A miserable, scratching dog with biting fleas is hard to ignore, even harder once the fleas start in on the two-legged family members. Typically, once the problem is identified, the search for a product to bring relief is under way quickly. This may mean a fast trip to the vet or to the nearest store with pet products.
But how much do we know about the variety of products sold to combat fleas? Will our dogs experience side effects from this take-no-prisoners engagement of the enemy?
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Variety of Effects
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Potential side effects from flea treatments run the gamut. Side effects can be mild, such as minor skin irritation where the treatment was applied.
More severe reactions, however, can be commonplace. Flea treatment can result in vomiting, diarrhea, brain damage, heart attacks, seizures and even death. According to the Humane Society of the United States, "at least 1,600 pet deaths related to spot-on treatments with pyrethroids were reported to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) over the last five years."
So Many Flea Products, So Much to Know
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There are a plethora of flea-killing and flea-prevention products on the market, and it is difficult to know the potential for each to have an adverse effect on your pet. First, know that over-the-counter products may not have been tested for the effects they may have on your dog. The many brands of flea collars, shampoos and topical treatments are under increased scrutiny by the EPA, but even that agency acknowledges that products on its own registered list may have side effects.
The products available at the vet are generally safer than over-the-counter products, but concerns are surfacing about them, as well.
As a start, do not use flea control products containing chemicals classified as "organophosphate insecticides", or OPs. These products interfere with the nerve signals in the brains of insects, pets, you and your children. Your pet may not be the only one with an adverse reaction. Also avoid over-the-counter spot on treatments containing pyrethroids.
Check the label carefully. Avoid products containing chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon and malathion.
New Flea Treatments
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There are alternatives to OP-based flea treatments. Many are available only through a veterinarian. These products include Comfortis (spinosad), a chewable tablet; Capstar (nitenpyram), an oral drug; Program (lufenuron), an oral drug; Sentinel (milbemycin oxime/lufenuron), also oral; Promeris (metaflumizone), a topical pesticide; and Frontline (fipronil), applied to the skin.
While these products appear to cause fewer side effects than others, a dog with allergies to any of them can react violently. All may cause some side effects, such as skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhea or drowsiness.
Check with your vet about the appropriateness of any of these products for your pet. Older dogs, dogs with existing health issues and dogs that have had a previous allergic reaction are particularly vulnerable to reactions.
Common Sense
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One way to ensure you are not exposing your dog to unnecessary side effects is to not overdo. Don't give him a flea bath, apply pesticides to the house and his bedding, then spray him with another treatment. This sort of flea attack almost guarantees some kind of reaction.
Follow the instructions carefully for any flea product you use. Don't use dog flea treatments on cats. Don't use more of it than recommended for the size of your dog.
If your pet exhibits side effects after a topical treatment, give him a bath to try to wash it off. Dawn dish soap is often recommended for this.
Call your vet if your pet experiences side effects from flea treatments.
Keep treatments of any type to a minimum. Follow good practices that do not involve chemicals, including: frequent vacuuming, throwing away the dust bag immediately after; frequently washing the pet's bedding in hot water; washing the dog with a non-pesticide shampoo, then combing him with a flea comb; and keeping the grass mowed.
Natural Alternatives
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Herbal shampoos that contain one or more of the following are recommended for fleas: pine cedar, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, juniper and geranium. When you start the bath, get a good lather started around the dog's neck first, so the fleas don't simply escape onto his head and into his ears when you wash his body. Do a thorough job, and leave the soap on a little while before rinsing him off. You can also try adding a tablespoon of salt to the bath water to kill fleas.
Rub the dog with tansy, basil, fennel, rosemary or other strong-smelling herbs.
Alternatively, rub the dog with bicarbonate of soda, then brush out the residue.
For carpets, try sprinkling them with Borax, with pets removed from the room. Leave the Borax there for half an hour, then vacuum.
Plant marigolds or catnip near outdoor areas frequented by your dogs.
Try a small amount of apple cider vinegar in their drinking water.
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