Flea Problem! Help!?

Question

My poor poodle! She has fleas... I just started noticing them a few days ago. I need some tips on what to buy. We have a cat and rabbit too so it can get to be a HUGE problem for us. What over the counter products do you reccomend? Our cat had fleas about 10 years ago so its been awhile since I have had to deal with this. Before I used this spray on the carpet that you can also put on pets too. I was thinking about getting that as well as a topical thing for the cat and dog like frontline. What about the rabbit though? Will they get on her? What can I use on her?

Wow! You all gave great tips! I will definitely get on this quick. My mom had fleas so bad that I never used to go visit her because I am sensitive to their bites and they like me a lot...lol. I don't want them to get that bad so I will try some of the things you all have suggested for sure!

Also our cat is all black and is extremely hard to check for fleas because he is so finicky and hates to be messed with. I dunno how to check if he has them or not....

Answer 1

I've always had good luck with Raid Flea Killer Plus on the carpeting. Just remember to use it every few days until you break the life cycle of the fleas or the eggs will just hatch and your problem will remain. A friend of mine swears by using salt. Sprinkle the carpets, let sit awhile, and vaccuum up. No fleas here, though, so I haven't tried it, but it would be cheap! Not sure about the rabbit. I'd call a vet and ask.

Answer 2

Please get Advantage for your dog and cat. You can buy it at PetMeds.com or some other on line store. The vets are more expensive. It's reasonable on line and only needs to be applied once a month. It kills the fleas within 12 hours and keeps them off. It's the best thing since the wheel was invented. They will get on the rabbit, so you will have to check her also. You can bathe in Palmolive (the mildest) dish soap. It's wonderful and kills the fleas. However, keep in mind that it's made for dishes and don't continue to bathe in this. It can cause dry skin with continued use. Use something that's formulated for your pet's skin. This is only a temporary fix until you get the fleas killed. The sprays that you are talking about to be sprayed on your carpet don't work. Boric Acid Powder does work on carpets. Sprinkle it on then brush it in. Don't use salt as it will rot the carpet backing. You can not get all of them and they will keep on breeding. If you use the Advantage on your animals, you will notice that you have fewer and fewer fleas. The fleas live off the animal in the carpet, furniture, side boards, etc. and only jump on to eat. If Advantage is used and onboard when the flea is bitting, the flea will die, so you will eventually get all of them. Animals are totally miserable when they have fleas. The fleas can also cause anemia and kill your animal if left unchecked. Your pets will thank you for making their lives more enjoyable. God bless.

Answer 3

Flea collars/sprays/powders are poison. Your dog has an open incision so any poisons that you put on her have a direct way to enter her body. I wouldn't do it. Truly the bath is a better idea. Warm water onto her incision will not hurt it at all. (No high pressure, no hard rubbing). Get a mild dog shampoo at any retail store (while you are there get a flea comb).. Don't use people shampoo. Wash your dog in a warm place with no drafts. Dry her gently with towels and keep in a warm area until fully dry. Comb her with flea comb, killing the fleas you catch (you can dip the comb in rubbing alcohol to kill the little devils or you can squish them with your fingernails or tweezers). Fleas like dirty dogs. You can apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to the incision when you are all through. Vacuuming the floors is very important

Answer 4

Rabbits get fleas too. Use frontline on the cat and dog; I don't know about treating the rabbit, but if 2 out of 3 animals are using frontline, that should kill off the fleas. They jump on and off the animals; they don't stay on one animal.
Since I don't like pesticides, I use boric acid powder on the carpet, floor, furniture, bedding, etc. It is sold as an insect powder or roach powder in a plastic squeeze bottle. You have to look for the ingredients on the side of the bottle. It is non-toxic; it works by damaging the bug's exoskeleton so it dries out and dies. You puff the powder out onto the carpet or whatever, and sweep or brush it in.

Answer 5

The cheap way - Advantage the dog, raid the carpet. Doesn't work all of the time, is hazardous to your health, and takes a lot of patience.

The good way - Take the dog to the vet, because they've got the more powerful perscription stuff you can't find in pet stores. Then hire a pest control professional on the fleas. Make sure there's a good warranty, lasting 6 months or more. This may actually cost less money in the long run and its the only sure way to get the job done right.

Answer 6

You have to be very careful with the rabbit-I have 2 pet bunnies-Use Frontline on the Poodle and the Cat-----Do Not spray the carpet with flea Stuff anywhere near or carpet that the Rabbit can get onto for rabbits lick and IT WILL HARM if she licks and ingests it and that type of flea POIson stays active for a long time. Test a small area of the carpet with VINEGAR-I use on my carpet in the Bunny Room all the time-Bunny proofed 1/2 of the room and the bunnies have their own litterboxes(litter is recycled paper only)use Vinegar to clean around the rabbits for it kills bacteria and Odor. If there are fleas in the carpet the vinegar will destroy for it is acidic and the eggs will NOt hatch.I put straight vinegar in a spray bottle and spray on the carpet-it will dry in approx 10 minutes if soaked and the vinegar smell will also go away in approx 10 minutes. You CAN USE KITTEN Flea Spray on the Rabbit but Never CAT OR DOG for are too strong and can poison the rabbit. Have used Kitten Flea spray on my rabbits but did NOT spray directly-instead sprayed on their Brush(soft bristle for have sensitive skin)and then brushed the Kitten flea spray through the fur.It is OK to get some BROWN VINEGAR(from any health food store or Even Kroger/Publix) and with the brush dampen slightly the bunnies fur-if any fleas will jump off for do not like the acidity of the vinegar being careful Not to get into eye or nose or mouth-will sting the bunny esp the eyes.You Can use the Kitten Flea Spray on the carpet, Bedding and so on but again Sparingly around the bunny.If the Bunny is in a cage until the flea problem solved get the cage and keep offf the floor-decrease likelihood of fleas getting on the rabbit. But hope your bunny interacts with the cat-mine do and the cat just loves the bunnies although the albino rabbit-Bunny who is a dominant female bosses the cat-will lightly nip if she wants her out of her space,esp when I'm there. Have a Animal Play pen-several clipped together with the tall panels that contain the rabbits-their litterboxes,toys and food areas(each has their own little food area) and a stool that the cat uses to jump on and then jump into the rabbits enclosure-naturally all electrical has ben bunny proofed so they cannot chew and so forth. Bunny ,the Bossy one, is going on 13 years-just about ancient for a bunny and I credit with not being caged -for will run,jump and so forth while in cage mainly sit, and give excellent variety of food esp dandelion greens from farmers market-just about perfect food,lots of available hay to chew on and affecction btween the various pets and also with me. Also have a dog but not allowed access to the rabbits for was already adult and a stray and do not trust not even to train-a Lab mixed with Husky-well the Lab part will hunt rabbits. Anyway got a bit carried away but am always exited to tell of my bunnies-never had pet bunnies until these. Have a flea free and most Holy Christmas

Answer 7

Give your poodle a bath and soap her down with DAWN. If you let is soak a minute or two it will kill the fleas. I'm not sure about rabbits though. Mix some DAWN with water and put in a spray bottle and spray it on the carpet. It should help.

Answer 8

Check with your vet- but rabbits are prone to mixamatosis, and it's spread by fleas and mosquitos, so get on to it fast. Frontline is good, so's Advantix....and so's washing them in water and normal shampoo- lots of fleas float in the water, then after you dry the animal. Wash 'em a few times to reduce the number, then apply the flea stuff- it lasts longer that way.

Answer 9

I am a firm believer in old remedies,I have tried many of them and all of them seem to work for me. Try putting cedar wood chips in an old cotton bag of some kind and putting it near the pets bedding. My grand mother used this in her home and she never had fleas or for that fact i never seen many bugs at all. It also gives a nice aroma to the home. Good Luck....

Answer 10

I use garlic, within a week of using it my husky has no flees and doesnt have the itchies from them either. I just use regular garlic you cook with. If the dog doesnt like it, mix a little in wet dog food. I have found with all my dogs and horses this works great. Just use about a tablespoon once a week.