Flea and Tick Control
(Page 5 of 6)
August/September 2002
By Lynn Keiley
Fleas and ticks have become resistant to most pesticides used against them, prompting companies to continually develop new products, to which the pests eventually also develop resistance. The newest generation of flea-control pesticides became available in the mid-1990s. Some of these products act as longterm controls by preventing fleas from laying viable eggs. Others are low-toxicity pesticides you apply once a month between your pet's shoulders to kill fleas quickly and steadily for a period of several weeks. Thus far, these new pesticides appear less toxic than chlorpyrifos, although it's worth remembering it took 35 years for the problems with chlorpyrifos to become apparent.
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Though these are chemical controls, Michael Dryden, professor of veterinary parasitology at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, says they're relatively safe and far superior to what's been used in the past. Although some topical liquid treatments can leave behind pesticide residues where pets lie, the toxicity is below what the EPA describes as the "No Observed Effect Level." Most of these products are available only through veterinarians. Less expensive overthe-counter products are available, but their effectiveness varies widely. Some, such as permethrin, are toxic to cats.
Here are some of the newer products you might want to consider:
Lufenuron?Marketed under the brand-name Program, lufenuron is a pill you give your dog once a month (other formulations are available for cats). When they bite into the animal, female fleas are exposed to the insecticide, which prevents their eggs from developing. Although rare, adverse reactions to lufenuron can include vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.
Imidacloprid?Sold as Advantage, this treatment is applied between the animal's shoulders and disperses over its body over several hours. Avoid petting the animal for 24 hours after application. Dryden's research has shown Advantage kills more than 97 percent of fleas inside the home for at least 28 days. Fipronll?Sold under the brandname Frontline, this is another spot-on treatment. It mixes with the oils in your pet's skin and settles in the sebaceous glands, where it continues to be effective for a month or more. Found by Dryden to be more than 98 percent effective in controlling fleas, fipronil also kills ticks. Selamectin?A new topical liquid treatment sold as Revolution, selamectin is labeled for control of fleas, ticks, heartworm, roundworm and hookworm in cats.
Use any of these products sparingly. Dryden says fleas and ticks inevitably will develop some resistance, but when you combine mechanical methods (vacuuming, washing bedding) and judicious use of spot-on treatments, the process will be slowed.
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