Help with fleas?

[jennybaby]

My roommates brought home some kittens a couple months ago. The fleas have been horrible and my pugs skin is in horrible condition. They finally got rid of the kittens. We are switching him to Frontline. Tomorrow FH is flea bombing the house, getting Gizmo a flea dip and applying the Frontline.

Any advice on flea dips? Any home remedies? We're having a hard time finding a groomer in the area and the vet cost is high.

Also, any advice on helping his skin heal? He looked like a neglected dog when I last bathed him due to all the 'hot spots' and even bald spots. I cried. :(

[ksherlin]

The frontline will work wonders! That is the only medication I would use for fleas and make sure to use it once a month. As far as treating his skin, use peroxide and vaseline. When Grahm has a tick or sore, I always use a cotton ball and put peroxide on it, then rub vaseline for moisture. It has worked well for me.

Before you do anything though, you should take him to or atleast call the vet. He/she can tell you EXACTLY what to do in treating for the fleas.

Hopefully all works out and your pup feels better soon! :yesnod:

[NOTKT]

Make sure you sweep all carpets and throw out the trash outside of the house. Sweep the carpets a lot!

[melissa1031]

Make sure you sweep all carpets and throw out the trash outside of the house. Sweep the carpets a lot!

This is what I was gonna say.

A few years ago FH brought home a kitten that had fleas.I vacuumed the carpet a few times a day and then dumped it (my vacuum had a canister instead of a bag)into the outside trash can.That helped alot.

[jennybaby]

Yeah, my FH is at home and has the place under control. Bought bleach, powders (some laundry stuff that's supposed to be helpful), and plans to vacuum with a large flea collar in the vacuum (to kill the fleas when they get sucked up!) every day this week, then every other day, and then 3 times a week until they're gone. We're taking actions. These fleas are going down! :yesnod:

I'm just worried about my doggy. :(

[Dani]

If the poor little guy's skin in irratated from itching, you could try Oatmeal shampoo for dogs..it is suppose to sooth the skin.

[ChibiAiChan]

oh boy.. had this problem during the summer, it's terrible, isn't it?? Here is a website I used:

http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/uncategorized/how-to-get-rid-of-fleas/

[Heywie]

How's the flea situation going?

We live in an apartment community that allows pets of all kinds and sizes. Our dog would get fleas just from walking outside. The ONLY thing that worked for awhile was Frontline (we tried everything else), and now we have him on an oral flea medication and haven't had any problems. We also bathed our dog in oatmeal shampoo and they have some oatmeal relief sprays we tried that seemed to help for short term discomfort.

When you apply the Frontline, make sure you didn't just bathe your dog. It does better on a little bit of oily skin so that it can travel more easily.

I hope your cute little Gizmo is feeling a little relief already!

[jennybaby]

The Frontline is great! I got home last night from California. Checked him... COVERED in fleas (even though he had a flea bath and the apartment was flea bombed). FH didn't feel comfortable doing the Frontline while I was gone. Put it on last night, checked him today and noticed ONE flea. I was SO happy. He is still chewing his skin. His skin is so dried out and awful due to this whole mess. I hope it heals soon. Now we're going to keep up with the cleaning of the apartment to rid of fleas, but it seems like Frontline is working! :) YAY.

[ksherlin]

That is great! Just remember to keep it up and use it once a month, or the problem will surface again. Glad the flees are fleeing... lol pardon the pun! :rofl:

[ChibiAiChan]

and vacuum everyday!!! if it's bag less throw away outdoors, if its a bag throw away after every use!

[jennybaby]

I checked Giz today and found about 5 fleas. Any advice? Why would he still have some fleas when I put Frontline on Thursday night?

[melissa1031]

They may still be in your carpet.Just keep vacuuming and throwing it away outside.As far away from your house as you can.

[ksherlin]

Yea it will take awhile. Those suckers could probably survive a nuclear bomb!:blink: Just continue to vacuum like Melissa said. They will eventually go away... Is Gizmo an outside dog or inside?

[jennybaby]

Yea it will take awhile. Those suckers could probably survive a nuclear bomb!:blink: Just continue to vacuum like Melissa said. They will eventually go away... Is Gizmo an outside dog or inside?

Inside. However, I live in an apartment so when I take him outside I'm sure there are tons of fleas. I have no control over that.

[ChibiAiChan]

can you talk to the apartment complex to get an extermination for your building?

[ksherlin]

Good idea! Since it was cats and not Gizmo that brought them in, then hopefully once they are gone it shouldn't be a problem again. Especially if you treat him once a month with the Frontline. How have the flees been today? Oh and how is his skin? Poor baby...

[jennybaby]

Good idea! Since it was cats and not Gizmo that brought them in, then hopefully once they are gone it shouldn't be a problem again. Especially if you treat him once a month with the Frontline. How have the flees been today? Oh and how is his skin? Poor baby...

Yeah, hopefully everything will be okay again. I don't know how they are today. He's still sleeping and I don't want to disturb him. Haha. I'm a sucker. Last night they seemed fine, but he was chomping away on his skin. I need to get him to his vet this weekend and see what can be done about his skin. Poor baby. (And poor wallet. First my car, and now a vet bill!)

[Docsgirl]

We had a flea problem when we rescued our cat. She was a 3 week old abandoned kitten, covered in fleas. We did the salt method of removal. Went and bought 2 big containers of salt, sprinkled it on all carpet (under beds, furniture, everywhere!) and furniture that may have had fleas on them, let it sit for 24 hours and then vacuum really well. Make sure to toss the vacuum bag out though after vacuuming! They started her on Frontline when she was old enough, but since she was so little, we just bathed her with Dawn dish soap to kill the fleas that were on her (vet recommended!). Haven't had a problem since. Apparently the salt dehydrates any fleas and eggs that may be in the carpeting.

[melissa1031]

We had a flea problem when we rescued our cat. She was a 3 week old abandoned kitten, covered in fleas. We did the salt method of removal. Went and bought 2 big containers of salt, sprinkled it on all carpet (under beds, furniture, everywhere!) and furniture that may have had fleas on them, let it sit for 24 hours and then vacuum really well. Make sure to toss the vacuum bag out though after vacuuming! They started her on Frontline when she was old enough, but since she was so little, we just bathed her with Dawn dish soap to kill the fleas that were on her (vet recommended!). Haven't had a problem since. Apparently the salt dehydrates any fleas and eggs that may be in the carpeting.
I would have never of thought to use salt.

[Docsgirl]

I would have never of thought to use salt.

Our vet recommended it actually. We tried using the spray for the carpet and furniture, but our kitten was so little and actually started to get poisoned from it. So after one emergency vet visit (that saved her little life!) and a good steam clean for the carpet, we did the salt thing. Never saw fleas again.

[ksherlin]

We got Grahm from the pound and washed him in Dawn as well! It worked well! Forgot about that!

I hope Gizmo is feeling a bit better!

[pinkbride]

oh my god i have this problem at the minute, getting bit to buggery myself and my little girl looks like shes a stray!! i hate it!! i havent even got carpet so im hoovering all my sofas and anything soft!!! little suckers just seem to survive anything. im trying salt! thanks for the tip!!!

xx

[jennybaby]

So, the fleas are still around. I think we're going to do the salt thing tomorrow after we clean the house, then a flea bomb later in the week because my roommate's room is still infested. (The kittens that started it all hung out in their room.)

Today I found about 10 fleas on Giz. Ugh. I think they're just hanging out and not biting, which is good, but any ideas on how I can keep the fleas off? When he goes outside, I don't want him bringing more in!

His skin is SO much better. He does have a terrible balding spot, but the skin is healed! Just waiting on the hair to grow in. This was such an awful mess.

[jennybaby]

Omgosh I was reading through info on getting rid of fleas and this was one of the tips:

Don’t Let Pets In

Fleas are carried by your pets through their fur. Even if you do treat your pets for flea infestations, they can still get the pests from outdoors or from other animals they interact with. The best way to prevent flea problem on your carpets is not to let pets in at all:
Keep your dogs tied to a leash in their own kennels (http://monsterguide.net/?Submit=SEARCH&s=kennels).
Do not let house cats out of your home.
If you do need to let your pets in your home, make sure that they are absolutely free from fleas or other pests. If you’re not sure, tie your dog to a leash (http://monsterguide.net/?Submit=SEARCH&s=dog+leashes) and make it stay on a dry spot on the porch.
HOW AWFUL!

[ChibiAiChan]

I also sprayed the lawn and around my doors as well with outdoor flea stuff...

[jennybaby]

I also sprayed the lawn and around my doors as well with outdoor flea stuff...

I'm on the second floor, and you have to go into a hallway and up the stairs before getting to our door.

[ChibiAiChan]

I'm on the second floor, and you have to go into a hallway and up the stairs before getting to our door.

hmm okay. just a suggestion :bbconfused:

[jennybaby]

hmm okay. just a suggestion :bbconfused:

Yeah, it makes it difficult not having any control over what's out side. I'd put flea stuff on the outside of our door, but that's an indoor hallway. I'd do it on our balcony, but it's all concrete and I've never seen a flea out there... not to mention he's never out there.

We're just taking it one day at a time. I've heard Frontline can take a couple doses to get rid of an infestation, so hopefully next month he'll be flea-free! If not, I might switch him to Revolution or Advantix because he was on Advantage when he got the infestation! Isn't Advantix the one that repels fleas?

[ChibiAiChan]

actually you really should spray around the doors even if you don't see anything.. i just became paranoid since my episode with them during the summer

[ksherlin]

Omgosh I was reading through info on getting rid of fleas and this was one of the tips:

Don’t Let Pets In

Fleas are carried by your pets through their fur. Even if you do treat your pets for flea infestations, they can still get the pests from outdoors or from other animals they interact with. The best way to prevent flea problem on your carpets is not to let pets in at all:
Keep your dogs tied to a leash in their own kennels (http://monsterguide.net/?Submit=SEARCH&s=kennels).
Do not let house cats out of your home.
If you do need to let your pets in your home, make sure that they are absolutely free from fleas or other pests. If you’re not sure, tie your dog to a leash (http://monsterguide.net/?Submit=SEARCH&s=dog+leashes) and make it stay on a dry spot on the porch.HOW AWFUL!

That is horrible! I could never do that to my dog! I always get teary eyed when I pass a dog chained up outside!

I hope you can get them out soon... Kudos to your for your patience! Glad Gizmo is healing!

[jennybaby]

Well, Gizmo was healing... then BOOM. More and more fleas, he's chewing himself up again and he's covered in red and bald spots again. I want to cry. This is horrible. I put the Frontline on, we bombed the house, we've been cleaning the house, we've vacuumed. What is going on? It's a small 2 bedroom apartment. How hard does this have to be?

I don't want to put more Frontline on Giz and risk health complications, but what can I do to keep the fleas off him!? It's going to take a good few weeks before they're out of the apartment, and I can't have him tearing himself up. I put him in an e-collar, but he can still scratch. I'm going to have to get him to the vet on Friday or something. How I am going to afford that after spending $800 on my car is beyond me, but I'll figure it out. Dip into savings I guess.

[ksherlin]

Oh my! I am so sorry! Did you check to make sure the Frontline matched up with his weight?

I can't imagine what to do... I guess the vet will have to be the next step... I hope it gets better... I can't imagine your frustration.

[NOTKT]

Have you brushed him? Get a flea comb, get a glass or milk or soapy water and sit there and literally pick them off of him. Some may be killed by Frontline, but you have larva and eggs still on him! If you see any black/red sand its their poop/ your dogs blood and it can also be eggs. You need to get rid of all of it. It will take some time, like hours. Do it as much as you can, each day. Don't get discouraged, but its the best way to get them off. Just comb, put the flea in the water/milk, put the hair/blood/eggs in the trash can next to you. Throw everything out when you are done. You will have to do this every night for a week or so.

[jennybaby]

Yeah, the flea comb is a good idea. Poor Giz won't think so, his skin is so bad. I imagine it's going to hurt. :( He managed to get out of the e-collar last night. Guess I put it on wrong.

The Frontline indeed matched his weight.

[jennybaby]

Scary tid bit.

My roommate (who brought home the flea infested kittens) didn't flea bomb her room after they left. She got an infection of her lymphoid? due to the fleas. Doctor said if they didn't catch it sooner, it could have turned cancerous. She'll be okay, but still... CANCER from fleas? I HAVE to get these things out of here and as soon as I have a free moment (hopefully tomorrow) I am getting Gizmo to the vet.