Nontoxic Ways to Protect Your Pet

Most conventional flea and tick products—including collars, topical treatments, sprays, and dusts—are registered as pesticides and regulated by the EPA. (Those given orally, like pills, must be approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.) But here’s the ugly truth: Many of the pesticides allowed for use on pets are linked to serious health issues in people, such as cancer and neurological and respiratory problems. Pets can also suffer: Skin irritation, neurological problems, gastrointestinal disorders, and even organ failure have been reported as a result of pet poisonings.

The government has faced criticism from NRDC and other watchdog groups about insufficient safety standards for these products. Consumers, as well as some veterinarians, don’t know the whole story, says NRDC senior scientist Jennifer Sass, a senior scientist at NRDC. “Many vets count on the EPA to make sure that the products on the market are safe when used according to the label.” Unfortunately, the ingredients in these products are still quite dangerous and can result in unsafe exposure, particularly for children and pregnant women.

For example, tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP), a particularly dangerous pesticide in the family of organophosphates, are found in some flea treatments as well as in agricultural and lawn products. Organophosphate pesticides have been linked to learning disabilities in children, which is why most household uses of these pesticides have already been banned. Unfortunately, kids can still be exposed to them from their furry family members’ flea collars or other products.

Fortunately for many families, fleas can be controlled without resorting to harmful chemicals. Always first try the strategies below before considering safer synthetic chemicals, if additional protection is needed. Here’s what you can do:

• Know the signs. Early detection is key to keeping a flea infestation under control. Common signs include excessive itching, biting, and scratching at the skin. Keep an eye out for red bumps or hair loss as well. Flea dirt, which can look like specks of dirt, is also a sign of an infestation on your pet. 

• Groom your pets regularly. Common soap and water will kill adult fleas. In addition, comb your animal’s fur with a fine-tooth flea comb, and dunk any critters into a container of sudsy water.

• Clean, clean, clean. Wash your pet’s bedding weekly in hot, soapy water, and vacuum and wipe down pet-frequented surfaces often, including behind and underneath furniture and between couch cushions. If you’re the victim of a flea infestation, experts recommend doing this daily. For severe cases, professional cleaning may be needed. 

• Take preemptive steps in your yard and garden. It helps to put beneficial nematodes—worms that eat flea larvae—in the soil where your pet is likely to frolic. Find them in garden supply stores or online.

  Keeping up with simple landscaping in your yard will also help control pests. This includes regularly clearing out leaf litter, mowing the lawn, pruning any tall grass and brush, and removing any old furniture or trash. A fence around your yard could also cut down on the number of wild critters (deer, mice, rabbits, raccoons, etc.) that venture in. If you live next to wooded areas, consider putting in some mulch or hardscaping around your yard to create a buffer zone. 

  Try products with nontoxic or “minimum risk” ingredients first. Natural products and herbal remedies are likely to be a much safer choice, but even so, the products should also be approached with caution. They may not work—and some aren’t completely safe. Many of these contain citrus oils, d-limonene, eucalyptus, and citronella. While these “minimum risk pesticides” are much safer than most of the synthetic chemicals, they have also been linked to allergies in both pets and humans. As with all pest control products, use them sparingly, be sure to follow the label instructions, and monitor your pet and family closely for adverse reactions.

  Diatomaceous earth is a much safer option for the home and yard and helps get rid of pests by drying them out. However, exposure to diatomaceous earth can cause irritation and dryness, especially if you accidentally breathe it in or if it comes into contact with your or your pet’s eyes. Use caution and protective gear and apply it only in areas where pets and kids won’t be exposed. Look for products marketed to control pests and avoid the kind used in swimming pool systems.

There are varying degrees of danger when it comes to these products and the synthetic chemicals they contain. Work with your vet to craft a custom plan for your pet and keep some basic guidelines in mind to spot safer products. You can use NRDC’s flea and tick products directory to learn more about the chemicals in pet care products you are considering. 

Ask about alternative flea-prevention treatments

Pills with the active ingredients lufenuron, nitenpyram, or spinosad can be a better option, for both animals and humans, than treatments that leave a residue on fur that might get on hands or furniture. But oral meds need to be prescribed by a vet and are considerably more expensive, so they may not be a realistic option for all pet owners. Topical spot treatments are the second-best option after oral treatments, particularly the ones that have selamectin as the active ingredient. Many people prefer this ingredient because it treats and prevents heartworms on top of fleas and ticks. As always, remember to follow the label instructions for any treatment you decide to use.  

Identify safer ingredients

If synthetic chemical products are necessary for additional flea or tick control, NRDC recommends s-methoprene or pyriproxyfen, which are less toxic ingredients—but read the labels carefully because some products use them with other, more harmful pesticides. Avoid products that include synthetic neonicotinoids (like imidacloprid and dinotefuran), which are harmful to bees and may be toxic to the developing brains of young kids. 

Be wary of flea collars

These products can contain some of the most dangerous insecticides, including TCVP. Some of the collars posing the greatest risk are already being phased out of production, and NRDC successfully petitioned the EPA to phase out propoxur and TCVP pet products in 2014 and 2022, respectively. While production and distribution has stopped for propoxur products, the EPA has since reversed its decision to ban TCVP pet products and is instead considering mitigation measures to limit the use of the pesticide. Because of this, we recommend avoiding collars altogether or being vigilant about searching labels for those particular active ingredients.

Use extra caution with tick products

When it comes to tick prevention—or combination flea-and-tick products—the news is even grimmer. Most of the products designed to repel these buggers include possible carcinogens and nervous system toxins like fipronil, imidacloprid, permethrin, or pyrethrins. “Our recommendation for ticks is to use the least toxic option available, at the lowest level, and only when you need it,” Sass says. If you live in an area where ticks and Lyme disease are prevalent, you probably need protection—but talk to your vet about how much and how often. Pregnant women and young children should minimize their exposure, particularly in light of the growing threat of tick diseases.

Buy a species-specific product

Two common ingredients in flea-and-tick products, permethrin and pyrethrins, are very toxic to cats. Don’t put these ingredients on your dog, either, if you also have a cat that could snuggle up with or brush against it.

Choose the right formula for your pet’s weight

An EPA investigation showed that small dogs (10 to 20 pounds) were most likely to have reactions such as rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures from topical treatments. Dogs that are old, young, sick, or on meds are also at higher risk. (Flea and tick control can interfere with other medications, rendering them ineffective or even poisonous.) There are even breed-specific sensitivities, so a conversation with your vet is in order before you decide how to proceed.

Don’t rely on shampoos

Flea and tick shampoo may seem like a safer, more cost-effective option, but they often contain many of the same ingredients as topical treatments and can cause adverse reactions and allergies, Bischoff says. Moreover, they’re not meant to take the place of preventive options. “You’d use a shampoo for an animal with an infestation and then, usually, follow up with a topical treatment,” she says. Read labels and take the same precautions with shampoos as you would with spot-on or collar products.

Report health issues immediately

If you or your pet reacts to a pet product containing pesticides, call your local poison control center, talk to your doctor, and, later, report it to the National Pesticide Information Center at 800-858-7378 or email the EPA at eport.pesticide.incident@epa.gov. You can also reach out to your state pesticide regulatory agency. 

This story was originally published January 22, 2016, and has since been updated with new information and links.