Fleas & Ticks

  • FDA Alert for flea & tick products

  • Fleas

  • Ticks

  • Lyme Disease (Exposure vs Disease)

  • Essential Oils (may be better than current antibiotics)

  • Natural Ways to Repel Fleas and Ticks

  • ITCH RELIEF

  • Safe Products for the Yard!

  • Safe Pest Control

  • IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

FDA Alert September 20, 2018

“some animals receiving Bravecto, Nexgard or Simparica have experienced adverse events such as muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Another product in this class, Credelio, recently received FDA approval. Neurologic events were seen consistently across the isoxazoline class of products.

https://www.facebook.com/PlanetPaws.ca/videos/307373646717180/

If you’re using conventional flea and tick products on your cat or dog, you may be surprised to learn they’re not as safe as what your veterinarian may be telling you. Many conventional spot-on flea and tick preventives are unsafe for dogs and cats

Recent studies link some of the “active” and “inactive” ingredients in popular spot-on treatments to serious health effects in both pets and lab animals.

Please, check the label right now if you are using a spot-on product on your dog or cat, or plan to in the near future, and make sure it doesn’t contain one of these potentially harmful ingredients:

  • Fipronil (a member of the phenylpyrazole chemical family) doesn’t remain in the skin’s oil glands as its maker claims – rather, it enters your pet’s body and organ systems, and in lab animals, caused thyroid cancer, altered thyroid hormones, reduced fertility, liver and kidney toxicity, and convulsions. “we theorize that fipronil also affects emotional and cognitive behaviors in dogs and cats, particularly as many appear to be restless and excited following fipronil administration.” The effects of fipronil on emotional and cognitive behaviors in mammals

  • Imidacloprid, a known neonicotinoid neurotoxin, increased cholesterol levels in study dogs and caused thyroid lesions, liver toxicity, and showed the potential for heart, liver, lung, spleen, adrenal, brain, and gonad damage

  • Pyrethroids aren’t the same as pyrethrins – the naturally occurring compounds from chrysanthemums, and caused over 1,600 pet deaths during a 5-year period, and account for more than half of major pet pesticide reactions including brain damage, heart attacks and seizures

  • Permethrin, a pyrethroid thought to be both a carcinogen and neurotoxin, is suspected of causing lung cancer and liver tumors in lab animals and disrupting endocrine function, causing tremors, increased aggressive behavior and learning problems

    https://products.mercola.com/healthypets/diatomaceous-earth/?utm_source=petsnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=dpeHL&utm_campaign=20190910Z1&et_cid=DM341078&et_rid=704736742 (Dr. Karen Becker)

Over-the-Counter Flea Medicine for Dogs

Bravecto, Nexgard, or Other: Which Oral Flea Control Should You Use?

Survey of canine use and safety of isoxazoline parasiticides

“When any flea treatment was given, AE were reported for 66.6% of respondents, with no apparent AE noted for 36.1%.” (AE = adverse events)

Pet flea treatments poisoning rivers across England, scientists find

Discovery is ‘extremely concerning’ for water insects, and fish and birds that depend on them

Fleas

A single flea bite can result in your dog itching and suffering from flea allergy dermatitis. Fleas, like flies, go through a life cycle of egg, larva, and pupa before reaching adulthood. If a dog has fleas, they will commonly be found around the base of the tail, abdomen, and the head. If the dog suffers a major infestation, they can be found anywhere on the body. If your pet has fleas, you can count on flea eggs, larva, and pupa in the environment that has not passed through the various life cycles yet to reach adulthood. These will likely be found in and near the areas your dog rests. It is important to vacuum these areas, and wash the dog’s bedding at least weekly to control any infestation. Thankfully today there are natural, non-toxic options for controlling fleas. Every year the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center receives thousands of calls regarding pets being exposed to insecticides which include products used on pets to control fleas, in addition to products for the lawn and home.[1] You can use a food grade diatomaceous earth on the dog’s bedding, floors, rugs and carpet.

Machine Washable Dog Beds

An important component of getting rid of fleas is treating the dog. Common flea control products for use on dogs often carry label warning and precautionary statements such as “Hazards To Humans”, “Do Not Use On Cats”. Instead of using a toxic product on your dog look for a natural product. Many of the natural products use natural oils that kill and repel adult fleas, and these products can be safe for use on cats also, unlike the toxic chemical products.

  • Step 1 - Check Your Dog

  • Step 2 - Clean & Vacuum

  • Step 3 - Laundry - Wash dog beds in hot water.

  • Step 3 - Dust areas with food grade diatomaceous earth.

  • Step 4 - Bath your Dog

Safe Flea Preventives FOR DOGS AND CATS DR. KAREN BECKER

I'm not a fan of chemical flea control unless there's simply no other option. Spot-on and similar pest repellent products can have adverse side effects ranging from skin irritation to seizures and paralysis. Misuse of these products has even resulted in death. Instead, try some or all of these non-toxic alternatives:

• Use a non-toxic herbal pest repellent spray, collar or spot-on product.

• Make a natural flea repellent solution with equal parts apple cider vinegar (preferably raw and organic) and water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, spritz your hands and stroke your cat, avoiding his face. You can also spray his bedding. Add a little boost to the solution with a drop of geranium, lemongrass, lavender, neem or catnip essential oils, all of which help deter fleas.

• Flea comb kitty every day. Checking daily for the presence of fleas is the most natural, common sense approach of all. Supercharge your grooming session with anti-parasitic flower essences.

https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2017/06/13/flea-allergy-dermatitis.aspx?fbclid=IwAR2dKVjXwiU8oRQzYI8TYlZ6q3-WMo4TA6MHp8ebXL87Drv7769_uwPJtNw

Flea and Tick Prevention Revisited

ITCH RELIEF

Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet's Life - Greg L. Tilford

Make a rinse out of any of these by making a strong tea. (The stronger the better)

  • Peppermint tea (4-8 tea bags)

  • Green tea (4-8 tea bags)

  • Nettle tea (4-8 tea bags)

  • Thyme (¼ - ½ cup)

You can make a tea rinse with each of these or combine them.

  • Heat 1 quart of water to a boil and turn off.

  • Add 4 – 8 tea bags (peppermint, green tea, nettle and/or ¼ - ½ cup of thyme)

  • Let tea bags and/or thyme steep in water until cool.

  • Pour over dog your dog's body (not on the face or head)

  • Let drip dry, do not towel off

https://www.facebook.com/rodneyhabib/videos/10156591604377028/

Wipe or Soak? By W. Jean Dodds, DVM

Paw soaks are actually recommended at least once per day if your dog does not wear booties outside.

Some people actually have a little “dog paw soaking factory” that the dogs walk through then they walk on a towel or rug, or they use a paw plunger that will squeegee off the excess water and debris.

Below are a couple of ideas we thought were interesting. We understand if paw soaking doesn’t work for your household or lifestyle and will give tips on wiping as well.

Green Tea

Dr. Dodds and Hemopet prefer (especially for white and light-colored pets) a green tea bag poultice, solution, or wipe. Tea of a variety of types can be used as the tannins and polyphenols are antioxidant, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. 

POVIDONE IODINE DISINFECTING SOLUTION

Povidone Iodine

Dr. Karen Becker uses povidone iodine (betadine), which is an over-the-counter topical antiseptic meant to reduce the number of microorganisms on the skin. Several of our readers use this method, too. Dr. Becker suggests:

  1. A couple inches of water

  2. Enough povidone iodine to change the color to iced tea

  3. Soak for 2-5 minutes

  4. No need to rinse

  5. Pat dry

Only Recommended Essential Oils for Cats if Used Properly

animalEO for Cats http://www.animaleo.info/cats.html

KittyBoost contains essential oils used in cats

Flee Bomb Diffusion Blend

This blend is so powerful, that it is recommended that humans, animals, and fish tanks be removed from the rooms (and possibly the home) while administering a "bomb" treatment.  If the area to be treated can be confined, some people have been successful in treating one room at a time, moving their diffuser from room to room, and evacuating to a distant part of the home. Diffusion with an AIR STYLE DIFFUSER (also called an atomizing diffuser) is mandatory for this application

ATOMIZING DIFFUSER

ATOMIZING DIFFUSER

FLEA COMB

FLEA COMB

UNSCENTED

UNSCENTED

ADD "AWAY" BLEND TO 4 LEGGER UNSCENTED SHAMPOO

ADD "AWAY" BLEND TO 4 LEGGER UNSCENTED SHAMPOO

NATURAL REPELLENT

NATURAL REPELLENT

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

FLEA & TICK REPELLENT

FLEA & TICK REPELLENT

FLEA & TICK REPELLENT

FLEA & TICK REPELLENT

OVER 25 LBS - Fleas will die within 4 hours for dogs and 6 hours for cats

OVER 25 LBS - Fleas will die within 4 hours for dogs and 6 hours for cats

2-25 LBS - Fleas will die within 4 hours for dogs and 6 hours for cats

2-25 LBS - Fleas will die within 4 hours for dogs and 6 hours for cats

Products for the Yard

FOOD GRADE

FOOD GRADE

Food-grade Diatomaceous earth (DE) contains less than one percent crystalline silica, so it’s considered safe for regular use with humans and mammals

DUSTER FOR DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

DUSTER FOR DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

TickCheck™ Tick Testing - For Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease

lyme disease

What You Need to Know about Lyme Disease

What You Need to Know about Lyme Disease

Essential Oils (may be better than current antibiotics at killing Lyme bacteria)

Johns Hopkins lab study suggests plant compounds may be better than current antibiotics at killing Lyme bacteria that causes lingering symptoms in some cases

Identification of Essential Oils with Strong Activity against Stationary Phase Borrelia burgdorferi

Essential oils from garlic, herbs kill persistent Lyme disease bacteria

Repellent effects of the essential oil of Lavendula angustifolia against adults of Hyalomma marginatum rufipe

The repellent effects of the essential oil of Lavendula angustifolia on adults of Hyalomma marginatum rufipes was studied at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20% v/v. A suitable tick climbing bioassay based on the questing behaviour of ticks was used to test for repellency. High percentage repellency (range 70-100) was shown at all concentrations of the essential oil of L. angustifolia, although at 5% v/v it only persisted for the first 40 minutes compared with 120 minutes at other concentrations (10 and 20% v/v). The repellent strength of L. angustifolia compared well (P > 0.05) with that of DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), a commercial reference repellent, for the 2-hour period of the study.

SHOP AMAZON FOR ORGANIC LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OILS

Summary [2]

  • “Fortunately, in dogs, while exposure to Lyme bacteria is common, infection (Lyme disease) is not”

  • "Exposure" means dogs' bodies have encountered the bacteria (just as our bodies encounter thousands of different bacteria that we don't become infected with) and have mounted an appropriate immune response: they made antibodies and fought off the foreign invader correctly.

  • “It’s important to ensure dogs aren’t given antibiotics for exposure to the Lyme bacteria, but only for an active Lyme disease infection”

  • “Statistics show that the immune systems of seropositive dogs have identified the Lyme disease pathogen and mounted an appropriate, effective response. So even though they test positive, they do not become sick with the disease. And they do NOT need antibiotics!”

  • “How do you know what dogs are truly infected and what dogs are simply carrying antibodies demonstrating they've been through the war and their bodies did the job they were designed to do and fought off the enemy? A QC6 test.”

  • “Do NOT allow any vet to prescribe antibiotics without first running this critical test. A quantitative C6 test (QC6) discerns exposure from true infection. Never allow any vet to prescribe antibiotics based on exposure alone: this tells you they have not been adequately educated and you risk destroying your dog's microbiome health due to this all-too-common panic response.”

[2] What You Need to Know as Lyme Exposure Sweeps Across the Nation https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/04/04/lyme-disease-in-dogs.aspx

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Keep cats away from treated dogs for 24 hours. MAY BE FATAL

BRAVECTO has not been shown to be effective for 12-weeks' duration in puppies or kittens less than 6 months of age. Fluralaner is a member of the isoxazoline class. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures. BRAVECTO Chew: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence. BRAVECTO is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving isoxoline class drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Dogs: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, and moist dermatitis/rash. Bravecto is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. For topical use only. Avoid oral ingestion. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving isoxoline class drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Cats: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, itching, diarrhea, hair loss, decreased appetite, lethargy, and scabs/ulcerated lesions. BRAVECTO is not effective against American dog ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. For topical use only. Avoid oral ingestion. The safety of BRAVECTO has not been established in breeding, pregnant and lactating cats. Neurologic adverse reactions have been reported in cats receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in cats without a history of neurologic disorders. Use with caution in cats with a history of neurologic disorders. https://us.bravecto.com/for-dogs

PetArmor: DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT ON CATS. Be sure to choose dog products for dogs and cat products for cats. These products are different formulations based on the species and your pet’s weight and SHOULD NEVER be used interchangeably. https://www.petarmor.com/treatment-for-dogs/dog-flea-tick-medication/petarmor-for-dogs

NexGard: Afoxolaner is a member of the isoxazoline class. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. https://nexgardfordogs.com/sites/nexgardfordogs_global/files/NexGard_PI.pdf

NexGard (afoxolaner) is for use in dogs only. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, itching, lethargy, diarrhea, and lack of appetite. The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding, or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.

K9 Advantix: DO NOT USE ON CATS – MAY BE FATAL. Keep cats away from treated dogs for 24 hours.

[1] www.aspca.org   Top 10 Pet Toxins of 2017

[2] https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2019/07/10/essential-oils-lyme-disease-bacteria.aspx