 have suffered life-threatening side effects or even death after being exposed to a common insecticide known as: permethrin, pyrethrins, pyrethroids, or phenothrin. This chemical (or its derivatives) are found in many OTC flea and tick treatments under numerous brand names. Cats are particularly susceptible to permethrin-containing products which are intended for dogs. A dog "may" be able to tolerate 45 - 60% permethrin in a preparation, yet a few drops of it could kill a cat. I include some safe alternatives and advice from PETA as well as veterinarian Dr. Holly Nash.)
Donnie Ray Jones on flickr / Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 GenericThe summer is when most pet owners worry about fleas and ticks affecting their pets. Naturally, many people will look for an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment while they are shopping. After all, who thinks of a few fleas or ticks as an emergency?
What to do if a cat has been treated with dog flea and tick products:
Celeste Lindell (averagejane on flickr) / Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 GenericThis is an emergency and your cat needs to be treated as soon as possible.
- Call your vet or closest emergency animal hospital.
- Bathe the cat/kitten with warm soapy water.
- Don't bother drying the cat/kitten - just wrap him/her in a towel and head to the emergency hospital or your veterinarian.
- Upon arrival at the vet or animal hospital inform whoever greets you that your cat has been exposed to a flea and tick treatment meant for dogs.
Why dog flea and tick products harm cats:
What is the ingredient in these flea and tick products that are so deadly to cats?
Not on cats but I would not use it on my dog either
Check out this investigative report by Joel Grover:
Trade or Other Names for Pyrethrins
Graham Smith on flickr / Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 GenericThe ingredients to look for (and stay away from) regardless of the brand may be listed as:
pyrethrins
pyrethroids
permethrin
tetramethrin
phenothrin
etofenprox
allethrin
resmethrin
amitraz - belongs to a group of drugs called formamidines (which kills ticks)
Claudio Matsuoka (cmatsuoka on flickr) / Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 GenericYet, I found out that trade or other names for pyrethrins and pyrethoids include:Chrysanthemum
Cinerariaefolium
Ofimotox
Insect Powder
Dalmation Insect Flowers
Firmotox
Parexan
NA 9184
What is a Safe Solution for Flea and Tick Control?
According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), suggests quite a few alternative treatments. The tips I feel are most helpful include the following:
- Use a veterinarian-approved pet shampoo. Start with warm water and begin a "ring of lather" around your pet's neck to prevent fleas from climbing up onto their head and face. Soap and water DOES kill fleas.
- Make your own insect repellent for dogs: Add 5 drops each of citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil and tea tree oil to 1 cup of warm water. Mix it well and store it in a spray bottle. This can be used even daily on your dog's coat. Plus it smells pleasant too.
- Vacuum pet beds, rugs and furniture often and wash any bedding once a week during flea season. NOTE: Flea eggs might be sucked up by your vacuum yet they can still hatch in the bag. So either seal it and put in the garbage or store it in a large ziploc bag (sealed) in your freezer after you vacuum until the bag is full.
Dr. Holly Nash Talks to Gordon Magee
Flea and tick prevention and control for your dog and cat:
