Flea Spot Treatments

Fleas have plagued humans and their animals for centuries, spurring us to find ways to keep them out of our houses and off of our pets. To that end, companies like Bayer, Farnam and Merial manufacture chemical spot treatments for use in dogs and cats to kill fleas and stop their eggs from hatching. There is controversy as to the safety of these potent toxins, however, and some owners prefer holistic flea remedies.

  1. Fleas

    • Fleas on rats spread plague, known as Black Death, throughout Europe in the 14th century.

      Fleas are tiny (1/8- inch), parasitic insects which, as adults, feed on the blood of a host. A female flea can lay 2,000 eggs in her lifetime, which hatch into larvae. The larvae pupate, or spin cocoons, and develop into adults. Fleas can live on humans and other animals, as well as in carpet, furniture, household and farm goods and plants. Fleas can transmit disease, such as plague, directly into the host's bloodstream.

    Flea Spot Treatments

    • Ticks, like spiders, are arachnoids. They also feed on blood.

      To keep fleas off of pets, scientists have developed a chemical treatment that is lethal to fleas in various life stages. These "spot treatments" are so called because the chemical is placed on a spot of the dog's or cat's skin and then disperses over the body via the animal's naturally occurring skin oils. In theory, this protects the entire animal while killing any parasites. Some spot treatments also kill ticks.

    Safety Concerns

    • Flea spot treatments contain neurotoxins.

      Spot treatments kill fleas by attacking their nervous systems. The Environmental Protection Agency requires manufacturers to submit studies on safety and efficacy. Despite these precautions, reports of side effects in pets, including seizures and death, increased 53 percent from 2007 to 2008. As fleas become resistant to the pesticides, manufacturers use higher doses to maintain their product's effectiveness. The controversy lies in what effect the poisons they contain have on the animals that they are supposed to help.

    Holistic Alternatives

    • In combination, certain herbs can help treat flea infestations naturally.

      Manufactured flea spot products are attractive because they work quickly, are waterproof and last a month or more. Holistic alternatives for repelling fleas or treating an existing infestation take time to achieve the desired effect, are not waterproof and require repeated application. They also don't have the benefit of mass marketing and packaging. Recommendations for holistic flea remedies include feeding your pet garlic to repel the insects and using herbal shampoo with "a combination of any of pine cedar, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, juniper or geranium" to rid your pet of them. (See References 4)