Crap. Now the dogs have fleas.

libbyann · December 2009

I just treated them, but now I have no clue how to safely treat the house. I want to stay away from bug bombs if at all possible since I don't want Will crawling around on that crap all day and then sticking his hands in his mouth.

I've vacuumed the house, washed all the dogs bedding/anything they touch...what else can I do?

libbyann · December 2009

MrsRosie:
Probably not what you want to hear, but from my memories of our family dogs getting fleas a couple of times when I was a kid, the only way to do it was bomb the house or have an exterminator come in.

Boo, that's what I was afraid of. Anyone know if we have to do this now (as in today) or will it be bad to wait until the weekend to do it while DH is here?

kirknsarah · December 2009

just so you know--when our dogs got fleas a couple of months ago, the vet told us it was the worst year for fleas in 25 years. everyone we know has had problems this year. very strange.

libbyann · December 2009

kirknsarah:
just so you know--when our dogs got fleas a couple of months ago, the vet told us it was the worst year for fleas in 25 years. everyone we know has had problems this year. very strange.

That's very strange...We never treat our dogs for fleas b/c we've never had a problem and I'd rather not put that crap on them. A few weeks ago we drove to Houston to see the ILs and Riley started scratching on the back of the car and whining looking out the window. The ONLY other time she's done that she went on and pooped in the car, so we figured we'd better stop quick. DH pulled over to the side of the road, stupid dog wouldn't do ANYTHING and of course she picked up fleas. We treated them with a pill the guy at PetsMart recommended and they seemed okay for a few weeks...but they're both scratching again. I never actually was able to see any fleas on them, but Sammy has scratched herself raw

2bmrslove · December 2009

It's happened to us a time or two. The vet will perscribe us "Capstar" for the dogs. You give them a pill every three days and it kills all the fleas and eggs. We usually just use that w/o spraying the house and it works just fine.

joyco · December 2009

I'm going to take this opportunity to warn everyone who reads this against using flea meds from grocery stores, or the like. Especially Hartz products. Hartz products have been known to kill animals. My good friend used some on a stray dog she was taking in until she could find a home and he nearly died. There's websites about it. It's also the reason I do not condone/visit Cute Ov.erload anymore. the owner of the site advertised Hartz products right alongside cute animals and that was just wretched and irresponsible.

/steps off soapbox.

labbielover07 · December 2009

I wouldn't rec Hartz brand either... bad stuff and so are any kind of flea "dips". I worked for a vet for awhile... and even if your dogs are "clean" or considered "indoor dogs" it is still good to treat them monthly for fleas and heartworms. I rec using Heartguard and Frontline Plus every month. I'm fostering a dog that is going through heartworm treatments. If not for the treatments she would eventually die from heartworms. It is extremely expensive to have a dog treated. The Frontline Plus protects from live fleas, eggs and also ticks. If you had fleas in the house... wash the beddings and carpets... but they are hard to get out without bombing the house... it sucks, I know. Without the flea treatment of something like Frontline, they are going to keep attacking the dogs even if you clean well.

labbielover07 · December 2009

Also, Capstar will kill live fleas but it won't take care of eggs. Not sure if that is what was used to treat your dogs.

lyndamf · December 2009

I can totally attest to this. We had a flea problem in our garage right before I was admitted to the hospital back in May. And we don't have a dog! I think a stray cat got in there. I just happened to go in there with shorts on one day and they attacked me. I think they were a little hungry. Anyway, I remember it clearly because I was admitted to the hospital these crazy flea bites all over my legs and DH had to the bomb the garage so many times to get rid of them. Luckily I was in the hospital and the baby wasn't born yet. Maybe you could go stay at your mom's for a couple of days while you get rid of the fleas? From what I read they lay eggs pretty quickly and hatch in a month or so if you don't get them all.

UTjessbride · December 2009

Ok this is a remedy that my mom used when we moved into our house when we were young and the previous owners had dogs and left the fleas behind. Sounds really weird but try it and you will be suprised.

Get a couple of night lights per room. Put them out at night. Under each night light put a bowl of soapy water. The fleas jump in and drown because the soap coats their bodies and weighs them down.. Its crazy, but do it one night you will take in the morning and she all these fleas floating in the water. Pick up the bowls in the morn and repeat at night keep doing it until you don't notice any fleas anymore.

libbyann · December 2009

UTjessbride:
Ok this is a remedy that my mom used when we moved into our house when we were young and the previous owners had dogs and left the fleas behind. Sounds really weird but try it and you will be suprised.
Get a couple of night lights per room. Put them out at night. Under each night light put a bowl of soapy water. The fleas jump in and drown because the soap coats their bodies and weighs them down.. Its crazy, but do it one night you will take in the morning and she all these fleas floating in the water. Pick up the bowls in the morn and repeat at night keep doing it until you don't notice any fleas anymore.

I'm going to try this...thank you! It can't hurt, right? I'd really like to stay away from chemicals if we can.

Now you've all got me scared about using grocery store crap. That's what we used (not Hartz, but Sergeant's Gold). I've never heard anything about Hartz stuff being bad. What should I watch out for?

mgucci · December 2009

I have our pugs on Sentinel - its a heart worm preventative monthly- that prevents fleas from hatching eggs, and use Capstar - when I see a live flea on them, and flea shampoo.

Sometimes if the dogs are scratching, it could be that one bite irritates the dogs' skin (flea dermatitis) for a week or so. I give them one benadryl to ease the scratching if they do have an allergic reaction and if the fleas are gone. If the dogs are scratching and there are no fleas - it could be a food allergy or something else.

Use a flea comb for maintenance and if you have carpet - steam clean it if you can. I don't use flea chemicals on my bedding, just wash them in hot water and dry.

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Crap. Now the dogs have fleas.

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