Taking care of your pets responsibly includes protecting them from fleas and ticks. Before purchasing and applying pesticide products to pets to control fleas and ticks, there is important information you should know.
Purchasing and Applying Pesticide Products to Pets
- If you decide to, and before you, use a pesticide product on your pet, carefully read and follow the product label.
- Be sure you are choosing the correct product for your specific pet and for the particular pest problem. Certain products are approved only for dogs and not for cats.
- Observe any age and/or size restrictions and any reapplication intervals identified. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer or your veterinarian before applying.
- Do not use any pesticide product on debilitated, aged, medicated, sick, pregnant, or nursing pets, or on pets known to be sensitive to pesticide products without first reading the label to see if there are warnings about use on these sensitive animals and consulting a veterinarian.
- Before applying any pesticide product, be sure to read the entire label and follow it exactly.
- Never separate or discard the package, which contains the label, from the product container (such as individual applicator tubes).
- Use only on animals listed on the product label.
- Observe your pet after application for any sign of sensitivity.
- If signs of sensitivity occur, bathe your pet with mild soap, rinse with large amounts of water, and consult a veterinarian immediately.
Flea and Tick Pesticide Emergency Information
In an emergency call your local veterinarian immediately or if unavailable, please call one of the following poison centers for assistance.
Fact Sheets for Commonly Used Pesticide Active Ingredients
All flea and tick pesticide products will have an active ingredient indicated on the product label. The following fact sheets for common flea and tick active ingredients provide information about the chemicals and the potential risks they may pose.
- Phenothrin and Pyrethrum - fact sheet on synthetic pyrethroids.
- Methoprene - fact sheet in our biopesticides section.
- Carbaryl - fact sheet on the Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED). (18.3 KB, PDF)
- Imidacloprid - fact sheet from National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC).
- Fipronil - fact sheet from National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC).
- Permethrin - fact sheet from National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC).
- Cypermethrin - fact sheet from National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC).
Regulatory Actions on Flea and Tick Products
At EPA's request, Hartz Mountain Corp. has agreed to immediately amend the labels of certain flea and tick products under two EPA registration numbers to protect the most vulnerable cats and kittens and to phase out uses of these products by March 2006. The products affected by this agreement are:
- Hartz® Advanced Care™ 4 in 1® Flea & Tick Drops Plus+ for Cats and Kittens (EPA Reg. No. 2596-148)
- Hartz® Advanced Care™ Brand Flea and Tick Drops Plus+ for Cats and Kittens (EPA Reg. No. 2596-148)
- Hartz® Advanced Care™ 3 in 1® Flea & Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens (EPA Reg. No. 2596-151)
- Hartz® Advanced Care™ Once-A-Month® Flea and Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens (EPA Reg. No. 2596-151)
