fleas!! HELP!!

[amy_b]

we are having a NIGHTMARE with fleas this year!!!!!
we flead everybody and my cat put up abit of a fuss, didnt think much of it (she is opinionated at the best of times )
less than a month later and they are crawling again!
flead everybody again, again, my cat and this time my mums cat weren't happy but put it down to the smell of it
couple of days later and my cat has a bald patch where I flead her!!
AND SHE HAS FLEAS!!!!!!!
Im contemplating a flea collar?!!
Iv got to book my kitten in for his man op so thought I would ask the vet this week, but wondered if this knowledgable lot might have any thoughts?!!

mainly -
we used frontline which we have never had this problem with before, should we switch to advocate.

presuming the flea treatment stayed on will a flea collar on top 'overdose' her

and is there such a thing as an injection the vet can give for fleas?!

 

[misterjinglejay]

Normal Frontline is rubbish now, since they started selling it over the counter; I haven't checked but maybe they changed the formula??

Frontline Plus/Combi is much better and actually works. Not sure about Advocate as never used it.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I had similar problem with Fluffy-Fuzzy last year and just about lost the plot with it!
My solution was to treat him (Frontline plus - same as I use for feather mites!), then also treat all carpets, floors and skirtings with mega big aerosol spray of flea infestation stuff brought from Dyas.
Had to do cat & floors twice over a 3 week period - and then did it again 6 weeks after that - havent had the problem again.

Hope you get it sorted - they are horrible! <shudders at memory of DH picking the odd one off his hands etc at the time! >

 

[Spyda]

I feel your pain. I posted about a similar problem I'm having with our cats and dogs back along. NEVER had a problem with fleas until now and my flea treatment program has always worked great - until this year. Nothing's changed in how I've been treating the house and the animals but eugh it's bl**dy nightmare this year. Dunno what's going on with the little blighters this year - they seem invincible.

 

[missmatch]

Had the same problem too and was also having a problem with ear mites - horrid things they are Any how switched to Advocate and all has been well As it also treats earmites too its been a godsend for us. Frontline does not work at all now. I do not like Effipro at all as it destroyed my pedigree Maine Coons fur on the application area - I would say Advocate is the best out there tbh. Also you must treat your house. I think we used Indorex last time which worked for us x

 

[AmyMay]

I gave up on frontline years ago - and always use stronghold now.

 

[twiglet84]

Hi Amy

Fleas are a nightmare but you can beat them! Firstly it is important to remember that 95% of a flea problem is in the home so always treat the house. I know a lot of people have laminate flooring but still treat all rugs, carpets, nooks and crannies etc. Then you need a good adultacide and an insect growth regulator (IGR) to help break the flea life cycle. I personally would recommend frontline combo and this has both. Advocate and the old frontline (which hasnt changed at all apart from the licensing hence being sold over the counter) is only an adultacide (as is stronghold). You could use program injection which you would need to go to your vets for and this is an insect growth regulator which last 6 months. You could potentially see "hitchhiker" fleas but there life will be short and they wont be able to reproduce anyway because of the IGR.

Dont forget also that ALL animals in the house must be treated. Also with fleas comes tapeworm. So have a chat with your vet about the correct wormer - milbemax. I havent seen anything from pet shops which kills this particular worm - dipylidium caninum.

Sorry for the essay and good luck xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx