Are spot on Flea Controls Safe?   Absolutely NOT!  Says author, Kathleen Dudley, despite what the commercials say.  This is part 1 of our series: Are spot on flea and tick treatments safe? :  Easy isn’t Simple

Tempting as it may be to simply consider fleas as horrible insects, the bane of dogs everywhere, poisoning your dog in a vain attempt to wipe fleas out of existence really doesn’t make sense.   Most often a recommendation of their trusted vet,  Americans spend over $500 Billion dollars a year doing just that. 

Of course fleas can make life miserable for your dogs and cats. Your entire home feels like a battleground.  But using toxic flea killing chemicals is not the only way to control fleas and ticks on your pet.  These spot on or squeeze on flea treatments utilize chemicals that are toxic the the brain and nervous system in an effort to “prevent” fleas.  Many reports now indicate the chemicals used in products such as BioSpot, Frontline, Advantage, K9 Advantix, Adams, Zodiac, Defend, Sentry, Sergeant, Hartz,  Promeric, Cutter, and numerous other brands and products are toxic to animals and humans.  The simple fact that these products are registered with the EPA  reflects their toxicity to some degree. Pesticide products that aren’t toxic are FIFRA exempt because they are known to cause little or no risk to humans, animals or the environment.  Fortunately, brands like Wondercide offer non toxic flea treatments for pets and the property where they live!

“Light Bulb Moment” of the Day:
If Ishouldn’ t touch it or get it on my skin, why would I put it on my dog? If it’s supposed to work for a month, how does that happen?   Nothing stays on my skin for 30 days and still works.   Hmmmmm.

Don’t feel bad. They lied to you. They lied to me too, and millions of others who thought they were protecting their loved one(s).  But the answer is simple if you think about it.  The chemicals enter your dog or cats bloodstream and spreads throughout their body. When a flea of tick bites them, it ingests the toxic blood of your pet and dies.  So let’s sum up. Toxic to humans…check.  Toxic to insects…check.  Toxic to your dog and cat…check.

____________________________________________________________________________________
Join us as we review and discuss more of the 2002 article, “Are Spot on Flea Killers Safe”  by Kathleen Dudley at the Whole Dog Journal.   In part 2 of our series we will discuss Advertising Claims and the chemical effects of  ”easy”.