I took my yorkie to the vet today and the vet told me that he has fleas! I almost died! I know dogs get fleas, but I was surprised that mine had them. He's not an outside dog, but when I went out of town last weekend, my co-worker baby sat for me. So that, I assume is where he got them from. My co-worker has 4 dogs (3 Rotties and a Maltese) and 3 cats. I was devastated! I had applied the Frontline to him last month and I thought he was protected. I guess not. All I want to know is how can I get rid of them, and how harmful are they to my dog and to me??
2007-10-13 07:01:53 · 27 answers · asked by Andrea H 7 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I'm not freaking out or anything. I just need some ideas what to do to get rid of them.
2007-10-13 13:30:21 · update #1
Being an inside dogs doesn't matter - fleas can get into a house quite easily - they are programmed to look for something warmblooded and hop on board. Being around other dogs can cause them to happen but it can happen anyway.
Don't freak - just get some Frontline Plus or Advantage and use it monthly and the fleas will be gone.
The biggest risks are flea allergies which can make your dog very itchy or maybe roundworm if he happens to bite one and swallow it (also easily treatable if it happens - has never happened with my dogs). The worst that will happen to you is you might get itchy flea bites. So it's important to treat fleas monthly even if he is an inside dog, but not panic -it's all very mangeable with the right product.
Skip flea collars, shampoos, sprays and dips from the pet store - they are more toxic to your dog and less effective. Cheaper but they don't work very well.
2007-10-13 07:08:30 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have tried all of those flea treatments. Frontline, hartz, all the over the counter ones. But even if i use them every month, my cat and dog still pick them up before the month is out. I just found something that works wonders though that I bought at my vet. It's called Advantix. We have not seen a single flea since we started using it. The downside, there is supposed to be some small margin of usage that could kill them. But if you use it as directed, I see no harm. It reminds me of the recall on the infants meds, its accidental overdosing that does it, not when you follow the directions. If you get it, just make sure you get the right dosage for your dogs weight. Good luck.
2007-10-13 07:17:52 · answer #2 · answered by Joyful 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First of all, calm down. Second I recommend you should give a good bath with some shampoo with a ingredient that kills fleas to your dog. And after that you should look closely because sometimes it isn`t enough.
You should take it to the vet again in 1 week or so. I had a puppy who died because an protozoa that a flea put into his blood, he died because i din`t know that could happen. So please be very careful if your dog has fever.
2007-10-13 09:20:19 · answer #3 · answered by Tomomi 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well.. I would go to the vet and get the best treatment!
Because that could spread in your house so first i would make sure that there is no fleas in the house because u might get rid of them off ur dog but if there are still fleas in the house your dog can catch them again!
2007-10-13 07:06:25 · answer #4 · answered by tanni t 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
oh don't worry. just wash your dod with some flea shampoo and then add somemore frontline... it isn't very harmful to you... you can get a few flea bites but it wont be to bad. u might want to use your dogs flea shampoo to get rid of them, if u have them on yourself. the dog shampoo won't harm u and it works well... it just will make you smell like a dog, so wash ur hair with ur shampoo 2! u might have to wash ur dog about 3 times in a few days period or until he stops scratching.
2007-10-13 07:08:43 · answer #5 · answered by Madison 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if he is on frontline and it has not been 30 days then you do nothing . Just to have fleas on him dont say anything bad they can still jump on your dog just when they bite him they will die .If it is over 30 days then get more frontline .
and never ever do a flea bath with frontline the bath will make your frontline not work anymore!
2007-10-13 07:06:12 · answer #6 · answered by EducateDon'tJudge! 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
They arent to harmful, but you should get rid of them, you can do thatby buying a flea collar, or some flea spray at Wal-Mart or Fredmeyer, or something, they arent to expensice they are around 3.00 to 6.00 the spray would probably be best becaue the collar only works around the head and the neck.
2007-10-13 07:12:45 · answer #7 · answered by ♥Sunshine♥ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't let her watch my pet again.
I took my pooch to a vet in Miami and she's a all white Maltese and I saw one flea on her.
Thank goodness I killed it.
But yea just give the dog a good flea bath and he'll be just fine.
Visit pets mart or petco they will be happy to guide you.
Good Luck
2007-10-13 07:09:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anaiyah M 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah I know what your going through.. just had that problem this past summer; I was told dawn dish soap kills fleas... then you can go to your local pet store and they have a spritz to spray on your cat or dog and whipe em down real good with a small towel.
2007-10-13 07:18:14 · answer #9 · answered by Sarah 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Fleas transmit diseases and can cause tapeworm, so it's best to get rid of them, they are also annoying and gross.
You need to bathe your dog with flea shampoo and clean all of your stuff. An exterminator would kill the ones in your carpeting and furniture.
2007-10-13 07:09:47 · answer #10 · answered by smelly pickles 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋