Damned fleas! How do I get rid of them?!?

Question

We just got back from vacation and our dog stayed at the in laws house while we were gone. She came back with fleas!!! We've never had a problem in all the years we have had animals so am frustrated. Whats the best way to get rid of them? I have 2 cats as well as 2 kids so want to find something that won't cause problems with them. Any ideas??

I've got her at the vet today for a flea bath and treatment, but how do I get rid of them from my house? I want to try and stop this before it becomes a bigger problem. Fleas are gross!

Answer 1

go to the vet and get a pill called a 'Capstar'... this is an oral medication that last 24 hours and kills anything that is on the dog (doesn't have to bite to kill it...) after about an hour of giving the pill, give your dog a bath to wash off all the dead fleas... after he is completely dry, apply Frontline (or if you use a different flea med.) in between the shoulder blades and this should help take care of them... now i also recommend treating the cats as well (if the dog was let into home, home can be infested as well...) do the same for them, pill... bath... frontline... also, have your home treated, fleas burrow in carpet fibers and can stay there undetected for 6 months... so either call your local exterminator (i recomend Terminix, in your phone book...) or when you are at the vet, pick up an aerosol spray called 'Siphotrol Spray' to treat your house yourself... one can covers 2,000 square feet... make sure you vaccuum before either option to open those carpet fibers so that the chemical can reach the fleas... you will see more fleas about 7-10 days later, treat your home again... may have to treat your house an additional time depending on how bad the infestation is... as far as your kids go (read the label on the spray before you purchase it to make sure you feel comfortable using it in your home...) and if you get Terminix's service, you will have to plan to leave your home for 4-5 hours after treatment (i recommend if you go this route, instead of giving your pets the pill... take them to the vet at the same time of the house treatment to be flea dipped... this way you don't have to worry what you are going to do with your animals during that time...)
hope all goes well and good luck...

Answer 2

Advantage, Frontline or Revolution.

They all work about equally well. Advantage works a little faster, which might be worth considering since they already have fleas. Frontline doesn't smell as bad, which might make it easier for you to apply it, especially to the cats.

Whichever product you buy, get it from a vet practice that buys directly from a manufacturer's rep. That's the only way to be sure it's the real thing. The market has been flooded with dangerous counterfeits and even legitimate retailers have been fooled into carrying them, and many dogs and cats have died.

Also, avoid grocery store look-alike products; they're often dangerous too. Last year Hartz Mountain flea drops were banned by the EPA because they'd killed so many pets, but distributors and retailers were allowed to sell product already in the pipeline, so they're still available.

Answer 3

there are commercial products out there for treating carpets for fleas. Some people have used Borax and vacuumed it up about an hour later.
Remember to completely clean out the vacuum bag or canister and dump the trash outside. Fleas and eggs with be in there and can come right back out.

If you just got back, the fleas will not have had a chance to infest too much of an area so bombing and treating the carpet and pet areas should be sufficient if your vet treated the dog with one of the "once a month" remedies.

Answer 4

I put Advantage on my cat but still see her scratching - but maybe it's just an itch. But, I've heard Frontline is the best - and because you have so many animals - you'll have to put it on ALL of your cat's and dogs. It's kind of expensive but you can purchase it online. Just put either Frontline or Advantage in your search bar and it'll come up with places you can purchase on line. You just put it on once a month and it works pretty good. You might want to check them for worms too because fleas & worms go hand in hand and it's a vicious cycle if you don't get rid of both of them. Good luck - I know flea's can be a real problem for people and animals.

Answer 5

Frontline or Advantage- you don't have to treat the house, the other animals or anything. Once you apply it on the dog it starts working on the dog. Then when the fleas in the house jump on your dog they'll die too. It should clear it up in a day or two. You have to buy it from your vet.

Answer 6

when I had a black lab I had the same concern! i comprehend this is painful ok! What I did became into I took the real flea drops those you place on canines on my mattress sheet or on the mattress. in case you may wash your bedding in warm water in the morning and placed it returned on the mattress. Then placed the flea drops on the sheet. So at nighttime, you will no longer scent the drops and it somewhat is going to be dry try this each morning in case you may. It relies upon on in basic terms how undesirable they're for to choose the how long it is going to take impact. you do no longer might desire to bathe your sheet each morning in certainty this is greater desirable in case you do no longer because of the fact then it won't help because of the fact you wash it off to on the instant. on your soars from the bites you may placed Germ-X or water-much less hand purifier, hand sanitizer. Which ever rings a bell! If this would not help by skill of two months get a flea bomb it somewhat is somewhat helpful to bypass forward and attempt that it did no longer paintings for me yet ot might you, if it nonetheless would not stop regardless of th bombs at a optimal I mean optimal of three months call an exterminator!! good success!! be constructive to apply that Germ-X it is going to do away with the sores i exploit it on ants and different trojan horse bites.

Answer 7

In addition to a flea remedy like FrontLine Your vacuum is the best way. Vacuum all pet areas everyday. The more you vacuum the sooner you will get rid of the fleas.

Answer 8

# 1 Do NOT buy Frontline. It does NOT work. I've tried it more than once & it's a waste of money. Advantage works but I prefer natural methods. Feed dog garlic, mix peppermint oil & water in a spray bottle & spray dog every other day. Fleas & ticks hate the taste. (??) Put Dawn on your dog while it is dry, wait 15 minutes and rinse. I think the thickness of Dawn smothers them. Whatever it is, It works.

Answer 9

Well unfortunately now that you brought the fleas home, you now have a problem with them. They will lay eggs any place they are, you need to keep the animals clean. Also get a spray for animal beds and carpets, one that will kill eggs.

Answer 10

go to the vet and get one of their recommended flea products and then also get the carpet and furniture spray that they have. they work wonders and they are the safest for the pets and children.
the spray is awesome, it drys within five minutes and doesn't have a funny smell like the ones at the pet store do.