BY DR. PATTY KHULY

Q: I use monthly flea and tick medication on my dogs and cats, but I've read that these chemicals are causing more health problems in pets than ever before. Can you help us concerned pet owners with this?

A: It's that time of year again, so I guess this subject is worthy of yet another reprisal -- especially now that the Environmental Protection Agency has seen fit to tighten its labeling requirements on these products.

As you alluded to, the EPA recently observed a sudden rise in reports of adverse events associated with the use of these products. While the bulk of the serious reactions seem to cluster around cases in which supermarket dog products were erroneously applied to cats, the EPA also reported a spike in reactions to some of the products we've traditionally considered super-safe, veterinary-only products.

Serious reactions range from severe lethargy to seizures and sudden death. Less pernicious symptoms may include hair loss or sores in the area where the topical is applied, drooling or mild lethargy.

All of the severe reactions I've seen have been confined to shampoos, dips and supermarket spot-on treatments -- almost always when they're used incorrectly. That's why the EPA concluded that clearer labels are needed on these products. Still, it's worth noting that no flea and tick killer is 100 percent safe -- not even the ones you buy through your veterinarian.

So the problem remains: How do we handle fleas and ticks if the products aren't perfectly safe? When the risks of parasites are greater than the risks we understand the products to carry, we use them.

If your pet has no fleas or ticks, you might not ever need to use a product. But if your pets are chronically exposed to them, the disease risk can be considerable. Tick-borne diseases like ehrlichiosis and flea-related anemia are but two of the more common issues pets face with the heavy parasite load South Florida offers.

As long as pet owners know what kinds of treatments are best, how to apply them and what to do if an unwanted reaction occurs, most flea and tick topicals are still considered very safe -- especially when you consider the alternatives.