Cant get rid of fleas

[Paint Me Proud]

This year we are having a massive problem with fleas!

We use frontline or advocate religiously every month but out three dogs just keep getting fleas.

One of my bitches ended up on antibiotics after she had a reaction to the fleas and chewed her back end raw while we were at work.

We have sprayed the whole house with a prescription spray as well as treating the dogs.

Vet told me it has been a horrendous year in regard to fleas and it has been so wet they are breeding like wild fire.

Is anyone else having a problem this year? (might feel a bit better if we arent alone in this)

 

[HappyHooves]

I know this might sound daft, but are you sure they are fleas and not harvest mites? No doubt you have seen them hopping, but sometimes the continued biting is an allergy to the original bite and not due to persistant infestation. For mites we use a product from Diatom-x and its for mites, mainly in poultry. Its a fine powder, natural product, microscopic fossil beasties, that are sharp enough to cut the outside coating of the mites and kill them. No harm to dog or horse, can even be given to horses as a wormer (excellent against mites in horse feathers too). Go on line and google DE or diatomaceous earth and see if you can get any idea if that would help against flea infestation, I would have thought it would. You can also use it dusted onto bedding. You can also put some citronella oil into a mild oil such as almond and wipe it on the legs of the dogs so that they dont attract the fleas, if you know they get them in the fields where they walk for example.
Poor you, and dogs - I scratch as I write!!

 

[D66]

we have had problems with fleas this year for the first time. We have stopped using Frontline and are using Advocate instead which has helped - Frontline didnt seem to be working at all. in fact I have been bitten sitting here at the computer. I'll have to go and get the hoover and do under the desk.
OUr dog has had an ear infection since Feb- had all sorts from the vets - the first use of Advocate and she stopped scratching! I think it must have been ear mites instead. I haven't decided how to tell the vet yet.
Good Luck.

 

[CAYLA]

We never have flea issues, at the rescue or in my home/mams home (between us) we have alot of dogs prob about 40 in total and cats.
I always use frontline (but never spot on's) I buy the huge 500ml bottles and spray them all myslef, I usually bath my dogs first (about 3 days before) so the treatment goes into the coat and does not lie on greasy dirty hair I give a generous helping, cats gets scruffed and sprayed too and I treat the house with whatever we have at work at the time, I think RIP is whats in now.

Boil wash all dog bedding, and spray behind radiators and edges of carpets especially, but basically all soft furnishings.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

no, not harvest mites, definitely fleas.

We use both frontline and advocate and have used stronghold in the past. Whole house was sprayed.

I have the frontline spray, but only a small bottle because I use if for my chickens, I have a 10 day old puppy staying at the moment so puppy was done with spray.

I will see if i can get hold of a big bottle though as the vet did tell me the spray is better.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Frontline is as much good as a nun in a punch-up IME. The vets will however continue to push it because they get commission from selling it to the unsuspecting punters.

Hope you find a solution. I went into the vets and asked for something else and was given Stronghold. I'd been given Frontline, and had done everything they said to do, to the letter. i.e. spraying the house with Indorex, bedding etc, Frontlining the dogs & cats at the prescribed intervals, and still I was sitting down and itchy beasties were jumping on my legs. I was in an awful state, all bitten down my legs, and rolled up my trousers and showed them - I'm a teacher and have to stand up in front of people!!!

So THEN they actually believed what I was saying, and prescribed something else!!!

 

[misterjinglejay]

Since making frontline non perscription, I think they've made it weaker??

Frontline combi/plus still works well.

 

[twiglet84]

Frontline has not changed in any shape or form since no longer being POM-V. Its exactly the same product.

There has been many reports of reduced efficacy and we have changed to advocate for cats and dogs, not because we get "Commision" and are trying to sell it to whichever punter walks through the door!! Both my cats still use frontline and still havent had fleas!!

My recommendation would be ask above washall bedding, turn the radiators up to encourage the eggs to hatch. Spray the house again following the directions carefully. Use Frontline COMBO this has the insect growth regulator in it which should stop fertile eggs being laid. Remember you can always have hitchhiker fleas, they dont die instantly, are you seeing lots or a few? Have you any other animals? They must all be treated. The other thing to rememeber is with fleas you will most likely have tapeworm so dont forget to treat them for this too regularly. Good luck xxx

 

[mainpower]

I had a massive flea problem at the end of last year. I would often be on the train to work and be horrified to see fleas on my hand or arm. I was recommended Indorex and had a manic hoovering session, washed everything that could fit in my machine. I bathed the dogs and just used a cheapie flea spray. I Indorex'd everywhere and everything. Touch wood, I havn't seen a flea in my house since.

 

[krlyr]

I have heard lots of people reporting issues with Frontline this year. Have you tried using just the Advocate for a couple of months running (treating the house too)?

 

[Swirlymurphy]

We've had huge problems when using frontline this year (despite washing/hoovering etc). Have just changed to Advocate about 3 weeks ago and this has made a massive difference. Our vets won't recommend Frontline anymore.

 

[gunnergundog]

Indorex everywhere the dogs go in the house....all soft furnishings (curtains, carpets, sofas, beds, cushions etc). Boil wash anything that will tolerate it....dog beds/loose covers etc. Then Indorex again!

If you have a wooden floor then Indorex inbetween the strips; Indorex inbetween the skirting boards and any gaps with the wall/floor. Address dog coats, webbing collars/leads etc. Leave no stone unturned!

Tackle any cats; get rid of any hedgehogs in the garden.

 

[mainpower]

Indorex everywhere the dogs go in the house....all soft furnishings (curtains, carpets, sofas, beds, cushions etc). Boil wash anything that will tolerate it....dog beds/loose covers etc. Then Indorex again!

If you have a wooden floor then Indorex inbetween the strips; Indorex inbetween the skirting boards and any gaps with the wall/floor. Address dog coats, webbing collars/leads etc. Leave no stone unturned!

Tackle any cats; get rid of any hedgehogs in the garden.

Another Indorex fan! I havn't had to treat my dogs at all since using Indorex. The real test is that my neighbour's manky cat has started coming in the house again, and I think that's where my problem originated from.

 

[mulledwhine]

Front line dud next to nothing for us this year

Sprayed utility with midge spray, fleas are no more

 

[meandmyself]

I can't get rid of them either. Dog has been wormed, sprayed (with frontline). House has been treated. I'm honestly thinking about getting the house fumigated to get shot of them.

 

[flump13]

argh i am itching!

 

[weevil]

Luckily I didn't get an infestation in my house this year but Sprocket certainly picked up a fair few hitchikers this summer (first time I have ever seen a flea on him).
I sprayed the house frequently with Acclaim and hoovered daily (with a flea collar in the hoover) and washed his bedding regularly.
He is treated with frontlilne plus which (judging by the flea corpses in his bed) did kill them but it did not stop them jumping onto him in the first place.
The best flea repellant I discovered is: 150ml water and 3 drops each of lavendar, lemon and rosemary oils. Mixed in a plant spray bottle and then sprayed on/brushed through his coat before walks.
It only took a couple of days and since then I have not seen a single flea either on him or on his bedding (and I check obsessively every day).
Hopefully the miserable weather will mean they die down outside - although that is not much help if you still have them in the house.

 

[Faro]

I had no luck with Frontline this year either - was advised that fleas are becoming resistant to it (much as worms become resistant to certain wormers). So, I was advised to look out for a flea treatment with a different active ingredient. I went for Advantage (spot on) and yes, the fleas had disappeared within 24 hours!