Dr. Shawn’s Blog

EPA Warns of Danger with Dog/Cat Flea Products

March 19, 2010 on 12:42 pm | In General Posts | No Comments

As a result of an increased number of reports of side effects from using topical flea products, the EPA is taking steps to attempt to increase the safety of chemical flea and tick control products for cats and dogs. The EPA will review labels to determine which ones need stronger and clearer labeling statements and will also develop more testing and evaluation requirements for existing as well as new products.

Minor problems that are being reported with increased frequency in dogs and cats treated with topical flea and tick products include skin itching, hair loss, and redness, gastrointestinal problems including vomiting and diarrhea. More serious side effects such as trembling or seizures and even death may also occur.

While pet owners should always carefully read and follow label instructions before using these products, it’s obvious that many owners use these products despite a lack of need to do so.
Most dogs and cats will never suffer from flea or tick infestations due to minimal exposure to the pests, making the use of chemical insecticides totally unnecessary for most pets.

Owners who are concerned about flea and tick problems can use chemical pesticides on a limited, as needed basis to reduce side effects in their pets and human family members, which can also experience toxicity from these products.

Additionally, using a more natural integrated approach to pest control can provide many of the same benefits as a chemical approach without the potential for side effects.

Proper flea and tick control must be directed at three places: the pet, the inside environment, and the outside environment.
For the pet, regular bathing with organic shampoos (such as Dr. Shawn’s Flea & Tick shampoo) and applying herbal sprays and powders work very well.

To treat the inside environment, regular vacuuming, steam cleaning, and the use of citrus oil sprays as well as borate-containing products for the carpet, also are effective against fleas and ticks.

Finally, the outside environment is best treated with beneficial nematodes, microscopic worms which kill the cocoon stage of the flea life cycle, which is resistant to all known chemical insecticides.

Simply by minimizing the use of potentially toxic topical chemical flea and tick insecticides can improve the health of pets and greatly reduce serious side effects that are becoming increasingly associated with these products.