Help! My dogs on K-9 Advantix have fleas....what to do, and has this happened to anyone else??

Question

Hi,
I am very disturbed to discover that two out of my three Labradors (inside dogs) have fleas....a disturbing discovery in any case, but particularly maddening given that I have had them on K-9 Advantix since at least March, and have not gone "overdue" in the dosing schedule. What on earth is going on?? I have two dogs with fleas, I had to go away for a couple of days the day after I made the horrible discovery, but bathed the first dog with Adams Flea & Tick shampoo (I didn't know the other had the fleas, plus I hadn't needed the shampoo in literally years and only had one dog's worth in house). I also re-treated everyone with the K-9 Advantix. It seems inexcusable to me that, approximately $36.00 worth of Advantix later, I come home to fleas, fleas, fleas (plus an added bonus of a dog who now appears to have flea allergy dermatitis!) How can I treat my home (we have birds, kids, & fish)? Do exterminators have any edge? Uggh! Thanks in advance fellow dog lovers!

Answer 1

As you can see, different things work for different pets. I use Revolution on all 3 of my pets and have not seen a flea in years. Before that I used Sentinel. I haven't had a bottle of flea shampoo in 10+ years. Talk to your vet, and see what he/she suggests.

Answer 2

There are several reasons your dogs have fleas. First of all, don't bathe them in anything but a mild oatmeal dog shampoo. Anything else washes the advantix off. Second, Advantage works WAY better than Advantix. Same company, same drug, but the advantix has the additive for ticks (which pretty much sucks as well). Third, you have to understand how Advantix works. It repels MOSQUITOS....not fleas. Nothing repels fleas. How do they claim it keeps my pet flea free then? When the flea jumps on your dog and comes into contact with the dog's skin, it is paralized almost instantly, not allowing the flea to jump, bite, or reproduce. The fleas have to get on your dog to die, so you will see fleas from time to time. I suggest switching to Advantage for fleas, and if you have a tick problem, supplement with a Preventic collar. Works great. I can explain any of these products in great detail if needed.

Answer 3

I have a small dog that we put on Revolution for heartworm and fleas, and even though he is a housedog, litter trained, we still have fleas! He has had at least 3 fleas baths and no change! he had only had 1 dose when we went up north and he was out a lot so I am really hoping that now that he has had a second dose now that will be the end of it. We ordered Program for our 2 cats that hopefully haven't got them (as far as I can tell) they avoid the dog! My husband wants to give him that too but i am afraid it will be too much. I hope you solve your problem faster than I am. Good Luck, your not alone, lol

Answer 4

Change to Advantage or Frontline. Make sure you wait 24 hrs AFTER a bath to apply the medication and make sure no baths after that for 3 days at least.

You may see the occasional flea anyway which is normal. You need to get rid of the fleas in the house and nothing you put on your dog can do that. You can bomb the house, make sure you take the dogs out. They make stuff called Pestop you can find it on the internet, best thing Ive ever seen to get rid of fleas.

Also in the summer months its better to use the Andvantage, Frontline, Revolution, whatever you choose every 3 weeks instead of 4.

Answer 5

If you have them in the house then you have to treat the house. Sprinkle Twenty Mule Team Borax on the carpet after you vacuum. Keep doing this for at least 3 weeks. The borax in the product will kill the fleas and the babies as they hatch.

I use an otc called Bio Spot. I have not seen a flea or tick in ten years. I've used it on my own dogs and on all the rescues that I have had.

Answer 6

I agree with advantage as the best I've seen. The problem is not all flea products kill fleas. Some only sterilize them some only kill eggs and so on. read what the packaging says very carefully before buying

Answer 7

Your not bathing him before or even after treatment? I guess that could be a problem.. I give my cairn advantix and she has never had fleas.. advantix is suppose to kill them before they bite. you may have gotten a bad batch maybe. hmm not sure. Oh i would be so mad, my dog is so badly allergic to fleas

Answer 8

i feel for you.my cat has fleas and i can't get rid of them.i used advantage which costed me well over $40 .nothing seems to be working.

Answer 9

I would say go to the vet. My vet gave me Frontline and it worked and have not had ANY problem with it.