Fleas <gag>

[STLDisney_Freak]

I just found out my indoor dogs have fleas. I don't know which one brought them in, but <gag>. What is the best method to get rid of these little suckers? I have owned dogs my entire life and have never had this problem. <knock on wood> I have bought some flea shampoo, frontline spray, and some flea household spray. So far I've washed the blankets and pillows they sleep on with bleach water. I plan giving all of them a good bath tonight afterwork. My husband is going to vacuuming the house good. Is there anything else we should be doing?

 

[Tinkerbell53]

Ugh. I feel your pain. I would suggest getting a flea comb. I use one on my dog to look for fleas all summer. In the past when we have had two dogs they ended up with fleas and the flea comb was a lifesaver. I comb their fur every day and this is weird but I have a paper plate with some Vaseline on it. If I find any fleas they go in the Vaseline. That way they can't get away from you and they die in the Vaseline and then you can throw the whole mess in the trash and put outside. Other than that, I would say vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. If you use a vacuum with bags throw out the bag after each time or if using a bagless vacuum you can cut up a flea collar and put a piece in there to kill any fleas and then empty each time in a bag and put in the trash outside. Flea shampoo is fine and can be used once a week but just so you know plain old Dawn dish detergent (the blue kind) will kill fleas also and is less toxic than using flea shampoo a bunch of times. Also you can get the Advantix from the vet. Good luck. I know it's frustrating and gross but with vacuuming and flea combing you will get rid of them.

 

[Leafsgirl36]

If they have fleas now you can get something called Capstar from the vet that will kill the fleas within a few hours, then I would follow up with either Sentinel or Advantix from your vet.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

My dog brought fleas home from the kennel. We have never dealt with them before, either.

 

[SandrA9810]

Do not use shampoo and Frontline at the same time. One will negate the effects of the other. My vet told me to wait three days before using the next. So I would bathe the dog first, and at the end of the week apply the flea treatment.

Adams is a very good shampoo for killing fleas. Don't be surprised if the fleas don't react to the flea treatment. Sometimes Frontline worked, other times Advantax worked. My vet sold both of them individually for $15 a packet, so it made it easier to try the other one than plopping down $50 for each box.

 

[wiigirl]

If they have fleas now you can get something called Capstar from the vet that will kill the fleas within a few hours, then I would follow up with either Sentinel or Advantix from your vet.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

Ugh. I feel your pain. I would suggest getting a flea comb. I use one on my dog to look for fleas all summer. In the past when we have had two dogs they ended up with fleas and the flea comb was a lifesaver. I comb their fur every day and this is weird but I have a paper plate with some Vaseline on it. If I find any fleas they go in the Vaseline. That way they can't get away from you and they die in the Vaseline and then you can throw the whole mess in the trash and put outside. Other than that, I would say vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. If you use a vacuum with bags throw out the bag after each time or if using a bagless vacuum you can cut up a flea collar and put a piece in there to kill any fleas and then empty each time in a bag and put in the trash outside. Flea shampoo is fine and can be used once a week but just so you know plain old Dawn dish detergent (the blue kind) will kill fleas also and is less toxic than using flea shampoo a bunch of times. Also you can get the Advantix from the vet. Good luck. I know it's frustrating and gross but with vacuuming and flea combing you will get rid of them.

I did not know that about the Dawn Dish soap. Thanks for the information.

If they have fleas now you can get something called Capstar from the vet that will kill the fleas within a few hours, then I would follow up with either Sentinel or Advantix from your vet.

I will have to look that up.

Do not use shampoo and Frontline at the same time. One will negate the effects of the other. My vet told me to wait three days before using the next. So I would bathe the dog first, and at the end of the week apply the flea treatment.

Adams is a very good shampoo for killing fleas. Don't be surprised if the fleas don't react to the flea treatment. Sometimes Frontline worked, other times Advantax worked. My vet sold both of them individually for $15 a packet, so it made it easier to try the other one than plopping down $50 for each box.

Good to know as well. I will wait before applying the frontline. Thanks!

 

[Christine]

If they have fleas now you can get something called Capstar from the vet that will kill the fleas within a few hours, then I would follow up with either Sentinel or Advantix from your vet.

I've had dogs for 20 years and never had this problem.

It happened to me last year. I got the Capstar from my vet. It worked like a charm.

 

[Mokat76]

If you're worried about the fleas in the carpets, here's a one word solution. Borax. As in the old laundry stand-by you can find usually in grocery stores in the laundry aisle. It's a powder that's non-toxic to people and pets when used this way, but makes fleas die.

Sprinkle it on your carpets, rub in with a push broom. (Keep your pets out of the room until you push broom it into the carpet because in can be a little irritating on their paw pads at first.) Let it set. If you can, let it set overnight and just do a light vacuum to get the granules that didn't get pushed deep down into the carpet. You can also sprinkle it into the seams of upholstered furniture (where crumbs and coins go to hide, not the top seams) and just let it stay there. Nice thing when you vacuum the remainder up, it helps fleaproof the vacuum cleaner, too.

I like this because there's no odor, it's inexpensive, it doesn't harm the carpets or furniture and doesn't hurt the pets. AND it works.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

You can get Capstar OTC places like Petsmart now.

 

[bedogged]

I just found out my indoor dogs have fleas. I don't know which one brought them in, but <gag>. What is the best method to get rid of these little suckers? I have owned dogs my entire life and have never had this problem. <knock on wood> I have bought some flea shampoo, frontline spray, and some flea household spray. So far I've washed the blankets and pillows they sleep on with bleach water. I plan giving all of them a good bath tonight afterwork. My husband is going to vacuuming the house good. Is there anything else we should be doing?

I would suggest that you call your vet and ask for advice. Most vet offices are more than willing to tell you what products to use on your pet and home. I live in an area that really doesn't have fleas so when my dog picked up some on vacation, I was at a loss as to what to do. The vet walked me through the whole thing.

FYI, When bringing in rescue or foster dogs, I always gave them a flea shampoo bath before allowing them in the house and have never ever brought fleas in doing this.

 

[LuLuO]

OP, around here Frontline is becoming ineffective. I know of several vets who will not even sell it anymore. We use trifexis now for the dog and Revolution for the cat.

When we had fleas, I used salt on the carpet every time I vacuumed for three weeks. I vacuumed twice a day for three weeks, then once a day for two weeks and then back to my old routine. I also washed the curtains, vacuumed the upholstered furniture. Washed all bedding and put away unnecessary things like throw pillows and blankets.

ETA: after vacuuming you have to throw the bag away immediately or if you have a canister, spray the collection area with vinegar and set it outside.

 

[aprilchem]

OP, around here Frontline is becoming ineffective. I know of several vets who will not even sell it anymore. We use trifexis now for the dog and Revolution for the cat.

When we had fleas, I used salt on the carpet every time I vacuumed for three weeks. I vacuumed twice a day for three weeks, then once a day for two weeks and then back to my old routine. I also washed the curtains, vacuumed the upholstered furniture. Washed all bedding and put away unnecessary things like throw pillows and blankets.

ETA: after vacuuming you have to throw the bag away immediately or if you have a canister, spray the collection area with vinegar and set it outside.

Same here (I am in Virginia); both of our dogs were on Frontline and both got horrible fleas last summer. Our vet said the fleas where we live have become resistant to it. We use Trifexis and it works very well.

 

[mom2rtk]

This is no time to be shy about your approach in an attempt to save money. You need a 3 prong attack..... treat the dog, treat the house, treat the yard. And do it all at once (or as close to that as you can get). Call the vet for the best product to use on your dog. I used some high profile stuff I bought OTC that was supposed to be good (Advantage I think) but I could have just as well burned a $50 bill.

The good news is that with the right products they really aren't that hard to get rid of.

 

[lynxstch]

If you're worried about the fleas in the carpets, here's a one word solution. Borax. As in the old laundry stand-by you can find usually in grocery stores in the laundry aisle. It's a powder that's non-toxic to people and pets when used this way, but makes fleas die.

Sprinkle it on your carpets, rub in with a push broom. (Keep your pets out of the room until you push broom it into the carpet because in can be a little irritating on their paw pads at first.) Let it set. If you can, let it set overnight and just do a light vacuum to get the granules that didn't get pushed deep down into the carpet. You can also sprinkle it into the seams of upholstered furniture (where crumbs and coins go to hide, not the top seams) and just let it stay there. Nice thing when you vacuum the remainder up, it helps fleaproof the vacuum cleaner, too.

I like this because there's no odor, it's inexpensive, it doesn't harm the carpets or furniture and doesn't hurt the pets. AND it works.

I second this..we have 6 indoor cats..who ALL ended up with fleas this summer. They have all had several flea baths, I use the flea comb religiously several times a day ( I let the little suckers fall into an old jar with water and some dawn, it kills them)..and I use the borateem on the carpets an dthe furniture...just a tip about vacuuming up the borax/fleas...make sure if you have a vacuum with a bag, that you change the bag after vacuuming the carpet, and take it outside and put it with your trash. If you have a bagless...empty it into a plastic bag and take that outside, and wash out the dirt cup on the vacuum!

Good luck!

 

[Deb in IA]

Luckily, we have never had fleas, but our vet prescribed Certifect as a preventative - it is supposed to be more effective than Frontline Plus. It's certainly more expensive.

 

[Christine]

RE: the vacuum bag. My vet told me to go buy a flea collar and cut it up in 2 inch pieces. Throw a piece in the vacuum bag and then you don't have to throw out the bag (my bags are expensive). Use one in the bag each time you change it until you are rid of the fleas.

 

[minniecarousel]

How timely. Just yesterday I took my indoor-only cat to the Vet for a check-up. I was so shocked when he said that the cat has fleas! He gave him a dose of Frontline yesterday & I'll give it to him for 3 more months. We have Orkin spray our yard every other month, so we're having them come in and spray the inside. I hope that takes care of it!

 

[lynxstch]

RE: the vacuum bag. My vet told me to go buy a flea collar and cut it up in 2 inch pieces. Throw a piece in the vacuum bag and then you don't have to throw out the bag (my bags are expensive). Use one in the bag each time you change it until you are rid of the fleas.

great idea thanks!

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

Well I treated everything last night: toys, carpet, blankets, and dogs. This morning I looked them over and I don't see really anything on them, but they still seem to be itching. I don't know if it is from previous bites or I just didn't get them all. I am taking them all to the vet tomorrow for nail clippings so I'll ask the vet while I'm there what she thinks.