Fleas
 

I dont know if the dogs have fleas but if they do what is the best thing to give them for it? I think ive been bitten and looked online to compare pics and they look like flea bites:eek: The itch like crazy and teddy has been biting his paws and his but which has a red bump on it like a big bite..i looked and cant see any but i guess sometimes they are hard to find. :confused::(

Hi. I just treated Thor for fleas. I think the most important thing to do is address it RIGHT AWAY, before there is an infestation. I assume you just want a topical treatment for now, rather than putting him on a monthly med.

To check for fleas, get a flea comb, or go through his hair very carefully. Obviously, if you see a flea, he has fleas. If you find black specks that look like dirt, put a tiny bit of water on them. If they turn red, he has fleas - the specks are flea poop, which contains blood.

I took away all the fabric Thor had sat on. I put it in a closet for now, I still need to vacuum them. I've seen it recommended that you put a flea collar in your vacuum bag to kill the fleas if they are sucked up - otherwise they can get out.

To treat Thor, I washed him in Dawn dish soap. I put a big ring of it around his neck so they couldn't jump up to his head. Then I worked down. After the bath and drying him, I put a lamp very low to the ground with a big, flat dish of water. Supposedly fleas will jump towards the light (at night) and drown in the water. I ran a flea comb over him again to make sure the black specks were gone.

It's been a few days and Thor has continued to scratch, even though I can't find fleas. :( I don't know at this point if he is scratching old bites, or if he has an allergy since I just switched his food. It's perplexing. :idontknow

I would get Frontline Plus for your dogs, wash all bedding (including yours), sprinkle the carpet and mattresses with boric acid (don't let them touch it) and vacuum it up. That should take care of it. It wouldn't hurt to spray or sprinkle something outside either.

FYI, boric acid IS bad for dogs (and us), so yes, vacuum it up if your pets might have contact with that area.

Thanks everyone!!! They didnt have frontline in petco according to my bf:rolleyes: i bet u if i go i will find it lol but anyway he got this shampoo called adams plus so i am going to try that. Teddy is itching a lot lately and biting himself!