The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

SusanAnne · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:01 pm **Posts:** 39

I am at my wits end. Fleas everywhere all at once. I live in the Southeast and the vet said fleas were especially bad due to the weather.

I have tried everything I know. I have used Comfortis, Advantix, flea baths and within a few days they are itching and have fleas again. :bang

What does everyone else use to deal with fleas?

Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.

SusanAnne

Ashley C · **Joined:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 3:21 pm **Posts:** 216

Given everything you've done for the dogs, I'm assuming you've thoroughly cleaned the house/all bedding/soft surfaces. If you still can't get rid of them my advice would be to bomb the house and use DE after.

dawn & kevin · **Posted:** Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:58 am

Hi Susan,

My Vet sold me this product and we had great results with it. All you have to do is follow the instructions, on the can, to the letter! This product has Pyriproxyfen which is supposed to kill the flea eggs and stops re-infestations.

This product is manufactured by Vibrac Animal Health and is called Knockout E.S. The can states that it Kills active flea infestations and ticks. Prevents flea infestations from developing. Prevents re-infestation of fleas for 7 months. With Nylar** (Pyriproxyfen) insect growth regulator. I purchased the second can on Amazon at a better price.

I sure hope that this product will help. You have to be careful while using any flea product as they can possibly "trigger" IMHA/AIHA. A very nasty and sometimes fatal disease! This product is supposed to be "safe".

Dawn

beckyboo · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 3:35 pm **Posts:** 910

If you don't want to bomb the house(my daughter has asthma so I don't) you can have the carpets professionally cleaned. The vacuums are so strong they pull out the flea and eggs. I would treat the yard and keep up with the animals flea control. DE can irritate the lungs too so use outside if you can. Good luck.

Darra · **Posted:** Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:59 pm

You've got to treat the house and yard at the same time you treat the dog, and plan on retreating again within a couple of weeks to get rid of any that may have hatched. Just treating the dog is fighting a losing battle.
I'm in the southeast, too, (Florida) and have not seen a flea yet (knock on wood) :lol3

. But since we didn't have a freeze this past winter, hubby started treating the yard early on to keep the fleas, fire ants and other bugs away. Good luck!

JuanitaD · **Joined:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 4:23 am **Posts:** 1506

As a last resort, I have used a commercial service called "Flea Busters". They use some kind of pet safe powder that they pound into your carpets, treat floors and furniture.

But, like previously suggested, do the home, the yard and the dog all at once. It works like a charm.

debbiefive · **Joined:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:10 pm **Posts:** 5341

Like others said you must get them out of the environment or treating the dogs will do nothing. Maybe call in a professional exterminator if they are that bad

JamesD · **Joined:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:38 pm **Posts:** 145

The only people who have had lung problems with DE are the people who have mined it for 30 years (and thats because it hasn't been processed ). Anything is better than the chemical mix you have used, poisoning yourself and the dogs expect yeast infections soon. Pesticides kill fleas and they aren't to good for animals and humans.

SusanAnne · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:01 pm **Posts:** 39

Thanks for all the helpful advice.
Actually I had already treated the yard and the house.

Have an exterminator coming next week, just to make sure.
I have to be careful, because I also have birds and fish.

I am bathing the dogs weekly with the shampoo that Julie recommended.
Also am using a flea comb on them when I comb and brush them.

Susan
Gypsy Rose, ZuZu and Piper

Julie Hydro · **Posted:** Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:51 pm

Revolution. It completely eradicated our flea problem. I actually haven't treated my dogs in a year and not a flea in sight. I expect I'll have to treat them again come August or September when the fleas tend to be bad around here, but even before when I was having issues with fleas, I really only treated about once every three months with Revolution and that was precautionary, not that I actually saw fleas.

The nice thing is if you're in a heartworm area, it covers that too, but it obviously needs to be used every month for that.

SusanAnne · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:01 pm **Posts:** 39

Thanks Julie,
I will research Revolution, I have heard of it but never used it.
Having more than one dog I have to keep on top of the fleas or I will have an infestation, and I sure don't want that.

One flea is too many for me.

Susan and girls

DonnaHR · **Posted:** Sat Jul 07, 2012 11:45 pm

Borax kills fleas. Check your local supermarket for 20 Mule Team Borax - box weighs about 2-3 lbs. Borax will not harm your pets. Sprinkle on carpet, dog beds, rugs, the box has directions for many uses. This is also the main ingredient in the pricey roach preventatives. I don't have roaches but Roach Pruf is sold by a company here in a can for megabucks compared to what a box of borax costs. It really works too. I used to work at a bank and the girl that made the company deposits from sales of Roach Pruf said they could barely keep up with demand. This was about 27 yrs. ago but I doubt borax or roaches have changed much, lol.

SusanAnne · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:01 pm **Posts:** 39

Thanks Donna,
I actually have a box of that in my laundry room! Never thought about using it for fleas? Learn something new everyday. :bg

JessC · **Posted:** Fri Jul 13, 2012 1:04 am

Using an igr (like sentinel or program) with an adulticide will help out a lot too. Good luck finding sentinel right now though. Let us know what finally works!

beckyboo · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 3:35 pm **Posts:** 910

DonnaHR wrote:

Borax kills fleas. Check your local supermarket for 20 Mule Team Borax - box weighs about 2-3 lbs. Borax will not harm your pets. Sprinkle on carpet, dog beds, rugs, the box has directions for many uses. This is also the main ingredient in the pricey roach preventatives. I don't have roaches but Roach Pruf is sold by a company here in a can for megabucks compared to what a box of borax costs. It really works too. I used to work at a bank and the girl that made the company deposits from sales of Roach Pruf said they could barely keep up with demand. This was about 27 yrs. ago but I doubt borax or roaches have changed much, lol.

Wow! I never knew we could use borax! thanks for the tip! :th-up

SusanAnne · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:01 pm **Posts:** 39

One of the dogs had a vet appt this morning, so I talked to him about something to help with the fleas. He wants to put them on Trifexis, I hope I spelled that right,
but it is very expensive and I have 4 dogs. It is a heartworm preventative that takes care of worms and fleas too.
Julie, I was going to get Revolution and try that, but he doesn't carry it. Might see if I can order some online.
Fleas aren't as bad right now, just see an occasional one. But I don't want to see any.
Thanks again for everyone's input and suggestions. They have been very helpful.
Susan

Esther H-B · **Posted:** Fri Jul 13, 2012 9:22 am

JuanitaD wrote:

[color=#FF0000][b]As a last resort, I have used a commercial service called "Flea Busters". They use some kind of pet safe powder that they pound into your carpets, treat floors and furniture.

When I had a bad infestation I wound up using Flea Busters and they did a great job. I also had my yard professionally sprayed for fleas three times, 7-10 days apart and I treated the boys and cats. I did Flea Busters once a year for several years and had the yard done a couple of times a year as well.

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