California Department of Pesticide Regulation
August
1995
Your
cat or dog has been treated with a dip or shampoo for fleas
or mites. The product that was used contained the insecticide
that is circled on the list on the back of this sheet.
Virtually
all cats and dogs have fleas which can be a major source of
irritation to your pet and to you. Flea dips and shampoos
are State and Federally registered pesticide products that
kill fleas on your pet. These products contain a low concentration
of insecticide that should control the fleas without harming
your pet if used properly.
This
treatment leaves a small amount of residual insecticide on
your pet's fur and skin. Over the next few days the residue
will decrease each day as your pet sheds, rubs, and grooms.
When you pet the animal you may be exposed to this insecticide.
The primary routes of possible exposure for you and your family
will be through the skin or hand-to-mouth contact. Skin represents
a significant barrier to absorption, but all insecticides
are absorbed through the skin to a limited extent. Any exp
sure you get will be a small fraction of what your pet received.
Each
time you handle your pet for the first couple of days following
the treatment, wash your hands before eating, smoking, or
going to the toilet. This will reduce possible exposure from
ingestion through the mouth and absorption through the skin.
To keep exposure to an absolute minimum, you may try avoiding
contact with your pet for the first few days following treatment
will also reduce exposure but may not be possible.
If used
according to label instructions, it is highly unlikely that
you or your pet will get enough exposure to produce illness
from this treatment. In general if your pet is okay, you should
also be okay, because you receive less exposure than your
pet. However, infants less than a year old and people over
75 years, as well as anyone with chronic or debilitating medical
conditions, may be more sensitive to these insecticides. Consult
your doctor for specific advice.
lf you
have one or more of the symptoms listed below after handling
your recently treated pet, consult your regional Poison Control
Center or contact your personal physician.
- Insecticide(s)
- Symptoms
of Overexposure
- Allethrin,
Permethrin, Pyrethrins, Resmethrin
- Itching
skin, tingling skin, lung congestion
- Carbaryl,
Chlorpyrifos, Dichlorvos (DDVP), Malathion
- Fatigue,
headache, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, stomach cramps,
diarrhea
- Rotenone
- Skin
irritation, eye irritation
- Limonene
- Irritated
skin, allergic skin reaction
- Lindane
- Dizziness,
headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
California
Environmental Protection Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION
1020 N Street, Room 100
Sacramento, CA 95814-5624
Phone: (916) 445-4300
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