Toxic Pet Products May Harm Children and Pets

As a well-intended pet owner, you might apply off-the-shelf products to your furry friend to help kill fleas and ticks. But those collars, sprays, and dusts contain toxic chemicals that can poison pets and harm people. Even when applied as instructed on the box, the chemicals in many of these products are not safe, either for pets or humans. Small children are especially vulnerable.

Many of the products sold by the millions in grocery, drug and pet supply stores, contain organophosphates and carbamates, two classes of chemicals that work by interfering with the transmission of nerve signals in the brains and nervous system. In overdoses, they can be deadly. But even with normal use of flea-control products, pets and children may be in danger.

How could the government let hazardous chemicals be sold on grocery store shelves without applying stringent standards? Ask the EPA!

Since NRDC released a report detailing the potential hazards of flea and tick treatments, six of the most dangerous insecticides of concern have been banned and removed from the market but one - tetrachlorvinphos -- is still found in stores. NRDC continues to pressure the EPA to ban the last remaining organophosphate insecticide and is calling for the EPA to ban a closely related class of insecticides -- carbamates. Small children are at particular risk; evidence suggests the possibility of worrisome long-term effects for children exposed to these pesticides at an early age, including later-in-life cancer and perhaps Parkinson's disease.

It's hard to know how many thousands of pets have been injured or killed through exposure to pet products containing pesticides. Like small children, pets cannot report when they're being poisoned at low doses. If you or someone you love (whether furry or not) has had a toxic reaction to a pet product, email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   with your story.

Safer alternatives to these toxic products are available. The safest flea and tick treatment options are generally those dispensed as a pill - they don't leave a toxic residue on your pet or in your home. Better yet, prevent fleas by giving your pet regular baths once a week, or at least every-other week using a regular pet shampoo. If you must buy an off-the shelf flea or tick treatment, avoid products that list tetrachlorvinphos or propoxur as active ingredients.

When bathing your pet, pay special attention to the area between the toes, at the base of the tail and around the ears, where ticks love to hide. Launder your pet's bedding in hot water the same day that you bathe them. Vacuuming carpets at least weekly will eliminate flea eggs that could be hidden there. In most cases, these simple steps will prevent flea infestations from getting started, and your pet will smell better too!

Avoid flea and tick products that list tetrachlorvinphos or propoxur as active ingredients. These pesticides are not safe for pets or humans! Instead, ask your vet for a flea and tick treatment administered as a pill that won't leave a toxic residue around your home.	Share important information about how to avoid the most harmful toxics in pet products with your favorite groomer, kennel or other pet service provider. Request and action kit at http://www.greenpaws.org/ and sign up to demand that companies stop poisoning pets.	Bath your pet every week with a normal pet shampoo to safely control fleas and ticks without dangerous chemicals. Pay special attention to the area between the toes, at the base of the tail and around the ears, where ticks love to hide. Launder your pet's bedding in hot water the same day that you bathe them and vacuuming carpets at least weekly to eliminate flea eggs.

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