How Safe is your Flea and Tick Killer?

Laboratory studies of ingredients in seven popularLaboratory testing of Imidacloprid (Advantage) on
flea and tick control products reveal adversemice, dogs and rats shows this insecticide to be
health effects in all animals tested. The effects ofneurotoxic to laboratory animals, also causing a
these well known and aggressively marketedbreakdown of coordination, labored breathing,
products range from convulsions, body tremorslesions of the thyroid, reduced birth weight, and
and labored breathing to thyroid cancer, brainincreased birth defects.
lesions, and liver and lung tumors. Yet TVThe synthetic broad spectrum pyrethroid
commercials with trusty looking veterinarians pitchinsecticide Permethrin (Adams Spot-on Flea &
only the happy side of these products.Tick Control; BioSpot Flea & Tick Control; and
Which flea and tick pesticide are you using onDefend EXspot Treatment) shows indications of
your dog and/or cat? If your favorite treatmentbeing an endocrine disrupter and the cause of lung
contains the active ingredient Fipronil, Imidacloprid,cancer and liver tumors in laboratory animals.
Methoprene, Permethrin, Pyriproxyfen or the inertMethoprene and Pyriproxyfen (Zodiac FleaTrol
ingredient Butyldydroxytoluene,Spot On; and BioSpot Flea & Tick Control) are
Butylhydroxanisole, Carbitol, Ethanol, orknown as insect growth regulators (IGR), both of
Polyvinlpyrrplidone, you need to know about thewhich restrict the growth of fleas to the juvenile
not-so-happy side of these products as well.stage where reproduction is not possible.
If you think your veterinarian or local pet storeLaboratory testing reveals that Methoprene
would never sell you such a sinister poison, thinkcauses enlarged livers and degeneration of the
again.kidneys.
Advantage (Bayer Corporation), Adams Spot-OnUnfortunately, few people actually read EPA test
Flea & Tick Control (Farnam Pet Products),results. Fewer still want to hear about the many
BioSpot Flea & Tick Control (Farnam Petlaboratory test subjects (unwanted dogs and
Products), Defend EXspot Treatmentcats) killed during and after the studies in order to
(Schering-Plough Animal Health), Frontline Top Spotdetermine damage to specific systems and
(Merial Limited), Frontline Plus (Merial Limited), andorgans. But it only takes a few people with
Zodiac FleaTrol Spot On (Wellmark International) -straightforward thinking to bring about change.
all contain one or more of the aforementionedAre you ready to stop this insanity? There are
active or inert ingredients.effective alternatives, as you know.
Toxicology and morbidity findings from theseToday there are totally natural flea and tick
pesticide products were gathered over a decaderemedies - completely harmless to kids, pets and
of laboratory testing by the United Statesthe environment - made from pure botanical
Environmental Protection Agency; Occupationalessential oils. Some natural products work fairly
Safety & Health Administration, U.S. Departmentwell, some don't, and some work much better
of Labor; Extension Toxicology Network; Journalthan the toxic stuff!
of Pesticide Reform; Pesticide Action NetworkThe mode of action - the way these natural
North America and other sources, with additionalremedies kill fleas and ticks - is to disrupt the
information supplied by Material Safety Datainsect's ability to function by blocking a substance
Sheets.called octopamine. In nature, certain plants have
Most testing was performed for the benefit ofdeveloped a natural defense against bugs. These
new product manufacturers in order to qualify for"octopamine blockers" in plants are extracted as
EPA registration. Scientists overdose laboratoryoils and used as active ingredients. Octopamine is
animals to determine how much of the productto an insect what adrenalin is to a human. When
will kill 50% of the test population. Information isblocked from the system, the insect quickly dies.
then extrapolated and assumptions made thatNo muss, no fuss. Nobody gets hurt but the bug.
may apply to domestic animals and human beings.Please begin today to stop supporting the
According to laboratory tests, Fipronil (Frontlineheartless laboratory testing of innocent animals,
Top Spot and Frontline Plus) is a neurotoxin andthe insidious cover-up and rush to market of big
suspected human cancer agent. Fipronil can causebusiness, and the unwitting harm we may be
liver toxicity, thyroid cancer, kidney damage,doing to our children, our pets, and our planet.
raised cholesterol, lack of coordination, laboredPlease check out the natural flea and tick remedy
breathing, miscarriages and stunted offspring.I recommend most highly, TripleSure.