FLEAS IN DECEMBER - WHERE ARE THE STINKING FLEAS COMING FROM
I have not seen fleas anywhere in the house, I have vacumed and emptied the canister to see if there were fleas in the rug, NONE, I've looked under cushions, washed blankets and bedding and practically taken a magnifying glass to the floor. No fleas anywhere but a few on each dog. Tasker has a terrible flea allergy which explains his scratching for the last two months. They have both had flea baths one week after the frontline. I hate to flea bomb the house and don't want to keep using flea shampoo AND front line, does anyone have any suggestions?????? |
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| I would try advantage instead of frontline.... |
| I agree with stacey, swap porducts and try something different.
Also get some pennyroyal essential oil, put about 6 drops into a water spray bottle, add water, then mist around the house, carpet, bedding sofas etc as it keeps any that might be lurking away. Natural and not so severe as those flea bombs.  |
lisaoes wrote: I agree with stacey, swap porducts and try something different.
Also get some pennyroyal essential oil, put about 6 drops into a water spray bottle, add water, then mist around the house, carpet, bedding sofas etc as it keeps any that might be lurking away. Natural and not so severe as those flea bombs. What is pennyroyal and where do I get it? |
| Pennyroyal is an essential Oil, like lavender oil etc . Not sure where you can get it over there I usually get it from a health shop or chemist. Comes in a tiny glass bottle and is a very concentrated oil, so maybe look somewhere, where they sell essential oils like that, usually places where they sell oils for massages, oil burners, aromatherapy etc, those places usually stock a range of essential oils. |
I found some online to order, which will be quicker than trying to find it around here I am sure. Does it have an odor? Is it harmful to the critters? I was reading about it on line and it has some terrible uses (herbal abortions) and the warning cause of liver damage  |
| That's if injested or rubbed on a body in full concentration, you are using it diluted down just for misting around the house on furniture carpet etc. It is also made up for dogs here in a spray called freedom flea control spray by dog daze a natural product that can be sprayed directly on the dog, but I prefer to use the oil, make up my own and just mist in areas where fleas might be lurking. Like alot of essential oils the dangers are injesting in full concentration, you are not spraying it onto the dog and it is diluted even if they sniff around where you have misted no dangers there, better then the harsh chemicals in a flea bomb and having to leave the house when you set one of those things off, too many poisions in them for my liking! And it does have a lovely smell to it, like lavender oil does, you can mix both oils together, 3 drops of each oil, for fragrance as well |
| I'm going to give it a try, AND see if switching to Advantage makes a difference. I just never saw so FEW FLEAS!!! Usually there are alot or none. I find 2 or 3 and that's it then a week later a couple more. That is why it made sense when the Vet said they were bringing them in from outside but they sure aren't outside now! I cannot for the life of me figure out where they are coming from. |
Did you also know that flea eggs can lie dormant in a house for a long period of time! Just because it is winter, the conditions in the house with being cold outside and warm from heating inside can make the dormant eggs hatch, that is why you might be experiencing the odd flea here and there, most people think fleas are only a summer problem but the right conditions can cause eggs that are dormant and been lying around in carpet etc for many many months, hatch!!  |
| I'm so sorry that you (and Tasker!) are going through this. However, your post has led me to write an article on the subject:
http://www.oes.org/page2/5804~How_to_ge ... fleas.html Just know that anyplace it says "your dog" it originally said "Tasker"
If you think of any questions after reading it, would you kindly ask them here so maybe I will update that article? Thanks! |
| Well, I have orded the Pennyroyal oil, decided it would be just as quick to order on line as to try to figure when I was going to go look for some!!!! It'll be here this week so I'll give it a try. I did not know that flea eggs could hang around so long |
| THANKS RON!!!!!!!!!!!
Let the BATTLE BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I ordered the Capstar from Petmeds and the pennyroyal and Lavender from the herbal shop...... |
| I know your pain, Ginny. I found a flea on Beau last week when I bathed him. Of course, it's not as cold here as in NY, but we still shouldn't have fleas this time of year. I switched from Frontline to Advantage two months ago (after tick season) and thought that would do the trick. I just wish the darn things would DIE!! Like you, there are only one or two. None on the cats and I didn't even find any on Genevieve. My poor Beau must have yummy sweet blood. Anyhoo...as you said, the battle continues!! |
| when I got Daisy from the animal shelter she had fleas and during our first visit to the vets a few days later she was put on frontline. when we continued to have fleas I gave her a flea bath (several days after the frontline). we contnued to have problems and went back to the vets who gave her Capstar and another Frontline, saying it could be used every 3 wks if necessary. We spent 3 mos using the Frontline every 3 weeks with flea baths in between and still had a TERRIBLE time with her scratching. At that time she was sleeping on hardwood or linoleum floors so it wasn't in the carpet or bedding and I did not see any other than on her. During this entire period, the cat (on Revolution) never had a single flea.
We went back to the vets and he switched her to Advantage and had several more doses of capstar, steroid shot and anibiotics. At this time I THINK we have the problem under control, but since the weather has cooled off, it's hard to say. Also began using Brewers Yeast w/ garlic which is supposed to help w/ fleas. Also heard that lavender oil sprinkled on bedding will get rid of fleas. Good Luck - I know what an annoyance it can be having a dog scratch all the time. |
Poor Tasker had yet another flea bath today  . Until the bug juice comes all I can do is vacuume and wash bedding OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!!! |
| Ron I just read the article and it was very comprehensive to eradicate the flea cycle. I don't know if this is also needed to be included, but they say after a heavy infestation of fleas that a dog should also be wormed to eradicate tapeworms and help break the flea cycle? |
| When Merlin had fleas the first time...we had carpets. I spread borax all over the carpets and let it sit for a few hour and then vacuumed. Someone had said it dries out any fleas or eggs and it isnt harmful to pets or people. We never saw any fleas for a while after that, then Merlin got them again...this time only 3 on him and the advantage took care of them. Again I did the borax on the carpet thing. I'm not sure if I had fleas in the house but I assumed since Merlin had them that I did and we never had any fleas on Merlin or the other dogs since. But I have to say since you saw fleas on Ty and Tasker...I did give my dogs a dose of the flea stuff last night...they were scratching and I had assumed it was dry skin...but now better safe than sorry. |
| You may want to also try giving your pups garlic. It is not so wonderful for their breath, however, it is great for repelling the fleas. |
| I'll have to check, but I seem to remember that garlic (and onions) are on the no-no list for pooches. |
lisaoes wrote: Ron I just read the article and it was very comprehensive to eradicate the flea cycle. I don't know if this is also needed to be included, but they say after a heavy infestation of fleas that a dog should also be wormed to eradicate tapeworms and help break the flea cycle?
Pets (and people) can get tapeworms from fleas, but you cannot get fleas from tapeworms. Deworming IS a good idea after having flea trouble. |
Ron wrote: I'll have to check, but I seem to remember that garlic (and onions) are on the no-no list for pooches.
Yup, you are correct. However, There is a Brewers yeast and garlic supplement which is supposed to be good for the coat and help repel fleas (we are already using it ) and what ever form the garlic (or amount) must be processed in such a way that it's ok. But I have always read to avoid REAL garlic. |
| Have you tried this-- Diatomaceous Earth. It natural and non toxic and it supposed to work pretty well. |
deograine wrote: Have you tried this-- Diatomaceous Earth. It natural and non toxic and it supposed to work pretty well.
Never even heard of it.... do you ingest it, spread it or smoke it |
| Its a power made from the crushed fossils of freshwater organisms. It sratches through the shell of the insect causing it to dehydrate and die. It can be applied directly to the fur, spinkled on the bedding, carpet and the house inside and out. Its supposed to kill fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies and even roaches. I like the idea that it contains no toxins. I don't know how well it works yet, because I haven't picked up my dog yet but its certainly worth trying out. |
| I'll have to look into it!! Thanks. |
| The oils have arrived...... My "plan" AND PLEASE give me input.... is to steam clean my carpets tonight then to put the oils in the final rinse and run it over the entire carpet area. I will also mix up a spray bottle to spray the upholstrey.
Sound like a PLAN? SUGGESTIONS, PLEZ  |
| Don't forget baseboards! Critters often crawl into cracks and creviches to pupate. You may need to puff some DE or borax along the baseboards forcing it behind the wood. There are little puffer balls but maybe you can be creative......and long as you don't use lung power. One miss and you'll end up with the stuff in you and that is NOT GOOD. |
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| Ginny that sounds fine, cracks and crevices just mist into that with the spray bottle. |
| LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!!! I did shampoo and spray last night. Put Advantage on mid week and gave them both Capstar yesterday as well!!!!!
Last night was brushing Ty and didn't see a single flea, today is "bath day" so I'll know more when he's wet. Poor Tasker is still an itchey mess. I'm going to go ahead tiwth the allergy testing and shots but didn't want to do it til I know for 100% certain that the fleas were gone gone GONE!!! |
| the packages says it takes 10 days- a month, and amount Given veries by dog/cat size, they love them, and its all natural. The product says it give them a shot of VitaminB that the fleas can't stand to suck on. The best part is they have a money back guarantee so if it doen't work your not out anything.
you might want to try them if the battle continues. Pat's products Flea Treats 1-800-261-4020 |
| We use Advantrix. Different from Advantage. the Advantrix kills fleas AND mosquitoes. I am in NY as well nut down here on Long Island on the water. Mosquitoes are a HUGE problem...for humans too. Wish they made Advantrix for humans...I found the Advnatrix will kill the fleas within a few hours if fleas are present when administered.
BTW, I get mine from the vet. I know you can get online a bit cheaper but I read somewhere, don't remember where. the on line ones are not guaranteed to work. Not sure why. But with all the wierd stuff coming from China, etc, I stick with the vet prescription. Just my opinion. |
| Same here in Va...haven't seen a flea in years, and just found one on my Terrier. She is SO sensitive to everything I cannot use Advantage or Frontline. I can use the herbal sprays and also some added garlic in food seems to help repel fleas. Also weekly bathing w/oatmeal shampoo...no idea whether this works but I read where someone totally against all chemicals used a bowl of water and a bright light placed near it. The fleas are attracted to light like all insects, and went into the water. Worth trying! |
| Same here in Va...haven't seen a flea in years, and just found one on my Terrier. She is SO sensitive to everything I cannot use Advantage or Frontline. I can use the herbal sprays and also some added garlic in food seems to help repel fleas. Also weekly bathing w/oatmeal shampoo...no idea whether this works but I read where someone totally against all chemicals used a bowl of water and a bright light placed near it. The fleas are attracted to light like all insects, and went into the water. Worth trying! |
| I flea bomb the whole house. A room at a time as we have a cat as well. Have you found the fleas on the dogs also are they a dog flea |
| This is a really old post....from 2009 |
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