Fleas! D:

kurikim · #1 11-05-2009, 06:25 PM

Does anyone have any suggestions for flea control? I can't seem to get rid of the little buggers!

I've tried:

Frontline monthly
Baths with flea shampoo (never less than a full week after or before the frontline)
Vacuming bi-weekly
Replaced dog bed

I'm really not sure where to go from here, I've never had issues like this in Fresno! I've been talking to pet owners round here, and apparently fleas are just a lot more prevalent here in San Diego and it's a particularly bad season for them. But I haven't even taken her to the beach for months because of the sand fleas! D: Where are they all coming from?! Does anyone here have some suggestions?

I just feel so bad for her. She's been biting herself bloody because it itches so much, and the vet I talked to down here just blew me off, said I probably put the Frontline on wrong (I know how to read directions, I've been using the Frontline correctly) and when I suggested Capstar that might help (that's what the shelter back home gave her before she came to me) I just got a lecture on why capstar is toxic, but no other suggestions on how to deal with these fleas. I really miss our vet in Fresno sometimes. :/

special · #2 11-05-2009, 06:56 PM

It may be that the fleas were already in your new home before you moved in.

Tiffers has given excellent advice about this subject before, hope she pops in. I do know you need to be vacuuming every day, and put a flea collar in the bag. You should be using at least frontline plus, rather than regular frontline, because the plus formula breaks the life cycle of the flea.

And......sounds like you need to find a different vet.

kurikim · #3 11-05-2009, 07:04 PM

I really do. I haven't found anyone I love here in SD, but it hasn't been a big priority because I still visit Fresno often. I've been getting all Winn's vaccinations, etc. done with my old vet. I just visited these guys because I figured it shouldn't wait, and I wasn't really happy with them. I'm not even sure how to start looking for one though, I've been using the same guy in Fresno since I was taking in our little family dog Ginger is for her vaccinations.

e1beth1 · #4 11-05-2009, 07:16 PM

All non-natural flea treatments are toxic, they're essentially pesticides. I had to try a little bit of everything to find one that works consistantly with my guys. Frontline Plus works best for Kaylee and the cats, I can also use Revolution with good results.

e1beth1 · #5 11-05-2009, 07:18 PM

Forgot to add that Capstar is the best thing to use when you're dealing with a big flea problem. We give Capstar to small kittens coming into foster that are flea ridden, never had any trouble. It's the kickstart that gets you to the point where you can treat with regular flea meds.

bonnyme · #6 11-05-2009, 10:53 PM

Fleas prefer warm and humid conditions. Treat your home and your pet at the same day. It is important to vacuum daily, make sure that you vacuum every corner and even cracks if there's any. Wash dog bed in soapy water. Frontline Plus is the most commonly used veterinary recommended flea control product. you can always explore any possible treatment to get rid those fleas.

CKelly976 · #7 11-06-2009, 09:50 AM

Are you using a flea killing spray or powder when you're vacuming? I used frontline plus for three months and actually had better results with advantage.

I typically groom, bathe, and deflea my animals once a month, and vacum once or twice a week spraying the rooms with flea spray and hour before vacuming twice a month.

Different animals/people have different results with flea meds, so if frontline doesn't work well try another and don't expect immediate results.

it helps to vacum your matresses and any and all cushions as well, I also spray those before vacuming too. fleas are nasty little buggers, and by the sounds of it, so was that vet.

**TIFFERS** · #8 11-06-2009, 08:45 PM

For all the adult fleas that you see, you are only seeing 5% of the total flea population. Most topical flea preventions only treat that 5%.

The crummy thing about topicals is that the more you bathe, the more you wash off. Sure, Frontline says it's 'waterproof', but using flea shampoos you are stripping the top layer of skin off. So, you're stripping all the topical flea prevention off the skin.

Also, these topicals spread faster on a dirty dog. So, all this bathing...you're not helping yourself any. Why do they spread faster on a dirty dog? Simple. The oils on the skin allow the topicals to move across the body faster than having to work through the clean hair and skin. Oil is greasy, remember.

Now, if you're totally turned off by topicals...I want to highly recommend Comfortis. It's approved by the EPA and the FDA (no other prevention can boast that). It's a pill, and it's like a 30 day Capstar. Capstar only lasts 24 hours, Comfortis does the exact same thing and lasts for 4 weeks.

Capstar is not toxic. Capstar is safe to give every single day. We even give pieces to 4 week old puppies and kittens...we have no issues with it.

Now, using a flea prevention...you do not need to use a flea bath or flea collar. You're overloading your animals with pesticides.

Remember what I said about all these products only treating 5% of the population? Well, you may also want to look into Sentinel. Yes, it is a heartworm prevention but it has lufeneron. Lufeneron is like flea birth control. It keeps the eggs from hatching, and the adult fleas from reproducing. So, it treats your environment while Comfortis or another topical treats the current population.

My advise to you: Sentinel and Comfortis

Also, buy a flea collar. Put it inside your vacuum bag, it'll help take care of some of the fleas you vacuum up.

Fleas do not jump from animal to animal. Once they have a host, they're there till death. Fleas generally live 4 weeks. The majority of your flea population will be where you dog spends most of it's time...it's doggy bed, your bed, your couch, under a tree outside. So, keep that in mind. Don't waste your time vacuuming your sofa if your dog doesn't spend MOST of it's time there. Fleas don't travel.

People really think that more is better when it comes to taking care of fleas. That is simply not true. You're wasting your money and canceling each other out. Keep it simple, you'll have better results.

woofah · #9 11-07-2009, 06:21 AM

I researched the different things that are available for flea control for an article in Woofahs.com very recently and I won't recommend any single product. The thing that has worked for me personally best over many, many years has been the flea bomb for inside the house and topical drops for the pet.

The bomb kills bugs for up to 9 months - and by bugs I mean all parasites not just fleas - and that is usually the flea season covered. You just set it off and leave the house for a couple of hours and everything is done. Quite cheap and available in the local supermarket.

The topical drops kill any adult fleas that the pet picks up when he/she is meandering around the place.

The article covers things like collars, dips, powders, vinegar, garlic, injections and is available in the Pet Care section if you are interested.

**TIFFERS** · #10 11-07-2009, 01:53 PM

Be leery of bombs. The fogs seep into every nook and cranny, and just because your pots and pans and dishes are behind closed doors, doesn't mean they aren't getting 'fogged'. It gets all over your clothes and counters and toothbrushes...really, I don't like them. I mean, if you emptied your house out and it was completely empty when you bombed...maybe, but most people don't.

special · #11 11-07-2009, 02:00 PM

The only time I would bomb is when moving into a new apartment or home. And do it before moving anything in, then steam clean the carpets and wash the walls. Then start moving in.

ky_girl · #12 11-10-2009, 12:44 PM

This fall was the first time that I've ever had to deal with fleas and I think that Tiffers advice was excellent. I didn't get the fleas under control at my house until I gave the dogs a Comfortis pill and STOPPED giving them flea baths. Since my dogs are allowed on all our furniture and beds, I'm still vacuuming and doing laundry everyday even though I haven't seen a flea in weeks----I'm sure I'm just being paranoid now but there's nothing more disheartening than cleaning, bathing, and vacuuming for hours and hours and then finding more fleas on your dog. It was a good reason for me to finally spend the money on a Dyson though!

kurikim · #13 11-10-2009, 12:53 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. I finally got a few days off work so I'm skipping my classes for a few days and going back home to visit family. I've already scheduled an appointment with Winn's regular vet for her check-up, and I'm getting Comfortis at the same time. Fingers crossed, this finally works,

CKelly976 · #14 11-10-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ky_girl

This fall was the first time that I've ever had to deal with fleas and I think that Tiffers advice was excellent. I didn't get the fleas under control at my house until I gave the dogs a Comfortis pill and STOPPED giving them flea baths. Since my dogs are allowed on all our furniture and beds, I'm still vacuuming and doing laundry everyday even though I haven't seen a flea in weeks----I'm sure I'm just being paranoid now but there's nothing more disheartening than cleaning, bathing, and vacuuming for hours and hours and then finding more fleas on your dog. It was a good reason for me to finally spend the money on a Dyson though!

o0oh I wish I had the money for a dyson, they look like exciting!

mrandrei · #15 Yesterday, 09:17 PM

Try this Natural Flea and Tick Eliminator.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
(you can also use 3-4 garlic capsules)
1 heaping T. brewer’s yeast

Instructions:
It’s pretty simple, just mix the ingredients together. The combination of garlic powder and yeasts produces an odor through the pet’s fur and skin which fleas and ticks find offensive. These ingredients will also make your pet’s blood taste awful which discourages ticks, ear mites and other pests.

Good luck!