Natural Flea Control
(Page 2 of 5)
May/June 1985
By Christine Makowski, D.V.M.
The adult flea dines by chewing into its victim's flesh until blood appears, then drinks until it's bloated. Fortunately for the host animal, a flea doesn't have to eat very often: A single meal of blood can keep a flea fat and happy for up to two months.
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CONTROLLING THE MENACE
The first step in flea control is to examine your dog or cat to determine the extent of infestation. In severe cases, you'll actually be able to see adult fleas swarming all over the animal's skin and hair.
If no fleas are visible on your pet but the animal is scratching and obviously infected, inspect carefully around the base of the tail. If you find small black particles embedded in the hair, you're looking at flea feces. (If you find such particles but believe they're something other than flea scat, just place a few of them on a damp paper towel. If they turn red, they're flea feces — that's blood residue you're seeing.)
OK, so your dog or cat has fleas. Don't rush off to the store to buy the strongest product you can find in the pet section. Many of today's synthetic insecticides are powerful poisons that had their origin in the development of chemical warfare agents.
Organophosphates and carbamares are two of the most common synthetic pesticides found in flea killers. Both are nerve-paralyzing agents capable of causing convulsions, nausea and respiratory arrest, in host animals as well as in the insects they're intended to destroy. Consequently, there are many cases of pesticide-related poisoning each summer, many involving not only pets, but also children who handle pesticide-treated animals.
Ironically, while pesticide labels contain warnings of their hazards to humans, the application instructions tell you to soak a flea-infected dog or cat thoroughly! These chemicals, especially in liquid form, can be absorbed through the animal's skin and taken up by the blood. For that reason, even in the midst of a flea invasion, it's important not to let the urgency of your need to get rid of the pests override concern for the safety of your pets and household.
In addition to the potential for immediate poisoning, long-term treatment with synthetic pesticides can eventually lead to kidney failure and other medical complications. I'm convinced, for instance, that some of the cancer seen in companion animals is related to the use of chemical pesticides against fleas.
FIGHT NATURE WITH NATURE
Hidden among the many synthetic pesticides on the market today are three organic flea fighters. The first group of these consists of two varieties of pyrethrin that are derived from the flower heads of several types of Old World chrysanthemums; their pesticidal properties have been utilized for centuries.
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