|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
11-09-2015, 03:20 AM | #1 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 453
| Fleas? WTH. I know there are quite a few threads out there, but the info seems a little disparate and I'm looking for some quick answers. Background: dogs (mainly one) has been itching for a month. Kept looking - no fleas. Figured seasonal allergies. Then, noticed "flea dirt" on them yesterday and finally saw one flea (not on them). SO, fleas it is. Here are the quick things I need to know as I took off work today to solve this: 1. What home spray should I get for their beds (going to wash too), couches, cracks in hardwood floors? Reviews say some don't work and some make animals sick: 2. What spray for outside should I get knowing that the dogs go back there to do their business multiple times a day (and sometimes try to eat weeds) 3.What bath stuff do I use to eliminate fleas? 4. What flea treatment should I either buy or call my vet for? I see stuff here and there on yorkietalk that says how bad some are. Help. Any other advice? I have only seen ONE so I don't think the infestation is out of control, but I need to stop it TODAY while I'm off. Also, I'd prefer to avoid a vet visit as I know what's going on and don't have an extra $400 lying around at the moment.
__________________ Maggie and Max's mama |
Welcome Guest! | |
11-09-2015, 09:05 AM | #2 |
Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 9,462
| After the flooding we had here in Houston several months ago, I found my yard infested with all kinds of insects, including fleas and MICE!!! My contractor told me he uses one spray for all insects....he sprays his yard around his house twice a year and it keeps him free of ALL pests! No need to have a bug man come spray his house every 3-4 months! DemonMax is the name....you have to spray it all around your home, up the outside of your house 3 feet high, and out from the foundation several feet....that irradiates roaches, ants, fleas, every insect you can think of.....thousands of bugs you have never seen or heard of. I spray my patio and all around the play areas outside in the yard.....it has totally killed every bug/flea/ant/tree roachs/etc that invaded my yard from the flooding down the block.....After it dries for 24 hours, it is safe for my dogs to run around on. For fleas on the dogs, I use Frontline topical. I bathe them once a week in Dawn, which kills the fleas that are remaining.....after several months, I have managed to de-flea my dogs and my yard and my home again!! I have not had flea issues for years around here, but that last flood we had was horrible in many, many ways! Last edited by Yorkiemom1; 11-09-2015 at 09:06 AM. |
11-09-2015, 01:42 PM | #3 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 453
| Thank you! Before I got your reply I had already been to the store and back. I don't know how I feel about all this and I feel like I could be doing more. I got Frontline and gave both dogs a dose. Maggie is red at the dose site. I feel bad. She also just puked, but is acting normal otherwise (sometimes their bellies are sensitive, so I'm trying to not read into this too much). I bought SentryHome Household Flea and Tick Spray. Reviews for all the products were so hit and miss, so I just guessed here. I sprayed my couches, under them and one dog bed (after it came out of the washer) with this. I bought a Bio Active Care Yard Spray, but I haven't used it yet. It makes me nervous and it's going to rain here tonight. So, would be worthless regardless. I mixed water, a little Dawn blue soap, an essential oil mix (has lemongrass in it) and white vinegar in a bottle and have been spraying some things with that. Mainly, my bed because I don't want pesticides in there? I vacuumed yesterday and then again under stuff today. After the 24 hours on Frontline is up I'm going to give them a bath with Dawn. After all of that, I just saw one on Maggie when we were outside. That is only the second I've ever seen, and I'm so annoyed. Thoughts? Suggestions? Words of encouragement? I know it's just fleas, but I've never dealt with this in all my years of pet ownership and I REALLY do not want it to get out of control (not to mention, I feel awful about how itchy they are).
__________________ Maggie and Max's mama Last edited by Samiebaby; 11-09-2015 at 01:47 PM. |
11-09-2015, 06:01 PM | #4 |
YT Addict Join Date: May 2014 Location: Fishkill, ny, USA
Posts: 487
| Make sure the vacuum you are using has the bags. This way you can throw out the bag after each use. That's what I did when I found one flea on my boy. I didn't treat the house as it was literally one flea. I did the frontline and the flea shampoo that they have to sit in.. He is a bigger boy and was 10lbs at the time... I just vacuumed and washed everything that could be removed everyday for a good week. I was 7 months preggers at the time and I was not messing around with a full infestation... When u bath them with the dawn or the flea shampoo (I would do the combo), it has to sit before you rinse it. Make sure the room is warm bc they will be a little chilly and make sure to get between the paw pads. And then I would comb well and see if u get the fleas out. They should be dead after a soaking. Sometimes takes 2 times. Good luck! It's a pretty scary thing to deal with but I think u have it contained. |
11-09-2015, 06:21 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
| Frontline needs to be on for 48 hours before a bath is given. It needs to travel through the skin glands. Wash all toys and bedding and dry on high, if possible. That helps to kill fleas.
__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . |
11-13-2015, 04:52 AM | #6 |
YT 3000 Club Member | I had problems with fleas years ago when I moved in to a new place, I done everything frontline, daily vacuming, flea comb, had my place sprayed and nothing worked. I called a company called flea busters and every since ,I rarely see a flea. I had them come out or you can do it yourself, it is messy but it works, it will last a year. |
11-13-2015, 10:07 AM | #7 |
Don't Litter Spay&Neuter Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal
Posts: 9,874
| Dawn removes topicals, so frontline needs to be re-applied. You can use any mild dog shampoo. Wet the head, ears & neck area 1st, apply the shampoo there so the fleas do not climb up. Then shampoo the rest of the body, legs & tail. Have a flea comb handy & check underbelly & inner legs, as they hide down there, since water does not reach there as much as it does on top. The fleas will be immobile, some will jump off the dog, some will go down the drain some will try to crawl away...depends on the infestation. They do not stay on the pet 100% of the time, mostly for feeding. They hide in cracks & crevices, in your furniture, carpet & rugs, that's where they lay their eggs. Vacuum daily, this is most important. If you're looking for a natural shampoo, Tropiclean & Ark Naturals has a 'Neem' oil shampoo, it soothes bug bites, irritated skin & repels bugs naturally.
__________________ |
11-18-2015, 04:50 PM | #8 |
and molliluv too! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Irving TX, USA
Posts: 1,619
| What is up with the fleas this year? I've never had problem then this year even on prevention mine got them. So annoying. Good luck
__________________ Teapot Club Member |
11-25-2015, 12:39 PM | #9 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 453
| Maggie's itching stopped for a couple weeks. Then, started again this week. Found a flea on her today. Just gave them both Dawn baths and saw a few fall off her. I want to cry. I really don't know what else to do to get rid of them. They're not noticeable in the house and I've been vacuuming/washing sheets regularly. I just sprayed the anti-flea spray everywhere - but last time it irritated Max's collapsing trachea. So, I'm worried about that. Also, sprayed down the yard and going to keep them out of there for awhile. It's like the Frontline worked for a second, then stopped. Great timing too.
__________________ Maggie and Max's mama |
11-26-2015, 05:09 AM | #10 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 453
| So, I'm putting a few things together. Her itching started up again immediately after her last dawn soap bath. Even though the frontline had been on for two weeks at that point, could it somehow have washed it off/out of her system? I just gave her another dawn bath yesterday and watched the fleas fall off. She's itching even more. I put frontline on her on 11/9. I know you're supposed to wait a month, but in this case do you think I should reapply now? Help
__________________ Maggie and Max's mama |
11-26-2015, 05:37 AM | #11 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
| Dawn is a strong detergent which would strip the oils in their coats. The medicine is carried through their skin glands. I've used gentle shampoos that are not soap free, but it would be best to use soap free shampoos. This is from Frontline's website: Use a gentle, soap-free, pet shampoo. Don't use other insecticides (flea treatment such as flea wash), human shampoo, or anything that strips oils from your pet's coat or skin. By mistake I went to their Australian site, but the information would be the same. FAQS
__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . |
11-26-2015, 05:47 AM | #12 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
| It seems like the Frontline was washed off, so it might be safe, but I would have to check with my vet before I reapplied it. I have never used it, but there is a medication you can use to immediately kill fleas, but it lasts for only a day. I've heard people here using it cases where a lot of fleas are on their dogs or cats. I attached a link written about it by a veterinarian. Capstar Flea Medication (Nitenpyram) For Cats and Dogs.
__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . |
11-26-2015, 07:59 PM | #13 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 453
| Thank you! I called my vet when this first happened and they were so unwilling to do anything unless I brought them in. I really can't swing some gigantic vet bill for a full work up to just diagnose them with fleas. I also don't get why they'd want that in their office. I just need them to prescribe me what I need and spend my money on a frickin' patio pest treatment or something. I'm sorry. This is something so minor but so frustrating and becoming a huge drain on my bank account.
__________________ Maggie and Max's mama |
11-27-2015, 04:54 AM | #14 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 453
| Aaaand the vet tech is going to give me comfortis. No appointment needed. Woohoo. Victory number one.
__________________ Maggie and Max's mama |
11-29-2015, 09:43 PM | #15 |
YT 3000 Club Member | You need to get fleabusters, it is the only thing that will work it stays in your carpet for a year, if you spray then by the time they hatch out the pesticide you just used is now long goneprobably. I done all the spray, frontline, vacume, flea comb, wash like a mad women still fleas and after 2 wks with fb, none at all. The powder dehydrates them becausde they dont have a skeleton system. I use no flea meda at all with chester unless he picks them up while traveling and then a one time capstar does the trick. Good Luck |
Bookmarks |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart