Hi furiends, it's me Luna again! If you follow me for a while you might have seen that I love spending time on the beach, swimming in the sea and splashing through the rivers, and probably you love that too.. but what if I bark you that our flea treatments can actually damage the environment and the aquatic life?!
We as dogs probably all have been to the vets and got as a recommendations some flea products even though we didn't had any flea problem: spot on, tablets, collar etc.. and if you have read the manual it always states that we should keep it far away from mini humans and that we shouldn't lick or chew it. But if it is so dangerous for us what about the others?
Unfortunately there haven't been done that much research on this field but if you use some logic it's pretty obvious that substances that harm us and humans also will harm the rest of the eco system.
When swimming in natural waters flea treatments that have been applied to the skin of the dog get released in the waters, for example substances such as pyrethrins/pyrethroids which are found in "spot-on" treatments for dogs are even in a very small amount DEADLY for fishes.
Many dog owners think that by changing to tablets that no damage is done anymore but that actually moves the toxins to the inside of the dogs body and partially also to the faeces. Even when you pick up the poop from your dog in the park there are still small particles left behind that get washed in the ground or rivers with some rain.
Beside of the hazard for the environment and aquatic life some studies also refer to the health hazards for the pets and humans themselves.
When my human learned about all this things it made her think: Why do vets recommend this products every visit even though they are so dangerous and why do we give our pets treatments even if there is no sign of fleas or worms etc..? When my human got her Veterinary assistant degree she of course tried to find out the answer on this question.. unfortunately non of her professors or colleague students gave a decent answer but almost all of time the vets where sponsored by one of the companies that produces this products (funny isn't it?!)
If you want to read a little more about this topic here are some easy to read research papers:
Pesticides commonly used as flea treatments for pets are contaminating English rivers
Fipronil and its degradates in indoor and outdoor dust
Fipronil washoff to municipal wastewater from dogs treated with with spot-on products
Also a health hazard for humans? Read here more
