flea problem.... help!!! plz!!
 

i have started having a flea problem in my new backyard. I have 3 dogs, 2 of those dogs go outside, then i have my new baby yorkie that is 13 weeks old. My other dogs are treated monthly with advantix, never had a problem until lately. But i guess the fleas here are just horrible because my big dogs have brought them in to my little baby. And i can't treat him with anything because he is so young. I vacuum everyday at least once trying to get it under control. I've looked into getting the flea pill Confortis for my other dogs, but i still can't give my baby anything. I have been giving him baths even if its just water every other day. But i have heard that giving yorkies to many baths period is bad for their skin. And since i'm kind of new to the yorkie breed i really could use some help. I've done a lot of research, but i have heard many different things.
I've also heard about the house bombs to completely kill all of them in the house, does that work? and i have a 2 story house would i need one for upstairs and down stairs or just one period?

Thanks !!!!

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. You need to treat your yard in order to really get the fleas under control. You puppy is old enough for regular Advantage. I have used Advantage on pups 9 to 10 weeks old with no problems and it does work, although I hate using it very often but sometimes we have no choice. Fleas are horrible here in Texas.

Once you break the flea cycle they should be easier to control. Another thing you can do with your puppy is to comb the puppy daily with a flea comb, that won't completely solve your problem but it will help to get rid of some of the fleas. When I comb my puppies I have a small tub of soapy water by me so if I find a flea I will drop the flea in the soapy water.

In order to really get the fleas under control you have to break their breeding cycle. Once a flea lays eggs the eggs can hatch out within a few days or a few months, depending on the temperature. Hopefully other will have some input on what other products might work at solving your problem.

know your problem
 

I think the last time we went camping our little one and one we were keeping got fleas, and past it on to the cats. It was so bad that we did in fact bomb the house and our camper. We all had to stay out for a couple of hours I think, then had to open doors and windows for 1/2 or 1 hr. It helped greatly, vac everyday and took vac outside and cleaned everyday. But they still had fleas. So I went to Tractor Supply and picked up Zodiac flea & tick for dogs & cats. You spray this all over the carpet, woodwork, curtains, & their beds and blankets. Do not soak, just spray, keep the animals out of the area until it drys then move to another room. We did this two weeks in a row, also picked up Zodiac spray for dogs & cats & used that on them. Finally things are looking better, gave the dog a bath yesterday and put his resolution on him and frontline on the cats. They have finally stop scratching & I have not seen anything on them, including eggs. Sorry so long but this was the worst we ever had to deal with & we have had animals all the 40 yrs we have been married. We already decided to bomb the camper again next spring before using it and the house also.
Hope this helps.

added point
 

bjh is right, I comb the animals everyday the put what I found in a dawn solution of water. Our cats never go outside so I know it was the two dogs that brought it in from camping. Winston uses puppy pads at home and especially now because it has been really cold and snowy in Ky.

Thanks. That really helps. I think i'm going to get the comfortis pill for my big dogs because they've brought it in. My yorkie baby doesn't go outside either. And i found some stuff at home depot i'm going to get to spray out yard (i hope that helps some also). Then i might try the bomb for the house also. I heard that they can live for a couple weeks even if they are not feeding. Do you know hoe the whole bomb works? I'm kind of scared to use that and with the sprays that are put on stuff that my children and my animals come in contact with. I have 2 toddlers also. Just worried about all the chemicals.

Last year we were overrun with fleas and Advantix and Frontline were doing NOTHING to kill them on our dogs. We were told by a vet friend to treat our yard with Over and Out. We got it from Home Depot. It is actually a fire ant killer but worked wonders for flea control (didn't have any ants either!!). I now give all my dogs a comfortis tablet each month and we haven't had any more trouble.

Advantage is fine for the puppy...I have a 12 week old yorkie and I use it on him. I live in florida so the fleas during the summer are bad...I'm not sure what to use in the yard cause I have mine treated every other month. by Scotts..but for inside your home...put down salt..Mortons salt....just put it all over your carpet and leave it for a day or so than vacuum up and trust me it will kill the fleas and there eggs in your home....you may have to do it a few times until you get the fleas under control outside but it does work...and if you really don't wanna use the Advantage on your new baby, bath him/her in dawn dish soap the blue color one it kills the fleas as well...Good luck

The number of flea bombs you will need for the house depends on the size of the house. Each bomb will list the square footage it covers. Personally, I'm not a fan of the bombs- I would much rather hire a pest control company to come in and do it for me.

how many
 

we use hot shot which came with 3 cans, we put one off in the camper, one in our upstair area and one in the downstair area. It will tell you on the box the square footage it covers. You have to put up any food, that includes your family and animals. Don't leave any water bowls out. Open areas like closets, especially in the basement area. It really isn't bad, you have to shake this type before using, set in on the floor and set off the can. Your family and the animals must leave for a few hours. Don't put the can on wood floors, the box explains all this. After you air out the house you should vac all the house and everyday for a few days. You don't have to worry about family bedding or clothes. Nor will it hurt the animals bedding.

do you have flea busters where you are at, I had it done recently and it works, they work it in your carpet, in your furniture around the base boards if you have laminate or wood, and also you can order it online, check them out it is non toxic and it they bring in fleas in they will get into this stuff and then they die and it is guaranted for a year if they do it.

It does seem like the flea problems are getting worse -- I used to be able to go a few months in between Advantage doses with my little one, and now I can't miss at all. A few of my friends dogs have been having the same problem.
Has anyone mentioned the possibility of the fleas developing resistance to the medications? I wonder if cycling through the available brands would help? Worrisome!

Thats very true. I was actually talking with my grandmother about that. I have 2 other dogs i always have one or the other brand on them and it doesn't seem to kick it in the butt. And i do not trust putting it on my baby, if it say do not use on pets under 6 months of age, i says it for a reason. Can't take that chance.
The fleas are horrible and only seem to get worse no matter the weather or season. I remember it wasn't as bad of problem in the winter but not anymore.