Work with your vet to craft a custom plan for your pet, and keep some basic guidelines in mind to spot safer products:Īsk about oral flea-prevention treatments. Pills with the active ingredients lufenuron, nitenpyram, or spinosad can be a better option, for both animals and humans, than treatments that leave residue on fur that might get on hands or furniture. There are varying degrees of danger when it comes to these products and the chemicals they contain. If you give these a try, monitor your pet and family closely for adverse reactions. While these may be safer than some of the synthetic chemicals, they have also been linked to allergies in both pets and humans, and not much is known about how well they actually work. Many of these contain peppermint, cinnamon, lemongrass, cedarwood, or rosemary oil. They may not work-and some aren’t safe, says Bischoff. Natural products and herbal remedies should also be approached with caution. Look for products marketed to control pests, and avoid the kind used in swimming-pool systems.īe wary of products marketed as “natural.” Sadly, there’s no magic nontoxic bullet to wipe out these pests. Find them in garden supply stores or online.ĭiatomaceous earth is a less toxic option for the home and yard, says Rotkin-Ellman, “but it can be really damaging if it is inhaled or gets into your or your pet’s eyes.” Use caution and protective gear, and use it only in areas where pets and kids won’t be exposed. Take preemptive steps in your yard and garden. It helps to put beneficial nematodes-worms that eat flea larvae-in the soil where your pet is likely to frolic.
#Flea and tick prevention for dogs professional#
For severe cases, professional steam cleaning may be needed for your carpets. If you’re the victim of a flea infestation, Karyn Bischoff, a toxicologist at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, recommends doing this daily. In addition, comb your animal’s fur with a fine-tooth flea comb, and dunk any critters into a container of sudsy water.Ĭlean, clean, clean. Wash your pet’s bedding weekly in hot, soapy water, and vacuum and wipe down pet-frequented surfaces often, including behind and underneath furniture and between couch cushions. Groom your pets regularly. Common soap and water will kill adult fleas. Always try the strategies below first before considering chemicals-safer chemicals-if additional protection is needed.
Going nontoxic. Fortunately for many families, fleas can be controlled without resorting to harmful chemicals. Unfortunately, kids can still be exposed to them from their furry siblings' flea collars or other products. For this reason, most household uses of these pesticides have already been banned.
“Many vets count on the EPA to make sure that the products on the market are safe if used correctly.” Unfortunately, the ingredients in these products are still quite dangerous, and regular use can result in unsafe exposure, particularly for children and pregnant women.įor example, even low-level exposure to organophosphates and carbamates-two particularly dangerous families of pesticides found in some flea treatments as well as in agricultural and lawn products-have been linked to learning disabilities in children. Consumers, as well as some veterinarians, don’t know the whole story, says NRDC senior scientist Miriam Rotkin-Ellman. The government has faced criticism from NRDC and other watchdog groups about insufficient safety standards for these products.
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Pets can also suffer: Skin irritation, neurological problems, gastrointestinal disorders, and even organ failure have been reported as a result of pet poisonings. Food and Drug Administration.) But here’s the ugly truth: Many of the pesticides allowed for use on pets are linked to serious health issues in people, such as cancer and neurological and respiratory problems. (Those given orally, like pills, must be approved by the U.S. Most conventional flea and tick products-including collars, topical treatments, sprays, and dusts-are registered as pesticides and regulated by the EPA. There are ways to keep all your family members, including the furry ones, safe from dangerous pests and the most toxic ingredients. Until the EPA does this, however, you can educate yourself about the risks and benefits of various treatment options, then bring that knowledge to the store. Environmental Protection Agency from allowing these harmful products to reach store shelves in the first place. So what’s a responsible pet lover to do? The key is to stop the U.S.
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