For as long as domesticated pets have roamed the halls and households of their owners, fleas and ticks have often roamed right along with them. Outside giving Rover and Fluffy a bath once a week to control these pests, many pet owners think their only option for combating the problem is to strap the ubiquitous flea collar around their pet's neck, dip them in a chemical bath, spray them with some kind of pest control spray, or dab the back of their necks with a monthly ointment preparation.

Those solutions are certainly solutions, and they do work. However, flea and tick treatments, both over-the-counter ones and prescription ones, usually contain toxic chemicals. Not only can those chemicals potentially poison your pet, they can also harm you and your family. Even when you apply them following the instructions provided, pesticides such as tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur can be deadly if you are in contact with them on a regular basis. Think of little Susie picking up Fluffy and hugging her tightly, cooing in her little whiskered face how much she loves the kitty. Do you seriously want to have toxic chemicals radiating their fumes just inches away from little Susie's face?

The Natural Resources Defense Council has a mission to protect wildlife and animals of all kinds, and to ensure that life on earth exists in a health environment. Their new report on pesticides for the flea control and ticks strongly recommends that the FDA should ban some pesticides from being used in pet products, and the NRDC advises consumers to closely scrutinize how safe products on the market are, before using them on their pet.

The NRDS examined the listed ingredients of over 100 flea and tick treatments, to compile a report about which chemicals they contain and how toxic those chemicals are. The report details which chemicals have been scientifically linked to allergies, asthma, and even cancer in humans, and which are suspected to be endocrine disruptors. Every product is categories in the report according to its possible risks. Young children and pregnant women are especially at risk, and should try to avoid all pesticides that may be used on animals. Spot treatments, in particular those containing phenothrin and cyphenothrin, may pose a hazard to both people and pets because they are very concentrated.

In some cases, particularly severe infestations, chemical control is unavoidable. In these cases, consumers can choose a safer treatment and avoid extremely toxic chemicals by following the recommendations on the NRDC's list. But for regular ongoing prevention of flea and tick problems, there are several safe and effective natural solutions.

Regular vacuuming, coming, and bathing of your pet can greatly reduce the spread of fleas. Fleas caught in brushes and combs can be drowned easily in soapy water. Baths control fleas easily, and any soap will get rid of the fleas - you don't need a chemical-laden flea soap to do the trick. Your pet's bedding should be washed in warm water at least once a week. Fleas have a tendency to accumulate and breed in pet bedding, so when you gather up the bedding to put it in the wash, take care not to fluff the bed or shake it, to avoid spreading any flea eggs or larvae that might be secreted in the bedding. When you vacuum, bags should be thrown away immediately to prevent the fleas from being able to escape and re-infest the area. For a severe infestation, a professional carpet cleaning using a steam cleaner will do the trick.

Since fleas come in from outdoors, keeping your outdoor areas maintained and clean will greatly reduce the risk of an indoor infestation. Keep grass and shrubs trimmed neatly, especially in areas where your pets spend a lot of time. Increased dryness and sunlight will reduce the presence of fleas. Nematodes, which are available at any garden supply store, can be used as a biological, non-chemical approach to controlling fleas outdoors. There are some herbal and natural flea control products containing citrus, cinnamon, cloves, lavender, bay, and other oils, that may be used to treat pests on pets. But these should be used sparingly because they may cause allergic reactions in people and/or pets.

Flea infestations are definitely a miserable problem to deal with. But making your pet health or your family sick in trying to prevent or control them would be even more miserable. Before slathering your pet with toxins and risking the health of them and your family, try a natural flea control approach first.