Safe biological products for flea control are now available. Permanent control is simple and safe! You must understand the flea lifecycle to get rid of them effectively. There are products to kill off the adult flea, and products to prevent their eggs and larvae from reaching the adult stage. Either one alone will not eliminate the fleas.
Fleas feed on your pets' blood, lay eggs, and drop fecal matter everywhere your pet goes. The eggs hatch into larvae, which eat the fecal droppings. Products must be used on the home and on the pet to affect a cure!
Why are the new products for flea control so safe? Some are derived from plant products - rotenone and pyrethrins. Another is an artificial insect hormone - methoprene. Lufenuron simply stops the insect exo-skeleton from developing. These products are used only by insects ... not humans or animals. There is no need today to use the toxic chemicals used 20 years ago!
1. FIRST we KILL the adult fleas:
- pyrethrin - Derived from flowers! (Chrysanthemums) This will knock out the adults quickly and safely when used according to direction. Buy it in a pet shampoo, to help get rid of the eggs and fecal matter. Great for initial treatment! Be sure to use as labeled, as some are not for use on cats or very young pets. It comes in different strengths.
- permethrin - (third generation LONG ACTING pyrethrins) although these are synthetic, they are safe for your dog. (Warning: cats only tolerate the diluted forms ... check the label carefully!) This product kills adult fleas for weeks. (It is commonly prescribed for children with head lice, etc. ... so it is safe!) This is the best for long term control of the adults.
- rotenone - Derived from derris root, kills adult fleas on pets. Older, less effective treatment. But safe for most animals ... (exception: pigs)
2. Prevent the FLEA EGGS from hatching:
- lufenuron acts by interfering with the exoskeleton of the flea. Usually given once monthly as food additive, it fools the flea's body into using it instead of chitin. Only insects use chitin.
3. STOP Flea LAVAE maturation:
- methoprene ... mimics insect hormones, it stops the immature forms from developing into adults! It is claimed to be extremely safe to use. (1)
- Long acting for use on pet and home, it can last almost a year in your carpet, and about a month on your pet.
House treatment: ... After thorough vacuuming, duct cleaning, etc., spray premise using a product that contains methoprene to stop larvae maturing ... LASTS 3/4 year! Follow the directions on the container closely.
4. Where to FIND these products:
- Some of these products can be purchased from pet stores, department stores, but the complete line is available from vet clinics. There will be a multitude of brand names. Some will be shampoos, sprays, liquids, spot-ons, collars, etc. Just check the labels, and pick products that have the above named safe ingredients, labeled for use on your type of pet. If in doubt, ask your vet for advice.
Clean up your pet with a shampoo, the house with a vacuum, ducts and everything. Then, use permethrin or pyrethrin, with methoprene on the pet regularly as directed on the bottle. Also consider feeding lufenuron monthly. Finally, use a household spray with methoprene at least yearly.
This is a brief summary of a few of the better products available, but in truth, newer, safer products are constantly arriving. Ask for products to kill the adult as well as the eggs and larvae. Ask for agents that are as safe as possible ... usually biological source rather than chemical.
Now you know what to ask for, let your vet worry about the complicated product names.
References:
lufenuron http://www.ah.ca.novartis.com/product/progmono.html
p ermethrin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin
methoprene http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/haloxy fop-methylparathion/methoprene-ext.html
(1) Safety: " Methoprene, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), is USED IN DRINKING WATER in some countries for mosquito larva control. IGRs are of negligible hazard to humans, pets, and the environment" quoted from Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2081.html
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