How Safe is Your Flea and Tick Killer?

Laboratory studies of ingredients in seven popular flea and tick control products reveal adverse health effects in all animals tested. The effects of these well known and aggressively marketed products range from convulsions, body tremors and labored breathing to thyroid cancer, brain lesions, and liver and lung tumors. Yet TV commercials with trusty looking veterinarians pitch only the happy side of these products.

Which flea and tick pesticide are you using on your dog and/or cat? If your favorite treatment contains the active ingredient Fipronil, Imidacloprid, Methoprene, Permethrin, Pyriproxyfen or the inert ingredient Butyldydroxytoluene, Butylhydroxanisole, Carbitol, Ethanol, or Polyvinlpyrrplidone, you need to know about the not-so-happy side of these products as well.

If you think your veterinarian or local pet store would never sell you such a sinister poison, think again.

Advantage (Bayer Corporation), Adams Spot-On Flea & Tick Control (Farnam Pet Products), BioSpot Flea & Tick Control (Farnam Pet Products), Defend EXspot Treatment (Schering-Plough Animal Health), Frontline Top Spot (Merial Limited), Frontline Plus (Merial Limited), and Zodiac FleaTrol Spot On (Wellmark International) - all contain one or more of the aforementioned active or inert ingredients.

Toxicology and morbidity findings from these pesticide products were gathered over a decade of laboratory testing by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; Occupational Safety & Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor; Extension Toxicology Network; Journal of Pesticide Reform; Pesticide Action Network North America and other sources, with additional information supplied by Material Safety Data Sheets.

Most testing was performed for the benefit of new product manufacturers in order to qualify for EPA registration. Scientists overdose laboratory animals to determine how much of the product will kill 50% of the test population. Information is then extrapolated and assumptions made that may apply to domestic animals and human beings.

According to laboratory tests, Fipronil (Frontline Top Spot and Frontline Plus) is a neurotoxin and suspected human cancer agent. Fipronil can cause liver toxicity, thyroid cancer, kidney damage, raised cholesterol, lack of coordination, labored breathing, miscarriages and stunted offspring.

Laboratory testing of Imidacloprid (Advantage) on mice, dogs and rats shows this insecticide to be neurotoxic to laboratory animals, also causing a breakdown of coordination, labored breathing, lesions of the thyroid, reduced birth weight, and increased birth defects.

The synthetic broad spectrum pyrethroid insecticide Permethrin (Adams Spot-on Flea & Tick Control; BioSpot Flea & Tick Control; and Defend EXspot Treatment) shows indications of being an endocrine disrupter and the cause of lung cancer and liver tumors in laboratory animals.

Methoprene and Pyriproxyfen (Zodiac FleaTrol Spot On; and BioSpot Flea & Tick Control) are known as insect growth regulators (IGR), both of which restrict the growth of fleas to the juvenile stage where reproduction is not possible. Laboratory testing reveals that Methoprene causes enlarged livers and degeneration of the kidneys.

Unfortunately, few people actually read EPA test results. Fewer still want to hear about the many laboratory test subjects (unwanted dogs and cats) killed during and after the studies in order to determine damage to specific systems and organs. But it only takes a few people with straightforward thinking to bring about change. Are you ready to stop this insanity? There are effective alternatives, as you know.

Today there are totally natural flea and tick remedies - completely harmless to kids, pets and the environment - made from pure botanical essential oils. Some natural products work fairly well, some don't, and some work much better than the toxic stuff!

The mode of action - the way these natural remedies kill fleas and ticks - is to disrupt the insect's ability to function by blocking a substance called octopamine. In nature, certain plants have developed a natural defense against bugs. These "octopamine blockers" in plants are extracted as oils and used as active ingredients. Octopamine is to an insect what adrenalin is to a human. When blocked from the system, the insect quickly dies. No muss, no fuss. Nobody gets hurt but the bug.

Please begin today to stop supporting the heartless laboratory testing of innocent animals, the insidious cover-up and rush to market of big business, and the unwitting harm we may be doing to our children, our pets, and our planet.

By Gary Le Mon

Merial Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Control For Dogs and Puppies Review

I have two dogs and only Merial Frontline Plus flea and tick control for dogs and puppies is the only one I trust when it comes to grooming my dogs. It's very effective and it's reasonably priced so I have no reason to go try out other brands. My dogs are very playful and they love playing with each other outside in the garden, so I figured they need protection from possible contact from fleas and ticks as much as possible.

The Merial Frontline brand has been trusted for so many years that I had no doubt about trying out this one immediately. If you're going to try out this one for the first time, I recommend you consult with your vet first. It's better to be safe, I found out, about whatever you give your dogs.I gave this one on the first day to my two dogs, and the following morning waited for the results. It seemed that the fleas are still there so I waited for a couple more days for the drug to work. I wasn't disappointed and in under a week, my dogs are flea and tick free and they look so much healthier and their coats shinier.

I have a black labrador retriever and a golden retriever, so you can imagine how difficult it is to check for fleas before I discovered the Frontline Plus. But it had been a blessing for me ever since I discovered it, and my dogs look so much happier, so I have no regrets. For other people who are apprehensive about trying out a new product, I recommend the Merial Frontline Plus flea and tick control for dogs and puppies, but make sure you consult a vet too so you're a hundred and one percent sure when you finally use the product.

By Erika Ayala

How Flea and Tick Spray Made Me Happy With My Dog Again

Have you considered using flea and tick spray on your dog or cat but hesitated because you didn't want to pay for the medication, you weren't sure it was safe for your pet or your family, or maybe you just didn't know if you needed it in your area, for your pet.

Well, trust me... a good flea and tick spray (or flea drops, which are a little easier to use) can be a very good investment.

There's nothing like sitting around on the couch with your dog, enjoying some snacks and a movie when you reach over to pet her and notice creepy-crawly fleas scurrying along her skin. If that doesn't get you reaching for Advantage flea drops or Frontline Plus flea and tick spray, I don't know what will!

In fact, this happened to me with my guide dog puppy, Kera. I asked our local Guide Dog Program coordinators what I should do, and they recommended Frontline Plus for dogs.

We used it and it worked right away.

You get a little vial of the medication and you just put a few drops along the dogs backbone and it spreads over the body, and is retained in the skin, where it is effective for a month.

This was super. After that I didn't worry about taking Kera to the park, or on long walks through the woods.

We still checked her out to make sure there were no ticks hiding, but we didn't see any. After a while, my husband and I were more worried about the ticks getting on us than on our dog.

So, we were using flea and tick spray, and it seemed easy. Kera was happy and felt good, and my husband and I didn't have to get the itches (imaginary or otherwise) when we sat down to enjoy her company.

Emily J. Cressey enjoys tromping through the woods, jumping in the river, snuggling in a warm sleeping bag and sipping hot coffee at sunrise - preferably with a dog by her side.

By Emily J. Cressey

Frontline Flea and Tick Treatment Explored

There is little doubt that most dog owners have heard of Frontline flea and tick treatment, but how well does it really work? I have a lot of experience with dogs and trying to treat them for ticks and fleas and I shall now tell you of my experiences.

Without any treatment my dogs will very quickly have ticks and fleas. Ticks, especially, are horrible to have to remove by hand but it is necessary if I am not using any form of treatment against them. It is a regular occurrence and has to be done. Now, if I use Frontline there is a marked difference. From ticks being a real problem I absolutely do not have any worries at all. It eliminates them all within a day and the animals are all parasite free. It works very fast at getting rid of them but what is even more important is that it stops them from returning for at least a month.

I have always found that it works effectively for about a month and then I have to treat the animals again. This is probably because we live in an area where ticks are very prevalent. In areas where they are not such a problem it should work for much longer. To be sure though, apply Frontline flea and tick treatment every month and your Dogs will stay parasite free. It works within the day and really is one of the best options to keep animals parasite free. It really is very effective indeed and stops having to do the horrible job of removing them by hand. There really is nothing worse.


By Paul Rajesh

Merial Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Control For Dogs and Puppies - Should I Buy It?

Many dog owners ask me about Merial Frontline Plus for dogs. They want to know how effectively it works and it can help reducing the itching and scratching that they see every day.

Let me tell you something, before buying any product to control flea and ticks on dogs, what I always suggest is go and ask your veterinarian, he can give you what he consider the best option for your dog is. However, in this article I just want to mention why I personally think frontline plus for dog is the best option.

One of the main reasons I like Merial Frontline for dogs is because it is EPA registered. This mean that the product has achieved a good standard and is approved by US Environmental Protection Agency. Only that is showing me that this has proved a high quality standard.

Frontline Flea Treatment Side Effects - What We Need to Know

Frontline flea treatment contains Fipronil. An insecticide that causes hyperexcitation of contaminated insects' nerves and muscles. It remains effective even after bathing or swimming. Frontline kills most fleas before they bite, which is great for pets suffering from flea allergies. Apply this between the shoulder blades.

Frontline kills fleas and ticks for 30 days or more. It is safe to use on puppies at ten weeks and kittens at 12 weeks of age, when used as directed. Fipronil, the powerful active ingredient in Frontline flea treatment, collects naturally in the hair follicles and oil-producing glands of the skin, where it remains protected from removal by shampooing or swimming.

Then it continually reapplies itself to the hair, providing long lasting control for a month or more. It is packaged with 3 separate applications per pack, a three month supply for one pet. It provides convenient and effective flea and tick control for dogs and cats, puppies and kittens. It is effective against all stages of the brown dog tick, the American dog tick, lone star tick and deer ticks.

Pets may experience some temporary irritation at the site of product application. If signs persist or become more severe within a few days of application, consult a veterinarian immediately. This product is for external use on dogs and puppies 10 weeks or older and cats and kittens 12 weeks or older. Consult a veterinarian before using on medicated animals, animals using this product with other pesticides, and debilitated, aged, pregnant or nursing animals.

This product is flammable. Keep away from heat and open flame. This product is harmful to humans if swallowed. Call a physician or poison control center. Drink 1 or 2 glasses of water and induce vomiting unless patient is unconscious. This product can cause eye injury. Flush eyes with plenty of water.

Call a physician if irritation persists. Persistent irritation may be the cause of allergies. Along with medicating our pets, we must also take precautionary measures to safeguard ourselves from being contaminated. Washing our hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling will free us from infection and viral transmission. We can be carriers of fleas if we are not careful.

It is important to understand our pet's health conditions. A simple health illness may lead to complications and may cause death of our animals. Only we know the real condition of our pets and only we can prevent the disease to worsen. If we act upon seeing the signs and symptoms, we can save our pets from acquiring any type of disease.

Let our pets be checked regularly by a vet. We have the responsibility to take care of these creatures while they are on our care. Proper hygiene is the most important factor to consider in order to prevent viral infection or flea growth. Give your dog a bath once daily. Just like humans, they need to be clean and fresh all the time. Provide them with shampoo and soap. Always make sure they have clean shelter, and they do not go littering outside dirty areas. Free your pets from ticks and fleas with the Frontline Flea treatment.

By Paul Kramer

Frontline Flea and Tick Treatment

The most basic flea and tick treatment that you will want to try to get rid of fleas and ticks is a thorough bath with soap. Soap will act like an insecticide to the insects on your dog. Some might think that this is an ineffective way of getting rid of fleas and ticks - maybe because it is so simple. But soap in water really does work effectively. The fatty acid found in soap can kill fleas, but one must not rely on soap in water alone, especially with puppies.

If this is not enough to get rid of fleas and ticks, use flea dips for a more effective insecticide. The ingredient found in flea dips are called pyrethrins. This is an active ingredients in many insecticides but is the least toxic of all flea treatments - so it is safe for your dogs. They are effective and can quickly cover your dog. Do not use flea dips for your pet cat however, because cats are allergic to pyrethrins and the dip could cause more harm than good.

Linalool/d-limonene spray is also effective for ridding your dogs of fleas and ticks. The extracts from a lemon peel happens to be an effective insecticidal treatment. It is mostly sold in sprays for your convenience and easy application. Try to spray evenly all over the dog, but avoid the eyes, mouth and nose. The linalool/d-limonene spray is effective on all stages of flea and tick development. They can kill pupa, larva, eggs or developed insects, making it very effective for the bedding treatments where your pets sleep. No matter how much of the frontline flea and tick treatments you use, if the bedding and the environment your pet lives is infested by these parasites, your efforts will be wasted.

If you have found the treatment of your choice and have been successful in getting rid of all fleas and ticks, make sure that you give your dog a bath regularly to ensure that no parasites return. Give them a proper brushing and trim their hair once in a while. Also wash the linens that they are sleeping in regularly. This can prevent your dogs from getting fleas and ticks ever again.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about flea and tick treatments [http://newticktreatment.info/frontline-flea-and-tick-treatment], please visit New Tick Treatment [http://newticktreatment.info] for current articles and discussions. By Katie Appleby

Frontline Flea and Tick Treatments

Frontline flea and tick treatments will keep our pets clear of these menaces as long as we use it when we should. Deciding how often to apply Frontline really depends on the area we live in. For some of us it will mean we will apply Frontline medicine as often as the directions allow. This means monthly but not more often than that.

You should never apply more than once a month no matter how severe the problem. If you do get regular occurrences of fleas or ticks then applying all year round is what is recommended. If the fleas and ticks are only a problem for a part of the year then try only applying for a month or so either side of the worst months of the year. This will save money but ensure that your pets are still protected against these problem parasites.

If you do decide to only apply for a part of the year then keep a close eye on your pets. At the first sign of any problems then use the Frontline as directed and continue monthly applications until the problem time of the year is over. I find that quite often, even at the worst times of the year an application every five to six weeks is enough to keep the animals free of ticks and fleas. Frontline flea and tick treatments are very effective but never use more often than once a month. You will often find that even this is too often, and can apply less frequently even at the worst times of the year.

Frontline Flea And Tick Treatment should be used year round in many areas. See Frontline flea treatments [http://discountfrontlinedogtickfleamedicine.blogspot.com] for more information. By Dave Tee

Frontline Flea And Tick Medication - Beware Of Counterfeits

It seems that just about every name brand product that you can think of is now being counterfeited and Frontline Flea and Tick Medication is no different in this regard. The reason that you have to be aware of this fact is that while the counterfeit product will work it just wont work as well.

Good Reasons to Avoid Counterfeits

Still other reasons that counterfeit Frontline Flea and tick Medication should be avoided is that it often comes with inadequate usage instructions on the label. Also, often counterfeit product will be lacking in the free 800 number that you can call if you have any questions about Frontline products.

Best Deals Online

As the old adage goes, if the deal seems too good to be true then it most likely is. This also holds true when buying Frontline flea and tick medication as well. Of course, you are always going to get the best deal on products such as this online however, it is online that counterfeit products are also being sold on a regular basis.

Buy From A Reputable Online Source

The best thing that you can do to avoid being sent an inferior, counterfeit product online is to only shop from a reputable online source. Bouncing around from website to website in search of the absolute lowest price that you ca get from an overseas website is just asking to be taken by an online scam artist.

Great Online Shopping Tips

Remember to check the feedback that a website is getting and make sure that the feedback is regarding the product or products that you are interested in buying. Still another good idea is to visit some pet related chatrooms and talk to other informed pet owners that have some previous experience shopping for pet products online. Remember to take your time and don't be afraid to ask questions, because only you know how important the safety of your pet is to you.

Written by Karlise Renaldson. Find the latest information on Frontline Flea And Tick

Cheap Frontline Flea and Tick Treatment - Deal or No Deal?

"Cheap Frontline Flea and Tick Medicine Available"

"Best Price For Frontline Flea and Tick Control".

"Cheapest Offer For Frontline Flea and Tick Killer"

These adverts could easily be found if you do a search for frontline flea and tick products. With it's increasing popularity, they can easily be purchased anywhere, from your veterinarian, pet shops and conveniently online. With so many great offers, it's no doubt that pet owners like to make a comparison on the prices and tendency is that they will go for a supply with the lowest price offered. However with the increasing number of counterfeits available in the market now, is it a wise choice to just simply go for one, base solely on price alone?

Many of these frontline flea and tick medicine counterfeits look very much like the genuine ones with regard to the packaging and it may be difficult to tell the difference if one is not familiar with the product at all. As such many unsuspecting buyers, especially first-time consumers are very likely to be caught unaware.

These products are pesticides, and therefore, are very carefully regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because they are systemic products, which travel through the blood stream of the treated cat or dog, it is extremely important to read the labels carefully, and to follow the directions completely; i.e., avoid "off-label" use.

One major problem with these counterfeits version of the pesticides is that the labeling may differ enough from the genuine products. The packaging may also omit certain important cautionary material, so that the wrong dosage may actually be used. Many of these bogus frontline flea and tick medication have been repackaged in countries outside the U.S. They are usually just relabeled to appear to be the genuine article, and then illegally imported back into the U.S. for sale to unsuspecting buyers. The main problem lies in the relabelling and often mislabelling and these may include one or more of the following:

• The proper usage and warnings statements may not be stated on the label
• The proper dosage and weight requirements of the pet may not be reflected on the label.
• The label may have confusing instructions regarding the dosage and weight of the pet because it uses the metric system rather than conventional US measurements.
• The label may not include the manufacturer i.e. Merial's special toll-free number for customers to call with questions about FRONTLINE products and to seek help in occurrence of side effects

All this may end up putting pets treated at high risk of under dose or overdose and the resulting side effects can be fatal. However, having said that, a monthly treatment using this product to get rid of fleas and ticks effectively can be a financial strain on pet owners and the urge to buy from cheap sources of supply will always remain attractive. As such, it's important that you learn to recognize and differentiate the genuine ones from the counterfeits. You can find out more details on "Frontline Flea And Tick Products - How to Avoid Counterfeits" in my website.

Ann owns an animal shelter housing 150 dogs and cats. Understanding the difficulty and frustration of pet owners in getting rid of fleas, she has publish a website on "Flea Treatment For Petswith the purpose of helping people especially pet owners solve this problem completely. By Ann Wong