Question about fleas

[Minnie824]

Ok, so my friend called last night and is worried, so I figured someone here could help. Her brother stopped by her house 2 weeks ago, and stayed with her for 2 nights before their vacation. Now her brother is back from vacation and realized that they have (and had before their trip) fleas. So, could my friend have fleas in her house now? And, she doesn't have a dog, so what would happen if she did have them, would they just die?

 

[Betsyt82]

No fleas do not just die. They need a food sorce and that can be the humans that live in the home. Spray the carpet and what not with the flea spray that you can get at the vets. The vets spray is much better than the stuff at the local Walmart.

 

[PieInYourEye]

Fleas are abundant in Florida and you can easily bring them in from outside on your socks. I've used the FRONTLINE spray available at the vets office and it works VERY WELL!

On a side note, I've also gotten animal "repelant" from Pet Smart. I spray it by my trash can and around the front door area. My theory is that if the animals stay away, it'll help keep the other little critters from finding my area attractive to them also.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Fleas.....what a nightmare.

A good sign that your friend is now the food source is flea bites. They look like smallish mosquito bites and itch like hell. They often appear on your feet, ankles and lower legs. They like to live in carpeting, bedding...heck pretty much anywhere. Also if she ever does see one and tries to kill it, they are hard to "squish". You can pinch one between your fingers and it won't even be hurt. This is why I'll never get a dog or cat.

I seem to remember the indoor foggers working pretty well too.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I hate fleas. We had a 18yo cat who we just lost three weeks ago. He had always been treated with advantage to prevent fleas. His last couple of months I think his resistance was down and it wasn't working like it usually does, or something. He was an indoor cat, but since he's been gone my house is filled with fleas. We live three houses from the beach and always have sand coming in and I'm sure that isn't helping. I have spent at least $100. on sprays trying to keep from using a fogger.
But I'm going to the store today to buy a fogger for every room in the house. It is the only thing that really works.
About your friend. Yes her brother could have brought fleas into her house. But she would definitely know it. It wouldn't hurt to go buy some spray and spray the house as a preventitive. She needs to make sure it does the whole life cycle of the flea, egg to mature.

 

[DocRafiki]

Fleas would keep you from getting a dog or cat? That's a shame since there are several products that will keep them away if used as directed. There is no excuse for pets having fleas "nowadays."

 

[DocRafiki]

Tigeroo-- flea populations do become resistant to one product every once in a while, so some people need to change products at times. Resistance can be prevented, though, by using combo products like Frontline Plus or Sentinel (I think it has an IGR; I haven't used that in a while) that have an IGR (insect growth regulator) as well as an adulticide.

 

[alabamaalan]

Good luck with the fleas!

As for letting it scare someone from pet ownership (Yes, I said it!), we have had a dog and cat for several years and are flea free.

The cat was inside exclusively and the dog was on flea preventative.

It can be done quite easily.