More Fleas…
Yesterday found me bathing the puppies. They needed it, along with the fact on Sunday and Monday all three started scratching. I brushed all on Monday and flea combed them….yes indeed…a couple of the little buggers found.
They are brushed just about on a daily basis….I periodically use a flea comb at the end of the brushing….just to make sure nothing is hiding. Saturday there was not a flea found, nor an itchy dog. What a difference a few days makes. Doggie tub set up in the yard and one after the other they were bathed. I vacuum on a daily basis….did an extra special job of it as just about everything was moved….what could be pulled apart was. All doggie beds washed and dried. I opted to get rid of all carpets several years ago….the fact that when you have dogs, well just having tile is so much easier to keep clean…especially when it rains.
So…finding the flea treatments are NOT working this year. I cannot get half way through the month before I am finding more on the dogs. While I dislike these buggers, once knowing their life cycle one realizes just how difficult they are to remove from the environment. You must have in your arsenal of sprays, powders something for each the fleas life cycle. Since I am in the SE we are already several months into flea season and I am now opting to fore-go the monthly topical treatment for this is the second year in a row I have found it to not be working. The dogs heart worm pill is also a monthly birth control for the fleas…so besides that and the treatment of the environment Back to basics….flea combing (dipping the comb into a glass of warm sudsy water) and weekly to bi weekly baths….homemade spray of water, white vinegar, lavender oil, cedar wood oil to be used a few times a day. I have noticed an increase in ants as well, they are every where so it just must be a buggy year!
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June 19th, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Sammy wanted you to know that he is currently having the same problem with the fleas. We do use Capstar, which is currently effective for a few days - but at least some relief. We, also, are currently continuously washing bedding, and everything else. Am also not having any luck with frontline or advantage. A week after I put it on him, he is chewing and itching like a crazy dog. His flea allergy seems to be picking up also. Anyway, thanks for both articles on fleas and the dumping of pets. Very well said.
Sammy’s mamma
June 19th, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Oh poor thing…so far with my pack they are an annoyance and at this point in time no one seems to be allergic….knock on wood no tape worm. When Phoenix was alive…if he got one flea on him not only would he have a terrible reaction due to allergies, so too was he good at ingesting the little bugger and then develop tape worm….yuck.
Of course my concern is Rocky for the majority of Golden’s I have had in the past were allergic to them.
Yes….I know you use the capstar….are you using it daily? or several times a week?
I will try the spray and comb for a few weeks. If there is an increase I just may give the capstar a try.
Do give my little friend a belly scratch from me
June 20th, 2008 at 11:24 AM
If I find a flea (or he TELLS me he has fleas) I will use the capstar for several (2-4) days in a row - then slack off for as long as possible. It has definately been worse this year than last year and I dread the full summer infestation. The capstar is excellant on getting rid of what is on the dog and does so in about 40-60 minutes, which is why I give to him several days in a row - I know some of the critters are going to be in his bedding or somewhere around the house where he goes - and will eventually jump back on him for lunch or dinner. It’s not the way they say to give the capstar - but it’s a way that works well for us. Plus, I can get the capstar over the internet really cheap. When I first started using it, I purchased it from the vet - and it was $6.00 A PILL! Now that’s expensive - but I can virtually get an entire box for about $6-7.00. Much better……and it works!!!!! Hope this helps - for I hate for the little buggers to have to be chewing all the time and then, like Rocky (&Sammy) manage to swallow them and here come the tapes.