Fleas??

[Maxinesmom]

OK I'm looking for help from the wealth of knowledge here on the DIS. I have two dogs - both are treated routinely with Frontline and I also have two cats who aren't treated but do not go outside. Our vet said if we didn't want to treat them it wasn't necessary if we were treating the dogs and keeping the cats inside. So that said, the husband had some bites on his ankles the other day and I noticed some bites on my chest today that look like flea bites (according to the pictures I found online anyway ) My animals are not itching AT ALL. I don't see anything but at the same time I'm afraid that I am bypassing an opportunity to deal with this before it IS a problem. So do I treat now? If so, how? Are there products that are safe for cats? Where do you even start? I've been vaccuming a lot and we haven't SEEN anything. We've checked the cats and dogs and don't see anything. Are there bites that mimic a flea bite in appearance? Am I worry for nothing? Help!!

 

[gladstoneganderfan]

Check the base of their tales. Do you see something that looks like fine coffee grounds? That's flea "dirt". If your cats are fluffy, you may not see the fleas without getting down to their skin.

As far as what to use on cats, I use advantage. I'm pretty sure they make a frontline for cats, but it seems that Advantage works better were I live (lower AL).

 

[Sparx]

look behind the ears of all the animals, and at the base of their tails (the part that touches their back.) and see if there is a fine black/brown powder. that is flea poop. my mothers cats never leave the house, but still have to be regularly treated. fleas live outside, and if you go outside, you can bring them in on your clothes/shoes/socks, and thats how indoor animals catch fleas. i suggest treating your cats the same way you treat your dogs.

 

[bballmom56]

I use the Advantage also. My vet said that around here, the Frontline has not been working lately - that perhaps the fleas were becoming resistant to the chemical in it. I tried Advantage and that worked. So if the Frontline is not working, then the dogs could be bringing fleas into the house.

I just put Advantage on my cats on Saturday since I had noticed a few bites on me. I flea combed them and found no flea dirt or fleas along their backs or the base of their tails, but did find fleas under their chins, down the front of their necks. I should have used the Advantage sooner, before I found them .

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You need to look thru you animals fur and see if you can see the flea "dirt", which is dried blood.

Easy way to check is to get a damp white cloth/paper towel and if it is "dirt" it will turn to blood spots on the towel.