My dog has fleas!

[sungal]

Has anyone here ever successfully dealtt with a dog flea problem in the past few years? It's all my fault because I skipped a dose of Frontline. The whole flea situation is upsetting. I need to wait two/three weeks to apply a better medicine-Advantage that will hopefully work.

In the meantime I do baths, on the spot removal with alcohol and a flea comb, and as of yesterday she's taking brewer's yeast tablets with garlic. I gave her Capstar a few times. (It's an insecticide that kills all the adults and lasts 24 hr.)

Does anyone have any remedies that work? I was told to also treat my apartment by vacuuming and using a flea bomb/flea spray. Is there an easier way? I just learned that even if your dog has just one visible flea, there are 95 others in various stages of development elsewhere. Has anyone used a flea sray that worked/didn't smell horrible?

thanks!

[Doug]

I had a flea issue for a while in Florida, but I got Advantage and they went away. One thing to do is to get the big dog size and measure it out with a plastic test tube and syringe for your dog's dosage -- it goes farther for cheaper that way. Bombing the house is the only option if they start showing up in other places. I haven't had any flea issues since I moved to the desert. I think they must like moisture, which we don't have much of here.

[sungal]

Thanks Doug..I'll try to keep my A/C lower to get rid of the moisture. So how long were you dealing with the flea problem before you got the Advantage? Did you ever have to treat the apartment? I really have just been treating Ginger, and yesterday I learned I'm supposed to be treating my apartment. As in the other fleas, in all of their developing stages are in my apartment and will eventually get on her. I had no idea since I never see them in my apartment.

I'll do what I have to do to get rid of them but I don't like the idea of some kind of powder explosion (the flea bomb) in my apartment landing all over everything.

[Jess]

Wow... that is disgusting that they make so many from one! Can they get on you?? Or just dogs? Where are they in your apartment???

[rk]

Fleas can infest humans as well as pets. Normally in your hair. Not saying it's the most likely outcome.

Edit: Washing hair everyday with soap is the best way to prevent it.

[Jess]

Yes, but you would know cos you would have bites. Sungal, I am sure once you vacuum up the apt and use some flea powder, all of Ginger's problems will be gone. Don't let rk freak you out!

[rk]

No need for alarm. Just wash your hair more frequently and should be OK. Probably OK even otherwise.

[sungal]

Now I'm feeling itchy!! Do dog fleas even bite people? I have no bites! This whole thing is a nightmare though. And poor Gingie. I got her some nice all natural itch relief spray with oatmeal and orange oil from the Vitamin Store.

[rk]

sungal, please stop worrying. It's common to feel symptoms whenever you worry about any problem. The best thing is to focus on removing the fleas from Ginger and from your house. Others have given good advice about this already. Here's somehing I pulled off a web site:

"If you frequently get bitten by fleas, it is best to break the flea life cycle by treating the home, the pets, and the outside environment with insecticide. Home foggers and flea collars are not always effective. Birds and fish must be protected during spraying. If home treatments are ineffective, professional extermination may be needed."

[Lizy]

I also heard that washing your bedding in hot water and steam cleaning your carpet, mattress, sofa, etc. should help, too. When my dog had a flea problem, this is what I did. And I noticed the little suckers from seeing small red bites on my legs (that's one reason I was worried abut bedbugs - as I pointed out in one of my threads). Advantage is really good, I'm sure your problem will be gone once you start using that instead of Frontline. As for the apartment, can you call a pro exterminator and just leave the house for the day?(with Gingie of course)

[sungal]

Thank you for all the advice. I'll look into a professional. My apt is so tiny, I can't see them charging a lot.

[Nadia Hojzak]

Now I'm feeling itchy!! Do dog fleas even bite people? I have no bites! This whole thing is a nightmare though. And poor Gingie. I got her some nice all natural itch relief spray with oatmeal and orange oil from the Vitamin Store.

Sungal, relax!! Dog fleas dont infest humans, they like dogs. The only way they would try biting you is if they are starved to death = you take away their natural host and they have nothing to eat for months.

[rk]

Sungal, relax!! Dog fleas dont infest humans, they like dogs. The only way they would try biting you is if they are starved to death = you take away their natural host and they have nothing to eat for months.

Sorry Nadia, I have to differ with this. I agree sungal should not worry unduly, but the same fleas can infest all sorts of warm-blooded animals, including dogs and humans. There are variants that prefer one or the other, true, but will bite any species without starving. See e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea
Also: http://www.hairfinder.com/info/human-hair-fleas.htm

[Nadia Hojzak]

Sorry Nadia, I have to differ with this. I agree sungal should not worry unduly, but the same fleas can infest all sorts of warm-blooded animals, including dogs and humans. There are variants that prefer one or the other, true, but will bite any species without starving. See e.g. Flea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Also: Human hair and fleas and how to identify the human flea

OK, as far as I know most fleas/parasites are host specific, the fleas that infect humans are different to those that prefer canines. We also have a dog, a beautiful golden retriever and we know from out vet that dog fleas are nothing to worry about. But sure, it is better to be on the safe side and vacuum properly the whole apartment and pay extra attention to cleaning everything, including ones hair. You never know

[sungal]

To be honest I'm not really bothered by the adult fleas because they're only 5% of the problem. I had to do research because one of my friends said "oh do a flea bomb or use flea powder and vacuum". I disagreed with her saying that's the old school of thought and as soon as it's time for Advantage, and as long as I pick the fleas out every night/ bathe her/give her new bedding things will go away.

After my internet research I'm even more scared. There are 3 or 4 stages of the life of a flea and the barely visible eggs/larvae/pupae are the real things to fear! They could be covering every surface of my apartment without me even knowing. So know I'm grossed out by them even more than the little black flea.

I called Orkin but I'm annoyed because they give you a price based on your zipcode rather than the size of your house and the number of pets you have. Oh and because of all their different "life stages" it will most likely take more than one treatment.

Here's a question: Let's say Orkin comes and reduces the population 75%, then they come again in two weeks and it's reduced 90%. If Ginger is now on Advantage, along with the brewer's yeast, baths, combing, new bedding every other day, meaning zero fleas on her, will the 10% of the fleas/flea eggs that are left stay alive in my apartment or will they die? Sorry I always share my gross bug stories!

[Lizy]

Hi Sungal, I just read one more thing: you should also clean/change your ac's filter, (if you transported your dog in your car then it should be cleaned similar to your apt) because it can blow back the eggs/larvae to the air and they can stick to the carpet and upholstery. But I'm with the others and tell you what I've been told about bedbugs: try not to worry too much, it's not like fleas will eat you alive, they're just a very annoying problem, but it's not impossible to get rid of them for good. Actually I'm always more worried about ticks when I'm out with doggie, they can be really dangerous...

[Jess]

Ginger does not have that many fleas...we are talking one or two. Not an infestation. Your apt is very clean and I don't honestly think that is the problem. You are freaking out cos of the internet, but have you gone back to the vet or groomer and asked them? Last time she went she didn't even have them. I don't think the problem is your apt, truly.

[rk]

Ginger does not have that many fleas...we are talking one or two. Not an infestation.

Glad you mentioned that, I thought we were talking about a much more serious case. sungal, you do not need to treat your apartment or anything like that. I doubt you'll ever get a flea bite, you can tell because it leaves a trail of red spots, but only then would I think of treating the apt or anything along those lines. Occasional fleas on pets are no big deal.

[Jess]

I just know cos me and Ginger hang out but the fleas are not so bad. I'm sure the apt does not need to be treated. It is most likely the time of year, and she keeps picking them up. Don't forget, you were not here this time last year so it hasn't happened before to her.

[Lizy]

I also thought we were talking about a whole army of insects I think you already got rid of them by giving Ginger baths, so don't worry, your apt won't get infested. She could have picked them up during walks, at the vet, at the grooming salon, from another dog, etc. You were lucky that you caught the problem early, so you won't have to deal with it for weeks and months...