The answer is yes! One of the most mind-boggling choices dog and cat owners face is how to safely guard against fleas and ticks. Those creepy crawlers aren’t just gross; they can transmit disease to both pets and people. Pets need protection, but most of the solutions on store shelves and prescribed by a vet are loaded with chemicals that could be risky to their health, your health, and the environment.
Toxic Pesticides in Flea Control Products
Most conventional flea and tick products—including collars, topical treatments, sprays, and dusts—are registered as pesticides and regulated by the EPA. (Those given orally, like pills, must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but it doesn’t mean they’re safe.) 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. Pets can also suffer: Skin irritation, neurological problems, gastrointestinal disorders, and even organ failure have been reported because of pet poisonings.
The government has faced criticism from NRDC and other watchdog groups about insufficient safety standards for these products. Consumers, as well as some veterinarians, don’t know the whole story, says NRDC senior scientist Miriam Rotkin-Ellman. “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.
For 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. For this reason, most household uses of these pesticides have already been banned. Unfortunately, kids can still be exposed to them from their furry siblings' flea collars or other products.
Recognize that when you use flea control pesticides, you should be ready to deal with these potential consequences:
Exposure to pesticide residues that remain in the home environment from use of flea control products.
Exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals from residue on pet fur.
Accidental pet poisoning due to misuse of pesticide products, especially on smaller dogs and cats.
Risk of poisoning from residue on pet fur for multiple cats or dog households with spot-on treatments, since animals may groom each other.
Accidental poisoning from use of foggers or flea bombs.
Exposure to children to these toxic pesticides when on pets or in the home.
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