Fleas have taken over my pets. . .Any Suggestions??

Question

I have 3 dogs and 3 cats. I gave them a bath (even the cats) and got all the flea eggs and fleas off them. I used Dawn dish washing soap, which is what my vet recommended. Then after they got fully dried I put flea collars on the cats that was supposed to kill the fleas, ticks, and flea eggs. I put a liquid flea killer on my dogs that was supposed to do the same thing as the collars. And I sprayed the carpet of my home with a poison for the fleas. Now roughly about 10 days later I have fleas and flea eggs all over them again. This last time I didn't use any of the expensive flea killers like Advantage and Frontline because they weren't working when I used them before so I figured why waste my money. I'm starting to feel like I have some kind of immortal fleas around my home.

So what can I do to give them and me some relief from these little pests? Have you had this problem before, what did you do??

Thanks for your answers

Answer 1

Oh, this is the problem of the year. Some products work better than others, depending on your living environment. First are the facts, flea collars don't usually work, they contain a pesticide that works on contact, not long term, and the fleas usually develop immunity to this pesticide in as short as a week. They can sometimes cause awful reactions on your pets too! Next you have to look at your home, while you are on the right track with spraying,you have to evaluate where fleas live. They like warm damp places, like under your refrigerator, odd but true. They also lay eggs in anything fabric like texture. You must make sure that you are using a product with an IGR in it . I will help to kill existing fleas and prevents eggs from hatching, because fleas hatch out every 30 days. The vital thing is to use a product to really knock down the existing population. They are some great products available through your vet. I know you're thinking expensive right. For the cost of all the products you're using now, these are worth it because they work. The first product I recommend is a product called capstar, This is a pill for dogs and cats that once given kills all the fleas on them within 30 minutes, the downfall is that it only lasts for 12 hours. The next product I recommend is a brand new one called comfortis, this is a pill only for dogs that is just like the other one that I explained but it lasts for one month and provides a significant decrease in the fleas population. If you use this for 3 months it is suppose to wipe out your problem. I hope this helps and remember, you can only obtain these products from your veteranarian.

Answer 2

The VET recommended Dawn dish soap?! What a weirdo.

Frontline and Advantage do work, so do Revolution and Advocate. Flea collars and flea shampoos however do not work, neither does Dawn, as you've discovered. Bathing the cat in anything will only wash off current fleas, the animals will quickly become reinfested. No treatment you get from a pet store will work - they're not the right chemicals, stores aren't allowed to sell them.

If you applied a spot-on immediately after washing the animals, the spot-on cannot work. You have to wait 48 hours after bathing before you can apply it. Flea collars are completely useless, all they do is chase fleas away from the neck area.

You need to wait 48 hours after bathing, then apply Frontline or Advantage etc. Make sure it gets completely on the skin of the animal, not the fur. I was advise getting the collars off them, because the cats are likely to end up with a ring of baldness round their necks.

It's not flea eggs you're seeing with the fleas, because flea eggs are microscopic. It's flea dirts (poos) - little black comma shaped flecks, right?

So you haven't got immortal fleas, you've got normal ones - you just haven't treated the problem the right way yet. What house spray did you use by the way? Depending on which it was it might not have done anything to treat the fleas in the environment - anything from a pet store will not work.

Chalice

Answer 3

You only killed the adult fleas, and the next generation cropped up. Flea collars only kill fleas on the neck and no where else. The fleas and eggs are in your carpet , floor boards, front and backyard. All have to be treated. Take the pets to the vet and get more Advantage or Frontline. Keep the animals out until everything has been treated. Board them for the day at the vets office while the problem in the house is being taken care of. might consider having a exterminator come in. A little more expensive but well worth it.

Answer 4

Sprays and flea collars are useless and worse, can be very toxic to your pets. They did nothing for us except let the infestation become worse.

This is what worked for us:

1) Flea bomb your place. The flea bombs today are MUCH improved over the cumbersome, lengthy ones from 20 years ago. Remove all living beings, of course, wait a couple of hours for it to take effect, and when you go back into your home, be sure and open windows for at least two hours to fully air the place out. Also you should vacumn your carpets and sweep your floors. Remember, your pets are down near the ground much more than you and also smaller so toxins will affect them more than you.

2) Use Advantage on your pet. It not only kills the current fleas, but stops the cycle.

3) Don't let your dogs and cats out of the house, if possible. If you must, then perhaps you should have the yard sprayed (but don't use that junk inside the house).

That's what worked for us and it completely eliminated the infestation. Or you could always move!

Answer 5

Sometimes fleas can live on feral animals, or on mice around the place. I have found that the advantage works but you have to give it 3 weeks to be fully effective, (that's when the eggs already lying around hatch)
I had this problem once years ago before I knew about frontline and advantage and then I sprayed everything with a potent poison when I was leaving on a 3 week vacation and left the house completely locked up.

Answer 6

Good, I consider you imply the thickness of the penny and now not the width of it? Fleas are very tiny, nevertheless they can be visible by using the naked eye. These insects are critical jumpers and rather hard to seize, so if these buggers you are describing are hopping around like mad, then they're fleas. Sadly, you don't quintessential have to have pets to get fleas...They could be hopping round external your door and some unwanted houseguests invite themselves in. On account that you haven't any carpets, the possibility of them infesting your residence is slim. They have to have a position to lay their eggs and may remain dormant for a while. When the temperature is correct, the eggs will hatch, consequently creating a entire new iteration of hell. Nonetheless, when you keep low temp stages at dwelling, they cannot live on too long. Fleas thrive in hotter environments. Considering the fact that you may have already computer virus bombed your room, I think it can be ok. Just make sure you wouldn't have a pile of clothing laying around for them to cover and p.C. Everything away first-class and tight. For those who still believe the have got to do "more" then i'd advise you to mop the floor. Fleas hate wet surfaces.

Answer 7

you should do what uve been doing but you need to apply frontline EVERY MONTH or it will not work.and with the flea bath you need to mix a mixture of flea shampoo with a lil water,(just enough to lather pet up). dont get the pat wet before applying the shampoo cuz fleas have a natural defence against water( it does not kill them just s shocks them) they actually make an air bubble around them to protect them from the water ... so as there in their "little bubble" they are protected from the shampoo. weird but true.just most important thing is to keep up with the monthly flea topical.... oh and also ofcourse there heartworm medicine. :)

Answer 8

Wash pet bedding and other furnishings once a week in hot soapy water to kill eggs and larvae.The safest and cheapest method of getting rid of fleas is to use a mixture of boric acid and salt.The powder should be sprayed on carpets, bedding and areas frequented by pets.

Answer 9

my house was INFESTED with fleas and the only thing that worked for all 5 of my cats which were very sensitive to treatments was REVOLUTION, you can get it at petshed.com and its worth the money. It also treats mites, heartworm and other worms...

I haven't seen ONE flea in over 3 years.

Answer 10

take the animals outside and set off flea foggers in your house just follow the directions on the package I think you must stay out for at least 2 hours... Give the animals a bath again and you should have the problems resolved... also a good idea is to sprinkle Seven Dust around your yard