Pesticides and Your Pets
Pesticides frequently poison pets, either from accidental exposure to recently sprayed lawns or from improper use of chemical flea control.
For a Variety Of Reasons Pets Are Vulnerable To Pesticides:
They are exposed to higher doses because they are close to the ground where pesticide concentrations are highest. Parts of their bodies that have high chemicals absorption rates, like their scrotums and armpits, which are often directly exposed to pesticides. When grooming themselves they are likely to ingest pesticides.
Learn To Recognize the Symptoms Of Pesticide Poisoning In Your Pet:
Mild exposure to pesticides can result in inactivity, refusal to eat drink, vomiting or diarrhoea. Acute exposure can result in excessive drooling, disorientation, uncoordinated and convulsions. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect that your pet may be poisoned.
Protect your pet – and yourself – from exposure to pesticides. Ensure that they don’t wander into areas that have been recently sprayed.
Controlling Fleas the Safest Way:
The synthetic organic insecticides commonly found in dips, sprays, shampoos, powders, and collars used to control fleas can be very dangerous when they are used too frequently or in combination with each other. These chemicals often poison cats, dogs, and their owners may show symptoms of mild pesticide poisoning.
The Following Tips Will Help to Control Fleas Safely In Your Household:
[arrowlist]
- Establish a sleeping area for your pet that can be easily and regularly cleaned.
- Don’t allow your pet into rooms where cleaning is difficult.
- Vacuum areas frequented by your pet weekly, more often in late summer and fall when flea populations increase. Discard the vacuum bag to kill the captured fleas.
- Remove and wash your pet’s bedding regularly.
- Flea-comb your pet regularly.
- Intensely itchy bites around your ankles could be an early sign of a flea infestation. Pinch fleas that land on your lower legs between a wet index finger and your thumb. Place in a bowl of soapy water.
[/arrowlist]
How to Handle a Flea Emergency
Try the following methods to reduce large flea populations in your home in a least-toxic manner:
[arrowlist]
- Remove and wash all carpets, or have them steam-cleaned.
- Vacuum floors, carpets and upholstered furniture every day for a week or more. Discard the vacuum bag after capture.
- Wax hardwood floors and linoleum.
- Wash pet bedding in hot soapy water.
- Spot-treat heavily infested areas with diatomaceous earth.
- Shampoo your pet, and then use a flea comb to remove surviving fleas. Fleas drown easily, so insecticide soap is unnecessary.
- If your pet hates baths, try a sponge bath with rubbing alcohol and vinegar.
- Use a small bulb-duster to apply diatomaceous earth to your pet, including between the toes.
[/arrowlist]