[Cobalt]

I went to Pet Supplies Plus online and found a warning about flea treatments.

Here is the government link-

http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/health/flea-tick-control.html

Basically it says this-

Increased Scrutiny of Flea and Tick Control Products for Pets

Updated June 23, 2009
Resources

* Advisory: Increased Scrutiny of Flea and Tick Control Products for Pets
* Taking care of fleas and ticks on your pet
* New! EPA Meeting with Registrants of Spot-On Flea and Tick Pesticide Products - May 5, 2009 (20 pp, 2.9 MB, About PDF)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is intensifying its evaluation of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control due to recent increases in the number of reported adverse reactions in pets treated with these products. Adverse reactions reported range from mild effects such as skin irritation to more serious effects such as seizures and, in some cases, death of the pet.

Is there an alternative?

Thanks

 

[LoupGarouTFTs]

I don't use any flea treatment at all on my dogs. I prefer to wash the bedding frequently (at least twice a week) and to keep covers on my furniture, which I also wash frequently (at least weekly). My dogs get bathed as often as weekly during the summer (except the collie), especially if we are showing or going out someplace. My floors are concrete (fairly common here in the Deep South) and any area rugs are also washed on a weekly basis. Washing breaks the lifecycle of the flea--if fleas come into the house, they rarely live long enough to lay eggs, but if they do lay eggs they never survive long enough to hatch. With 8 dogs, the process is a bit labor intensive, but it's less expensive than putting Advantage on them monthly and I feel better about not having to use harsh chemicals on my dogs.

 

[Cobalt]

Thanks

I live in the "deep north" lol and we have a lot of carpet. We don't however have a big flea problem. My dogs do go to doggy daycare and they have to be on some sort of flea medication to go. They go when we are out of town etc not daily so I suppose I am not taking a big chance by not having them medicated.

Anyone else not medicate for fleas?

Also, I called my vet and she said Revolution the flea and heart worm topical doesn't protect for ticks so may not be as strong.

 

[Lolas_Dad]

I been using Frontline Plus for 14 months since I have had Lola and have not had a problem yet. They might be talking about the cheaper product like Bio Spot from Hartz. Not only have I read and heard how ineffective they are but have also read and heard about adverse reactions.

Back when we were young the county mosquito commission used to fog DDT in the neighborhoods for mosquito control. The truck would drive down the street and leave a fog where you could not see 2" in front of you. We used to run around in the stuff after the truck passed and it hasn't had any effect on anyone that I grew up with and did that. So I am taking anything the EPA says with a grain of salt, especially since the Frontline Plus works and has not caused any problems.

 

[Xeph]

Never in my life have I had a flea on one of my pets....until I came down to TX >.< I DO NOT Frontline my dogs when I'm home in WI, but down here, I have to.

I found fleas on Strauss yesterday while bathing him...I felt terrible

My dogs ARE always on HW Preventative.

 

[Cobalt]

I remember that fog! We ran in it too along Lake Winnebago in WI. Lucky we are still alive!

Texas and Florida are much more difficult than WI.

 

[ladyshadowhollyjc]

I been using Frontline Plus for 14 months since I have had Lola and have not had a problem yet. They might be talking about the cheaper product like Bio Spot from Hartz. Not only have I read and heard how ineffective they are but have also read and heard about adverse reactions.

Apparently on that list were Advantage products and Frontline. I've never had any problems with Advantage or Frontline but I know some people have... which I expect that as a potential risk whenever putting ANY chemicals on pets.

 

[Willowy]

Back when we were young the county mosquito commission used to fog DDT in the neighborhoods for mosquito control. The truck would drive down the street and leave a fog where you could not see 2" in front of you. We used to run around in the stuff after the truck passed and it hasn't had any effect on anyone that I grew up with and did that.

I remember that fog! We ran in it too along Lake Winnebago in WI. Lucky we are still alive!

Haha, my parents grew up in the Panama Canal Zone and did that, and they think they're the only ones! I'll have to tell them that kids in the States did it, too.

I read somewhere that DDT has the worst effect on the eggs of the offspring of birds who were exposed to DDT. So I told my mom MY eggs are probably defective, thanks a lot. But I probably won't be using them, so oh well .

 

[GSDGAL]

we have a major paralysis tick problem at our house, so my dogs are given a spot on treatment every 10 days and even then i still have to pick the little blighters off. my inside dog, the mastiff has very high allergic reactions to all the spot on applications so she gets nothing but a monthly bath, but because the others are all treated she never has anything. I'm glad they are checking them

 

[Keechak]

Our cat goes outside and kills mice everyday and he brings loads or parasites back with him. it seems like almost every month we have to treat him for tapeworm, fleas happen about twice during the summer and he gets roundworm too sometimes.

The dogs have never gotten worms from him, but I have found one or two fleas that jumpd from the cat the the dogs. but as soon as I find them I kill them with my nails and it seems to work.

a week ago I killed 9 fleas on our cat by hand. and gave him a tapeworm pill after seeing the little "grains of rice" on his rear.

(needless to say, the cat is not a very highly regarded member of our family, although he thinks pretty highly of himself)

 

[JSporty1]

Gir has never had an adverse reaction to Frontline plus, and she's also never had a bug (flea, lice, or tick). I hope the EPA doesn't force them to make Frontline less effective...I don't want her to get fleas.

 

[Willowy]

Gir has never had an adverse reaction to Frontline plus, and she's also never had a bug (flea, lice, or tick). I hope the EPA doesn't force them to make Frontline less effective...I don't want her to get fleas.

I don't think Frontline is on the chopping block. I think it's mostly the grocery-store types, such as Hartz.

 

[JSporty1]

I don't think Frontline is on the chopping block. I think it's mostly the grocery-store types, such as Hartz.

Yeah, I heard that stuff is awful!!
We have lots of bugs here in St. Louis, so NOT giving Gir something to prevent fleas, etc is not really an option. Frontline works well. Obviously, owners should be aware of any potential risks before medicating their pets. I respect what the EPA is trying to do from that perspective. I did a lot of research before going with Frontline.

 

[robotcrankit]

I don't think Frontline is on the chopping block. I think it's mostly the grocery-store types, such as Hartz.

I agree with this. It seems to me that the Frontline and Advantage products are more closely monitored and have much better research behind them and quality control is not so much of a problem.

I work at a pet store, and we NEVER try to sell Biospot, Hartz, Zodiac, or any of the other lower quality spot on treatments. I don't even know why my company carries them. I follow people around the store and harass them to try a safer (abeit more expensive) product or none at all rather than let them out the door with that stuff.

I don't even like K9 Advantix all that much, since I recently looked it up and found out it's main ingredient is permethrins.

 

[Leroy&Lucy'sMom]

Living in MN we do not do regular flea/tick treatments and we have not had any fleas in 8 years *knock on wood* The only time i use anything is when they have to board for vacation. I've used Frontline and Advantix with no ill effects thus far, but prefer to not use anything.