed as well!

By Anonymous, at 2:50 PM, September 17, 2008
We used the Sentry Natural Defense on our 1 year old chiwawa/jack mix. We applied it on the back of the neck. Minutes after he went at it, trying to lick it off by using his back paws to rub it off and then lick it off his paw. We realized something was wrong with the strange never heard sounds comming out of the dog. We quick googled dog allergic reaction to flea treatment and found this website. We gave it a bath twice and thought everything would get better but during the night the dog licked himself into a frenzy and bloodied his paws because of the friction. In the morning we ended up wrapping his paws/body which calmed him down and he was able to take a couple of naps. We fed him by hand and then took the wraps off to take him outside to do his thing. The dog attacked his paws like you wouldn't believe. He went psycho on them. So I wrapped him up again for his own safety. I think he'll be O.K after a couple of baths today but I wouldn't recommend this stuff. It may work on most dogs but from what I'm reading off the net, it's got some pretty bad end results on others.

By Anonymous, at 8:52 AM, September 21, 2008
I have never had a problem with this product, and know that any flea product will have reactions depending on the pet. I say give it a try.

By Anonymous, at 9:56 AM, September 23, 2008
I looked around for a Natural Shampoo for my cats and came across Natural Defense by SENTRY. Upon looking at the Front Label where the Active Ingredients are listed, I thought this would be a healthy / harmless product to use on my cats.

UNTIL I got home and compared the Front Label to the Back label.

Front Label: *Safe for use around Children and Pets
Back Label: *Hazards to Humans *Hazards to Domestic Animals

Then the BIGGEST Warning I should have noticed:

"Sergeants Pet Care Products, INC represents that this product qualifies for EXEMPTION from registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide "Act" (FIFRA) This product has NOT been registered by the United States"

Thankfully I came across this site before I used this product on my cats. Thank you everyone who posted.

Sincerely USE THIS PRODUCT AT YOUR OWN RISK

By Anonymous, at 11:44 PM, October 02, 2008
So if all these flea medications I have been using are so horrible, what IS safe?

By lovelyviridian, at 6:15 AM, October 06, 2008
TO THE MAKERS OF SARGENTS GOLD,YOUR PRODUCT HAS COST ME $297.00 IN VET BILLS FROM ALLERGIC REATIONS ON MY BOXER, I HAVE SINCE
LEARN THAT THIS AS WELL AS OTHER "OVERCOUNTER MEDICATION" HAS CAUSED DEATH IN SOME CASES. ****THIS CRAP IS JUNK**** DO NOT USE!!!!!!

By Anonymous, at 8:59 AM, October 23, 2008
Sergeant's Gold and SentryPro XFC "Allergic" Reaction and Deaths happen Daily see the below news report and websites with all the fellow Sergeant Reaction sufferers.

Been through it with two Pugs, it was like watching them die for three days straight. This is not a allergic reaction.

There is something wrong with their Sergeant Products and instead of taking it off the shelves the continue to make Pet Parents like You and I watch our pet children suffer.

Read more Sufferers Daily at the below sites:
News Report on TV
http://wkytarchives.com/watch?v=3499

http://journal.drfaulken.com/problems-with-sentrypro-xfc-flea-and-t...
http://www.bigpawsonly.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=5290a3d838a93ff17845...
http://dogblog.dogster.com/2008/04/08/sargeants-gold-flea-medicatio...

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/43242/flea_and_tick_treatm...
http://www.hartzvictims.org/2008/01/28/danger-sergeants-gold-flea-a...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxBYuDTYcu4
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/sergeants.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070603204206AAZelWw
http://journal.drfaulken.com/problems-with-sentrypro-xfc-flea-and-t...
http://www.hartzvictims.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&...
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pets/msg090048468548.html
http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/reaction-sergeants-gold-t7298701...
http://www.zootoo.com/dogs_fleatick/sergeantsgoldfleaampticksqueez_...
http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv14.html
http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv15.html
http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv16.html
http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv17.html
http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv18.html
http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv19.html
http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv20.html
http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv21.html

Sergeant knows there is something seriously wrong with their execution of releasing their products. Evidence is their financial investment in the campaign on how to “Read a Label.” No company would allocate money to run a campaign unless they were inspired by an overwhelming number of adverse reactions to their product.

Please log a complaint with the Consumer Affairs Site. It is easy and takes a second to record your experience. You will make a difference and possibly prevent this happening to another innocent being.

We need their Lawyers to be aware of the frequency and the severity of Sergeant’s Products Reactions. We need their help to get this product off the market.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/sergeants.html

Hardest part for me, Sergeant says they read our daily cases of suffering yet they will not take this product off the market. Instead they continue to collect financial profits off of innocent Pet Parent’s suffering.

These parents love their animals as if they were human beings. If this product was for the consumption of humans then the reactions would be considered cruelty and the deaths would be equal to murder.

Hard for me to know this tragic experience will happen to someone tomorrow. Hard for me not to be able to stop it.
Sergeant please Stop it. You Can.

A Sergeant’s Reaction Sufferer for Life
Lorraine

sergeant gold reactions
sergeant reaction
sergeant danger poison reaction
sergeant's gold
sergeant's gold reaction
sargeant gold

By Sergeant Sufferer, at 6:51 PM, October 23, 2008
I'm reading each of your comments. I am a wholistic consumer with an 18 lb. grey cat. Gave him Frontline Plus a few days ago. Three hours later, he vomited many times, started to foam at the mouth, and had trouble breathing.One would think a larger cat could handle any chemicals. I searched for first aid help. no vets around early in the morning. $60 to reach someone from poison control center.
The question: if we can't rely on a "natural"product or use insecticides like Frontline or Advantage, what do we use???
Ever try restraining and bathing a cat every weeK?
What is safe and effective?

By Anonymous, at 3:01 PM, November 11, 2008
I wish I had found this site before I had purchased and used this product (the shampoo). I had mentioned it to my sister because I actually liked the smell of cloves. My sister used it on her dog on Christmas day this year and the poor dog ended up in the Vet ER. She was admitted for servere dehydration due to vomitting and diarrhea. She also had developed such a bad rash that her entire little body was blood red.

The vet said that they were going to contact poison control and when they did, they notified my sister that they have had several calls about this reactions to this product. Imagine the guilt I feel.

To all who have suffered I feel for you. Something needs to be done about getting this product off the market and holding the company responsible for damage their product has caused to our family memembers.

By Anonymous, at 8:01 AM, December 29, 2008

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