Government issues urgent warning over toxic chemicals in fake medicines

PET owners are being urged to exercise caution when buying common medicines after fake products laced with toxic chemicals were found for sale online. One cat, called Smokey, required emergency surgery after being given a counterfeit flea treatment which was found to contain Pirimiphos-methyl, a dangerous insecticide which caused severe poisoning. Now, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) have urged people to be aware of the risks and be careful when buying medicines, such as flea treatments and wormers. Fake products lack essential active ingredients, making them ineffective, while containing dangerous chemicals that trigger vomiting, muscle tremors, seizures, breathing difficulties and potential death. Smokey fell ill after his owner Alan Wall, from Preston, purchased a flea treatment online called FRONTLINE and gave it to his cat, believing it to be genuine. The cat’s condition was so severe that it required emergency intestinal surgery to survive. This was followed by a week-long stay at the veterinary surgery and significant bills to support his recovery.  Mr Wall said: “Smokey is more than just a pet, he’s a member of our family. When he became ill after using what we believed was a genuine flea treatment, we were terrified. “Watching him suffer, not knowing whether he would pull through, was heartbreaking. It’s taken a huge emotional toll on all of us. “Without the support of our vets and the extensive surgery they performed we know Smokey wouldn't be with us today. “We want to warn other pet owners about these fake products so that no one else has to endure what we’ve been through."  As well as containing Pirimiphos-methyl, testing by experts at the University of Bath also found the medicine was missing (S)-methoprene – one of the two main active ingredients in the genuine medicine.

Smokey required emergency treatment after being given fake, toxic medicine

Dr Heilin-Anne Leonard-Pugh, a VMD veterinary surgeon and efficacy assessor, said: “Pirimiphos-methyl is toxic to cats. “Exposure to this insecticide can prevent the cat’s body from breaking down a substance called acetylcholine, leading to an overstimulation of the cat’s nervous system.  “This can cause symptoms such as vomiting, uncoordinated gait, muscle tremors, weakness, paralysis, increased sensitivity to touch, difficulty breathing, restlessness, urinary incontinence, low heart rate and seizures. “In some cases, even death can sadly occur. If you suspect your pet has been exposed to a counterfeit medicine, seek veterinary advice immediately."  Counterfeit animal medicines deliberately copy the appearance, packaging and branding of genuine veterinary products to deceive pet owners.  Like all counterfeits, they are illegal to sell in the UK. It is feared pet owners seeking bargains, or a quick purchase online, may unknowingly purchase these dangerous counterfeits.   The VMD and IPO are urging owners to check for warning signs including poor packaging, spelling errors, missing information, and unusual smells. Last year alone, the VMD issued 122 seizure notices for the selling of unauthorised animal medicines and supplements, preventing around 18,000 illegal items from reaching consumers.  In another case, a woman from Bristol also purchased what appeared to be FRONTLINE flea treatment online for her cat but quickly became suspicious that the product was not genuine. She said the product was difficult to open and had a distinct smell of white spirit and paraffin, whereas the genuine flea treatment has no smell.  When she reported this to Trading Standards, experts confirmed that the treatment was a counterfeit.  While the online platform has removed the seller, they had already managed to sell 211 batches of suspected counterfeit pet medicines and supplements. These included fake FRONTLINE Flea and Tick Treatment and PRO PLAN FortiFlora Probiotic Sachets for dogs and cats. 

Fake medicines have tell-tale signs on the packaging

Counterfeit FRONTLINE flea treatment has been found to have telling packaging flaws. Most notably, the label used 'GATTI' (Italian for cats) instead of cat, alongside multiple spelling errors - common indicators of counterfeit products.  Pet owners are urged to check packaging, be wary of third-party sellers and buy from trusted sources.  New IPO research shows that counterfeit goods of all types are frequently purchased via global e-commerce websites. In 2024, nearly-one-in-five (17%) of consumers unknowingly purchased goods later found to be fake, with 60% of purchasers also saying that ‘ease of purchasing’ influenced their decision.  Saving money is a strong motivator for buying fakes, with around three quarters (72%) of purchasers saying price was an important factor in their decision.  Worryingly, around three-quarters (72%) wrongly believed the products would be of a similar quality to the genuine item. Helen Barnham, the IPO’s deputy director of enforcement, said: “We are a nation of animal lovers and criminals dealing in counterfeits are targeting pet owners with complete disregard for the animal’s wellbeing.  “We are urging pet owners to be vigilant when purchasing any type of animal treatment, and beware of any offers that ‘look too good to be true’. “Counterfeiting is anything but a victimless crime and this latest discovery confirms this.” Caroline Allen, the RSPCA’s Chief Veterinary Officer added: “We appreciate financial pressures can lead to some owners to look for cheaper treatments online. “But they could be unwittingly putting their beloved pets in serious danger by inadvertently buying these counterfeit goods and would urge them to take on board this Government advice.”  All online sellers of prescription only animal medicines must be registered with the VMD. If in any doubt, check the VMD’s Register of Online Retailers.  Anyone personally affected by a poisoning case is urged to report through the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) questionnaire  Anyone who sees these goods being offered for sale, whether on a website, social media post or on the high street, should contact Trading Standards or Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111.  People are also urged to report to the VMD Enforcement Team, anonymously if preferred, at enforcement@vmd.gov.uk or by calling 01932 338338. For government guidance on reporting fake medicines visit: Report illegal animal medicines - GOV.UK