Fleas are without a doubt the bane of many a pet and his owner. Here in Humboldt County the battle against the beasts goes on year 'round.

There are lots of products on the market that effectively kill fleas on our pets. But are they really as safe as they are effective? Product manufacturers would have us think so. But are we risking our pets' (and our own) health for the simple convenience of using them?

There are many chemicals in our homes and gardens that are toxic to pets… from household cleaners containing phenols (like Pine-sol) that can be deadly to cats, to garden products (like slug and snail bait) that can kill even the largest dog in a matter of hours. Even so, the worst environmental pollutants that threaten pets are the poisons that well-meaning owners routinely dip, spray, powder, drop, collar and shampoo directly onto and into our flea bitten companions.

This hit home with me in a horrifying way a few years back. My Persian cat was infested with fleas so I bathed him with a common over the counter flea shampoo. Mid way through the bath the cat began drooling excessively, his eyes glazed over and he went into a seizure. Fortunately, I suspected the flea product might be the cause and immediately poured gallons of clear water over the cat to rinse off the vile stuff. My cat lived, but that will be the last flea bath I ever give an animal!

Check the labels of popular flea control products and you'll see words like "Avoid contact with skin," and "Warning." How can it be OK to thoroughly drench a pet with a product that we humans must not get on our skins? Many of the poisons in these products (even the inert ingredients) are dangerous when absorbed through the skin or inhalation. They become even more toxic when ingested… as when a pet licks them off while grooming itself, or we humans get them on our hands from stroking our pets. The word "Warning" on a label means that it would take only 1 teaspoon of the product to kill an adult human being!

Even the newer topical flea control products available from Veterinarians have risks. The fact that they have fewer toxic effects on the nervous system of mammals than most other products is only mildly reassuring. Just one drop on the nape of the pet's neck can kill fleas for 30 days or more. The pet's entire body becomes a walking flea bomb. This reminds me of some cancer therapies where the aim is to kill the cancer before the treatment kills the patient. Most of these products carry the word "Warning" on their label. If one drop is the right dosage for your pet, what will happen if you squeeze too hard and two drops come out?

Labels that contain the words "Danger-Poison" are even more deadly. Even the milder word "Caution" means that the product has the potential to kill both you and your pet.

There may be times when using such a product is the best available alternative--such as when an animal is so weakened by a flea infestation that it will die unless the fleas are killed immediately. We sometimes see such cases at the Humane Society. Most of the time, I prefer to use a flea comb on small critters whose lives hang in the balance.

This may be the first time you've heard that flea control products may be harmful to your pet. TV and magazine advertisements emphasize only their benefits. The products are routinely sold in veterinary offices, pet stores and even the neighborhood grocery. It's not surprising that most people assume they are completely safe. They are not. Most have never been tested for safety to humans, much less pets.

It is up to each pet guardian to gather information, consider the alternatives, and make an informed decision whether or not to use such products. Next week I will describe some effective alternatives that are deadly to fleas but much safer for us and our beloved pets.

For more information: see the Humane Society of the United States article, "What You Should Know About Flea and Tick Products," at www.hsus.org/ace/11795 and follow the link to The Natural Resources Defense Council report on the serious risks such products present to children.