the highly-toxic chemical amitrax, normally used to rid farm animals of ticks, or blood-sucking parasites. „It is used to treat ticks in cattle or sheep. It is quite uncommon to use this product on dogs and cats,“ David Ip, an Agriculture and Fisheries Department veterinarian, told Pearl television. A government spokesman said the mother and daughters were found unconscious at their home and it was believed they had each tried to give their pet mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The dog was found dead. Amitrax burns the skin and is harmful if swallowed, Ip said.