dogs have super fleas?

Question

Have 2 large dogs, with fleas that will not die,I have used flea shampoos, treated the yard, the house, and frontline didn't seem to work eaither.I wait a week after a bath, then apply, and I am applying on the skin.I just tried adams flea and tick, let it sit for he time it says, rinsed and half the fleas died, but their are still alot alive.Can they become resistant to the active ingridients in the shampoo's, sprys, etc.?Are they supposed to die on contact with the shampoo or die slowly? last week i bathed the dogs, the next day, they were infested again,like I never gave them a flea bath. our german shepard has a flea allergy and has severe itching with 1 flea let alone infested with them.does advantage have the same active ingridiant as frontline? advantix?

Answer 1

Well first you do not have to wait a week after a bath to apply topical flea meds. You only need to hold off the bath after the advantage, frontline etc...three days is recommended. If you are applying the monthly topical treatment on a truly monthly schedule and not missing any doses it may take a month or two for them to completely go away. You must treat all of thier bedding and areas they frequent. If you have a whole house infestation you may have to buy a flea fogger for your house. Once you have it under control DO NOT STOP applying monthly treatments. Do you have cats that are maybe bringing in more fleas? Other dogs that are not on the same treatment schedule.
It may take some time to clear up....but if you sway on your commitment to treatment they will not go completely away and come back. Look online and read how the topical monthly flea treatments affect the fleas lifecycle and you will see what I am saying. Hope this helps some.

Answer 2

No, Advantage does not have the same ingredient - it's Imidacloprid. Frontline is Fipronil, Revolution is Selamectin. They're all different. Advantix is Imidacloprid with something added to kill ticks, can't remember what.

You don't have super fleas, you have normal fleas, you're just not tackling them correctly. Do not attempt to kill fleas with flea shampoos/baths - total waste of time. No flea shampoo works. It's not that the fleas are resistant to shampoos and sprays, it's just that this kind of stuff was never particularly useful against them in the first place. Pet stores are not allowed to sell the modern, useful flea treatment chemicals.

Stick to any of the veterinary spot-ons - Frontline, Advantage, Revolution or Advocate. Yes, they all work - if you think you haven't had luck with one, just move on to another. I suggest you try Revolution. It's also extremely, extremely important to treat your house - you'll never be flea free if you don't do this. Have you used a house treatment yet? Again, don't even bother with anything from a store. Get a spray from a vets - indorex, Acclaim, Staykil or Skoosh. You may find you need to treat the house twice, two weeks apart. You must spray everywhere the dogs go, including your car! And all soft furnishings like sofas, and curtains believe it or not.

Your dog has a flea allergy so yes, as you said, even one flea will drive him nuts. You need to get 100% flea free, which is possible, just not as long as you're bathing. Pick a spot-on, and pick a housespray. I also suggest you utilise Program tablets from your vet - these sterilise fleas and are a very helpful part of the FAD battle.

Chalice

Answer 3

Advantage and Frontline will both work.Give it time.You probably have a yard full of fleas so you might want to try getting a spray for the yard to knock them back a bit.Ask your Vet.Just remember anything jumping on them after you apply the Advantage or Frontline will die but it will take a few months.Fleas hatch on a 14 day(?)basis so if its a bad infestation it will take time but you will get it under control.GL

Answer 4

Too much garlic isn't good, but some garlic is very beneficial. The amount he'd get in a tablet (if you follow the directions) is safe.

Modern man has entered into a dilemna with most insects. In our quest to get rid of them, we use stronger and stronger toxins. However, they build up an immunity to them. It's a vicious cycle. Roaches have done the EXACT same thing. Feed your dog a high quality food to boost his immune system. Parasites like fleas are less likely to attack an animal with a strong immune system. The garlic is also been proven to help with fleas and has benefits for the rest of the body, but don't over do it.

I haven't treated my girls for fleas in months. I feed a high quality food (that has some garlic in it) and bathe them once every 4 to 6 weeks when I check them closely for fleas. I haven't seen a flea on my girls in a long time. When I do see fleas, I will treat with advantage or frontline then.

I would contact a holistic or integrative vet to see if they have more suggestions.

Answer 5

Try Diatomaceous Earth. It's a non-toxic powder you can find in the garden center of most home improvement stores. You can put it on your carpet, upholstery, bedding and on the dogs. The fleas will die within 48 hours. Also feed your dog garlic and brewers yeast tablets. It takes a few weeks for it to get fully in their system, but fleas hate it. For more natural flea prevention tips, check out my page:
http://www.peaceful-organic-planet.com/natural-flea-control.html

Answer 6

If you used Frontline, did you use the right dose for your dog's weight? Did you wash it off giving them a bath right after you put it on? Did you put it on correctly?

I'd say it's time to consult a vet.

Answer 7

the garlic may work but its not the best for the dogs' system just to let you know.