The Facts About Hartz Flea and Tick Drops

At Hartz, we’re pet people – it’s all that we do and, as such, we are dedicated to providing pet parents with effective and affordable products that eliminate fleas, ticks and mosquitoes to keep their pets pest-free. At Hartz, we aim to provide you with the necessary information to make educated, objective decisions about pest treatment products for your pet and home environment.

All flea and tick topical products, including those manufactured by Hartz, are registered in accordance with the standards established by the EPA. These EPA registration numbers can be found on all Hartz flea and tick products.

Flea and tick product registration is the process through which the EPA reviews the formulation; the amount, frequency and timing of its use, safety and effectiveness.

Before flea and tick topicals can be registered to be sold to the U.S. public, formulations undergo companion animal safety evaluation where they must demonstrate a margin of safety even when applied at five-times the recommended dose. This is for the protection of animals in the event that excessive product is applied in error.

The active ingredients in Hartz® UltraGuard® topical treatments for dogs, and Hartz UltraGuard® topical treatments for cats (Etofenprox) have the lowest EPA Oral Toxicity Classification, Class IV.

The EPA requires all flea and tick topicals, including those manufactured by Hartz, to undergo efficacy studies for their effectiveness in controlling flea and ticks.

All EPA regulated flea and tick topical products must undergo efficacy tests before they can be registered. These tests are in place to ensure that flea and tick products perform as advertised. The testing standards are the same for all EPA registered topical products regardless of the product.
All monthly flea and tick topical treatments are required to undergo independent testing which proves that use of their products on cats and dogs will result in a 90% reduction in pest infestation for up to 4 weeks.

All Hartz flea and tick products meet those efficacy standards established by the EPA.

All EPA registered flea and tick topical products sold by veterinarians are held to the same regulations and standards as Hartz topical flea and tick products.

Once a flea and tick pet topical product is approved by the EPA, it can be sold through any type of outlet and most veterinarian-sold and recommended brands are increasingly sold directly to consumers in retail, pet specialty stores and through many internet retailers.

Many flea and tick products, including brands commonly sold by veterinarians, fall under the jurisdiction of the EPA and are reviewed and approved against exactly the same EPA standards as products sold in retail outlets. One exceptions to this rule are FDA-regulated prescription products (e.g. orals) that enter the bloodstream which must be dispensed by a veterinarian.

Contrary to popular belief, purchasing a product from a veterinarian does not imply that the product performs better or is less harmful than products sold at retail.

All flea and tick product manufacturers, including Hartz, are required by law to report any and all claims of adverse reactions related to the use of their products, to the EPA. Additionally, consumers can report adverse reactions to the National Pesticide Information Center. The information is available from EPA’s Freedom of Information Office.

An adverse reaction, as defined by the EPA, can range from property damage to human or animal injury. Flea and tick product manufacturers, including Hartz, are required by law to report claims of adverse reactions related to the use of their products, to the EPA. The EPA advises all pet owners to report adverse events to the product manufacturer using the phone number provided on the product. Veterinarians are encouraged to use the National Pesticide Information Center’s Veterinary Pesticide Adverse Effects Reporting portal to report incidences. The EPA monitors company product reports for trends and issues and may request additional labeling to reduce adverse effects.

When applied as directed, Hartz topical products do not enter an animal’s bloodstream. 

• Hartz products are non-systemic. When used as directed, they do not penetrate the skin, they do not enter the blood-stream and, therefore, do not result in damage to internal organs.
• The active ingredients in topical flea and tick products are dispersed across the skin by the natural oils of the animal’s body in a process called translocation. The product stays on the skin and in the skin’s oil glands – – this is how it is possible to provide protection against parasites for up to a month.
• As with all flea and tick treatments, a small percentage of animals may be sensitive to some products. Most of these reactions appear within 24 hours and tend to be mild and temporary and can usually be resolved by bathing with mild soap. If the symptoms persist, the pet should be taken to your veterinarian as soon as possible

At Hartz, we are committed to providing the latest science to effectively control fleas, ticks and mosquitoes and prevent them from biting or infesting pets and their surroundings. We believe in affordable pest prevention for every pet. This is why Hartz® Flea & Tick products are broadly available in your local stores. Convenience and affordability with uncompromised quality is our ongoing mission.