Dangerous Chemicals Used for Flea Control

Should you be using Advantage flea control, Frontline flea and tick control, and other well known chemical flea control agents to get rid of fleas in your dog?

I have maintained for several years that the clear answer is NO. 

The problem of how to get rid of fleas is an ever present one for most pet owners, but in most cases, there are many steps you can take to prevent fleas, and even to get rid of them if they do occur, without needing to resort to these chemicals poisons.

I have just come across a great, informative article on the dangers of these chemical flea treatments – it was an article that appeared in The Whole Dog Journal back in 2002 (just before I started reading that publication, in fact).  You can read the article here – http://www.apnm.org/publications/resources/fleachemfin.pdf

It says what I have been saying all along, but backs it up with scientific evidence, laboratory studies, information on how these products work, what EXACTLY they contain, and what health problems they do actually cause.

 I couldn't possibly do justice to the information in the article here, which is why I've given you the link where you can read the entire article at your leisure. 

But suffice to say:

1.  While products such as Frontline flea and tick, and Advantage flea control may be effective in getting rid of fleas, there is a cost – a cost to your dog's health.

2.  Adverse skin reactions to the application of these topical treatments, while they can be severe, are probably the least of the concerns.

3.  It is established that these chemical flea preparations can cause such diverse side effects as chronic itching, depression, lethargy, liver toxicity, lung tumors and other cancers and autoimmune disease.

4.  Dogs who already suffer from conditions involving their liver, kidneys, thyroid, adrenal gland, spleen, lung or brain, are eminently more likely to develop serious chronic illness as a result of the use of chemical flea preparations.

5.  Although animals in good health may not show any adverse signs from the use of chemical flea treatments, the toxity will inevitably build up and over time, although you may not connect certain conditions with the use of these flea treatments, the connection can be scientifically established as being a very likely cause.

6. Contrary to what your vet may tell you, and the advertising for these products would have us believe, there is no doubt that these pesticides do enter your dog's internal organs, do move into their intestinal tracts, and are eventually eliminated in your dog's urine and feces.  All of these products have neurotoxic effects on your dog.

So there you have it.  I really encourage you to go read the article – http://www.apnm.org/publications/resources/fleachemfin.pdf. 

It's an eye opener for anyone who doubts that these chemicals are causing long term damage to our dogs.

And if you're wondering how to get rid of fleas and how to prevent them in the first place withOUT using chemicals, click here.

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