08/06/2020
The dangers of flea and tick prevention products
Most vets recommend using preventative flea and tick treatments on cats and dogs on a regular basis. Some of those products are applied monthly, some of them every 3 months, according to the instructions. But are they actually safe for our pets?
To answer this question, I would like you to take a look at the safety data sheet of Advocate, a flea and worm prevention spot on product by Bayer. This information is directly from their website and is nicely hidden away at the very bottom.
It states that we should immediately contact a physician if it comes into contact with skin. But wait… if I need to avoid skin contact and inhalation at all costs and it is even advised to wear protective equipment when handling, how can it be safe to directly apply to our animal’s skin? Well, it is NOT. In the pamphlets included in the packaging it even states very clearly “HAZARDOUS TO HUMANS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS”
The side effects caused by these chemical pesticides stated by the FDA include: seizures, tremors, degeneration of the nervous system, vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritations, lethargy – all of these are symptoms of acute poisoning. Many owners have even lost their pets to after-effects of these toxic chemicals. There is big class-action law suits against several pharmaceutical manufacturers because of this all over the world.
So why do we keep applying these toxic chemicals to our pets? Firstly because of misinformation from vets and pet shops that sell these treatments and secondly because of aggressive marketing by the manufacturers. This is not about your dog’s or cat’s health or protection, this is simply about making money.
I see no point in applying a toxic flea prevention product every single month on a strictly indoor cat. Where could this cat possibly get a flea from? And should you against all odds find a flea on your indoor cat, it is treatable by using natural products. Dogs are a bit more at risk of contracting fleas, but this can be avoided by using natural, non-toxic products that will not slowly degenerate your dog’s health.
If you would like to receive more information on safe and effective products, please reach out to Zenimal.