This page is dedicated to informing the public to the dangers of using commonly prescribed toxic, sometimes fatal, flea and tick preventatives. We will also provide you with alternative options to safely and effectively treat fleas on your dog.

Conventional medicine dictates the use of pharmaceutical drugs and chemicals that have proven harmful and/or fatal to many unsuspecting pets and pet owners. New Beginnings encourages the use of natural products for the control of fleas and ticks.

The following list of chemicals, found in the spot-on products, are particularly concerning:

• Imidacloprid – This chemical is a neonicotinoid insecticide, the class of chemicals believed responsible for the massive die-offs of bees, butterflies and songbirds.

• Flumethrin – A member of the pyrethrum family of chemicals, which includes permethrin and pyrethroid, pyrethrum-based products are the most common type of flea control products available today.

• Isoxazoline – The Food Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning that this chemical insecticide could potentially cause neurological adverse events, such as muscle tremors, seizures and loss of muscle control in dogs and cats.

• Fipronil – This chemical acts by disrupting the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. Clinical signs of toxicity include itching, sores, skin irritation, hair loss, lethargy and vomiting. When applied, it turns into a metabolite that is 20 times more toxic. Family members cuddling with the pet can absorb the chemical as well. The US EPA has classified fipronil as a “Group C – Possible Human Carcinogen.”

• Permethrin – This commonly used insecticide is a central nervous system poison and can cause neurotoxic symptoms even if derived from natural chrysanthemums. An endocrine disruptor, it is toxic to the liver, thyroid, pancreas and reproductive system. Symptoms of toxicity include incontinence, tremors, paralysis, nerve damage, difficulty breathing, paralysis, coma and death.

• Pyrethrin – This neurotoxic pesticide has been known to cause vomiting, seizures, skin reactions and death. Cats are often sensitive to this chemical – natural or synthetic – so it shouldn’t be applied to cats or any dog that comes into contact with a cat or has a predisposed sensitivity condition.

Here’s the question you need to ask yourself... Do you really want to expose your pet to these pesticides 24/7 for months on end?

** Healthy & Safe Alternatives **