We've got fleas.
 

Luma was itching all day yesterday and today I found fleas on both dogs. I'm upset, this is the first time I've ever dealt with fleas and I don't know where to start? They have never had flea prevention (I know, shame on me.) So...what do I do? Do I go to the vet? We bathed them and took a flea comb to them, shaved them down, but what about eggs and larvae in my house? About to throw everything into the wash.

I think you can get a capstar treatment at a vet or groomer then start then on prevention.

Yeah, I'm in FL and it's been brutal here. First I clipped my boys hair shorter into a puppy cut. Vacuuming is key to getting eggs, larvae as well as adults. I use a real fine flea comb to get the black flea poop out of their coat (I know gross, right?). I do this every day or two. You can collect in the teeth of the comb and wipe off into a tissue then flush). You will see some fleas, I take them off with tweezers. I use blow dryer on cool setting and when you see a flea stop and remove with tweezers. Then I bathe them and dry them, and remove any other fleas I see. The vet will have the spray for carpets and furniture. Use the spray once a week for 2-3 weeks then once a month to maintain. Make sure it contains the product IGR which gets the larvae. A lot of products do not kill the larvae so you're wasting time. I vacuum every other day. After two weeks I am finally seeing an improvement. I didn't have to bathe him today. I combed him and sprayed conditioner on him. There was a lot off flea poop but only three fleas and they were young. Make sure you clean out your vacuum bag right away. I wash all the blankets too on the sofas/chairs twice a week. I use an over blanket on top of my bedspread so my bed stays clean. I shake it off and wash twice a week too. I only have one pup right now so it's not too bad, but I will be getting a new fur baby in July and want to get it under control before he arrives I am planning on shampooing carpets just before he comes to remove any of he flea spray. I did one room and shut the door and let the carpet dry for three hrs then vacummed next morning so the dogs aren't exposed to the fumes. If you just have wood floors it's so much easier vacuum/mop.

:thumbup: on the capstar! Works great and fast!

dog
 

In hate fleas and I am sorry you have to deal with this problem. I put my boys on Revolution and I am happy with it so far. I used this last year too. They have no problems with it, no itching, no vomting, acting crazy. It has no smell and you can bathe them with this on. It works for me in California. I hope you can rid your dogs and home from these horrible fleas.

Yeah, mine is on Revolution too. It works good for the first two weeks but then toward the end of the month the effectiveness seems to wear off.

I got the capstar and went nuts cleaning everything and got them started on Frontline. I definitely don't like the chemicals but, at least during the summer, its necessary. Yuck. My skin is still crawling from picking them out of their hair with the flea comb..

I'm glad you got the Capstar and Frontline. Keep vacuuming and washing. I saw a flea for the first time in my life 2 summers ago. Thankfully avoided an infestation by vacuuming and washing daily for a few weeks. Exhausting! Don't forget the car if the girls ride in it.

The pill Comfortis is excellent also. I believe it starts working in 30 minutes (I haven't had to use it in a year, but pretty sure it takes 30 min. to take affect) Make sure you get the one that kills larva, babies and adults. It's a once a month treatment. I believe it can only be gotten at your vet. Daily vacuuming is a MUST, empty vac canister after each use in your outside trash not inside trash pail. Wash all dog bedding, your bedding if that's where your pup sleeps.Good luck.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

flea busters in the only way to go for inside your house, safe and lasts for a year its messy but it works. I had moved into a condo years ago and several months later fleas every so many days even though I vacumed every day done frontline and a flea comb, still had fleas and then fleabusters rarely see a flea on him

Here is a neat trick. Get an inexpensive flea collar and put it in your vacuum. Kills the eggs and fleas that might be present in your home. Our cleaning person suggested it years ago and we have not had a problem since we started that protocol.

Ed and kathy

this post reminded me what my NY vet told me years ago. Buy flea collars, cut into several strips, put between sofa seats, in dogs bed, where ever pup sleeps or sits. Thanks ed and Kathy for juggling my memory cells, I will be buying flea collars and placing all over my house as a preventive measure. I have NO fleas and would like to keep it that way.:)

great idea. Was also curious to know how it was going with your new pet fleas

I would not leave the flea collars anywhere that a dog or other pet could reach them and potentially chew on them/ingest the chemicals or parts.