Is Zodiac Flea And Tick Spray Safe

June 16, 2022
  • Fleas, lice, mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and ticks, especially those that may spread Lyme disease, are killed and repelled.
  • Pyrethrins are used in this dual-action mixture to kill adults while also providing comfort from biting fleas.
  • PRECOR Insect Growth Regulator is also included to kill the flea eggs and larvae that have been placed on the animal.
  • For up to two months, it keeps operating, effectively ending the life cycle.
  • This easy-to-use spray is safe for dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens over the age of 12 weeks, making it ideal for multi-pet households.

Is it safe to use flea and tick spray?

In summary, when used as directed on package labeling, the risk of human toxicity from exposure to fipronil in household pet flea and tick products is exceedingly low. Even in the case of large exposures, the effects are likely to be minor and transient.

Which flea spray is the safest?

  • The greatest all-natural spray on the market. Flea+ Spray by Pet Naturals.
  • On contact, it kills and repels. TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Pet & Bedding Spray is a natural flea and tick repellent for pets and bedding.
  • Spray with a hose attachment. Tropiclean Natural Flea & Tick Yard Spray is a natural flea and tick repellent.
  • Pest control throughout the entire house. Advantage Upholstery Spray for Fleas and Ticks.

Which flea and tick remedy is the safest?

To adequately protect their patients, veterinarians often recommend dog flea and tick collars, topical flea and tick treatments, or oral flea and tick drugs (sometimes in combination). Here are some of the safest flea treatments for dogs now available, along with some of their benefits and drawbacks.

Dog Flea and Tick Collars

Newer dog flea collars are safe solutions for flea and tick control in many situations (unlike older collars, which were largely ineffective). Right present, the Seresto collar is a highly popular choice.

It kills fleas and ticks at various phases of development using flumethrin and imidacloprid. The collar’s effectiveness lasts for 8 months (as long as it isn’t exposed to water), making it a practical alternative to monthly preventative treatments.

If you have little children, don’t allow them play with the Seresto collar or the reflector clips that come with it. Because all flea and tick collars tend to leave traces of the chemicals that make them effective in the dog’s environment and on your pet, this could be a problem for young toddlers who like to eat everything.

Local skin responses to the collar have occurred in some dogs, which have resolved once the collar has been removed. “Consult your veterinarian before using this medicine on debilitated, elderly, breeding, pregnant, or nursing animals,” Seresto’s product insert adds. All flea and tick preventatives fall into this category.

Topical Flea and Tick Treatments for Dogs

There are several safe flea treatments for dogs that are topical (or spot-on), and many of them protect against more than just fleas.

Advantage Multi, for example, is a prescription therapy that kills heartworms, hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, sarcoptic mange mites, and fleas with the active chemicals imidacloprid and moxidectin. Ticks aren’t killed by it, and dogs shouldn’t be permitted to lick the application site for at least 30 minutes to avoid major negative effects.

Frontline Plus is an over-the-counter flea and tick treatment that employs fipronil and (S)-methoprene to kill fleas and ticks at all stages of their life cycle. It also helps to reduce sarcoptic mange infestations and eliminates chewing lice. While it should not be consumed, a few covert licks by your dog won’t cause too many difficulties.

A topical therapy, like flea and tick collars, may not be the best option if you can’t keep your pet away from small children or animals who may come into direct touch with the drug before it has dried or absorbed into your pet’s skin.

If you have cats, you should consult a veterinarian before choosing a topical flea and tick treatment for your dog. Some contain pyrethrin or permethrin, both of which are extremely harmful to cats.

Bathing a dog should be done many days after the application. Topical treatments are usually done once a month.

Oral Flea and Tick Medications for Dogs

There are a number of prescription oral flea and tick treatments that are deemed safe for dogs. These preventatives are available as pills or chewables. Your veterinarian can assist you in determining which one is appropriate for your puppy’s age.

Trifexis uses spinosad and milbemycin oxime to protect dogs from heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas, however it is not effective against ticks. This therapy must be prescribed by your veterinarian.

Bravecto chews (also available as a topical) provide flea and tick protection for 8-12 weeks per dosage. Fluralaner is the active component, and it kills adult fleas and ticks. Bravecto also requires a veterinarian’s prescription.

Oral flea and tick meds are ideal for families with small children or other small pets that could be exposed to chemical residue from flea collars or topical flea and tick remedies.

Vomiting is the most prevalent side effect of prescribed oral flea medicines.

There are side effects to any drug, but keeping parasites untreated is considerably more harmful. Based on your dog’s age, lifestyle, health status, and other specific factors, your veterinarian can help you choose the safest and most effective flea and tick treatment.

Is it safe for cats to take Zodiac?

Topicals from Zodiac SmartShield It’s effective for up to four weeks and covers your cat or kitten’s entire body. Adult fleas, adult ticks, and blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) that may cause Lyme disease are all killed by Zodiac SmartShield Topical Treatment for Dogs.

Is flea spray harmful to people?

Dips, shampoos, and other insecticide-based flea-control solutions might cause systemic or localized symptoms in the people who use them. These products may be dangerous to customers, but they are especially dangerous to pet groomers and handlers who use them on a daily basis. Illnesses linked to flea-control products have been reported to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Texas Department of Health, and the Washington State Department of Health, all of which have a surveillance system in place to identify, investigate, and prevent pesticide-related illnesses and injuries. This study details cases of occupational illnesses linked to flea-control products, reviews surveillance data, and offers advice on how to safely handle these products.

Case 1: In April 1997, a 35-year-old female pet groomer treated a dog for fleas by placing it in a tub of water with a powerful phosmet solution added to it. The dog shook and sprayed the substance on the groomer’s exposed hands and arms during application; a nearby open soft drink can, from which the groomer reported drinking, could have been contaminated. She got skin flushing and irritation, shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heart rate and respiration, abdominal cramping, and nausea within an hour of exposure. She went to the emergency room of a hospital, where she was released without treatment after discarding her clothes and showering with soap and ethanol. Cholinesterase levels in plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) were 4584 U/L (normal: 2900-7100 U/L) and 32 U/g hemoglobin (normal: 24-40 U/g hemoglobin), respectively; however, there were no baseline or subsequent postexposure cholinesterase levels to compare. The case-patient had worked as a pet groomer for a year and had not worn any personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, gowns, or goggles). Her clothes was frequently drenched with water and flea-control dips or shampoos, and she routinely applied insecticides with her bare hands. She had not become unwell as a result of previous exposures. There was no analysis of the phosmet product’s concentration.

Case 2: In September 1993, a female pet store employee (age unknown) fell ill and sought treatment at a medical clinic after accidentally spraying a flea-infested cat house with a pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxide solution on her face and eyes. She had eye irritation with colored conjunctiva and a burning feeling despite promptly washing her eyes with water. On examination, she had mild, diffuse wheezing, but it was unclear if it was related to her exposure; no information regarding prior asthma or respiratory illness was provided. She was treated with epinephrine, oral antihistamines, and oral steroids after being diagnosed with an allergic response and chemical conjunctivitis. She was not wearing goggles or any protective equipment at the time of exposure. She had not been given any pesticide safety instruction.

Case 3: In April 1992, a 21-year-old female veterinary assistant became unwell after treating a dog with a phosmet-containing dip. She said she wore a chemical-resistant apron but no further protective gear. 2 hours after exposure, she experienced a pruritic rash on her hands and arms. She had lethargy, chest pains, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, stomach cramps, tremors, impaired vision, and excessive salivation later that evening. She went to an urgent-care center around 48 hours after being exposed. Her cholinesterase levels were not measured, but she was given antihistamines. For the previous eight months, the case-patient had worked as a veterinary assistant, treating animals on a regular basis with a variety of flea-control products. It’s unclear whether she had previously utilized phosmet-containing products.

Occupational use of flea-control chemicals was linked to 16 occurrences of pesticide-related illness in California (13), Washington (two), and Texas between 1989 and 1997. (one). The case-patients were on average 26 years old (range: 16-73 years). Eight of the 16 instances involved systemic disorders caused by phosmet (five cases), pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxide (two cases), or a product containing carbaryl, malathion, and pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxide (two cases) (one case). The remaining eight cases (four of which were women) included localized symptoms (chemical conjunctivitis) induced by flea-control agents splashing into the eyes of the case-patients. Seven of the items used contained pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxide, while one contained phosmet.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) searched the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System for similar cases after receiving this data in 1998. (TESS). TESS, which is maintained by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, began collecting poisoning reports with symptom information from about 85 percent of poison control centers in the United States in 1993 (the most recent year for which data are available) (1). Intentional suicides, malevolent use, nonworkplace exposures, and poisonings with undetermined motive were eliminated from the search.

In 20 women and six men, symptomatic occupational exposures to flea-control dips were discovered. phosmet (12 instances), pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxide (five cases), rotenone/pyrethrin (five cases), rotenone, malathion, chlorpyrifos, and unknown active components (one case each). Eight workers experienced moderate health problems that necessitated treatment, while 18 experienced minor health effects (minimally bothersome symptoms that resolved rapidly). The chemicals responsible for mild symptoms were phosmet (five cases), rotenone/pyrethrin (two cases), and pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxide (one case) (one case).

L Mehler, MD, California Environmental Protection Agency’s Department of Pesticide Regulation, contributed to this report. Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Program, Texas Department of Health, J Shannon, PhD L Baum, Washington State Department of Health’s Office of Toxic Substances US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs. CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies

Editorial Note:

Pyrethrins are insecticides derived from plants that are commonly found in flea dips and shampoos (2). Despite their low toxicity in humans (the EPA classifies them as acute toxicity category III compounds**), pyrethrins have been linked to dermatitis and upper respiratory tract irritation (3). Allergic contact dermatitis and asthma, both of which can be fatal, have also been documented (1,3). To decrease chemical metabolism, piperonyl butoxide, an EPA acute toxicity category IV substance, is routinely added to pyrethrins. There were no documented reports of ocular harm caused by pyrethrins or piperonyl butoxide.

Phosmet is an organophosphate pesticide classified as acute toxicity category II by the Environmental Protection Agency. The nervous system is the major target in humans. Many of the symptoms observed by the first and third case-patients are linked to organophosphate exposure. Phosmet is mildly irritating to the eyes in animals but not to the skin (4); no reported cases of skin or eye irritation in people have been found following exposure.

At least three limitations apply to the findings in this paper. First, while women accounted for 76 percent of the cases reported, data suggests that this is due to employment demographics (more women than males work as pet groomers and handlers), rather than increased sensitivity to these poisons. Second, this monitoring statistics may not include all workers who are afflicted with these disorders. Third, this research solely discusses ailments that occur as a result of product exposure at work. These products may cause similar symptoms in their users, but they were not included in this study.

Despite reports of flea-control product toxicity (7-9), including a high prevalence of symptoms among pet groomers and handlers (5,9), illnesses continue to affect personnel who use these products. Groomers and handlers are frequently not supplied with proper safety training and PPE, according to a survey of institutions utilizing flea-control treatments (9). When using pesticides, make sure to follow the label guidelines to the letter. Wear safety glasses, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, elbow-length waterproof gloves, waterproof aprons, and unlined waterproof boots when using phosmet-containing flea-control products, according to the label. The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health advises splash-proof goggles for eye protection.

Despite the fact that the EPA does not require personal protective equipment (PPE) for toxicity category III and IV compounds, the data in this paper imply that PPE may be required when using pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxide. Workers should be trained in the safe handling of flea-control products as well as personal hygiene practices (e.g., washing before eating and prohibiting eating, drinking, food storage, and smoking in areas where flea-control products are used), as well as insecticide dangers and how to recognize overexposure symptoms. Agricultural workers in California who apply organophosphates seven days in a 30-day period are obliged to obtain plasma and RBC cholinesterase testing before beginning exposure and at regular intervals afterward (8). Workers handling organophosphate-containing flea-control products should be tested in the same way; safer, less hazardous pesticides should also be investigated.

This paper shows how TESS and state-based pesticide poisoning surveillance systems work together; yet, both systems are hampered by a lack of clinical recognition of pesticide-related disease and injury. A new EPA book could help health-care workers learn how to recognize and treat these illnesses (10). The EPA can provide free copies by calling (800) 490-9198.

References

  • Smilkstein M, Felberg L, Klein-Schwartz W, Berlin R, Morgan JL. Litovitz TL, Smilkstein M, Felberg L, Klein-Schwartz W, Berlin R, Morgan JL. The Toxic Exposure Surveillance System of the American Association of Poison Control Centers published a study in 1996. Am J Emerg Med 15:447-500, 1997.
  • Household pesticides and the incidence of pediatric brain cancers, Environ Health Perspect 1997;105:1214-20. Pogoda JM, Preston-Martin S.
  • Pyrethrin toxicity with commercial-strength flea and tick spray, Paton DL, Walker JS. Am J Emerg Med, vol. 6, no. 5, 1988, pp. 232-5.
  • The agrochemicals handbook, edited by H. Kidd and D. R. James. 3rd ed., Royal Society of Chemistry Information Services, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1991:5-14.
  • J. Bukowski, C. Brown, L. R. Korn, and L. W. Meyer. Symptoms related with pesticide usage in animal groomers: prevalence and potential risk factors. J Occup Environ Med, vol. 38, no. 3, 1996, pp. 528-534.
  • The Census Bureau is a government agency that conducts censuses. From the EEO file for the United States, detailed occupation and other characteristics. 1990 census of population supplementary reports, Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census, October 1992. (1990 CP-S-1-1).
  • MMWR 1988;37:329-36. CDC. Organophosphate toxicity associated with flea-dip productsCalifornia.
  • California’s Environmental Protection Agency is in charge of protecting the environment. Physicians who monitor workers exposed to cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides should follow these guidelines. California Environmental Protection Agency, Berkeley, California, 1995, 3rd ed.
  • Brown SK, Rosenberg J, Jackson RJ, Stratton JW, Quenon SG. Ames RG, Brown SK, Rosenberg J, Jackson RJ, Stratton JW, Quenon SG. Occupational exposure to flea control agents and health complaints among California pet handlers. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 50:466-72 (1989).
  • Recognizing and treating pesticide poisonings, JR Reigard and JR Roberts. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 1999, 3rd ed (EPA 735-R-98-003).

* The Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risk (SENSOR), a program that supports the surveillance of acute pesticide-related illnesses and injuries, is a collaboration between these and other agencies, including the US Environmental Protection Agency and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

** Based on established criteria, the EPA categorizes all pesticides into one of four acute toxicity categories (40 CFR Part 156). Pesticides with the highest toxicity are classified as category I, while those with the lowest toxicity are classified as category IV.

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Is it safe to use flea sprays?

Every year, Americans spend millions of dollars on flea-control products, including collars, sprays, and topical solutions, unintentionally poisoning themselves and their pets.

1 There are safer, more ecologically friendly ways to keep your pets and yourself safe from these annoying insects.

On the market, the most popular type of flea control product is the “FrontlineTM and AdvantageTM are two brands of spot-on variety. Chemicals like imidacloprid, fipronil, permethrin, methoprene, and pyriproxyfen are active substances in these solutions, and they’ve all been linked to major health problems in lab animals. 2 Even some of the seemingly harmless substances can be harmful to your pet’s health. The EPA received reports of “adverse effects ranging from skin irritation to convulsions and death” in 2009, and has subsequently “pursued a number of initiatives to improve the safety of spot-on chemical treatments for flea and tick control for cats and dogs.” It has included proposals for more stringent rules and detailed labeling.3

The chewable tablet is another common flea control option. The FDA has issued a warning concerning the isoxazoline family of flea and tick products, which includes brands like Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard, and Simparica. a word of caution “Because of the risk of neurologic side effects in dogs and cats, such as muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures, the FDA recommends that pet owners consult their veterinarians before using these medications. 4 Tablets have also been proven to be less efficacious than topicals.5

Other flea control methods, such as powders, collars, and sprays, are just as toxic to you and your pets. Despite the fact that labels warn not to get these chemicals on your skin, to wash your hands after applying them, and to keep them away from youngsters, these chemicals are absorbed through the skin of your animal. Vomiting, diarrhea, shaking, seizures, and respiratory issues are all symptoms of pesticide overdose. If your dog or cat exhibits any of these symptoms after being exposed to a pesticide, wipe the substance off immediately and seek veterinary attention.

Maintaining your dog or cat’s health is the first step in flea prevention. The state of an animal’s skin is a good predictor of its overall health and an important component in flea management. A nutritious diet is the key to glowing skin. Carefully read food labels. Pet meals offered in supermarkets are frequently made up of ground-up portions of animals considered unfit for human consumption by the US Department of Agriculture. On the label, this is frequently indicated as one of the ingredients “a byproduct the meat of animals that fit into one of the classifications “The four Ds (dead, dying, diseased, or handicapped) are frequently found in pet food. Infections and other diseases have killed many of these animals. Hormones, insecticides, and antibiotics are commonly included in commercial pet food, just as they are in human meat.

What should be included in an animal’s diet is just as crucial as what should be taken out. Fresh, complete, raw foods are essential because they include digestive enzymes and vitamins that are lost when cooked. A healthy coat requires vitamin C and B-complex vitamins, as well as vital fatty acids. Coconut oil also includes caprylic acid, which helps to fight yeast infections on the skin and in the ears. (Just put it in your food.) Digestive enzymes and probiotics can also help with digestive health, which can have an impact on the skin.

Flea-control strategies that work take a holistic strategy that considers both the environment and the animal. You can help control fleas in a nontoxic and natural approach by doing the following:

  • When administered orally several times a week, black walnut is an extremely efficient flea repellant for dogs. It’s available in both capsules and liquid form. Because greater amounts can be hazardous, just provide the smallest effective dose.
  • A fine-toothed flea comb is vital for catching fleas and should be used on a daily basis. Keep a bowl of soapy water nearby and dip the comb into it after each sweep, or collect the fleas in a jar and freeze them.
  • During the flea season, vacuum rugs and furniture frequently and, if necessary, wash animals’ sleeping covers monthly. Cleaning can capture flea eggs, but they can still hatch in the bag, which should be sealed and thrown away after each vacuuming or kept in the freezer in a plastic bag.
  • Diatomaceous earth, a powder made from the fossilized remains of single-celled algae, can be used to safely eradicate fleas from carpets. If swallowed, diatomaceous earth is safe, but it should not be inhaled. Remove any animals from the vicinity and use a protective mask when applying. Allow at least several hours for the powder to settle before vacuuming. Diatomaceous earth can be found in garden, animal supply, home improvement, and health-food stores, but never use diatomaceous earth that has been chemically treated for swimming pool usage. Carpets can also be treated with ordinary table salt or borax, which should be cleaned up the next day.
  • Rx for Fleas (1-800-666-3532) uses a proprietary nontoxic sodium borate product that comes with a one-year guarantee.
  • Beneficial nematodes (microorganisms that consume flea larvae) can be sprayed on lawns and are completely harmless for animals, birds, and humans, as well as “friendly garden dwellers” like earthworms and ladybugs, unlike many poisonous treatments. Interrupt brand names can be purchased in pet stores, hardware stores, and supermarkets’ lawn and garden areas.
  • Herbal shampoos are beneficial and can be used as frequently as once a week, while excessive bathing might dry up the skin of animals. Use warm water when bathing and start with a ring of lather around the animal’s neck to prevent fleas from climbing onto the animal’s face. Flea-pesticide shampoos and dips are harmful and unnecessary because fleas are killed by soap and water.
  • Add five drops of tea tree oil, citronella oil, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil to one cup of water, shake it, and pour it into a spray bottle to make an effective natural bug repellent for dogs that can be used on a daily basis. (It also smells fantastic.)

Even one flea bite can cause an unpleasant and harmful skin reaction in certain dogs and cats, necessitating more aggressive flea control. Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are a safe alternative to pesticides, despite the fact that they are required by law to be tested on animals. IGRs, which are sold under the brand names Ovitrol, Fleatrol, Precor, and Archer, include insect hormones that interrupt the flea’s life cycle by blocking the development of eggs and larvae into adults. Pest-control supply companies, as well as companion animal supply stores, catalogs, and online, sell IGRs. They should be used on carpets and hardwood floors, but not on pets. Program (lufenuron), another IGR, is given to animals once a month orally. However, because this and other long-term flea control medications have caused severe effects in some animals, they should only be used in extreme instances.

  • Call 1-800-274-7387 to speak with a natural animal expert.
  • 1-888-937-6677 Only Natural Pet Store
  • Pet Sage can be reached at 1-800-PET-HLTH.

“Are ‘Spot-On’ Flea Killers Safe?” by Kathleen Dudley. The Whole Dog Journal published an article in February 2002.

3EPA Evaluation of Pet Spot-on Products: Analysis and Plans for Reducing Harmful Effects, EPA Evaluation of Pet Spot-on Products: Analysis and Plans for Reducing Harmful Effects, EPA Evaluation of Pet Spot-on Products: Analysis and Plans for Reducing Harmful Effects, EPA Evaluation of Pet Spot-on Products: Analysis and

4Fact Sheet for Pet Owners and Veterinarians on Potential Adverse Events Associated with Isoxazoline Flea and Tick Products, United States Food and Drug Administration, 21 September 2018.