Please don't use Hartz InControl Flea & Tick Drops for Cats! (food, prevention)

[=^..^=]

Originally Posted by emilybh

Natural Diatamaceous Earth that is FOOD GRADE mixed with Neem oil and agressively treating your house with salt and or just regular Food Grade Diatomaceous earth, works the best to get rid of fleas. It really works and you don't have www.buckmountainbotanicals.net. to use a lot on your cat.

You failed to mention that DE of any grade can be dangerous if inhaled. It can cause silicosis among other serious health problems. It's hard to handle without the fine particles becoming airborne and inhaled. I wouldn't put this product on anything but an outdoor plant while wearing a respirator. I can't believe some of the advice I read on these forums.

[stonecypher5413]

Originally Posted by =^..^=

You failed to mention that DE of any grade can be dangerous if inhaled. It can cause silicosis among other serious health problems. It's hard to handle without the fine particles becoming airborne and inhaled. I wouldn't put this product on anything but an outdoor plant while wearing a respirator. I can't believe some of the advice I read on these forums.

Not true for FOOD-GRADE D.E.

"The absorbent qualities of diatomite can result in a significant drying of the hands if handled without gloves. The flux-calcined form contains a highly crystalline form of silica, resulting in sharp edges. The sharpness of this version of the material makes it dangerous to breathe and a dust mask is recommended when working with it.

The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica. Crystalline silica poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis.


Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline silica. Natural or dried diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica.



Diatomite produced for pool filters is treated with high heat (calcining) and a fluxing agent (soda ash), causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to assume its crystalline form.


The crystalline silica content of the dusts particulate is regulated in the United States by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and there are guidelines for the maximum amounts allowable in the product and in the air near the breathing zone of workers."

http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/grsc_subi/Te...nert_Dusts.pdf

[STLCardsBlues1989]

My aunt puts lemon juice on her cats. I don't know if that helps or not.

[BucFan]

if there are any Vets who post here, I'd like their professional opinion on why Hartz products are inferior to the others on the market.

I'd like so see a professionally researched, peer-reviewed article rather than "I recommend lemon because my aunt does it" posts.


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...72946bd2041f8f

[luvmycat]

Food-grade DE...a mask is a good idea because it does tend to get dusty when working it into the floor, and put animals in a different space while working with it. Once the DE (or mix of DE, baking soda & lemon concentrate, which is what I used...the dust doesn't fly around nearly as much) is worked into cracks and crevices in the floorboards, let it sit for a while and then vacuum it up with a broom-vac. The excess will get sucked up, but there will still be some in those cracks and crevices, which is where fleas like to hide. After getting the fleas off your animals, the main thing is to clean your floors every day...really, any shampoo will wash fleas off an animal, they don't stick like ticks...they get some blood, lay some eggs, and they and many of the eggs then drop to the floor. The chemical shampoos, flea collars, and flea bombs are unnecessary IMO, you just have to keep your animals and floors clean. Because cats jump onto high surfaces and couches, etc. you should also wipe down furniture/surfaces daily for a couple of weeks, and put some DE mix under and between cushions. As far as repelling goes, yes, lemon does work well as does coconut oil...stay away from essential oils of any kind when it comes to cats, though, it's toxic for them!

[sparkledsneakers]

wow- this is so scary;
my cat of 7 years came home with fleas, first time in his life.

I tried natural remedies
and daily combings
for a couple months,
but I did not note a decrease in the amount of fleas on him;
I tried a flea collar,
but it didn't work.

I felt so bad for him
as he was in obvious discomfort,
and although I hate medicine
I thought I should try some, because I was tired of
seeing him in such a state of discomfort.

anyway, so I went to the grocery asile of Pathmark
and Hartz was the only brand of flea drops available,
so I purchased it.
never having purchased any kind of flea repellant,
other than the recent purchase of the collar,
I didn't think much of it.

I applied it as stated,
he didn't appear to have been phased whatsoever that it was even on him.

anyway, after about an hour
I thought I'd google the product to see its effectiveness in killing fleas,
and was completely shocked at all I had read!

I immediatly bathed the area with baby shampoo, first
then dishwashing soap-
first time ever giving him a bath.

he appears normal
though cleaning himself a lot
but that could be from the bath
he is sleeping now.

I am concerned for his wellbeing
and hope this product does not yield any adverse health effects.

[missy0106]

Okay in may my husband and i took in this kitten that we found outside in the cornfield in late may early june and he was playful and very healthy. Well three days ago we saw some fleas on him so we went and asked the sales representative at the pet store what to use on him to treat the fleas. She said to use the hartz flea drops and we did and ever since then he has been very lethargic and barely moveing around, not wanting to play or eat and drink much and is very cold. We gave him a bath to try to get the medicine off him but we are still hopeing he will begin to show some improvement soon, what else can we do to help our kitten.

[=^..^=]

Originally Posted by missy0106

Okay in may my husband and i took in this kitten that we found outside in the cornfield in late may early june and he was playful and very healthy. Well three days ago we saw some fleas on him so we went and asked the sales representative at the pet store what to use on him to treat the fleas. She said to use the hartz flea drops and we did and ever since then he has been very lethargic and barely moveing around, not wanting to play or eat and drink much and is very cold. We gave him a bath to try to get the medicine off him but we are still hopeing he will begin to show some improvement soon, what else can we do to help our kitten.

Allow me to suggest you NOT ask store clerks questions they aren't qualified to answer. These people get almost no training and when they do, it's how to sell products - PERIOD! They have no clue what does and doesn't work, nor would 99% of them care. You have use of the internet so you can look things up for yourself. If you can't find the answer, or question what you read, ... call your vet! If your kitten feels "cold" you need to get him into your vet as soon as possible. Or at least call your vet and speak to one of the techs there. Waiting can cost this kitten his life.

I remind you that kittens can chill-off and die after baths if not kept very warm. The younger the kitten, the easier they chill-off. Keep him very very warm after a bath.

[greatblueheron]

Two of my cats suffered brief loss of function of their back legs after use of this product. NEVER EVER again.

[catsmom21]

Originally Posted by missy0106

Okay in may my husband and i took in this kitten that we found outside in the cornfield in late may early june and he was playful and very healthy. Well three days ago we saw some fleas on him so we went and asked the sales representative at the pet store what to use on him to treat the fleas. She said to use the hartz flea drops and we did and ever since then he has been very lethargic and barely moveing around, not wanting to play or eat and drink much and is very cold. We gave him a bath to try to get the medicine off him but we are still hopeing he will begin to show some improvement soon, what else can we do to help our kitten.

Take him to the vet. Right away. All paws crossed for the little baby, and thank you for rescuing him.