The following is an article by Maine Golden Retriever Assoc. president, Amy Herbert. She discusses the safety issues inherent in using some of the tick and flea products currently on the market and offers viable alternatives.
The Truth About Flea
& Tick Treatments & The Natural Alternative
How many times have you gone to the vet or pet store to
purchase spot on flea/tick treatments and had someone tell you that there are
side effects and it is not 100% safe?
Most likely, NEVER. Most
veterinarians and pet supply stores tell everyone that these products are safe
to use on puppies, pregnant, nursing, and geriatric dogs, but the precautionary
statements on the products themselves tell otherwise.
Now I’m not saying that you should never use these products
on your animals, but you need to know all the facts prior to using them so that
you can make a conscious decision regarding your animals and families
health. I can’t tell you how many
friends of mine use these products and when asked if they had read the
precautions on the package, they said no.
Below are the ingredients common in spot on treatments, their side
effects and classifications set forth by the FDA, EPA, Occupational Safety
& Health Administration, US Dept. of Labor, Extension Toxicology Network,
Journal of Pesticide Reform and Pesticide Action Network.
Now let me explain what Active and Inert ingredients are so
that you understand the classification.
Active ingredients only make up a small % of the product and are tested
and approved by the EPA prior to being marketed. Testing consists of high doses given to lab mice, rats, dogs
and cats for a short period of time and then the animal is euthanized and its
body is examined to determine side effects. Inert ingredients make up between 85-99% of products and
undergo very little testing by the EPA because they are not considered the main
ingredient and companies are not required to disclose what these ingredients
are because they are trade secrets.
Yet these inert ingredients are also dangerous. Interesting to say the least.
Chemical Type
of Ingredient Side
Effects
Fipronil Active thyroid
cancer, human carcinogen, organ damage, neurotoxin causing nervous system damage,
reduced fertility, decreased litter size and weights, fetus mortality, skin
problems including ulcers, itching, hair loss and burns.
Imidacloprid Active carcinogen
in dogs, organ damage, incoordination, labored breathing, muscle weakness,
increased miscarriages
Methoprene Active liver
enlargement, headaches, eye and throat irritation, difficulty breathing,
confusion, dizziness and nausea in humans
Permethrin Active liver
and lung tumors, possible human carcinogen, kidney enlargement, lung changes,
tremors, elevated body temp, increased aggressive behavior, fertility affected,
bone marrow changes in laboratory animals
Pyriproxyfen Active reduced
weight gain, toxicity to pups
Ethanol Inert adverse
effects on fetus
Butylhydroxanisole Inert animal
carcinogen and possible human carcinogen
Butyldydroxytoluene Inert animal
carcinogen and possible human carcinogen
Carbitol Inert headache,
depression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pathological lesions in brain, lungs,
liver menni, pulmonary edema, intravascular hemolysis and bone marrow
depression
Polyvinlpyrrolidone Inert not
evaluated by EPA for carcinogenic
So to sum it up the EPA considers these side effects safe
for use on our pets and around our children. Now I don’t know about you but I’m not ok with this so I
have chosen to take a more natural approach to protect my pets and children
from fleas, ticks and all biting insects.
Orally I give my dogs garlic powder on every meal year round
and during the summer months I give them Black or Green Walnut Hull liquid on
their food once per day. The
garlic permeates through the skin to deter insects from coming close while the
black walnut hull causes the animal’s blood to taste very bitter to insects so
they stop biting.
Topically I put Sentry Natural Flea & Tick Spot on
treatment once per month (contains only natural ingredients); I spray each dog
down once per day with one of the following sprays, cedar oil, neem oil, flee
flea, or sentry natural flea spray (I rotate between all of these to prevent
resistance); I also rotate the sprays with Diatomaceous Earth (DE) which is a
powder that I rub into the dogs coat.
Each evening I firmly brush each dog to disrupt any ticks or fleas that
may have gotten on them.
Around my home I spread DE under crates, baseboards, beds,
couches and any corners that insects may hide. DE ruins an insect’s outer oily shell so that it dehydrates
and dies after coming in contact with DE powder. DE is very dusty when you are spreading it, so make sure
rooms are well venalated while you are putting it down and unsure that no kids
or animals are around until the dust settles. I also spread DE in my play yards and kennel runs. Cedar oil can be sprayed around your
home on carpets, furniture and outside in the yard. I also use cedar oil on my children and myself as a bug
repellant. Gardens Alive makes a
product that is mixed with water and then sprayed around your home inside and
out to kill and prevent flea infestations. It is safe for dogs and children after it dries so spray it
and wait an hour before letting anyone or thing go on that area.
I stopped using regular spot on treatments and sprays
containing pesticides and dangerous chemicals over 5 years ago and I will never
turn back because I truly believe that these products used long term are
killing our animals and causing harm to our children that happen to come in
contact with the product. My
advice to everyone is to read labels and warnings (if a product says keep away
from children and don’t allow contact with skin, should we really be using it
on our pets?), understand pros and cons of using the product and make informed
decisions.
