Counterfeit animal medicines

Published: 17 July 2025

Trading Standards officers are encouraging pet owners to be vigilant following a government warning about dangerous counterfeit flea treatments circulating online. The alert comes after a cat named Smokey became seriously ill and required emergency surgery after being treated with a fake version of FRONTLINE.

Safety tests revealed the counterfeit product contained a toxic insecticide, Pirimiphos-methyl, which is harmful to pets. These unregulated treatments are often sold through online marketplaces and may appear genuine but can be ineffective or, worse, deadly.

Key signs of fake products include poor packaging, spelling errors, and unusual smells. Pet owners are advised to:

• buy only from trusted retailers
• check packaging carefully
• report suspicious products to Trading Standards or Crimestoppers

If you have any concerns, please contact: tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk