Sentry Class Action Lawsuit Claims Toxic Flea and Tick Repellent

A plaintiff has filed a class action lawsuit against Sentry,  the maker of popular flea and tick products, alleging that the products are toxic in nature.

Lead plaintiff Lori Johnson claims that that the marketing and labeling of Sentry products designed to prevent fleas and ticks indicates these items are “safe to use around children and pets.” According to the Sentry class action lawsuit, however, the essential oils inside the products are toxic if applied directly to the skin or ingested.

Lori says in the Sentry class action lawsuit that she had to take her dog to an emergency clinic after applying the products as instructed on her dogs. She says it took two hours from the moment of application to get her dogs to be able to walk without severe muscle tremors.

According to the Sentry class action lawsuit, the essential oils present in the products include clove oil, thyme oil, cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil, and peppermint oil. The plaintiff says that these oils can be especially dangerous if applied to the skin directly without proper dilution using a carrier oil such as coconut oil. Essential oil poisoning can also occur if these oils are ingested.

Some of the symptoms of essential oil poisoning include skin irritation, muscle tremors, and vomiting.

The Sentry class action lawsuit says that consumer are not informed about the dangers of essential oils and they or their pets might experience these symptoms suddenly and unexpectedly without drawing the conclusion that it’s due to the flea and tick repellent.

The Sentry class action lawsuit points out that ingestion or topical application of these oils are especially dangerous for children and pets due to their size. The plaintiff contends that veterinarians regularly recommend that essential oils be kept out of the reach of pets because of the risk from just a few licks.

The class action lawsuit says that the use of the word “natural” on the label for the Sentry products leads consumers to assume that the product is safe for use with pets and around children. However, the Pet Poison Helpline allegedly shows that there have been higher numbers of phone calls in recent years as a result of essential oil poisoning in dogs and cats due to the owner’s use.

The proposed Sentry class action lawsuit is pursuing claims of unjust enrichment, fraud, breach of implied warranty, and violations of California consumer protection laws.

The plaintiff in the Sentry class action lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide class of consumers who purchased the products as well as a subclass of consumers who bought the products in California.

The plaintiff in the Sentry class action lawsuit are represented by L. Timothy Fisher, Joel D. Smith, Thomas A. Reyda, and Scott A. Bursor or Bursor & Fisher, P.A.

The Sentry Class Action Lawsuit is Lori Johnson v. Sergeant’s Pet Case Products, Case No. 5:18-cv-02426 in the U.S. District Court Central District of California.