Don't know what to do

[silyjillie]

First of all I wanna say hi! I'm new to yt and have a 4 month male yorkie, Meeko.

My post is about fleas. I'm lost. Sorry it's kinda long. But I'm new to this and worried, so I'd rather give you all the background info.

He's been on Frontline plus for a month, actually just had his second dose today. But he's been scratching the past few weeks so when we were at the vet 2 weeks ago i told him about it. He ask about the food I had him on, and at that time he was eating Royal Canine. My vet said that was a really good brand but he feeds his dogs Science Diet. He also took out a flea comb and combed him all over for a few mintue. Got a lot of hair out and checked but there was no fleas or flea dirt. He told me he prob has allergies and to give him benedryll 2x a day. I thought it was kinda crazy to give him that everyday for however long soo I went home and did some researching. (good thing because I found this awesome site!!!!!) I was also giving him weekly baths untill after the last bath, i noticed some flakes.

I read up on dog food and decided it'd be best to get off Royal Canine and onto a more natural healthy brand. I went back and forth bewteen Innova and Canidae, but decided on Canidae. I also bought a different medicated shampoo, which I havent used yet because i was gonna give him another Frontline treatment. Then 2 days ago i was rubbing his lil belly and saw a lil black speck run onto his back. I searched through all his to find it but i lost him in Meeko's dark hair. I wasn't to worried, hoped it was just abug since the vet checked for flea and didnt find any. Then I saw 2 more the next morning, killed one but the other ran onto the back. Soo today when I bought Frontline I got a flea comb. I just combed through and only found 3.

Soo, hopefully you didnt give up read by now lol. My question is what do i do about this. I called the vet and they said they dont like flea baths. She said to give him his treatment and when I go in Monday for a check up they could give my some pill that would kill any adult fleas on him. Thats fine, I'm sure either way I can them off him with all the options today. I'm worried about the possible eggs and larvae that are in my apartment. AND even if I get them all out what can I do to keep them from jumping back on him when we go for walks. I walk him twice a day for about 40mins. I would hate to stop that because of fleas. It great excerise for me and him and he tires him out. Hes soo full of energy! When I first got Frontline I was under the impression that even if we picked up fleas outside that theyd die when they got on him so we'd be fine. is that not true. even if they are in my house, they wont hurt him rite? ahh i'm soo stressed over this. poor lil meeko is scratching like crazy and hes such a good lil boy. PLEASE help! its not liek i can treat all my apartment complex's grass.

[Ladymom]

You don't need a flea bath. A bath in Dawn dishwashing detergent will kill fleas. Dilute it 50/50 with water and put it on a dry dog. Lather it and let the lather stay on as long as possible, then rinse.

A Capstar pill will kill the fleas, eggs and larvae, too.

You'll need Frontline or something similar for long term protection. Fleas can develop a resistance so if one doesn't work. try another one. I'd used Frontline for years, but had to switch to K9 Advantix this summer.

Lastly, you should treat your carpets. I have heard that 20 Mule Team Borax sprinkled on the carpet, then worked in with a broom will kill fleas. I've had to use Adams carpet powder a couple of times. The powder, not the spray is the one you want. Adams is the best one out there.

That should take care of it, but remember you have to do all three things - kill the live ones, apply something for lasting protection and treat your carpets so they can't breed in them.

[yellowmellie]

Just my personal opinion, if you've found only a couple fleas here and there I don't think you have so much to worry about. Just keep doing what you are doing. Keep with the monthly treatments and whatnot. Don't not take him outside because of a couple fleas.

I'm convinced its more of the food than the fleas making him scratch. It took me a year to find out about all of my first dogs allergies, poor girl! I felt horrible knowing I was the one to cause all of her discomfort. Change foods to something better and see if that doesnt stop a lot of the scratching. I know with my old dog, the only thing she wasnt allergic to was lamb and rice formula. Which to me would explain the dry skin you found.

Somebody correct me if they think I'm wrong. Thankfully, I havent ever really had to deal with fleas so I don't know a lot of the options available and what to do if it is fleas but I'm sure there is someone on YT that can help.

[Ellie May]

Bathing your pup in dawn should work.
I don't like any pesticides except Program (no real side effects but doesn't kill fleas...only makes it so they can't reproduce) but I would use Frontline next. If that didn't work I might try Advantage (I prefer it to Advantix). This is only if more natural methods weren't working.

I'm sure fleas are a little bit of the problem but the major itching is probably caused by the Royal Canin. It did that to Ellie and several other Yorkies here. Switching to Canidae should help but it could take up to 60 days for the itching to stop.

[Doodlebug]

I just read somewhere that you shouldn't use a flea shampoo if you are using Frontline or other flea stuff on them. I think it was in Parade magazine.