Safety Issue in Flea Control Products

Aug 20
11:08

2012

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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Though the strong chemical products you'll find on the shelf of your local pet store may do the trick of ridding your feline or canine of their flea friends, it can cause them to become sick in other ways.

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Many pet owners have resorted to purchasing a veritable arsenal of flea killers out of frustration and sympathy for their scratching pets. Impregnated flea collars,Safety Issue in Flea Control Products Articles insecticidal powders and shampoos, and aerosol bombs may endanger pets and other household members. And even these drastic measures do not provide permanent relief—the fleas always come back if pets are allowed outdoors.

The problem is not that the insecticides are too weak. Flea killers contain very potent chemicals.  The trade-secret "inert" ingredients, which may comprise 90% or more of the product, are misnamed. They are not necessarily non-toxic. The term "inert" means only that these ingredients are not intended to kill fleas.Some flea collars or powders can cause severe skin conditions such as contact dermatitis. Powders can fall off onto kitchen counters and other surfaces where food is prepared or eaten. Cats lick the materials from their fur when they clean themselves. Children who pet dogs and cats may pick up the chemicals on their hands.Flea bombs—aptly named—can be particularly dangerous if not used with care. Most use flammable gases as propellants. In one case typical of many I've seen reported, a woman set off more than a dozen flea bombs in her house but failed to extinguish the pilot light on her stove. The bombs ignited, blowing out all the windows in the house and shifting the roof. Not only was her entire family placed in danger, but most of the fleas survived!

Conventional flea products contain pesticides.These chemicals can cause convulsions, respiratory distress, nausea and vomiting, cancer, neurotoxicity, and even death not only in your pets, but also in children. Flea collars and sprays create a cloud of these pesticides that you and your pet inhale. They're also consumed by your pet as it licks and breaths naturally throughout the day.

Sadly, though the labels on these flea products contain warnings about safe handling for you (gloves, masks, etc), they instruct you to douse your pet with these chemicals and then rub them in! This is dangerous logic if you're interested in having a healthy pet.

Additional health concerns related to flea sprays, foggers, sprays, and bombs include:

  • Flammability - some foggers and bombs are flammable
  • Inert chemicals like solvents and petrochemicals that are often not listed on products labels, including things like xylene, benzene, asbestos, methyl bromide, toluene, and DDT, all of which have adverse health impacts for your pet.

Safe and successful flea management is not simply a matter of buying a product and spreading it around the house. Flea control is an on-going process, but one made easier and more effective by regularly following some fairly simple procedures. Some new prescription products can make flea control much easier, if you're willing to pay.

For more helpful and relevant information on this topic, check out the site below:

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