Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm looking into natural flea defenses right now after a potentially fatal poisoning in the last month with my oldest kitty.
Jesslan Foster Mom @ Shih Tzu & Fur Baby Rescue - http://www.stfbr.com/ Volunteer @ Chautauqua County Humane Society - http://spcapets.com/ Furever Mom To Doggy - Jaelyn Furever Mom To Kitties - Lucius, Gypsy, Kylee and Ethaniel Visit My Kitties, Doggy & Fosters - http://mdnyhtkyss.com/cattitude/ ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:56 PM Subject: [Chihuahuas] Fleas To print, select "Print" from the "File" menu in your browser. This page can be found on the web at: http://www.thegreenguide.com/products/Pest_Control/Fleas?source=email_gg_20080820&email=gg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fleas What To Look For Fleas are a nuisance pest that can carry disease organisms and parasites. They can also cause allergies for you or your pet. But flea powders, flea repellents, insecticidal shampoos or room foggers contain chemical pesticides that may do more harm than the pests they are designed to kill. Opt for the following less-toxic control methods: Flea Combs Flea combs are one of the healthiest ways to keep infestations under control, since they involve no chemicals whatsoever. Use combs in the bathtub or outside in a tub of soapy water, which will kill fleas as they fall or are combed off your pet. Dunk the comb in the soapy water after each run-through to kill fleas. (Note: You can find these at all pet supply stores, so we didn’t include any on our Product Comparisons page.) Flea Traps Chemical-free but energy intensive, flea traps use a lightbulb to lure pests to sticky surfaces. They’re available commercially, but you can make your own by hanging a lightbulb 6 to 12 inches above a pan of soapy water or a sticky surface. Herbal Flea Collars These don’t kill fleas but they prevent the bugs from jumping on your pet. If there are pregnant women or pregnant pets in your home, avoid herbal collars and products that contain pennyroyal oil, which is an abortive herb. Desiccating Dusts Less toxic than chemical pesticides, desiccating dusts kill insects by dehydrating them. The three most common are diatomaceous earth (DE), silica aerogel and boric acid. However, these dusts can irritate the lungs if inhaled, so wear a dust mask during application and vacuum afterwards to pick up extra dust. Also, read labels carefully to make sure you are using a DE intended for pest control, rather than a glassified DE (used in swimming pool filters), which can cause lung disease. Silica aerogel and some formulations of DE can be applied directly to pets and their bedding—read label instructions carefully. Shopping and Usage Tips Flea Season In most climates, fleas are a seasonal problem that usually starts when humidity and temperatures are optimal for flea eggs to hatch. Learn when your local flea season is before subjecting your pet to flea treatments that may be unnecessary. Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) In addition to the control methods in What To Look For and our Product Comparisons chart, you may want to talk to your vet about IGRs. Fed to pets orally, these drugs (Program and Sentinel, for example) eliminate pests by interrupting their lifecycle and preventing their reproduction; the chemicals are passed to fleas when they feed on the animal. They don’t kill fleas but they do prevent eggs from hatching or developing successfully. While there are some concerns about IGRs' toxicity toward companion animals and non-target wildlife and aquatic animals, they work in a highly targeted manner and are currently believed to be safer for pets and humans than chemical sprays or shampoos. You can also find IGR sprays for your yard that don’t need a vet’s prescription. However, be aware that many IGR sprays have detrimental effects on aquatic life. Controlling Infestations There are ways to prevent flea outbreaks and control infestations without having to resort to chemical sprays: a.. Wash your pet’s bedding in hot water about once a week. (Be sure to pick up bedding by the corners so eggs and larvae don’t scatter.) b.. Vacuum every two to three days during flea season. c.. During a bad flea outbreak, vacuum daily and pay attention to cracks and crevices in floors and upholstered furniture. Dispose of the vacuum bag immediately to prevent flea eggs from hatching inside it and re-infesting your house. d.. Keep your pet out of hard-to-clean areas of the house, like the attic and basement. e.. In the yard, keep the grass short where your pet spends a lot of time. f.. Bathe your pet regularly; ordinary pet shampoo and water will kill adult fleas so there's no need for insecticidal products. Fleas are attracted to dry, chapped skin. Therefore, keeping your pet’s skin healthy is key to preventing infestations. Talk to your vet about better shampoos, or try rubbing pure aloe vera into dry, irritated skin until it clears up. DIY Flea Repellents For dogs, slice up a lemon (skin and all) and pour one pint of nearly boiling water over it. Let it sit overnight. Strain the liquid and pour into a spray bottle. Spritz your dog generously and rub it in. Citrus oil kills and repels fleas. You can use this solution on pet bedding, too. Cedar-filled pillows and beds naturally repel fleas, as do cedar blocks placed under and between couch cushions and other furniture. The scent eventually fades, so renew it with cedar oil drops. Fleas also dislike the scent of lavender, mint, rosemary and sweet woodruff, so you can use sachets of these herbs in furniture, too. Don’t feed your pets DIY flea remedies containing garlic. According to the ASPCA, garlic can cause gastrointestinal irritation and may lead to red blood cell damage. Product Comparisons If mechanical flea-control methods have failed and you need something stronger to keep fleas off your pets and out of your home, try one of the products below. Wondering what these table headings mean? They're the criteria we used to choose and evaluate the products in the chart below. Learn more about their importance in What To Look For. Name ACTIVE INGREDIENT MSRP Purchasing Information Reader Rating Biocare Flea Trap -- $20.24 www.amazon.com Avg. Rating Enforcer Overnite Flea Trap -- $12.99 www.acehardware.com, 866-290-5334 Avg. Rating Victor The Ultimate Flea Trap -- $13.95 www.planetnatural.com, 800-289-6656 Avg. Rating Castor & Pollux Play Dead Herbal Collar (for dogs and cats) oils of pennyroyal, eucalyptus, cedarwood, citronella and rue $4.99 www.castorpolluxpet.com,800-875-7518 Avg. Rating Natural Animal Dog Flea Collar oils of citronella, cedarwood, lemongrass, rosemary and sesame $7.99 www.amazon.com Avg. Rating PetGuard Herbal Collars (for dogs and cats) oils of pennyroyal, eucalyptus, cedarwood, citronella, rue and rosemary $4.19 www.petfooddirect.com, 800-865-1333 Avg. Rating Concern Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer diatomaceous earth $6.50/1.5 lbs. www.planetnatural.com, 800-289-6656 Avg. Rating Dr. Goodpet Outside Flea-Control diatomaceous earth $7.95/1.5 lbs. www.goodpet.com, 800-222-9932 Avg. Rating MotherEarth D diatomaceous earth $15.50/8 oz. www.domyownpestcontrol.com, 866-581-7378 Avg. Rating Dr. Goodpet Inside Flea-Control boric acid $12.95/1.5 lbs. www.goodpet.com, 800-222-9932 Avg. Rating The Ecology Works Dust Mite and Flea Control boric acid/borate compound $9.95/8 oz. www.dustmitex.com, 888-353-2649 Avg. Rating Fleas Away Boric Acid Carpet Treatment boric acid $16.99/1 lb. www.amazon.com Avg. Rating Flea Stoppers Carpet Powder boric acid $45.50/5 lbs. www.planetnatural.com, 800-289-6656 Avg. Rating Pic Boric Acid Roach Killer III boric acid $4.20/16 oz. www.pic-corp.com, 800-799-7302 Avg. Rating Beneficial Nematodes nematodes $24.90 and up www.biconet.com, 615-370-4301 Avg. Rating Grub-Away Nematodes nematodes $17.95 and up www.gardensalive.com, 812-537-8650 Avg. Rating Lawn & Garden Scanmask nematodes $41.04 www.biologicco.com Avg. Rating The Backstory Tiny fleas can cause big problems for your pets. They carry tapeworms, and too many bites can lead to a condition called fleabite anemia. They don’t exactly make life very comfortable for humans either. But the chemicals used in flea shampoos, dips, room foggers, sprays and collars can be equally dangerous and irritating. Many of the chemical pesticides used in flea control products fall into either the pyrethroid or carbamate families. Carbamates, including the active ingredients carbaryl and propoxur, work by disrupting the nervous systems of insects, and unfortunately, they have the same effect on birds—the Audubon Society reports that carbamates have poisoned over 100 bird species—and fish. They also interfere with pet and human nervous systems. Young children are particularly susceptible, since they crawl around on carpeting that traps pesticide residues, and have a propensity for hugging family pets then putting their hands in their mouths (carbamates are more hazardous if ingested orally than if absorbed through skin). These pesticides damage their developing systems, and their bodies absorb more chemicals, pound for pound, than adult bodies. Pyrethroids are synthetic versions of pyrethrins, the latter of which are naturally occurring pest deterrents found in chrysanthemums. Experts have relatively few concerns over the acute toxicity of pyrethroids, but they can trigger skin and respiratory irritation. Over the long term, pyrethroids may interfere with the immune system (which can lead to allergy problems), and there is some evidence that they disrupt human hormone functions. Complicating their use in flea powders and sprays is the fact that the body absorbs them more readily via inhalation than swallowing or skin exposure. Pyrethroids are also highly toxic to aquatic organisms, which suffer their ill effects after you wash pet shampoo down the drain. Avoid products with ingredients ending in -thrin (i.e. permethrin, sumithrin, bioallethrin, etc.), and never use permethrin-containing products on cats, unless your vet says it’s okay. Cats are very sensitive to permethrin and can experience muscle spasms, tremors or seizures if exposed to products with too high a concentration. Because they’re so hazardous, most organophosphate pesticides have been banned by the EPA for residential use. However, one, the possible human carcinogen tetrachlorvinphos, is still allowed for use in flea collars and pet sprays. Related Articles Humane Society of the United States. What You Should Know About Flea and Tick Products. May 2008. Natural Resources Defense Council. Pet Products May Harm Both Pets and Humans. Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides: www.pesticide.org PETA’s AskCarla.com. What is the best way to get rid of fleas and ticks? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 1996-2008 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. 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