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Flea and Tick Treatment Side Effects

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary care.*

Is your dog or cat flea treatment threatening your family's health?


Most of us believe that commercially available pesticides, such as those found in pet products like flea and tick powders and flea collars, are tightly regulated by the government and safe. In fact, they are neither.

According to a report published by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental organization who is calling for the government to completely ban the use of many chemicals that are used in flea control products, pets, children and adults are all at risk of becoming poisoned from the types of pesticides found in common store bought and veterinary-approved flea control products.

It is believed the young children, who touch and play with pets who are treated with these chemicals, are at the greatest risk of damage to their health as a result of the use of these flea control products.

Cats are also at special risk of serious side effects, including convulsions and even death, from some chemicals in many flea and tick treatments.

Flea collars seem harmless enough, but it has been reported that:

  • According to the EPA, toddlers exposed to pets wearing flea collars containing a chemical called dichlorvos would be exposed to 21 times the safe level just from inhalation of the insecticide emitted from the collar. Adults exposed to the same product would experience exposures ten times greater than safe levels.

  • EPA found no uses of flea collars that contain a chemical called naled that are safe for children ages eight and under. Toddlers' exposures to naled were calculated to be as much as ten times more than EPA's safe level.

  • EPA estimates that a toddler exposed to a dog wearing dog flea collars containing chlorpyrifos could get more than seven times the level EPA considers to be safe merely from hugging or petting their dog.

  • Toddlers who pet a large dog the day of its phosmet (a tick/flea dipping treatment) dipping and then put their fingers in their mouths will receive more than 500 times the safe level of this chemical, according to EPA estimates.

  • EPA finds that toddlers exposed to medium- or large-sized dogs that have been sprayed or dusted with tetrachlorvinphos products could face exposures nearly twice as high as EPA's safe level.

  • EPA determines that powdering or dipping a single pet with tetrachlorvinphos just twice a year would, over the course of a lifetime, pose a risk of cancer to the person dipping the pet nearly six to seven times higher than acceptable EPA levels. Dipping or powdering multiple pets, or doing so more frequently, would raise cancer risks even higher.

You don't have to expose your family to these frightening chemicals...

At our store we are happy to be able to offer a product called Neem Spray. Organic Neem Spray is a convenient, effective, affordable and most importantly, safe flea and tick spray.

Here are the natural ingredients in this natural flea and tick treatment: Sterile Water, Witch Hazel, Organic Neem Extract, Orange, Rosewood, Chrysanthemum, Yarrow with Standardized Goldenseal and Yucca Extracts.

Please use as directed.

Azmira Organic Neem Spray 8 oz.
Azmira Organic Neem Spray 8 oz.
Azmira Organic Neem Spray is highly effective at repelling fleas, ticks, flies (more...)
Price: 14.99
SALE: $13.99
Quantity in Basket: none
Code: AZ158