If you've ever had a flea or tick issue with your pet, read this alarming post by Poynter's Al Tompkins on why the Environmental Protection Agency says spot-on flea and tick treatments may be animal killers.

"The Environmental Protection Agency took a significant step last week toward trying to make spot-on flea and tick treatments safer for dogs and cats," Tompkins wrote. "After about a year of study, the EPA said it seemed clear that the treatments had caused some pet deaths and other 'adverse incidents,' including allergic reactions."

The EPA has not pulled or banned any products as a result of the study, he added, but said new restrictions will be added.

Read the EPA's evaluations of various brands here.

Or for more of Al's Morning Meeting post, including bits from the Wall Street Journal and ConsumerAffairs.com, click here.

-- Sandra M. Klepach, SKlepach@News-Herald.com