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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Report about dog flea treatment killing wild insects

19 replies

ifIwerenotanandroid · 26/03/2023 13:10

Is there an accessible version of this anywhere? I bought a paper copy.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/profile/leading-articles?page=1

Scroll down to 'Reality Bites' 21 March 2023

It's a short article about dog flea treatment & how this is claimed to be killing off insects in the wild. (It also mentions cats, but it's difficult to see how cat flea treatment gets into waterways.)

The Times Leading Articles | The Times & The Sunday Times

The Times has been publishing leading articles providing regular commentary and analysis in some form since the newspaper was founded in 1785. The views represent those of the editorial board.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/profile/leading-articles?page=1

OP posts:
Ihaventgottimeforthis · 26/03/2023 13:14

I can't access the article but Buglife have done studies on this and there's an article in the Guardian a few years ago.

It's logical - flea treatments are pesticides, highly soluble and persistent in watery environments and devastating to a wide range of insect life.

I don't flea treat my dog, he's in the water a lot

Ylvamoon · 26/03/2023 17:01

That's why I believe flea treatment should only be used "as and when"
Dogs that don't have fleas don't need to be treated for them.

As a prevention (especially dogs with long coats) regularly grooming & bathing with the right products (conditioner & spray) is enough.

Ratatouille1 · 26/03/2023 17:52

I check my dog with a fine comb, she has never had fleas. I do give her a tick medication in the spring and summer as we go on a moorlands that have deer ticks. I suppose residue from the tablet may be present in the dogs poo but it is less of a risk to insects if you are disposing of it properly.

pigsDOfly · 26/03/2023 18:37

I don't treat my dog regularly for flea because I'm uncomfortable with putting powerful pesticides into her system.

She's 12 years old in a few days and has fleas once in her life.

As pp said, it makes perfect sense that the widespread use of these pesticides would kill not just dog fleas but every insect that might come into contact with areas where treated dogs go.

IngGenius · 26/03/2023 18:57

It is not just Fipronil that causes issues.There are huge issues with over treating and also the monthly worming treatments that are just not needed. It has been known for years but the pharma hide it well!

RVA have also changed there angle and changed their wording saying monthly treatment should be discussed on case by case basis and not for all dogs.

There are alternatives and we should really be looking into them and using them when possible.

Luckycat1 · 26/03/2023 21:52

How awful :( I'm pretty new to dog ownership and have just done as the vet suggested up to now. Admittedly years ago i had a flea outbreak from my then cat that infected the whole house so the thought of prevention is appealing, but not at such a heavy cost.

Amazing that some dogs don't pick them up. Do dogs tend to not catch fleas as easily as cats then?

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 26/03/2023 21:54

vets should be suggesting when flea treatments should be used, and suggesting keeping them out of water for a period of time after use.

pigsDOfly · 26/03/2023 22:53

Do dogs tend to not catch fleas as easily as cats then?

Don't know if that's the case but given that an outdoor cat will probably go to a lot more places that other wild life goes I would imagine they're more liable to come across fleas than dogs on a regular basis.

@VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji Dogs shouldn't be going into water anyway, for a few days after having spot on flea treatment because of the treatment is liable to be washed off.

user1492757084 · 27/03/2023 07:01

Yes, there is an off label way of killing European Wasps nests near one's house that I have hear about.
Squirt dog flea treatment into a half empty soft drink can and leave it safely where wasps can access it for a couple of days.

It supposedly only needs one wasp to take a little of the potion back to the nest and the wasps die.
If that were to be true then other insects would surely also be susceptable.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 27/03/2023 08:06

I never flea treat and in more than a decade of pet ownership, we've never had an infestation.

More and more people are starting to think this way imo.

IngGenius · 27/03/2023 08:22

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 27/03/2023 08:06

I never flea treat and in more than a decade of pet ownership, we've never had an infestation.

More and more people are starting to think this way imo.

What do you do for worms?

Ylvamoon · 27/03/2023 08:55

I usually treat for worms every 8- 12 weeks. Again far less than recommended but more often. One of my dogs is a greedy sod and has been known to eat anything going if I'm not careful. So he's more likely to get them.

It's also because by the time you know your dog has wormes "it's too late" and you need to treat in accordance with their life cycle to eradicate them.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 27/03/2023 09:01

@IngGenius nothing unless I see signs of them in his poo, which, touch wood, has only happened once in five years. He had Panacur and was absolutely fine.

I don't really see the benefit of treating something just in case - especially as everyone I know whose pet has had fleas/worms is already using preventatives.

crossstitchingnana · 27/03/2023 09:12

I treat my cats and dog once a month for fleas, as recommended by my vet. We stopped a couple of years ago and within a few weeks the pets, and house was infested. Never again.

IngGenius · 27/03/2023 12:38

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 27/03/2023 09:01

@IngGenius nothing unless I see signs of them in his poo, which, touch wood, has only happened once in five years. He had Panacur and was absolutely fine.

I don't really see the benefit of treating something just in case - especially as everyone I know whose pet has had fleas/worms is already using preventatives.

Many worms can not be seen in poo by the human eye especially lung worm but if you do a worm count regularly you will be able to treat only if necessary.

Wormers are not preventative they just kill off worms if present

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 27/03/2023 12:41

Thanks @IngGenius but I wasn't asking for advice ☺️

IngGenius · 27/03/2023 13:05

I wasn't giving it Confused.

Sorry to mention anything that might help a dogs health........

Seeing a healthy dog bleed to death during a routine operation due to lung worm infestation that the owner did not know the dog had due to ignorance from the owner is not something I would like to witness again.

It is something I would like to avoid using an an easy method , environmentally safe and not side effects.

pigsDOfly · 27/03/2023 14:22

I've tried several different wormers on my dog over the years and with everyone of them she's had the same bad reaction: hyperactivity and fearfulness.

I'm very wary now off using them too.

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