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Always try the strategies below first before considering chemicals-safer chemicals-if additional protection is needed. Going nontoxic. Fortunately for many families, fleas can be controlled without resorting to harmful chemicals. Unfortunately, kids can still be exposed to them from their furry siblings' flea collars or other products. For this reason, most household uses of these pesticides have already been banned. “Many vets count on the EPA to make sure that the products on the market are safe if used correctly.” Unfortunately, the ingredients in these products are still quite dangerous, and regular use can result in unsafe exposure, particularly for children and pregnant women.įor example, even low-level exposure to organophosphates and carbamates-two particularly dangerous families of pesticides found in some flea treatments as well as in agricultural and lawn products-have been linked to learning disabilities in children. Consumers, as well as some veterinarians, don’t know the whole story, says NRDC senior scientist Miriam Rotkin-Ellman. The government has faced criticism from NRDC and other watchdog groups about insufficient safety standards for these products.
#FLEA AND TICK MEDICINE FOR DOGS SKIN#
Pets can also suffer: Skin irritation, neurological problems, gastrointestinal disorders, and even organ failure have been reported as a result of pet poisonings.
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Food and Drug Administration.) But here’s the ugly truth: Many of the pesticides allowed for use on pets are linked to serious health issues in people, such as cancer and neurological and respiratory problems. (Those given orally, like pills, must be approved by the U.S. Most conventional flea and tick products-including collars, topical treatments, sprays, and dusts-are registered as pesticides and regulated by the EPA. There are ways to keep all your family members, including the furry ones, safe from dangerous pests and the most toxic ingredients. Until the EPA does this, however, you can educate yourself about the risks and benefits of various treatment options, then bring that knowledge to the store. Environmental Protection Agency from allowing these harmful products to reach store shelves in the first place. So what’s a responsible pet lover to do? The key is to stop the U.S.
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