Fleas

[pmbguy]

I have a huge problem with fleas. I have used every product under the sun on my dogs and still the fleas persist. When I use frontline the fleas are back in 2 days. I wash their bedding once a week, I put flea powder everywhere, but nothing helps. I recently got live stock dip called Dazzle it is the only one that works a bit better, but it only seems to keep them off for about 3-4 days. My one Jack Russell has a sensitive skin and he is really struggling, I have to put cream on him every day to help with the sores that develop from the flea bites.
The fleas don’t bite us but the poor dogs...
I have never ever seen such a flea infestation. When I was on the farm frontline used to knock the fleas off for about a month or more, even just flea powder would do the trick, but not here.

Does anybody know what might help with the fleas?

[tec0]

Your problem is not the dog it is your surroundings. Try and figure out where the dogs go when it is hot where they sleep during the day and start treating those arias first. Also remember that strong dip can burn the dog’s skin and that can also lead to them scratching more and cause sores.

[pmbguy]

Thanks Tec, that’s good advice. I have been doing exactly that. I have been laying down salt and flee powder where they chill out during the day, in fact I have sprinkled salt and powder all over the place.

You right with the dip irritating the sores, but they need to get dipped or they just get more and more flea bites. I give my one dog with sensitive skin antihistamine tablets to help with the itching and scratching, I also put a special cream on him too.

I have been reading allot of stuff on the internet and I came across a way to make a flea trap. I will place a low hanging light above a shallow bowl of dishwater (water with sunlight soap). The fleas are attracted to the light and they will jump into the water and drown.

Dam fleas, I am waging all out war.

[tec0]

How fond are you of your grass?

A sure way to take out any flea, you mix Jeyes Fluid in a bucket of water “the mix must be strong”. Please DO NOT DIP YOUR DOG with this stuff. What you do is you start by dumping tiny amounts of the stuff around the outside of your home. “This will kill your grass” but it will get rid of your problem in a few days.

You can try Sunlight liquid mixing it the same way as the Jeyes Fluid. Just don’t dip your dog in the stuff. But will take care of your problem it is just Jeyes Fluid is overkill but it works I have done it.

Before I forget... Your grass will never be the same again...

[pmbguy]

Yeah I don’t know so much about that, I will have to do the same to my neighbours’ yards for that to work. I would also lose my cricket pitch in the process. I also have a field next to my house, I think that’s where all the fleas are coming from. They are arriving via rat and mongoose.

[Mike C]

We used a tablet called "Program" on our dog from puppy days onwards - available from your local VET. They are quite pricey for bigger dogs, but you administer only one tablet a month.

It doesn't kill the fleas, but it renders any flea that bites the dog sterile. The fleas breeding areas then die out, so it is a long term solution ... but we found it very effective.

[pmbguy]

Thanks Mike, I think I will get that too

My wife went and got a tablet called Comfortis today, it kills fleas that bite the dog (one pill a month), will see how it goes.

[tec0]

Dude this also works get "Kakiebos" funny enough it works well. Fleas detest it so plant it in your garden and around your home. They grow easy and remain potent even after you dry them out. You just leave them to dry then put the bits where the dogs sleep and there you go...

I think you call it "Khakiweed" and yes they can become a pest but really they are a blessing.

[pmbguy]

Thanks dude. When I was a kid my dad used to make Kakiebos tea and use it as a dip for the dogs. He swears by it.
I also heard that Epson salt works well, you sprinkle it under their blankets etc.

[Dave A]

When it comes to low levels of flea infestation, using control measures for the dogs only can be adequate. But once a flea infestation is well established, you really need to look at treating the environment the dogs inhabit as well (as well as the environment where they might be troubling you).

The first thing to understand is the life cycle, which is

Egg --> Larva --> Pupa --> Adult

Obviously it's the adult stage we tend to notice. This is what is on the pet, or biting us. As a result, you might think this is what we should target. But the secret to long term control is to target the larva stage.

The egg and pupa stage is pretty impervious to insecticide treatments due to the protective coating that typically prevents the insecticide getting to the organism itself. The adult only tends to emerge from the protective pupa case when it feels the vibration of an approaching victim, which means there's an awfully short period for it to be exposed to an insecticide, and for that exposure to have any effect before it's already on us (or the dog) to cause mischief.

This makes insect growth regulators (IGR) a critical component in your long term flea control program. They have great "active effect" longevity, while having virtually zero toxicity to non-target organisms. Program, as mentioned by Mike above, is an example of a vetinary product using the IGR effect. In terms of environmental IGR treatment, Starycide would be my product of choice.

When you're suffering from flea bites though, unfortunately the IGR's are not going to give immediate relief. So you would also want to use something that is going to affect the adult stage. And here's where things can get a bit tricky.

The numbers and pretty fast lifecycle of fleas means pesticide resistance is a serious issue. As a result, a product that might work for a while now might well be less effective for you in later years. This makes me loath to recommend a specific product at this point as it may work now, but may not still be effective years later when this post is still around. So let me cover some strategic issues.

Assuming you are applying the product to the correct areas, the trick when a product is not working is not to make stronger solutions, or apply more, but to change the product you use - or more accurately, change the active ingredient (actual part of the product that has the insecticidal effect) you're using from time to time.

Other key elements in your hunt for an appropriate product is an understanding of the different classes of insecticides, whether they're suitable for indoor or outdoor use, whether they're registered for the pest and location you're seeking to control, their effect on non-target organisms that may be present, the nature of the surface they're being applied to, and probably some more besides.

Obviously, employing a pest control professional would be my top recommendation - this resolves the issue of product selection and correct application. But if you intend to do some spraying yourself, your product supplier should be a helpful source of information in terms of product selection and application.

I could go on to make this a really long post, but let me close off with some critical points:
* Only use products that are registered for the pest you seek to control and the location you intend to treat.
* Only apply products in accordance with the directions on the label.
* Only apply vetinary products to your pets.
* Be aware of and actually stick to the safety precautions associated with any particular product and application.
* Salt is not a suitable pesticide for any application - but I think I'll cover that particular issue in another post one day.

[Hermes14]

Dave A I have his the nail on the head.
Just one thing I would like to add.
The best time to start spraying for fleas is just before the rainy season.
As soon as it starts raining they seem to start popping out all over the show.
Secondly the problem is not always on your property.
I started having a flea problem when our new neighbours moved in next door.

[tec0]

I love South African flowers and funny enough I have a lot of "Kakiebos" growing in my garden to keep some pests away and it works for the most part. They really are good for your garden if you keep them under control that is. That said my Bullterrier “when he was still with the living” never had a flea or any other parasite. He was clean healthy happy and he loved a clean bed. Seriously we washed his things every 3 days and he just showed you that he appreciated it. I miss him...

Still perhaps a combination of both treatment and nature is a way to go.

[pmbguy]

Tec0 - you actually very clever by growing your Sativa amongst the Kakiebos, they look very similar. No wonder your dog was so happy

[pmbguy]

Guys I have met and conquered the advance of the flea. I have had dogs all my life but I have never encountered such a virulent invasion of fleas. I have consulted vets, got the best stuff, but nothing worked. I tried almost everything and finally I have got the fleas by the short and curlyz.

My dogs are on the pill “Comfortis”. I also dip them with a low dosage of Dazzle once a week. I know Dazzle is not specified for dogs it’s actually for rabbits and sheep, however it works a charm. May I also add that no other product including frontline would keep fleas off for even 2 days. I advice people to go for products like frontline first and only consider dazzle as a last resort. I used dazzle because it is used by farmers on their sheep dogs. I also have 2 sets of bedding that I change and wash+tumble-dry every 2 days.

My dogs have NO fleas NO more. My one dog that was developing a skin rash has completely recovered due to no more flea bites. Just to make sure I urinated on spots in the garden where I believe these evil creatures dwell. I know it may not be a scientifically proven method of combating fleas, but I thought it a nice touch.


Fleas

[wynn]

I know it may not be a scientifically proven method of combating fleas, but I thought it a nice touch.

As long as they don't jump up and bite you on the tip???