Dear “Earth Talk”: What kind of
environmentally friendly pet-care products are available for controlling
ticks and fleas and washing dogs and cats? — Jeannette Peclet,
Norwalk, Conn.
According to Australian veterinarian Lilian Lee, pets
metabolize most of the insecticide contained in mass-marketed flea collars
such that the concentration is so weak that it has hardly any effect on
fleas. Furthermore, many pets develop allergies to such collars, often
resulting in uncomfortable dermatitis. Lee also recommends avoiding flea
washes and dust powders because they usually contain toxins that have been
known to cause tremors in cats and can contaminate your indoor environment.
For those looking to rid their pets of fleas and other
pests in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, “area
sprays” may be the best bet. Orange Guard, for instance, is a
nontoxic, food-grade pesticide that may be safely sprayed into pet bedding
and other crevices instead of directly onto your dog or cat. It’s
available from online sources such as the Green Home Environmental Store
and Planet Natural. The active ingredient in Orange Guard is biodegradable,
citrus-based d-limonene,
which has been shown to reduce cockroach populations better than Dursban,
the toxic ingredient in Raid. Direct contact with d-limonene will kill insects and
deter future visits without posing any risks to pets or human beings.
Another alternative is Bug N’ Out, a natural,
nontoxic repellant spray for biting insects that contains a 4 percent
concentration of citronella oil and safely and effectively repels fleas,
ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, black flies, chiggers, and horseflies. According
to the manufacturer, it is safe and effective not just for pets but also
for people and is effective for as long as eight hours per application.
Consumers may buy Bug N’ Out it from the Web site DoctorDog.com,
which also sells One Earth Herbal Collars for cats and dogs, which use
aromatic oil extracts of natural herbs, flowers and wood to repel bugs
without pesticides.
Still another natural insect-repelling spray for dogs
and cats is Only Natural Pet Flea and Insect Repellent Spray, available
from the online Only Natural Pet Store. Its neem oil, lemongrass, catnip,
citronella, and other essential oils keep pests away, and it contains no
DEET or other pesticides. Only Natural also makes a Pet Insect Repellent
Shampoo.
One of the leaders in the “greening” of
the pet-care industry is Planet Dog. Beyond its large selection of safe,
healthy pet toys and accessories, the company offers biodegradable pet
shampoos and conditioners that are pH-balanced with aloe, eucalyptus, and
chamomile. The Green Home Environmental Store also guarantees that its
all-natural, biodegradable pet shampoo contains no harmful ingredients such
as petroleum distillate, ammonia, benzene, or formaldehyde.
For more information: Orange Guard,
www.orangeguard.com; DoctorDog.com, www.doctordog.com; Planet Dog,
www.planetdog.com; Planet Natural, www.planetnatural.com; Only Natural Pet
Store, www.onlynaturalpet.com; Green Home Environmental Store,
www.greenhome.com.
Send questions to “Earth Talk” in care of E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881, or e-mail
earthtalk@emagazine.com.
This article appears in Jul 7-13, 2005.
