I have 3 cats and a dog who I have treated for fleas with Advantage 55 flea control.They are all on their second does of this and it's only been 1 week and they are all scratching and licking themselves still.I have vaccumed my home every other day and I have steam cleaned my carpets.I don't know what else I can do....I would appreciate anyone who can suggest something else for me to try.I am at wits end with this problem. Thank-you in advance for your suggestions.Have yourself a great day. :-)
2007-03-13 03:13:44 · 13 answers · asked by lauralee_032000 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
This is a big problem, and I know just how you feel. My dog brought some fleas into the house that layed eggs in the carpet, and boy did I suffer one summer when they found me!
They are hard to get rid of ...but it can be done.
Step#1 Get the fleas off the dogs and cats. First use a good quality flea shampoo and follow the directions carefully. (it MUST be left on for the full time in order to kill the fleas).
Then apply the Advantage or Frontline to keep them off.
If you can keep the dogs out of the house, until you can get the house straightened out..that would be best.
Step#2 I know you did it, but get a good company out to stem clean the carpets. Professionally..they use very hot water and suction that will remove the eggs. But soapy water, even pretty warm will NOT kill the adults.
Step#3 You wil need to fumigate the house for the fleas.There are several "bomb" type fumigators you can use and don't be stingy. Afterwards..air out the house completely.
This should kill adults in the carpeting and floors.
Step#4 Ongoing Control:
you can use a dry carpet cleaner when you vaccum that will control fleas. Keep Advantage on the dogs year round.
Their skin will eventually clear up..and everyone will be much much happier!
2007-03-13 04:46:08 · answer #1 · answered by Eartha Q 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your pets don't spend alot of time outside, they are probably getting the fleas from inside. The flea eggs lay dormant in your carpet for a long time. Have a pro exterminator come out and do his thing. That is the only sure way to get rid of the eggs. Can do the outside area that the pets are in yourself. Buy the stuff at walmart and follow the directions. I know from experience about this. Don't forget to empty the vacuum bag also or the eggs can hatch in it. The advantage works, but the fleas has to bite the pet first to ingest it. Careful not to use any other flea product on your pets while they are on other flea control. The advantage will stop the life cycle of the flea before more eggs are laid. Good luck.
2007-03-13 10:29:08 · answer #2 · answered by peach 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Steam cleaning your carpets might have given you a second unrelated problem that's causing all the scratching and licking. Steam cleaning pulls up carpet mites and lots of dogs are prone to really bad allergic reactions to them. Talk to your vet about the whole situation and see what he suggests. My chocolate lab was almost bald after my wife cleaned the carpets last year. He ended up needing a steroid shot to get the itching under control.
The other holistic thing you can do to help your dogs is feed them garlic tablets. It makes their blood less desirable to fleas and will help keep down the flea infestation while the Advantage or Revolution or whatever else you use gets a chance to go to work. Another helpful thing is to get them cedar filled dog beds because cedar isn't a flea's friend and while it won't hurt the dogs, it will hurt the fleas.
2007-03-13 10:22:16 · answer #3 · answered by HuntingMan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For one, you HAVE TO SPRAY the house. This will kill live fleas on the floors and in the couches, etc. Second, if your cat is scratching it may mean it has allergies to flea bites. This is very common and is why cats scratch when they have fleas. Some cats which do not have allergies can be infested and you wont know it. Get a flea comb and see if the fleas are LIVE. If they are, then you might have to ask your vet for another product. Advantage is amazing thought, so I don't see why the cat should still be bitten by live fleas. Flea bites can itch for days, even weeks, and are grueling on pets. You should take him to the vet and have the pets get allergy shots to relieve the itch. This will prevent possible skin infections because of the constant scratching and biting.
2007-03-13 10:21:14 · answer #4 · answered by dimondld1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to get the fleas out of your carpet and just vacuuming and shampooing will not do it. I think there are products available that you can sprinkle onto your carpet and vacuum later and it will kill fleas. If you can find something like that, read the label to see if it also kills eggs. If not you will have to do it every week for about a month. If such a product is not available you will have to get an exterminator. If you choose either of these, I would also recommend giving all the pets flea baths every week for a month. That should get rid of all the fleas. After that I would also recommend using Frontline top spot to keep the fleas away.
2007-03-13 10:25:02 · answer #5 · answered by xox_bass_player_xox 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flea bomb your entire house. That will take about three hours...You have to leave while your doing it and remove your pets. Next work on your pets. Flea dip them all to get rid of the fleas..Getting the problem under control is your first priority...Get frontline, as it is the best and waterproof and keep after it every month. Its expensive, but your other choice is having the little pests infest your house and making you and your pets miserable...Also fleas cause tapeworms,because when the animals scratch themselves, then lick or bite, they ingest fleas and cause tapeworms which is whole other problem....Get the fleas outta there before you get your pocket book into real trouble over vet bills.
2007-03-13 10:34:56 · answer #6 · answered by Tamitay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try Frontline. It will take 3 months of Frontline to break the lifecycle, but should help keep fleas off of them and prevent the itching and scratching. Also keep up the cleaning routine--but vaccume every day or several times a day. If the infestation gets really bad try giving them Capstar. I used Capstar only once and years ago. It worked, but I would only use it under your vets close supervision & only as a last resort.
2007-03-13 10:23:40 · answer #7 · answered by kenya_jade 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fleas may have built up a resistance to the Advantage - it can happen. Try giving everybody a flea bath and keep up the vacuuming and wash all the bedding. Then next month, switch to Frontline and see if that helps.
2007-03-13 10:19:07 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have taken care of the fleas on the pets, but there are still fleas in the house. You need someone to spray your house as well to kill the leftover fleas. You will probably need at least two visits from an exterminator to clear the problem up.
2007-03-13 10:21:12 · answer #9 · answered by fangtaiyang 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi...I have battled flea infestations in the past. It is a slow process. Keep doing what you are doing. Vacuum, treat your pets. Have you treated the outdoors? You may have a problem in your backyard and they pick up more fleas everytime they go out. Use a comb to go through your pets.
I feel for you...good luck!
2007-03-13 10:20:02 · answer #10 · answered by an88mikewife 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋