Green Daily

The Natural Resources Defense Council has compiled a lengthy list of common flea and tick remedies with information on the chemicals contained in them. Each product is given a yellow, orange or red paw depending on the danger it might pose to pets and humans.

I have been a pet owner in the past and this is honestly something that had never crossed my mind. if my pet has fleas, I have to get rid of them somehow or the entire household will be infected and the animal will be miserable. But, some of the common flea and tick remedies are listed as containing nerve toxins and other scary stuff.

The list is alphabetical. Yellow paws are given for products that are a safer chemical, orange paw rankings should be used sparingly and avoided if pregnant or around young children and products receiving a red paw should be avoided at all costs for the safety and health of both you and your pet.

There are even many natural essential oils listed (some receiving yellow paws). Then entire Green Paws web site has a wealth of information for pet owners about being more green and for being aware of the chemicals found in many pet products.

If you want to know even more, check of Gina Solomon's blog post. She's a Senior Scientist for the NRDC and has two dogs of her own.