what is this?

Question

weve been treating our dog with frontline, and treating house with spray/hoovering, we got our dog a haircut, but he's got scabs all over his coat.

last night when we put him on his bed (we were washing the cover) so its white and we noticed alot of black specks, i dont know if this is flea dirt?

general dirt (as he was walked to the groomers) ??

or actual fleas?? i sprayed it with Perymythin spray and they didnt move, so would it be flea excrement or flea dirt? how can i tell?

also is there any way 2 tell what is cat fleas and dog fleas? i would love to know as i could maybe distinguish how he got them. he either got them from the field from another dog, or maybe a stray cat (as cats come in our back yard)

Answer 1

Cats fleas and dog fleas are fairly indistinguishable, and they affect both species, as well as humans.

First question, when you Frontline the dog, does it ALL get in the skin? If it's getting all over his coat, it's unlikely to work. Second question - what housespray are you using? If it's from a store, it's unlikely to work.

You'll know if they're actual fleas, they move fast! If they're dead, just look close, you'll see the little legs. If it's fleas dirts, wipe them over with wet, white kitchen towel - flea dirt is digested blood, so it will turn red on contact with water.

I would be questioning the groomer I sent my dog to if they didn't mention that he had scabs all over him!

Chalice

Answer 2

Take the bedding and fold it so you can sprinkle the 'dirt' into a container of some kind. Next add water to the container and swish the dirt around. If the dirt stays solid and doesn't break down, it's dirt. If the dirt melts down and turns red, like blood color, then it's flea dirt.

Cat fleas and dog fleas are not two separate parasites, they are all flea fleas. Stray cats are notorious for bringing fleas so do NOT feed stray or wild animals. Cats groom them selves so frequently that fleas tend to go for an easier target so as soon as they can find an easy dog, they will switch. If you can not bear to quit feeding the cats, you will have to try to catch them and apply Cat formula frontline on them.

You should not mix the spot on treatment with the other chemicals because it could be way too much chemical for your dog to handle all at once, even if it's just on his bedding. Just continue to vacuum and wash the bedding out and give the frontline time to work. Do not keep applying more to the dog just because you may see a flea or two on him. If fleas get on him after his frontline, they will take a bite out of the dog but that will kill the flea. Don't keep washing the dog, leave the product on the dog to work. Eventually, if you are consistant with the applications once a month without fail and do something about the stray animals in your yard, within 2 to 3 months your home should be flea-free.

Answer 3

I've heard that Frontline is no longer effective but haven't had a problem with Harry. It could be Harvest Mites, they're a real problem in the UK this year. Get him along to the vets and they may be able to tell which it is. As others have said a flea is a flea however some fleas can feed off other species. Dog fleas purely feed off dogs but cat fleas aren't fussy. It doesn't matter which fleas they are though as no matter what you do your dog will come into contact with the little b...ers you just have to keep him protected.

Answer 4

First bomb the house. Spray the yard. De-flea the dog and cat. It doesn't matter what kind of fleas they are.

Go on line and buy a product call Pre-Cor. It is a pre-emergence spray that causes fleas eggs to not hatch. It is environmentally safe and is not an insecticide. Buy a pump sprayer and thoroughly spray the house and the yard. Bomb a second time just in case.

I had a serious flea infestation and this completely stopped the problems because killing just the fleas leaves the eggs to hatch.

I have found that Frontline and Program no longer work. If you want to get something effective, buy Revolution from your vet.

Answer 5

put the dirt on a wet piece of paper towel, if the colour speads and it is red then it is flea dirt, if it doesnt then it is normal dirt.. dogs cant get cat fleas, and cats cant get dog fleas.. they both can get human fleas though... treat the house with flea bombs and wash your dog in a flea shampoo and wash all the dogs bedding.. you have to get it our of the enviroment or it is just a re occuring problem

Answer 6

Have you purchased the front line from a supermarket as this is not as strong as the one you get from the vets.....I actually did this and had to buy from vets as the supermarket brand just did not work...If he has scabs take him to the vet he needs a skin treatment of some sort.....you need to find out what type....my pup was a rescue pup and had bald areas which I thought was a form of mange but I took to the vet and one injection sorted the situation out.....It could be they were dead fleas as they will jump on dog and then bite and die....But I would worry about the scabbing as this could get worse and cant be very nice for your dog...itching etc...