Flea Remedies please?

[WendyB]

Don't want to start you all off itching and scratching, but this is serious and it's doing my head in now, not to mention my wallet!

My dogs have fleas. And I can't seem to get shot of the little blighters. In the past, whenever I have had a minor flea outbreak, either with cats or dogs, and very few and far between, i have used Frontline, with brilliant results (I even used it on the kids when they had nits once)
So when we spotted a flea on Tink, out came the Frontline Advantage. It didn't work. At all. Since then we have used Spot On, Frontline Spray, flea shampoo, flea powder, nit combs whilst dog in bath covered in flea shampoo, nitcomb whilst dog in bath covered in conditioner. The last time we did shampoo/nit comb, then conditioner/nitcomb, dried them off, nitcombed, Spot on on back of necks, followed by frontline spray. Also sprayed the entire house at the same time. And they still have fleas!!!!!! I am now giving them each a garlic capsule a day (which they love and think are treats) but as yet that's had no effect whatsoever.

I have phoned the vets to see if there is an injection they can give to repel the boarders but apparently there isn't.

Any suggestions anyone? Sensible ones please, old fashioned remedies? Old wives tales? All gratefully received.

[Sapphire]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

Ok have you wormed your pets lately ? Our vet told me once that if your animal has worms then you will never get rid of 'visitors' (I don't say the word f xx s rofl).
Thing is if you have a few animals you have to worm them all at the same time (obviously I mean the same day before you start panicking) and then Frontline them a few days later.

It worked for us hun but unfortunately it can work out flaming expensive.

[WendyB]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

right I'll try that. Have usually got some Drontal hanging about but if not will get some from the vets, cos Drontal is the best wormer IMO. Not sure if i can get it over the counter at chemists?

Forgot to mention we also gave them all the skinhead cut with the horse clippers. Didn't get rid of the visitors but made spotting them easier lol.

[Sapphire]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

Don't forget the cats too hun !

[Mochamoo]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

flea bomb the house, several flea bombs at the same time indifferent rooms, same day drontal the cats and dogs and flea collars!


Scrub house top to bottom then flea spray the animal areas and leave the flea spray down don't wash it off.

Repeat 3 weeks later to kill the hatching eggs. Most people forget the eggs which is why they end up with repeat infestations.

That is one of the very few ways to break flea cycle and make them gone for good xx

new flea collar once a month leave old ones in animal bedding, Drontal them every 3 months year round. Flea spray house every spring. Sounds like you animals and fleas are immune to front line now so time to shake it up

[WendyB]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

Done all that already Moch, except for the worming.

We don't allow the dogs in our bedrooms, only have carpet on the stairs, laminate floor everywhere else. Dogs can't get on stairs cos we have a stairgate. Leather settee, which I have put flea collars under the cushions.

Tinkerbelle is so used to being nit combed now that as soon as she sees the comb she rolls over so i can comb her belly. I have even hoovered them with the dyson and the vax.

[Mochamoo]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

Flea bombs didn't get rid of them? WOW! You got yourself some hardarse fleas lol

I used this stuff when I moved in here worked a treat not had fleas since x

FORTEFOG P INSECT KILLER MINI FUMERS ( 2x 3.5g Pack) (FREE MASK AND GLOVES) - HSDOnline

[Happyolddog]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

TEA TREE OIL works wonders.

[WendyB]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

you mean just combed through their fur? Or bathed in it? I've used it as an antiseptic before but not for fleas.

[Happyolddog]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

Get a £1 spray bottle from a DIY shop ie B & Q, get a small bottle of Tea tree oil, pour it into the sprayer and dilute with water to fill the sprayer and liberally spray the cats/dogs. I have used it for over 10 years, fleas hate it and abandon ship very quickly.

[WendyB]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

Brill, Hod, I'll try that later. Cos I can't get any Drontal to worm them yet cos my bankcard has just been declined not enough funds in my account lol. Although Tink hates being sprayed and turns into the Hound of the Baskervilles at the sight of the flea spay - she'll just have to put up with it. The other two are ok, don't like sprays but will put up with it.

[Sapphire]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

That sounds an excellent idea HOD and a lot cheaper than Frontline route, although I still think its best to worm the animals too.
I do know that a lot of people use Tea Tree Oil on their kids when they get nits and it does work (allegedly).
Ooooo give it a go Wends and let us know how you get on please.

[fuzzybrain]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

We have a 5 cats and a Cavalier king Charles Spaniel & I have always used Frontline but have noticed its not that effective as it used to be.

Soem one on one of the doggie forums that i belong to (she used to be a vet - no retired) has noticed a similar thing about front line and suggested this instead

New spot-on Flea/tick treatment just out called 'Effipro' - made by Virbac. Similar in use to Frontline - but supposed to be more effective and leave no sticky residue on pets fur. It is a Spot -on - and is NOT absorbed by the pet.

As this is new I obviously don't know how good it is - it is based on Fipronil which also acts against larvae and eggs of fleas that may be in the house.

I like the idea of the tea tree oil, how many parts water to oil and how much do you spray on???

[WendyB]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

Well, after a bit of a to-do which involved Millie and Sox being very good, but having to wrestle Tink to the ground after chasing her around the house and dragging er out from under the chair, I have sprayed them all with Tea Tree Oil as per Hod. And I have to say that it seems to be working so far. The fleas were positively leaping off, abandoning ship like it was the Titanic. So far so good......

[Happyolddog]

Re: Flea Remedies please?

Forgot to mention; the tea tree will only repell the fleas, the next thing is to get a can of Indorex household flea spray. Spray it on carpets, down the back of any sofas and around the edges of all rooms. This will stop the little f3ckers reinfesting, it also stops spider, ants and other creepy crawlers from entering your home.