By Daniela Caride Publisher

I encourage you to use flea and tick control products on your pet if your veterinarian determines it’s safe. These meds are great for protecting pets and people. Fleas and ticks can transmit diseases to animals and humans.

But please, carefully read and follow all label instructions before exposing your pet to them. Flea and tick products are very toxic. They are pesticides.

Here are some tips I adapted from The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on how to handle these meds and how to report incidents if you see any changes on your pet’s appearance or mood. (Read here information on possible signs of adverse reactions).

How to decide if your pet should get tick & flea meds

• Ask your veterinarian about the best way to protect your pet from fleas and ticks and if pesticides are even needed.

• Be extra careful when using them on weak, aged, medicated, sick, pregnant or nursing pets.

• Do not apply spot-ons to pets known to be sensitive to pesticide products.

• Carefully read and follow the product label before applying the product.

• Use flea and tick control products only on the animal specified by the product label – for example, dog products for dogs only and cat products for cats.

• Apply only the amount indicated for the size of the animal being treated.

• Do not apply to kittens or puppies unless the product label specifically allows this treatment. Pay attention to the age restrictions for puppies and kittens on the label.

• Monitor your pet for side effects or signs of sensitivity after applying the product, particularly when using the product for the first time.

• If your pet experiences an adverse reaction, immediately bathe the pet with mild soap and rinse with large amounts of water.

• Keep the package AND the product container (the applicator tubes) after applying it, in case you see adverse effects. You will want to have the instructions at hand as well as contact information for the manufacturer.

How to report an incident

• Identify the EPA registration number and contact information for the manufacturer on the package and product container (the applicator tubes).

• Report all adverse effects to the manufacturer, who is required by law to report it to EPA. You may also want to report the incident to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), 1-800-858-7378.

• Encourage your vet to do the same at the NPIC’s Veterinary Pesticide Adverse Effects Reporting portal.

• Tell EPA, by forwarding the information in the agency’s “ask a question” site.
  • Go to the Pesticides Frequent Questions page
  • Select “flea and tick” in the drop-down box
  • Check instruction on the first question, about reporting an incident.

You can read more information on pet products and safety tips here.