I have a 4 month old Maltese, and I gave him a bath tonight and found 1 flea on his head...I got it and killed it. After bathing him and brushing him I looked him over entirely as I did and after and have not found anymore. I am washing my bedding (as he sleeps in bed with me) and washing his in his crate...what am I to do? I have not found another one or anymore for that matter, I have also vacuumed my home. I looked on the internet and I see that Advantage and Frontline are too expensive for me at this time...he does have a vet appt on Saturday...but any suggestions? He is bathed 2x a week...he's not a dirty puppy. I also washed his toys. I was at a friends house wednesday and they have 4 dogs...3 maltese's and a lab...I am thinking that he got it from one of them. I live in MN so the weather is too cold for him to have gotten outside....any suggestions or is what I have done already good???
I am just a very parinoiod proud puppy owner!!
2007-11-17 16:22:18 · 13 answers · asked by Sarah P 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
He does get a conditioning treatment when I bath him
2007-11-17 16:28:47 · update #1
Washing and bathing the puppy does not get rid of fleas. Once fleas are in your house, there is zero point washing them off the animal, it will get reinfested very quickly. Washing bedding etc will not do anything - the fleas are in your carpet, and in the cracks of floorboards. Having fleas has nothing to do with being clean or dirty - they live off blood, not dirt, and so long as there is blood around with no preventative treatment, there will be fleas.
What I'm saying is, you're just going to have to get hold of some Frontline, or Advantage, or Revolution, if you actually want to get rid of fleas. The sad fact is, ALL of the treatments sold in stores are useless - because simply, stores are not allowed to sell the chemicals suitable for flea treatment. Sorry, but it will actually be cheaper in the long run to buy Frontline than to waste money on any store-bought treatments or home remedies!
Be aware that you must wait 48 hours after bathing before applying any spot-on, or the spot-on will not work.
Chalice
2007-11-19 08:38:36 · answer #1 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are seeing the vet that soon I would wait and tell him your story.
My vet has my two Maltese on Heartgard blue for heart worms. That also kills any other kind of parasite or worm your pup might come intact with. Then he has them on the Frontline Plus every month even when it gets cold weather. They can still get fleas and ticks year round.
You have to give him the Heartgard year round. If you get short of money I would only use the Frontline Plus every month in the summer and every other month from Nov. to April.
Yes, he could have picked one up at your friend's house. And you do need a script for the meds I mentioned above.
Good Luck with your new baby. They are just like people. They don't know they are dogs..........I love mine to pieces.
EDIT NOTE: Please DO NOT put anything on your pup that you have not asked your vet about. Like that peppermint spray. That could kill your dog, you don't know what damage it can cause. You can bathe a Maltese once a week and it is OK. They do not have the same fur other dogs do. They do not have an undercoat of fur. You have to be sure you blow dry them all the way dry or their fur will mat. Ask your groomer for tips on what you do at home. I have always bathed mine at least once a week. They go to the groomers every 5 weeks.
2007-11-18 00:37:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well first off a bath 2x a week is way to much, maybe 1 every 2 weeks. He probably had it, but after his bath it hadnt got to die and fall off yet. Im sure hes ok now after doing all that. He could have gotten it from another dog, of the flea came in the house because its warmer in the house. We had a few fleas last winter and we didnt have a dog at the time...maybe a flea treatment will help when you go to the vet or groomer...
2007-11-18 00:28:13 · answer #3 · answered by yaya 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bathe and CAREFULLY flea comb your dog every 3 days. It will get rid of them quickly.
You won't need to treat the environment at all. Don't use those Hartz brand or pyrethrins flea product. Nasty stuff with a history of KILLING pets and causing permanent neurological damage in children.
It probably came from the other dogs. Tell your friend and don't go there until they fixed it. They can come home on YOUR clothes. (Gross!)
2007-11-18 00:27:41 · answer #4 · answered by buterfly_2_lovely 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has happened to my dog before. I would recommend you get form of flea prevention. He probably does not have any more fleas.. I have only found a total of 2 since I've gotten my dog (over 6 yrs). Just be sure to keep him clean... Also speak to your vet about OVERBATHING the poor pup. I think bathing him 2x a week is too much. But please do, just double check w/the vet.
2007-11-18 00:26:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Even if it was only one flea there are probably others, even eggs. You need to get him on frontline, if he is not treated he could get worms from the fleas.
Tom, he is old enough, we also just bought a maltese, she is 4 months old, weighs 2 1/2 pounds and the vet gave us frontline for her. Also gave us a worm pill, just in case.
2007-11-18 00:25:32 · answer #6 · answered by Flower Girl 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You have done everything right. If I were you, I wouldnt consider putting chemicals on that puppy right now. Some puppies have allergic reactions to those products so just keep a close eye on him and groom him carefully so that you make sure they arent hiding somewhere. It should be ok...I put peppermint oil in a mister plastic bottle and use it lightly ( a little goes a longggg way) for grooming. Apparently, peppermint deters fleas for some reason. It makes my dog smell very minty fresh :)
2007-11-18 00:28:46 · answer #7 · answered by abhorman 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Frontline flea killer. Best brand on the market. Make sure you can use it on a puppy that young.
It is expensive.
2007-11-18 00:25:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
get him on frontline. it's fairly inexpensive and you can get it without a prescription from your vet or even petsmart/petco. it's a once monthly dose and really easy to use and keep the fleas away!
2007-11-18 00:25:19 · answer #9 · answered by bekkaroo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
wash him with head and shoulders when you wash ( for flea protection ) and use a conditioner - ecspecially if you are washing your dog this often - dogs skin does tend to get dry - easily - heartz flea drops from walmart are not a bad idea though i would suggest applying them every three weeks instead of every four !
2007-11-18 00:26:41 · answer #10 · answered by imissmahboo 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋