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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

916.0. "Flea Collars = Cancer?" by SDTPMM::HAMPSON (Nurture Nature) Fri Jul 14 1995 17:37

                   
    I recently heard that it is thought that there may be a link between
    the use of flea collars and cancer in our pets.  The suggestion is
    that the pet breathes in fumes from the insecticide in the collars. 
    
    It reminds me of when I was a kid and my mother would put that awful- 
    smelling Vicks vapo rub on my chest and I'd breathe it in to help my
    cold.  If something put on my upper chest to breathe in was to help
    me, it does not seem impossible to me that putting an insecticide
    around our pets necks could be breathed into their internal systems
    and eventually cause them this kind of harm.
    
    Has anyone else heard this?  It really does make sense to me, and I'm
    reluctant to use them because of it, even though I have problems with
    fleas in the house (having a dog and one outdoor and one indoor cat).
    
    Donna
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916.1collar work through the liverUSCTR1::TRIPPMon Jul 17 1995 13:3119
    My understanding is that flea collars repel insects by working
    *through* the animal's liver.  Probably that is why the package warns
    not to use on kittens, pregnant or lactating mothers, or ill cats.
    
    When I brought Fluffy to the vet (a new vet I had never met) he was
    quite adament about collars, telling me they were of no good at all. 
    and suggested a spray he sells one for the cat another for the house
    which he says *is guaranteed* to eliminate fleas.
    
    I keep one on Barney, but mostly because it is blue, you can see it
    from a distance, and to me it means he has a home and someone really
    loves him!  He has actually never had a flea problem.  Oh and I buy the
    BREAKAWAY type collar, to eliminate any strangulation possibility.
    
    Cancer, nope haven't heard this.  Next we'll be hearing it causes
    cancer in people by handling them!  I'm not sure if the FDA regulates
    this or not. I'm not sure who regulates animal drugs and devices.
    
    Lyn
916.2Maybe 20 collars at a time for 30 years...KAMALA::DREYERMore great memoriesMon Jul 31 1995 22:516
	I really wouldn't worry about flea collars causing cancer.  Sabrina wore
one for 13 years when she was an indoor/outdoor cat.  She's 16 now and shows
no signs of any problems.  My parents cats also lived long, healthy lives and
except for their first year wore flea collars.  

	Laura