The EPA is currently evaluating the potential health impacts of spot-on flea control products.
"While many people use the products with no harmful effects to their pets, EPA recommends that pet owners take precautions when using these products," according to the EPA site.
The EPA launched its study after noticing an increase in the number of reported adverse reactions in pets treated with spot-on products (according to the EPA's website, 1300 that were serious or caused death in 2008- and those were just the ones reported!).
Adverse reactions reported range from mild effects such as skin irritation to more serious effects such as seizures and, in some cases, death. [July 2009 PET AGE]
I think the most important point is to be fully aware that you are in fact putting a pesticide on you animals when you use spot-on treatments and to use appropriate cautions/care. |
Despite the mainstream medical/pharmaceutical opinion that these products are safe, we are being naïve if we allow ourselves to believe that - it is poison. In fact, Imacloprid (the active ingredient in Advantage) is the same insecticide that Bayer produces to spray crops. World wide, bee keepers believe that this is one of the reasons colony collapse is happening with their bees-
In 1995 bee keepers in North Dakota took Bayer to court when a third of their bees were killed by imacloprid. In France, a third of the honey bee population was killed after widespread use of imidacloprid.
Imidacloprid is receiving increased attention as a possible factor in Colony Collapse Disorder, a mysterious condition that causes sudden death of honey bee populations. Mass die-offs of bees threaten pollination of food crops in the USA and Europe.
The idea that these products are safe is no less ridiculous than the assertion that the treatment stays in the skin and doesn't penetrate into the body. Even if common sense doesn't tell you this is ludicrous, many people will tell you that they can smell the treatment on their pets' breath after application.
If you choose to use spot-ons, use them being well aware of what it is you are doing. Use them minimally to get through the season (not monthly), give Milk Thistle to help support the liver & detoxification and watch carefully for any side effects (which can happen up to a month after application). Also, never give flea treatment at the same time you give other treatments, like heartworm meds. It's too much toxicity for the body to handle and we see increased side effects when they are administered together. Be aware that the body needs to detoxify and accomplishes this by discharging through the nose, ears, skin, urine & stool. Do not take action to stop this detox by pharmaceutically stopping up a runny nose or diarrhea that has no other obvious cause as this prevents the body from cleansing itself. Lastly, always report any suspected reactions to the EPA.
Fortunately, there are much safer methods for controlling fleas as well as other pests. The most important is a healthy diet (which I will discuss in my next blog) as healthy animals are much less appealing to parasites. There are a number of repellents that are made of essential oils & herbs that are wonderfully effective (be extra careful using these products on cats- not all herbs that are safe for dogs are safe for them too). Supplements made of Garlic & Brewer's Yeast can be helpful as can raw apple cider vinegar in the drinking water. Regular use of a flea comb during flea season, frequent vacuuming and washing of bedding is invaluable. For most people, the hardest thing is getting over the FEAR of fleas. With a reasonable amount of precaution, infestations are rare.
http://nlquery.epa.gov/epasear... |
