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Post by Mumsey on Nov 7, 2016 16:52:00 GMT -5
Come on hard freeze! The Princess got some fleas. Partially my fault, around October I tend to forget about putting the stuff on her. Plus all my busy-ness hasn't helped. So I gave her a bath in Dawn dish soap. Brushed her with the Ferminator, sprayed the carpets (I know, chemicals). Put a flea thingy on her (more chemicals), it's actually a thing that just hangs from her collar. Washed all our bedding and hers in hot water and hot dryer, and all throw rugs. Vacuumed like crazy, moved all the furniture and sprayed under that. Opened all the windows in the house for the smell of the spray and to help dry it quicker, nice breeze today. I did one part of the house at a time, closed it off for an hour before entering. She isn't itching like she was yesterday when I discovered the problem. I was in panic mode. But then I calmed down and told DH "well, at least it isn't bedbugs!" He said, "that's right, I would be moving!" <object type="application/x-KPMPlugin" id="kpm_plugin"></object> <object type="application/x-KPMPlugin" id="kpm_plugin"></object> |
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Post by desertwoman on Nov 7, 2016 17:07:19 GMT -5
That sounds awful mumsey. When they get out of control they really are bad . Have you tried alternatives to the chemicals for prevention? We've had really good luck with adding nutritional/brewer's yeast sprinkled on our cat's food. Cats love it, it gives them a really shiny and incredibly soft coat and I don't think I've seen a flea in decades. I suspect it would work with dogs, as well. Also, essential oils are effective. binnylou will probably be able to advise you better on these, but I have heard that for dogs, lavender and cedar oils are particularly good. |
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 12, 2016 7:04:56 GMT -5
I think we are winning the battle. I have been vacuuming every other day, washing doggie blankets. Got a flea comb. The only way I can contain her to do the combing is in the bathtub. She hates her rear end and tail combed, but we got it done. Gave her a bath in Dawn dish soap yesterday and combed with the soap on and again after rinsing. Then later put her in the tub, no water, to comb again. Got some brewers yeast, applying that as flea powder. Started putting some on her food, she likes it. I started out with a small dose, will gradually increase to the amount for her weight, about 1 T. The brewers yeast was $5 for about 22 feedings, don't know if this is a good price or not since I have never bought it. Had to get it from the Health Market section of Hy-Vee. binnylou DW suggested I ask you about essential oils. I have read that cedar oil is good. |
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 12, 2016 7:38:54 GMT -5
It just dawned on me, we have a new Pet Supplies Plus store 28 miles away. I have been watching for it to open, it's a really big place, far larger than Petco or PetSmart. I checked the website, they have natural flea treatments. One is Natural Chemistry with cedarwood, cinnamon and clove oils. All natural and safe to use directly on pet.
I'm going there. See ya later!
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Post by binnylou on Nov 12, 2016 8:23:35 GMT -5
All natural and safe to use directly on pet. Educate yourself before using essential oils on your pets. Some say that cats can't be around essential oils because their liver doesn't process them...others say their cat leaves the room if oils are used. As for human use, always dilute and never ingest. |
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 12, 2016 8:31:52 GMT -5
binnylou No cats in this house, just feral ones roaming the neighborhood and people feed them! One lady even had a hole put in the side of her garage for them to come in, a regular hotel, beds and food. The vet thinks that's a big part of the reason we have so many fleas around here. As for the essential oils, that's why I am opting for the ready made natural stuff meant specifically for dogs. Off I go the the new pet store. I may roam the place a while, it's huge.
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 14, 2016 7:44:16 GMT -5
Got a spray called "Natural Chemistry". It seems to be helping, but maybe the things I did initially are kicking in. Thinking of bringing in some of the thyme. I am combing with the flea comb twice a day. Today is vacuum and wash her bedding day. The numbers have definitely decreased, but must keep vigilant for the little buggers than may hatch here and there. So will continue our routine til we see no fleas.
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 15, 2016 9:49:46 GMT -5
Something just dawned on me. I wonder if fleas came into the house in the soil of 2 fan palms that I repotted, brought them in to over winter. I have never brought outdoor plants in before and we never had fleas before. I have googled and can't seem to find much, if any, information on fleas in potted plant soil. I repotted them, but alot of soil was the soil that was in the outdoor pot. These 2 palms were in a shady, moist area, and in large tubs.
Maybe give them some insecticidal soap? I am willing to even get rid of the plants!
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Post by davidjp on Nov 15, 2016 10:39:28 GMT -5
I hear Tea tree oil is supposed to be a good wash for fleas, I know some groomers use it.
Other than that daily vacuuming, getting rid of carpets and installing hard wood floors all seem to help. I'm afraid we have to use the systemic insecticides, last year we even ended up switching to another product as it seems the standard frontline was not working too well, wouldn't surprise me if resistance was building up. Others reported similar things.
Large problem here as basically no frosts to kill them off. I've heard that further inland where its really dry they aren't a problem as its just too dry for them to survive outdoors.
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 15, 2016 10:49:07 GMT -5
It has been very wet here this year, adding to the problems I'm sure. Will check into the tea tree oil. So far I have used the bad stuff to spray carpets, bad stuff to bathe her with (once). Dawn dish soap, brewers yeast to her coat and in her food. Flea comb twice a day, vacuuming at least every other day. Washing bedding every other day. Today I am throwing out her "pillow" bed, the thing inside is not washable. That could be a source as well. She will just have to get used to blankets to sleep on that are washable. Spare bedroom will be minus carpet sometime soon, I hate it, very light tan and difficult to keep clean. There is oak hardwood under the carpet, that will suffice.
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Post by desertwoman on Nov 15, 2016 11:28:57 GMT -5
There is oak hardwood under the carpet, that will suffice. Only suffice?! Many people would be thrilled for oak floors!! |
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 15, 2016 12:05:33 GMT -5
desertwoman I don't know what the condition of the floor is under that carpet though. When we ripped out the living room carpet 5 years ago, it was in pretty good shape. Wish now we would have left it, or put new over it. It will be gone in a year or two. DH doesn't know about the spare bedroom carpet, yet...
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 15, 2016 13:08:15 GMT -5
While cleaning bathroom cupboard, found some cedar oil spray. Thoroughly vacuumed bedroom and threw out the pet bed pillow. Washing all other items again. Sprayed this oil on the area, reminds me of Mom's cedar chest. It's a fine mist. And today is bath day. She is getting rather used to heading to the "tubby".
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 18, 2016 14:14:16 GMT -5
So I think I sprayed too much cedar spray, I have become hoarse. Better now.
The flea situation is bad all over this town, wasn't aware of that til today in talking to people. We just made another trip to the tubby, dawn dish soap bath with vinegar rinse. And the flea comb. Vet's office says it can take 3 months to break the cycle. So our choice is to give her the oral med for now, the one that makes the female flea sterile so she doesn't lay eggs. And we can use the topical along with it until our problem goes away. Not what I wanted to do. But sometimes you have to get out the big guns. I am vacuuming and washing her bedding daily, along with any of our blankets in the living room. We put a sheet over the couch, it gets washed daily and couch vacuumed. Also have an old couch in basement, same thing for that one. It's half a days work to get all this done!
I also took the roller bars out of the Dyson vacuum and soaked them in dish soap. Thinking maybe the eggs get stuck in the bristles.
Re-directed by fleas I am.
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Post by davidjp on Nov 18, 2016 15:35:26 GMT -5
I really wouldn't worry too much about the systemics. I think a lot of them rely on juvenile hormone which controls how some insects go thru metamorphosis, so basically screwing up there moult cycles so they never mature. I don't think its that bad, i actually have used it for research purposes before and can't even remember the packaging saying that it was harmful but I wouldn't go drinking the stuff. Since its an insect hormone its probably pretty far removed from vertebrate physiology to have any effect but could be detrimental if you dispose of it improperly. Always follow the label, theres usually a lot of well thought out info on there and there may be other compounds in there besides the juvenile hormone Did find this quote on wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juvenile_hormone#Use_as_an_insecticide"One JH analogue, methoprene, is approved by the WHO for use in drinking water cisterns to control mosquito larvae due to its exceptionally low toxicity (LD50 >35,000 mg/kg in the rat)." Basically thats saying you can add it to drinking water so can't be too toxic |
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