One of these products is sold under the brand Program or there are other alternatives called Frontline or Advantage. Pregnant women and families with children should cease using OP-based products. Retailers should remove OP products from their shelves. The EPA should immediately ban the use of pet pesticides containing OPs. The Veterinary Practitioners' Reporting Program for the U.S. Pharmacopeia, which collects reports on adverse events associated with veterinary products, has received no reports of toxic poisonings in human beings related to flea collars, said Dr. Kathryn Meyer, a veterinarian and program coordinator.
Cats are more sensitive than dogs.
He agreed there are less toxic products that can be given to pets orally to control pests. He said pet owners should follow an integrated approach that might also include sweeping the carpets and brushing the animals. Poppenga said that in general flea collars are safe on animals, but that the defense council report had some merit in pointing out potential long-range risks in children that should be studied further. The Hartz Mountain flea and tick collars, powders, sprays, dips and repellants have contained OPs for 26 years, said William Pearlberg, Hartz spokesman. Most or their pet products contain the OP tetrachlorvinphos.