How can I tell which pet products contain dangerous chemicals?
Check the product label for the active ingredients. If a product contains any of the seven common organophosphates, don’t buy it! The seven organophosphates are chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon and malathion. Also avoid products containing carbamates. Other chemicals to watch out for and avoid are carbaryl and propoxur compounds.
What should I do about fleas?
First, be sure you really need to buy a chemical product. In many cases, simple physical measures can solve the problem. You can comb your pet with a flea comb (available in pet stores) to inspect for and remove fleas. You can vacuum your rugs frequently, taping up and disposing of the vacuum cleaner bags immediately afterward. You can mow the areas of the lawn where your dog spends time, so as to deny fleas a friendly environment. You can wash your pet’s bedding once a week.
Finally, if your pet has severe fleas, you can wash your pet with plain soap and water or pet grooming shampoo (without pesticides) sold in most grocery and pet stores. If using plain soap, check first to see if it kills fleas by dropping a flea in a small amount of soapy water, and use it first in a small area on your pet to make sure it is not irritating to your pet’s skin.
What products should I buy?
Sometimes, those steps are not enough, and you may need to buy one of two types of safer pesticide products. First, try products whose labels list “insect growth regulators.” They’re very common, and will probably be available in your neighborhood grocery store. Be aware that the product labels may abbreviate the term “insect growth regulators” to “IGRs.” If used properly, products using insect growth regulators will prevent the next generation of fleas by interfering with their growth and development.
However, on their own, they won’t kill insects currently on your pet, so you may need to take other steps – the physical measures listed above, for example, to kill off existing infestations. Lufenuron (Program®), methoprene (Nylar®) and pyriproxyfen (Biolar®) are three common and effective insect growth regulators.
If those steps do not work, or if your pet is allergic to flea bites and needs immediate relief, look in pet stores or ask your vet for products containing newer, safer, and more easily applied insecticides: imidacloprid (AdvantageTM) and fipronil (Front line®, TopspotTM). Fipronil may also be the most effective agent to use against ticks.
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