pest control and fleas and Why fish make good pets

Don't Fall for This Mistake with Your Pet's Pest Control...
The Bayer Animal Health pharmaceutical company released new versions of their Advantage® and K9 Advantix® ‘spot on’ flea products.

According to Bayer, these new formulas will kill fleas at all life stages and prevent flea infestation in the home.

The older formulations of these products contained only an adulticidal. The new versions will have larvicidal and ovicidal properties with the addition of the chemical pyriproxyfen, an insect growth regulator (IGR) that prevents the development of flea eggs and kills flea larvae as well.

Pyriproxyfen targets the hormone pathways of insects, but does not affect mammals, according to Bayer.

According to Peter Ryan, vice president and head of the company’s Companion Animal Business Unit:

“Adding pyriproxyfen to the original formulations of Advantage® Topical Solution and K9 Advantix® gives an added layer of protection to our customers’ pets and their pets’ surroundings. It interrupts the flea life cycle at multiple stages, and prevents reinfestation.”

Sources:

dvm360 January 31, 2011


Dr. Becker's Comments:

I guess Bayer Animal Health’s idea of a ‘next generation’ flea and tick product is one that contains even more chemical pesticides than previous formulations.

By the way – please don’t be fooled by the benign-sounding description of pyriproxyfen as an ‘insect growth regulator.’

It’s a chemical pesticide. ‘Growth regulator’ is a euphemism for killing agent.

As an active ingredient in spot-on flea and tick formulas, pyriproxyfen is a newer chemical and there aren’t many reports available on adverse effects. However, EPA tests of pyriproxyfen on rodents showed decreased body weight and toxicity in the offspring of animals exposed to the chemical.

EPA Advisory for Spot-on Products Remains in Effect

One year ago, the EPA issued an advisory about spot-on products similar to the new Bayer formulas. These products are for application to the neck or back of dogs and cats as a flea/tick preventive.

The advisory was issued in response to a significant increase in adverse reactions to spot-on products in 2008 over prior years.

Among the EPA’s findings:

The majority of adverse reactions were seen with the first application in 10- to 20-pound dogs under 3 years old.
Especially at risk were the following breeds: Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, Miniature Poodle, Pomeranian, Dachshund, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Bichon Frise.
Products containing the chemicals cyphenothrin and permethrin were especially problematic for small breed dogs.
Adverse reactions in cats were often the result of the cat either being treated with a product intended for dogs, or through exposure to a treated dog. Cats treated with products intended for dogs had a high rate of serious reactions and fatalities.
Symptoms for both dogs and cats included skin redness, itching, hair loss, sores and ulcers. GI tract symptoms included salivation, diarrhea and vomiting. Nervous system symptoms included lethargy, nervousness, movement problems, tremors and seizure.
The EPA also noted inert (inactive) ingredients in spot-on products should be assumed to contribute to toxicity. In addition, the agency found that dosage ranges were too wide in some cases and product labeling was insufficient in many instances.

So Does the EPA Advisory Mean ‘Next Generation’ Chemical Flea and Tick Control Products Will Be Safer?

I’m afraid not.

The EPA advisory doesn’t require Bayer Animal Health or the manufacturers of other spot-on flea and tick control agents to reformulate their products. The agency is merely suggesting certain manufacturers tweak dosage ranges and improve product labeling.

The new Advantage® and K9 Advantix® are probably good examples of the direction these products are headed – Bayer added another pesticide into the formulas.

With 44,000 reported adverse reactions including 600 deaths in 2008 – which represented almost a 60 percent increase over the prior year – it’s my firm belief the risks of these products are too great to warrant routine, monthly use.

In fact, there is no chemical based pesticide that doesn’t have the potential for side effects. It doesn’t matter whether the product is in pill form, in a dip, a shampoo or a collar, it’s not entirely safe.

Remember that what goes on your pet also gets inside him through absorption or ingestion.

Safe, Effective Solutions for Flea and Tick Control

Your first line of defense should be a safe, natural pest deterrent that is chemical-free. I recently announced just such a product called Natural Flea and Tick Defense.

Natural Flea and Tick Defense contains no synthetic chemicals -- only all-natural, safe Brazilian oils and pure water. It has a pleasant smell, is non-sticky, and repels not only fleas and ticks, but also flies and mosquitoes.

Natural Flea and Tick Defense is available without a prescription and is safe to apply daily to your pet.

Other safe, natural pest repellents include:

Cedar oil
Natural, food-grade diatomaceous earth
Fresh garlic -- work with your holistic vet to determine a safe amount for your pet’s body weight
Feeding your pet a balanced, species-appropriate diet. The healthier your dog or cat is, the less appealing she’ll be to parasites. A biologically appropriate diet supports a strong immune system.
Bathing and brushing your pet regularly and performing frequent full-body inspections to check for parasite activity.
Making sure your indoor and outdoor environments are unfriendly to pests.
If You MUST Use a Chemical Flea/Tick Control Product …

If you find yourself faced with no choice but to use a chemical pest preventive, I strongly urge you to take the following steps to reduce the health risk to your pet:

Be very careful to follow dosing directions on the label, and if your pet is at the low end of a dosage range, step down to the next lowest dosage.
Be extremely cautious with small dogs, especially if you own one of the breeds reported to be at high risk for adverse reactions. And do not, under any circumstances, apply dog product to your cat.
Don’t depend exclusively on chemical treatments. Rotate natural preventives with chemical ones.
Use only when your pet is in a high-risk environment (i.e. camping in a Lyme disease endemic area), then discontinue.
Monitor your pet for symptoms and adverse reactions after you apply a chemical product – especially when using one for the first time.
Consult your holistic vet about natural therapies that can help alleviate your pet’s toxic load.



Ten Reasons Why Fish Make Good Pets

In Britain, fish are now the third most popular pet after dogs and cats.

According to a study conducted by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA), the principal trade organization for the UK pet food industry, 16 percent of pet owners now own fish. Cats are in the number two spot at 19 percent, and dogs remain the most popular companions with 23 percent of UK households owning a canine.

The reason for the increase in demand for fish, according to a representative of Tesco, a large UK retail chain, is that people have moved to smaller homes and rentals over the last few years, and it’s not always possible or practical to own a dog or cat.

According to PetfoodIndustry.com:

Fish demand has increased by 17% over the last three years, according to the PFMA, with 12 million pet fish living indoors and another 18 million currently living in garden ponds.

Sources:

PetfoodIndustry.com January 24, 2011
Daily Mirror January 22, 2011


Dr. Becker's Comments:

Fish make truly wonderful pets for people who don’t have the time or physical space to devote to a higher-maintenance companion animal.

And under the right circumstances, fish can also be good ‘starter pets’ to teach children the responsibility of caring for a pet.

Ten Reasons Fish Make Great Pets

Fish are known to have a tranquil, calming effect on anyone who watches them glide serenely through the water.
Generally speaking, fish are easier and less expensive to feed and care for than other pets, however, they do require a proper environment and knowledgeable caretakers.
Unlike many dogs and other furry and feathered pets, fish don’t develop separation anxiety or destructive behaviors when you leave them alone at home.
Fish are quiet -- you never have to worry about a barking or squawking fish upsetting the neighbors or waking a sleeping baby.
Fish come in an infinite variety of sizes, shapes and stunning, vibrant colors.
Fish don’t need to be walked; they don’t require a litter box; and they’ll never leave a surprise for you on your brand new carpet or the afghan your mother-in-law knitted for you last Christmas.
Fish are very clean pets that don’t need to be groomed or have their teeth brushed.
Your fish won’t track dirt and mud in from outdoors, or shake litter from his paws all over the house, and he doesn’t shed, slobber or drool.
A fish aquarium of any size, as long it’s well maintained, can be a beautiful addition to any room in your home.
Some types of fish interact with their owners, are playful, and can even be trained to do tricks.
If You’re Thinking of Getting Fish as Pets

The best advice I can offer, especially if you’ve never kept fish before, is to do plenty of research before you take the plunge.

I’d also recommend you start small, with a fish bowl or small aquarium and two or three hardy, low-maintenance varieties like goldfish. As your interest grows, you can upgrade to a bigger, more expensive or unusual aquarium and more exotic varieties of fish.

A few initial questions you’ll need to ask yourself:

Are you interested in tropical freshwater fish, coldwater fish, or perhaps tropical marine fish? Believe it or not, there are more than 25,000 known species of fish and over 2,000 of these can potentially thrive in an aquarium. I recommend you only buy fish that have been bred in captivity, not taken from the ocean.
What do you know about the fish you’re interested in? For example: how big will it get? If it’s a large fish, will it see smaller fish in the tank as prey? If it’s a small fish, will it become prey for larger fish? Will it eat live plants in your aquarium? What kind of water best suits it (temperature, hardness, pH, etc.)? Does it need to live with other fish or alone? What does it cost?
Different types of fish require different aquarium environments. You should build your aquarium around the needs of your fish rather than on the aesthetics of the aquarium itself. Focusing on the needs of the fish you want to keep will insure they will be healthy and happy in their environment.
Every decision about the aquarium and all supplies, including food, should be made with the health of your particular fish species in mind.

With that said, for practical reasons you’ll also need to consider what size aquarium you can afford and have the space for, and where you’ll set it up in your home. Aquariums aren’t just large fish bowls – even the most basic models come equipped with filtration systems, artificial lighting systems, often a heater or chiller, and some have hoods.
Fish can make wonderful pets and aquarium keeping provides a fascinating hobby for many fish enthusiasts.

As is the case with a dog, cat, exotic or pocket pet, preparation is priceless when it comes to committing to the care and guardianship of another living being.


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