As spring flowers bloom, something else is growing in your backyard and the neighborhood park too – the flea population. If you have a dog or cat that roams outside, you don’t want your pet bringing home any new friends in their fur. But the flea and tick control products your vet probably encourages you to use are typically toxic.

The Natural Resources Defense Council found that the residue left on fur weeks after a flea collar is put on are so high they pose cancer and neurological risks up to 1,000 times what the Environmental Protection Agency deems acceptable for children – not to mention the more than 40,000 reports of adverse reactions in pets per year. As much as I don’t want tiny bugs in my house, I want dangerous chemicals smeared on my dog who often sleeps in my bed. So is there a safe flea and tick control solution out there?

Less Dangerous Solutions

Propoxur and tetrachlorvinphos are two of the most dangerous pesticides used for pets. The NRDC is working hard to get them taken off the market. Until then, avoid them and look for less harmful products on the non-profit’s GreenPaws Flea and Tick Product Directory. Popular brands like Frontline and Advantage fall into the use sparingly category.

The least offensive category includes low-risk pesticides like Pyriproxyfen and S-Methoprene – they’re still chemicals and not 100 percent safe, but if you’re the type of person who likes to go green in baby steps, this is a good, comfortable place to start. Also low-risk are essential oil formulas, which might sound benign, but surprisingly many can cause trouble especially in high concentrations. Reactions in pets include severe dermatitis, muscle tremors, seizures and vomiting. Citrus oils including oil of limonene are the most mild.

A Natural Approach

If you’re brave and willing to put in the extra effort, some experts say you can keep fleas away without any chemicals or essential oils. However, chances are your vet will discourage this au naturale practice. The key to a flea-free pet is being clean. OCD-style clean. You’ll need to comb your pet daily with a flea comb and dip the comb in soapy water between strokes. Monthly baths are also important. If you can keep your pooch still with suds on, wait 10 minutes (or as long as you can) before rinsing shampoo so it has time to kill any bugs.

You should also wash the areas your pet sleeps weekly, whether it’s a pet bed or your bedding. If you have carpeting, you should vacuum regularly and throw away or empty the vacuum bag each time. If you have a yard where your pet plays, pick up some nematodes at your garden supply store – they’ll help keep the fleas away naturally, but remember, that doesn’t mean your dog can’t pick up a flea in the park or at the dog run. If your dog does get fleas despite your efforts, expect a hefty professional cleaning bill to de-bug carpets, linens and furniture.

And here are three other steps you can take to find a safer, more sustainable way to keep fleas and ticks off your pet.

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Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs held a webcast to announce the results of their year-long study into pet spot-on products, commonly known as flea and tick preventatives. According to EPA, the number of incidents and deaths associated with these products increased by 53 percent between 2007 and 2008. This is an alarming statistic considering that in 2008 alone, 270 million spot-on products were sold. While the study deemed the products safe – if used correctly – all products analyzed reported incidents ranging from minor symptoms like itchiness to major cases like death.

Despite EPA’s claims that topical pesticides are safe, Kristen Vance disagrees. Vance is a mother of two children, an 8-year-old Rottweiler mix, and a 5-year-old domestic cat. “I do not want unnecessary chemicals on my animals,” Vance said. “I have two young children who constantly pet the dog and put their hands in their mouths. I don’t want the children to ingest the pesticides by accident. Anything that is toxic enough to kill an insect is too toxic to willingly put on my animal or to expose to my children.”

Concerned? Searching for a greener option? Here are three steps you can take to find a safer, more sustainable way to keep fleas and ticks off your pet:

Do Your Research

Consider your flea and tick preventatives carefully. There are many products to choose from, some available only through a veterinarian, others available on the shelves of the nearest big-box retailer. Before selecting a product, talk to your vet, and consult the Natural Resources Defense Council’s product comparison site to see how different products stack up.

Exercise Preventative Measures

Check your pet for fleas and ticks regularly, especially after hikes or prolonged outdoor exposure. Bathe your pet regularly, and vacuum your home – including your furniture – to prevent flea outbreaks.

Go Low-Tech

To combat fleas, use a flea comb to check for and remove any fleas or make your own flea powder using a mix of powdered rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender and fennel. If you discover a tick on your pet, ease the tick out with a pair of tweezers. And if your area has tick-borne illnesses, put the tick in a bag and take it to your vet for examination.

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You’re resolved: toxic chemicals are out of your life. Now how about your fellow creatures? Our pets deserve natural care too, but fleas are often the biggest pet problem we have to buy chemicals for – or do we? Here are some non-toxic flea care ideas to help you keep your animal companions – and your home – safe and organic.

B vitamins and garlic are natural insect repellents, so supplement your pet’s diet with a pet safe vitamin. Healthier animals are more resistant to pests and diseases, too. It might take a few weeks to notice the effects, so consider this part of your long term flea treatment.
Regular flea combing is essential to making sure eggs and insects never stay on your pet long enough to matter. Simple daily brushing pays off! Plus, it helps you bond with your little buddy.

Castorand Pollux makes a flea collar infused with naturally insect repelling essential oils.

Keep the environment flea-free too. Use diatomaceous earth or boric acid to keep fleas and other pesky bugs at bay. These are minerals that cut up bug’s stomachs, without having any toxic effect on humans and animals.

Biological control: There’s a nematode, called the ‘killer roundworm’, that feeds on flea larvae, and you can buy bottles of it, add water, and spray the tiny worms around your yard. Supposedly they will die out once they run out of fleas to eat, but I’d do a little more research before introducing another species into the garden. Ask your vet about it.

And we love to hear your personal pet stories, so let us know what has and hasn’t worked for you.

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