Pest Rule and Control Management

There is absolutely no question that fleas and ticks need to be controlled. They are dangerous (and annoying) for cats and dogs as well as people. Chemical solutions can be very dangerous. This article looks at why you should use natural flea and tick control instead.

The Black Death killed between one third and a half of the population of Europe between 1347 and 1350. It was spread by fleas that lived on rats. History shows us that fleas are exceptionally good at spreading disease!

Ticks are also disease carriers and can leave your cat or dog with fever and lethargy. Lyme disease is a common tick-borne ailment.

For years, pharmaceutical companies have created an array of treatments to rid our animals of fleas and ticks. However, the vast majority of these products contain toxic chemicals that can poison people and the pets we are trying to treat. Even if you follow the instructions, these products are not safe. The chemicals they contain can cause nervous system toxicity, cancer, asthma, allergies, seizures, skin rashes and even death. Just because it’s on the shelf in the store does not mean that it is safe to use.

Amazingly, the most dangerous class of treatments are usually sold over the counter and include spot-on brands like Hartz, Sergeant’s and Zodiac. They contain toxic pyrethrin chemicals such as permethrin which the US Environmental Protection Agency classes as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans”.

But what about vet approved products such as Frontline and Advantage? Frontline’s active ingredient is Fipronil which is known to interfere with the human neural system and is a suspected carcinogen and endocrine disrupter. Advantage contains Imidacloprid which may also be toxic to the human nervous system. These products are safer than the first bunch, but that doesn’t mean that they are totally safe.

All spot-on chemical treatments are highly concentrated and pose the most threat to our pets and us. The EPA is currently investigating all spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control due to the numbers of adverse reactions reported, ranging from skin irritation to seizures and death of the pet. All the above brands are under evaluation by the EPA.

Pesticides delivered in collars, shampoos and sprays tend to be more diluted versions ot these same chemicals. In all cases they are easily transferred between pets and people.

If you are like us, you’ll want to avoid exposing your four-legged family members to such toxic chemicals.