As spring blooms into warmer weather we look forward to spending more time outside. Most of our pets can’t wait to get outdoors too. They ache to run and play in the yard, sun bathe in the grass and breathe fresh warm air as they reconnect with Spring’s Mother Nature. When we open our homes to our pets, it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to also open our homes to the pests that are attracted to our pets. We can live in harmony with our natural enemies like fleas and ticks and others by learning to control them and our environments. We’ve had a lot of questions about flea and tick control with the warm months ahead and hope this information is both informative and helpful for our fellow pet lovers.

Flea Control or Pesticide?

Many flea control treatments for animals can be toxic and harmful to pets and children. Topical treatments are known to contain toxic chemicals and are often just pesticides. These products are meant to attack the nervous systems of insects and stop their development or breeding activity. Studies have shown them to be neurotoxins and harmful to mammals. Oral medications are meant to be ingested by an animal. The animal’s body acts as the drug delivery system to insects via the largest living organ—the skin. These chemical flea control products have been reported to cause liver toxicity, comas, brain damage, seizure activity, vomiting, depression anorexia diarrhea, and pruritis (intense itching) and more. Chemicals found in most flea control products have also been linked to brain damage, liver, kidney and endocrine system problems and certain kinds of cancers.  

An overdose of these “safe” chemicals can kill people and pets. Be sure to check the labels and research all the ingredients listed before administering flea and tick treatments. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available on all products and offer consumers a listing of ingredients and their known hazards. The inserts and informational materials in most medications do not include the MSDS information. A Material Safety Data Sheet is available for all products through the manufacturer.

Hazardous chemicals that should be avoided

• Butylhydroxanisole
• Butyldydroxytoluene
• Carbaryl
• Carbamates
• Carbitol
• Chlorpyrifos
• Dichlorvos
• Diazinon
• Ethanol
• Fipronil
• Imidacloprid
• Lufenuron
• Malathion
• Methoprene
• Naled
• Organophosphate Insecticides (OPs)
• Permethrin
• Phosmet
• Polyvinylpyrrolidone
• Propoxur
• Pyriproxyfen
• Tetrachlorvinphos

Flea products sold as “all natural” doesn’t mean safe or non-toxic. Check and read all labels. Consult your Holistic Veterinarian if your pet has special health needs. Caution should be used for pets on homeopathic medications because some natural herbs, like peppermint in any form, can negate homeopathic remedies.

Natural products to be thoroughly researched before use

• D’Limonene is derived from citrus peels and can be highly toxic to animals.
• Lemon Oil can be toxic to pets and cause internal organ toxicity including death from shock.  Lemon Oil has been found in studies to cause adverse reactions like ulcerations of the stomach and can damage the small and large intestinal lining to near perforation.  
• Tea Tree Oil, Pennyroyal Oil, Wormwood Oil and Citronella Oil are known to cause allergic reactions and can be highly toxic to some animals.
• Essential Oils are not easily handled by all animals. Some mammals can’t metabolize essential oils and their bodies don’t efficiently excrete the essential oils. The oils can build up to toxic levels and poison an animal’s body.
• Homemade Flea Sprays, Dips and other alternatives to chemical products can be just as toxic and cause pets to have serious health emergencies. 
• Black walnut can be a helpful flea repellant but it can be toxic in high doses.
• Herbal flea collars with warning labels for children might not be safe for pets either.
• Pyrethrum or Chrysanthemum Plant/flowers are perennial plants that are grown commercially because their plant extract and seed cases contain pyrethrins, a highly toxic insecticide.
• Diatomaceous Earth is the fossilized remains of single-celled algae that have been ground up into a very fine powder. This powder has razor sharp microscopic particles that slice through the hard shell of most insects like fleas and ticks. Under a microscope, the particles look as sharp as tiny pieces of glass. Diatomaceous Earth can penetrate the soft mucous membranes of humans and pets if inhaled. It can scratch the eyeballs and the tiny particles can get imbedded into the sclera of the eye and go deeper with every blinking motion. DE that is sold as FOOD-GRADE has been found to be safer. The FOOD-GRADE DE is white in color. The product that goes into your garden or pool should be used with caution for flea control. It has been reported to be chemically treated, impure and toxic and should have warning labels on the packaging.

Safer Healthier Alternatives

Eat a Good Diet & Stay Healthy

Some people and pets are prone to bug bites. Strong immune systems and high nutritional levels are natural insect repellents. Healthy bodies are less inviting to most pests and a good natural diet free from chemicals is the best defense. Garlic and brewers yeast is often introduced into a pets diet as a means to ward off fleas. Insects don’t like the taste of either of these natural dietary additives and are less likely to enjoy the flavor of the blood. Both garlic and brewers yeast should be used with caution. Garlic is in the same family as onions, shallots and chives and contains the chemical thiosulphate. This chemical can cause damage to the red blood cells and lead to hemolytic anemia and eventual death in animals. Raw garlic has been known to cause ulcers and can be an irritant to the mouth, esophagus and stomach. Brewers yeast and nutritional yeast can be helpful but some animals are intolerant of yeast. They can have an allergic reaction which will present itself as a skin allergy. 

Have Good Personal Hygiene

A flea comb used regularly can eliminate the need for chemical flea shampoos. A simple water bath with a natural safe shampoo will eliminate fleas and drown them. Fleas don’t live in soapy water.

Trap Fleas

Fleas can be trapped with a dish of soapy water under a night light. Adult fleas are attracted to warm light and will drown in soapy water. Small plug-in electric flea traps are also available and can be very effective.

   Control the Environment

• Sanitize an inside environment with regular vacuuming. After vacuuming take the old vacuum bag and throw it out so the fleas don’t escape back into the house. Keep clutter to a minimum and wash animal bedding as often as possible.
• Sprinkle regular salt on the carpets, couches, cracks in the floors, let sit and vacuum. Fleas live off their host but live in the environment. The salt dehydrates the air around them, their bodies and living space. They can’t breathe and die. Salt can burn soft paws, so vacuum thoroughly.
• For the outside, Mother Nature has a helper called a Nematode. Nematodes control the flea population outside. They are microscopic worms that eat flea larvae and are a natural outdoor flea control. Nematodes can be purchased online and at most pet and garden supply stores. Nematodes multiply rapidly and only a small amount might be needed. Nematodes can be applied with a sprayer and within 24 hours there can be up to a 90% decrease in the amount of fleas in the treated area. Nematodes are also garden friendly and guard the premises against cutworms and grubs.  Without food or flea larvae, nematodes will die, so regular or seasonal applications might be necessary.
• Natural Enzyme products are also available for environmental flea control.  Pre-formed enzymes have been used in restaurants and institutional settings for years. Some products and their enzymes leave no toxic residue and are safe for humans and pets. This product works to eat away at the protein of the insects it comes into contact with. The natural enzymes also destroy the hard outer shell of fleas and ticks called the exoskeleton.  Natural enzyme flea control products contain; natural enzymes, purified water, Protease, Lipase, Cellulase and Amylase. They tend to be Non-Toxic and Bio-Degradable. Check the ingredients list and ask the manufacturer for a material safety data sheet (MSDS) to double check the products bio-hazard ingredients and levels.

Our companions rely on us to nurture and care for their minds, bodies and spirits. By using thoughtful thought processes and researching healthy choices we nurture their bodies. By keeping their physical body healthy, we care for their minds so they can think, live, feel and love. When we make a good informed decision that benefits our pets, we allow their spirits to tend to their desires—Loving US. We encourage all pet owners to work with nature, research their choices, check ingredients lists and make healthy choices for their best friends and companions. The main resources for this article:

Alternatives 4 Animal Health http://www.alt4animals.com/flea.htm

Earth Easy http://eartheasy.com/article_natural_flea_control.htm

Whole Dog Journal February 2002 Issue http://www.apnm.org/publications/resources/fleachemfin.pdf

Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrin

Helping Animals http://www.helpinganimals.com/animalsHome_fleaControl.asp

Mother Earth News – Blog Notes http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/1985-05-01/Natural-Flea-Control.aspx?page=5

Eco Living Friendly http://www.elfbrands.com/shopexd.asp?id=44

The Nature of Animal Healing, Martin Goldstein, DVM.

Donald and Sara Hassler are co-authors of the award-winning children’s book, Loving Marley, and reside in Connecticut with Marley and Belle the real-life inspiration for the PugTale Adventures storybooks www.lovingmarley.com. The Hasslers are active members of the press and write exclusive feature articles for several publications. Their columns are also published in Pug Talk Magazine. Visit them online at www.responsiblepetowner.com.