whats the best repellent for flea bites?

Question

my friend goes over her boyfriends house and it's infested with fleas and she gets bitten alll the time, she is getting scared by them but the boyfriends family doesnt care as they dont get bitten and said the fleas are 'part of the family now'

Answer 1

That's disgusting ~ fleas carry disease, that's how the black plaque got started. Tell your friend not to go over there until they get rid of them. Use a dryer sheet and rub it on your clothes, for some reason it acts as a bug repellent.

Answer 2

Her boyfriend needs to treat the dogs with a topical flea prevention like frontline plus or advantix (both kill fleas and ticks). This is not enough with a full blown infestation. He also needs to treat all the carpets and rugs in the house. One of the best products you can get is called Fleastoppers. The way it works is you sprinkle it on the carpets and leave it down for a week. It will dry out and kill the eggs that have been laid in the carpets and the adult fleas. If you can't find it, you can also purchase an orthoboric acid based powder from home depot, it's the same stuff. As far as protecting yourself, sure "Off" works but why not get to the root of the problem. Fleas are serious, they can cause flea induced anemia in pets not to mention skin conditions which are costly to treat.

Answer 3

That's awful! Never mind repelling the fleas - sounds like it is the boyfriend that needs repelling.

Maybe she should go there smelling like a herb patch - Fleabane, Rosemary and Artemisia are all supposed to have flea repelling properties - although when they were used during the plague they don't seem to have been strong enough to work THAT well!

Answer 4

If their family doesn't mind, then maybe they should spend some time at your friend's house, not the boyfriend's. But if she does go over there, tell her to rub down with Skin So Soft by Avon. It worked when I was younger and we lived at the beach. Repels sand fleas so it sould work here as well. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

OMG surely you're Not serious.Is this a wind up or for real. I can't beleive that people actually WANT to live in these conditions.Fleas are NOT pets and this family want reporting to the enviromental health department. Its your duty to do so if this is true.Fleas breed and lay eggs like wild fire. Tell your friend to ditch the boyfriend and get someone decent and clean to go out with. If there house is this filthy what about their hygiene routine. URRGH! it makes me shudder just to think about it! She will also be spreading the problem as she'll be carrying them to her own home and infesting her house and so the problem will go on.

Answer 6

Benedryl sticks works great. The Fleas carry diseases.
I knew a Vet that was helping a cat at his clinic and he got bit by a flea and ended up in the Hospital and he almost did not make it . He ended up having the Plague. The Plague is carried by the Flea.

Answer 7

Tell her to use an insect repellant cream on arms and legs, and to eat a clove of garlic every day or take it in tablet form! I know it sounds crazy but it does work! I used to work in the community as a carer and it's amazing how many pet owners ignore fleas. I give my own dog and cats garlic every day and rarely have a flea problem! Perhaps she should give her boy-friend a present. Nicely wrapped bottles of household and animal flea sprays! lol. Personally I just wouldn't visit HIS home!

Answer 8

That, to put it mildly, is disgusting. Have your friend tell her boyfriend's family that fleas were the carrier of the bubonic plague (not the rats, contrary to popular belief).

I'm not sure what would work to deter the fleas from biting. Maybe try a bug repellent with DEET in it.

Answer 9

YUCK...I would say that I would want someone that cares about not keeping parasites! But I can give her some tips! Always wear long sleeve shirts (tight ones or the fleas will get under it) and long jeans. I use OFF DEEP WOODS for my family, but it does contain deet (which is a pesticide and can be dangerous to your health) my choice to use it was personal and different health factors. She could spray her clothes with it all over, but may have to reapply if she stays very long. She still may get bit, but it should lessen how much.

Answer 10

Hey cats!
There is a load of bollocks being posted on this page about fleas, OK so lets me have your vets address so that I can check with him to see if he did get the plague from a cat flea.
If this did happen bells would have started ringing around the world.

Your vet could not have got the plague from a cat flea, it is the rat flea that carry the bubonic plague.