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Whats the best way to kill fleas?
We've got a really bad infestation of fleas this year. They're in the yard, our home, and on both dogs - but not on any of our cats. I'm having real issues getting rid of them.
We're going to try some cedarcide on the dogs, but that doesn't solve the problems inside. We've tried using diatomaceous earth, vacuuming, even putting salt down on the carpet for a day and vacuuming it back up. I'm at the point where I'm about to get a fogger to do the whole house.
We've also tried using the DE outside, but it didn't work at all. We live really in a really rural area and most of our yard is woods-y, so I'm doubting that we'll ever be flea-free outside. We have tons of catnip growing naturally, so that helps to repel the fleas, but not much. Do nematodes really work for fleas outdoors?
And finally for the dogs...Frontline, Advantix, etc do not work at all. I hate using the chemicals, plus one of the dogs is allergic to them, but I've tried them just to get rid of the fleas. Capstar works, but both dogs reacted to it. The only thing I've been able to find is Sentry Naturals, but that only works for a few weeks. I've tried spritzing with diluted citrus oils and even diluted catnip oil. I've dusted them with DE. I give them garlic + brewers yeast tablets. Aside from continually reapplying the Sentry Naturals, I really don't know what to do. Is there anything else that I can try?
Frontline and Advantix do not work. They have no efect on the fleas. I've tried them. In addition to that, my husky has allergic reactions to them, as well as Capstar. My vet has no recommendations except for Frontline and Advantix and when I say that she is allergic to them, he just shrugs and doesn't offer anything else. And if I have a dog who reacts to topicals, somehow I'm thinking that dipping her in poisons will have a worse effect.
I do use flea shampoos, although the natural ones are the only things that I've been able to use so far because of how she reacts. They do work, but only for about two days.
Just a note but, yes my cats are flea free. All four of them. I check them often and they have no fleas nor flea dirt. Thanks for being rude though, I appreciate it.
5 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
To start off discontinue the use of garlic it's toxic to dogs.. Sulfur could work in your backyard, though your right the woods-y term could mean you will always battle them outdoors, maybe a yard spray could work. Give your dogs routine baths with flea and tick control in them you can find natural ones on petsmart.com if bath time isn't your thing try a few flea and tick collars. They take a little bit longer to kick in but last longer. If you want a speedy but not long term fix try a dog dip. Here is a link to flea and tick control products. http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.jsp?categoryI...
With the new information added I would use the natural shampoos and then see if your vet can run an allergy CB to see what is in the flea and tick medicines that she is reacting to that way you will have a better idea of what you can and cant buy. There is different chemicals used in a dip than in a drop.. Dips are fast and quick acting but dont stay on the skin as long as a drop does. Which would lead me to believe that if you used it as a method to rid her of them first and for most then a way that she isnt allergic to to keep them off. Perhaps there is a flea collar that she wont react to?
Also it may be worth your time to check out the sites i have listed in my sources for natural flea remedies.
Source(s): NaturalGinesis.com http://www.naturalwoof.com/natural-flea-and-tick-r... http://www.natural-wonder-pets.com/natural-flea-co... - LeeLv 41 decade ago
OK, fist of all the reason this isn't working is because YES, the fleas ARE on your cats. There is NO WAY you have a flea infestation on Only your dogs. How dumb do you think these fleas are, really? Smart enough that you, a human, can't get rid of them.
Your cats just aren't showing symptoms because either they have fleas all over them and aren't allergic like your dogs so you perceive them as not having a problem or they are bothered by the fleas so they groom themselves a lot and swallow most of the adult fleas.
First, TREAT ALL the pets in your home. ALL of them including ferrets, bunnies, etc. but not birds or reptiles. Second, plan on doing this for a MINIMUM of 4 to 6 months because that is how long it will take for all of the eggs to hatch out in the environment. Third, try a different product like revolution (topical-- less resistance because not available OTC for everyone to misuse) or a combination of the two products Comfortis and Sentinel (again, less resistance because not available for everyone to misues. yes, these are oral tablets). The cats, however, will need revolution. Call around, find a vet who carries these products and make an appointment for your dogs. It sounds like they probably have tapeworms from the fleas and skin infection by now anyway.
AGAIN, YOUR CATS ALSO HAVE FLEAS. Check the hair by their upper back for little black dots by their skin-- see that-- its flea poop. Now, call around and find a vet who can help you.
As for chemicals, none of them can remove the pupa stage. For that you will need to do lots of vacuuming and changing the vacuum bag. Think 6 month of treatments here.
OH yea, Garlic + Animals = Heinz body anemia = death. You do the math.
- 1 decade ago
Well i can assure you that both frontline and advantix are very safe for dogs but make sure youre using the right dosage and getting the right weights, otherwise they are useless. I was going to reccomend capstar until i read that. It is very difficult to get rid of fleas especially in a woodsy area. Another option would be flea baths (which your vet can get you the shampoo for) and it usually doesnt hurt the wallet that bad. Talk to your vet and see if you can get an alternative for capstar and see what they reccomend in that area to de-flea.
Source(s): im a vet tech! - Anonymous1 decade ago
Frontline PLUS does work, we've used it on all the dogs we've had, and all the fleas were gone for 3 months. Talk to your vet about something to get rid of the fleas.
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