flea control?

Question

I have a 7lb chihuahua/ratterrior mix. At the end of November or beginning of December I applied Zodiac spot on flea treatment. (I know frontline or advantix is the best, but this is all I could afford at the time). I noticed he had a flea on him 2 days ago, and when I bathed him he had more like 4 fleas on him. Tonight I have already picked 4 fleas off of him and I know there is at least one more that I could not find again. Can I go ahead and reapply the next month's dosage, the box says every 30 days, and it has not been thirty days yet. I hate to bathe thim again because his skin is dry and irritated from scratching. What can I do for now?

I ordered frontline last night from the internet, I hope it is better than advantix. I researched the two and frontline sounded like the best. Thanks for all the kind answers.

Answer 1

It also helps when you bathe the dog to not bathe it two days before the application of the flea medicine and two days after. When you bathe the dog, don't use the flea shampoos, they don't work and only serve to dry out the dog's skin and remove the essential oils needed to help the flea medicine get absorbed into the skin and flow through the bloodstream. (When the fleas bite and suck the dog's blood, they get the medicine)

Also, try using lemon Joy dish detergent. It makes your dog's fur silky and keeps the oils in the skin as well as the lemon being a very potent flea killer. Joy isn't harmful to the dog at all, and they smell great after their bath! Try not bathing the dog as much either, no more than twice a month...every two weeks.

Also, get Frontline. Like everyone else has said, it's a little pricier, but it does save you money in the long run. My vet also told me it takes at least 6 months for it to become established fully into the bloodstream so that the fleas will not bother the dogs as much. Once this happens, your dog will be a walking flea exterminator. Sounds kinda cool, huh?

Answer 2

I would take your dog to the vet. As you say, you definitely don't want to over-bathe as that can cause skin irritation. As for putting on another application of Zodiac, I doubt that would be the best thing. Just out of curiosity, what does the box say? If you DO go to the vet, they'll probably recommend you use Frontline or Advantage. Although they do cost more, they work and save you money down the road. Good luck.

Answer 3

Don't apply any more Zodiac. You've already seen the stuff does not work.

Get some Frontline, Revolution or Advantage - yes it's more expensive, but it's better than wasting your money on stuff that doesn't work. Now that you've bathed the dog, you have to wait 48 hours before you can apply any spot-ons or they can't work properly.

Check with your vet, but it should be OK to apply Frontline already. We always do to the tens of zillions of animals who have been treated with useless store-bought stuff.

Chalice

Answer 4

start with a better food usually that helps.put a pie pan with soapy water on the floor,where the dog cant get it ,put a lite on next to it,with all the other lites off and the fleas should jump in it.

Answer 5

Look....WHY keep applying the stuff if it does NOT work????

You really need to get some $$ together and get something that works.

There should be a number on your package...I would CALL and aks before you re-apply. Most of this junk is NOT very safe.

Answer 6

trust me on this one. bathe your dog with the dawn dishwasher soap the blue color. it kills fleas

Answer 7

Bomb your house to make sure the fleas don't spread.

Answer 8

Do you have cats? If you do then they need to be treated as well.