Natural Flea Control Solutions

The Concept of putting systemic pesticides on our companion animals under the guise of maintaining good health seems to us a crazy idea. Often these dangerous chemicals can make our animals very sick, with the related health concerns easily outweighing the marketing promises in our opinion. When you further understand that 80% of a flea's lifespan is spent, and 95% of a flea population exists, in your animal's environment, poisoning your animal may seem even crazier to you!

When manufacturing and marketing these topical flea and tick pesticides, it is evident to us that the overall health and wellness of your animals did not enter into the decision making process at all. The major concerns of the manufacturers appears to be that one, the poisons used did kill fleas and two, they needed to make sure that most animals did not keel over dead immediately after application. Both these concerns have been successful as most of the poisons, at this time, do kill fleas and most animals do not die instantly. A majority of animals, though, do exhibit a wide range of adverse events within hours of being treated with an application of a flea pesticide product.

In our store we see unwanted symptoms in animals that can be traced back to the use of a spot on flea product on a weekly basis. In other words, an animal was perfectly fine and within minutes to a couple of weeks after the application of a chemical flea and tick product the animal begins to experience adverse symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, tremors or lethargy. Often, these symptoms take on the form of chronic illness, such as skin imbalances, and are not associated with the use of the flea pesticide products. Even when acute, sudden onset symptoms are seen, veterinarians often pontificate as to the inducement of the unwelcome symptoms being caused by something else and unrelated to the recent use of a topical flea pesticide.

In our conversation with Merial (makers of Frontline), we asked what was the longest clinical trial on a single group of dogs. The answer is 90 DAYS! This is a usual time frame for a trial, some companies' trials may be a little longer and some may be a little less. The important thing to note is NOBODY KNOWS THE LONG TERM EFFECT OF USING THESE CHEMICALS, NOT EVEN THE MANUFACTURERS! Keep this information in mind the next time someone assures you that these products are safe. There is no way for anyone to know that. The fact is their has been, and continues to be acute illness, chronic illness and even death in animals that has been reported after the use of these systemic pesticides.

What You May Not Know About Flea and Tick Pesticides

Fleas are beginning to show resistance by developing immunity to these products
Ingredients in topical flea and tick products have been shown to damage the thyroid, cause neurological and reproductive disorders and skin irritations, harm the liver and accumulate in body fat.
Nothing is known about their long-term use.
Supposedly the neurotoxins in these products effects only insects, but they are converted in the body of mammals into neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors. We will see more and more genetic damage in our animals down the line. This means weaker and sicklier animals as generations progress.
Most of the flea poisons marketed to consumers target the flea. Yet, the majority of a flea's lifespan is not even spent on your animal!
Bug-bombs are not effective against flea eggs and larvae.
Flea collars are particularly ineffective. Fleas simply move away from the collar to other parts of your animal!
Flea pesticide toxins pass through our animals 80% intact and into our drinking water - don't forget, they are neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors!

Flea Life Cycle

Flea Facts

Fleas and mammals have been around for thousands of years, so there must be some relationship if they have existed together for so long. The misleading, fear driven marketing of flea pesticide products has created a billion dollar industry perpetuated by the pharmaceutical industry and some veterinarians.
Fleas prefer weaker, less healthy hosts and puppies and kittens with less developed immune systems.
Fleas are highly adaptable and evidence is coming to light that shows fleas are becoming resistant to commercial flea chemicals.
Fleas have a difficult time surviving in a clean environment.
The most prevalent species of flea is the Cat Flea, which also use dogs as a host. Under average household conditions, cat fleas will complete their life cycle within 3 to 4 weeks.
Eggs typically make up 50% of an infestation in the home and the majority of these wind up in the environment off of your animal. Humidity below 50% and over 92% kills flea eggs.
Larvae are free moving, and survive by feeding on organic debris found in their environment and on adult flea feces, which is essential for successful development. The larval stage usually lasts 5 to 11 days, depending upon the availability of food and the climatic conditions, and will account for about 35% of an infestation in a home.
Upon completion of development, the mature larva produces a silk-like cocoon in which it pupates. Pupae are unaffected by household chemical sprays and commonly make up 10% of the infestation in a home.
Once the flea emerges from the cocoon it can survive for 1 to 3 weeks before requiring a blood meal. Adult fleas make up only about 5% of a population and can live for as long as four months.

If you have been using systemic pesticides on your pet we urge you to stop and take a more common sense approach. As you can see by the brief description of the life cycle of a flea above, if you are applying flea poisons to your animal you are only targeting 5% of the fleas! Since fleas are parasites the key is to strengthen the host and use effective natural ways to control flea populations in and around your home.