Creosote dip may kill pets and people.
Creosote is a thick, tarry liquid made from coal or wood. Creosote dip will kill fleas and mites but may also kill the animal being dipped or harm the person dipping the animals. Commercially available creosote insecticide dips for animals appeared in the early 1900s. The Creosote Council lists many uses for creosote, including as a pesticide, but does not list flea dips as one of these uses.
Fun Facts
Commercial creosote dips for pets and livestock contained instructions to heavily dilute their dip with water. Martin's Creosote Dip recommended adding 1 part dip to 70 parts water. The instructions noted that the product would kill if "swallowed or absorbed through the skin." These dips are no longer available. The US Environmental Protection Agency banned the sale of creosote dips for animals on July 1 1987.
Other Uses
Diluted creosote dip for animals was painted on floors of barns, pig stys and dog kennels to kill fleas. It could not be used in dairy barns because the creosote fumes would spoil the taste of the milk. In the August 1923 issue of "The Dog Fancier" a doctor named O. P. Bennett recommended a fly-repellent mixture using 1 oz. of creosote to apply directly to dog ears to repel flies. These uses put people and animals at risk of poisoning and contracting cancer.
Regulation Today
Only professional exterminators can legally use pesticides with creosote because of EPA regulation, so creosote dips cannot be sold over the counter. People may try to create home-made flea or mange dips using creosote wood preservative as a base, but this is far too dangerous and not recommended, notes Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Warning
Creosote that touches human skin causes the skin to redden, blister, swell and itch, notes the UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program. Creosote accidentally eaten or overexposure to creosote fumes causes stomach pain; burning sensations in the mouth and triggers asthma attacks.
Related posts
Hydrated lime (also referred to as high calcium lime) is a type of lime that is often used as an ingredient in various building products such as plasters and mortars. Lime is often seen as a metho...
Beagles have short coats, which makes them easier to treat for fleas than dogs with long or thick hair. Beagles are friendly and tend to get along with other dogs and cats and may catch fleas from...
Anyone who has a dog knows that it is not hard for ticks to find them. Most people also know dealing with ticks is not fun. Unfortunately, they are often difficult to avoid. If your dog goes into...
Find a way to kill ants that is safe for your dog.It may be your first instinct to reach for a can of pesticide when you see those little black insects inside your house. However, chemicals are no...
Get Rid of FleasFleas can transmit disease and cause tapeworm, so getting rid of fleas on your pet is a must for a healthy animal and a healthy home. Fleas prefer warm and humid conditions and is...
