flea infestation...two dogs,...three cats,...three little ones under five...please help...salt in corners?

Answer 1

I had the same exact problem except no dogs... this is how I took care of the problem:
every month treat them with revolution (frontline doesn't work well on infestations - revolution smells like rubbing alcohol which fleas HATE!)
Give the cats a pill called capstar... it kills all the fleas it can in 24 hours... the vet may have it in generic form, use it the same day as the revolution.
VACCUM - daily. if you use bagless, get some cheap bags and throw them out.. make sure to use the highest suction setting too.
if you have clothes sitting around, wash them and hang them up... clean up in places hard to get to. vaccum the furniture... try to some powder that is designed to repel or kill fleas but is safe for the cats.
I had a MAJOR infestation and the revolution and capstar knocked it out in a matter of a couple months completely! This is one tip most vets will scream about but I had a lot of luck with... get those little cleaners that use rubbing alcohol.. MAKE SURE IT'S NOT DRIPPING WET OR SO DAMP IT DOESN'T DRY ON CONTACT... use this around the cat's ears so the fleas run away from the ears or they'll just run and hide! also if you have the patience, pick off the fleas you can and put them in a cup with pure rubbing alcohol which'll kill the fleas immediately so they can't escape. also bathe weekly with flea shampoo once you let the revolution take effect... once you get the fleas under control and dead you can quit the capstar but continue using the revolution monthly to prevent reinfestation. good luck!

Answer 2

If it's really bad, you need an exterminator. Trust me, I just went through this. Powders, flea bombs and so on do not work.
Bathe your animals, DO NOT use flea shampoo, dip or any flea collars, they're very dangerous and bad for your animals.
Visit the vet, they can give your pets a pill that will kill all the fleas on them within 30 minutes. Then put them on a preventative med. like Frontline. You should always keep your pets on preventative drops.
Vacuuming your home doesn't do anything, when the vacuum is turned on and off it kicks the fleas back out again. So it's a waste of time.
I highly recommend an exterminator. Otherwise, it's very difficult to get rid of the infestation because they lay eggs EVERYWHERE and once you think they're gone, they hatch again.
Washing linens in hot water or just putting them in the dryer will help, heat kills them.

Answer 3

Please hear me out. I work in a vets office, and I am the founder of The Gentry House, a non- profit cat shelter, and I want to let you know, the only thing that is going to get rid of the fleas for good is to use a perscription flea preventitive product on all of your pets. You can commercially clean your floors and carpets and cover with newspapers till all have died, however some eggs and fleas will remain and continue to feed on you lillte ones and your pets until they are treated monthly with flea med.s. I reccommend Revolution for the cats, it kills fleas, tick, worms, and has a built in heart gaurd. Front-line works the best for dogs. This is the type of medication that is applyed to the nape of the neck, and will kills all fleas and eggs in 24 to 48 hours, and lasts for 30 days, and then you must reapply, especially with the weather getting warmer. Also, do not ever fall for the look-a-like drops at the local wal-mart, or wherever- they are not real, they do not work, and in some cases can harm your pets. You do not need to see a vet these days for these med.s just go to your local vet.s office and ask for them. Google "The Lifecycle of a Flea" for more info. Also, swalling only one live flea can cause so many problems, you would be shocked to learn all the damage they can do. Firstly, one flea can cause all of your pets and possibly you or your children to get tapeworms. When a dog or cat bites at the adult flea and ingests it, it lays a larva in the intestine that is the beginning stages of a tape worm. Some people will say, "oh I dont have the money", but there is no excuse. Period. the Revolution and Frontline can be purchased through any vet, or at your local low cost clinic for around $12.00 per dose. I just bought a six pack of Revolution for $60.00. No biggie, $10.00 a month for six months to keep my beloved cat and my family protected. It is a big hassle if it goes untreated, believe me. I been there. As far as your carpet, there is only one spray that is proven to work on the market, it is Available at PetSmart and has a purple label, I am sorry I cannot remember the name right now. But generally, a good 'ol fashioned carpet cleaning and the spray is needed. Do not waste your money on flea powder or flea collars, they do not work!!! Good luck and if you need more advice you may contact my email. [e-mail]

Answer 4

Frontline Plus works great with my dogs. I would definitely recommend it. I'm not sure if this is the spray that MaryJane was thinking of but I got a spray from my vet called Knockout ES and it really works well on carpets, bedding, furniture, etc. Also you only have to use it every 8 months. Generally, I use it once in the summertime. There are a lot of precautions on the label so I'd check to make sure it's going to work for your situation since you have small children. Good luck!

Answer 5

1. You need to treat all your animals for fleas. Frontline or Advantage are fine - don't get any cheepo's from supermarkets as they often contain organic phosphates and other toxic substances which may lead to poisoning especially in cats and they are waste of money, they don't work well.

2. Equally if not even more important is to spray your house to kill off any eggs and larvae on your carpets. Frontline, Advantage and other products used on pets kill only adult fleas. Adult fleas don't live long anyway but during their short life span produce millions of eggs which fall on carpets, beddings and later hatch out in new fleas; this process can take anything from 3 weeks to a year depending on temperature and other factors. So you need to break this cycle, treating only your pets will relieve them for a short time but in few weeks you'll have another invasion from newly hatched fleas. You can get the house spray against flea eggs/larvae at your vet, then you're sure it's gonna work. Usually it's sufficient to treat the house once per 6 months to a year. NEVER USE THE HOUSE SPRAY ON YOUR PETS!

3. You'll need to worm all your dogs and cats (Drontal PLus for dogs, Drontal Cat for cats) as fleas are an intermediary host to tape worms.

It's going to cost some money but especially with small children around you cannot afford to take risks. Cheapest solution may be the Frontline spray because you can use it on any size of dog or cat and even on rabbits. But it's messy. Spot-on form is much easier to apply but you will need different sizes according to your pet's weight and will work out more expensive especially if your dogs are in different weight categories (0-10kg, 10-20kg, 20-40kg)

Answer 6

Frontline Plus--use it in each pet once monthly for at least 3 consecutive months. Kills fleas & flea eggs. It will end up being pricey, but it is MUCH worth it.

Very safe, and safe for children to be around.

Avoid using other cheap flea products, as they are not safe OR effective, and fleas can carry tapeworms, which is transmitted by ingesting a flea, that people can get as well as children. You should also ask your vet about deworming your cats & dogs for tapeworms.

Answer 7

The best thing that has worked for me is a carpet powder that contains Boric acid. It kills the fleas, is harmless to pets and humans and it keeps working for years. Most pet stores now carry these products. They are inexpensive and unlike the shampoos and other medicinal treatments, this REALLY WORKS.

Answer 8

Frontline Plus..

Answer 9

you need to flea bomb your house and then buy 20 mule team borax (it is in the washing detergent section of the grocery store) and spread it on the carpets and under the cusions of your sofa spread it around with a broom, let it sit a few hours and vacum it up. It works.

Answer 10

My son has 5 cats and he knows the problems your having.when it happened to his cats who are house cats(one got out)the vet recommended he put collars on all the cats and use a Bob martin flea bomb,it coats everything in the house in a fine dust and kills any re-infection for up to 6 months.you can buy these products from your local pet shop ,maybe you can buy on-line. hope this helps.Just checked you can buy on-line http://www.seapets.co.uk