Comments on: I can’t get rid of the fleas!!? http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/ Dog skin tips and sharing ideas Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:29:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: CindyRVT http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/comment-page-1/#comment-992 CindyRVT Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:09:58 +0000 http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/#comment-992 The biggest problem here is simply your expectation of how soon you CAN get rid of the fleas. If your son's socks are covered by them in a morning then you have a serious flea infestion in the environment not just on your cat. And it takes more than a few treatments a week or two apart to get rid of fleas in the environment because of their life cycle. Adult fleas spend the vast majority of their time on your pet but a female flea lays thousands of eggs in the environment (not on your pet) daily. 3 out of 4 life stages of the flea occur in the environment--not on your pet--so flea collars and bath do very little to actually deal with a flea infestation. Topical treatments that kill fleas continually and environmental treatments are what you need to focus on. But even with treating he environment you will see adult fleas again after treating because the pupa stage (which coccoons in the environment) is pretty much impregnable---nothing we have will kill them. So they will start hatching out in a matter of days to weeks after you treat the environment. If you have a topical flea product on your cats then when those pupa come out of their coccoons and go immediately to get on your pet to get a meal they will die without laying new eggs to continue the environmental contamination. But to completely clear and infestation is going to take a month or more. Stop with the baths and instead allow the topical flea treatments to remain on your pet. They work through the oils in the skin so bathing cuts down on their effectiveness. If you are going to treat the house, you need to do it every 10-12 days. Bombing the house and then vacuuming regularly and then throwing out the vacuum bag will help cut down on the adults until the topical product has time to break the life cycle completely. The sore on your cat is very likely from the flea infestation--this is common. They will lick and chew on the itchy areas to the point of causing sores and topical skin infections. So getting rid of the fleas needs to be your first priority. Topical antibiotics aren't going to help the issue much--it's really a matter of getting rid of the primary problem. But you really need to understand that this infestation didn't occur overnight and it's not going to go away overnight. Use a good quality topical product like advantage and vacuum regularly. (Throw a flea collar in your vaccum bag if you have a model that you simply empty out the cannister after vaccuuming.) And just be patient because you can spend an arm and a leg with different types of treatments but you are still going to see fleas for weeks or months after you start treating because those cocooned immature fleas in the environment can remain safe in their "shells" for weeks to months and then hatch out and go looking for a meal so that they can lay their own eggs. The biggest problem here is simply your expectation of how soon you CAN get rid of the fleas. If your son’s socks are covered by them in a morning then you have a serious flea infestion in the environment not just on your cat. And it takes more than a few treatments a week or two apart to get rid of fleas in the environment because of their life cycle. Adult fleas spend the vast majority of their time on your pet but a female flea lays thousands of eggs in the environment (not on your pet) daily. 3 out of 4 life stages of the flea occur in the environment–not on your pet–so flea collars and bath do very little to actually deal with a flea infestation. Topical treatments that kill fleas continually and environmental treatments are what you need to focus on. But even with treating he environment you will see adult fleas again after treating because the pupa stage (which coccoons in the environment) is pretty much impregnable—nothing we have will kill them. So they will start hatching out in a matter of days to weeks after you treat the environment. If you have a topical flea product on your cats then when those pupa come out of their coccoons and go immediately to get on your pet to get a meal they will die without laying new eggs to continue the environmental contamination. But to completely clear and infestation is going to take a month or more.

Stop with the baths and instead allow the topical flea treatments to remain on your pet. They work through the oils in the skin so bathing cuts down on their effectiveness. If you are going to treat the house, you need to do it every 10-12 days. Bombing the house and then vacuuming regularly and then throwing out the vacuum bag will help cut down on the adults until the topical product has time to break the life cycle completely.

The sore on your cat is very likely from the flea infestation–this is common. They will lick and chew on the itchy areas to the point of causing sores and topical skin infections. So getting rid of the fleas needs to be your first priority. Topical antibiotics aren’t going to help the issue much–it’s really a matter of getting rid of the primary problem.

But you really need to understand that this infestation didn’t occur overnight and it’s not going to go away overnight. Use a good quality topical product like advantage and vacuum regularly. (Throw a flea collar in your vaccum bag if you have a model that you simply empty out the cannister after vaccuuming.) And just be patient because you can spend an arm and a leg with different types of treatments but you are still going to see fleas for weeks or months after you start treating because those cocooned immature fleas in the environment can remain safe in their “shells” for weeks to months and then hatch out and go looking for a meal so that they can lay their own eggs.

]]> By: Lotsaquestionslotsaanswers http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/comment-page-1/#comment-991 Lotsaquestionslotsaanswers Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:14:48 +0000 http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/#comment-991 First off pretty much everything they sell in stores is obsolete now-a-days b/c the fleas have built immunities. Flea collars r crap, I had a HUGE infestation to where the fleas ended up in OUR hair, (not a ton just a couple here and there but still EWWW) so we spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on store crap and nothing worked, we finally hired a exterminator that guaranteed no fleas for like 30-60 days and we used dawn dish soap on our dog. No fleas for four months, unfortunately we didnt treat our yard and now our dog is getting them again so we have to repeat the process but this time we r goign straight to the vet b/c you end up paying more if you try to do it yourself. so my advice, 1: vet treatment 2: exterminator 3: some sort of lawn treatment if you have a yard and your cat goes outside. First off pretty much everything they sell in stores is obsolete now-a-days b/c the fleas have built immunities. Flea collars r crap, I had a HUGE infestation to where the fleas ended up in OUR hair, (not a ton just a couple here and there but still EWWW) so we spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on store crap and nothing worked, we finally hired a exterminator that guaranteed no fleas for like 30-60 days and we used dawn dish soap on our dog. No fleas for four months, unfortunately we didnt treat our yard and now our dog is getting them again so we have to repeat the process but this time we r goign straight to the vet b/c you end up paying more if you try to do it yourself. so my advice, 1: vet treatment 2: exterminator 3: some sort of lawn treatment if you have a yard and your cat goes outside.

]]> By: miranda http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/comment-page-1/#comment-990 miranda Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:12:46 +0000 http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/#comment-990 Do you know how the cat got fleas to begin with? Did he get out? Or is it possible someone is bringing in fleas? I'm pretty sure that when I lived in a 3rd floor apt I bought in fleas and gave them to my cat (I visited friends who had cats which apparently had fleas). If the cat goes outside then he'll just keep bringing in new fleas. All the treatments you're doing would generally work if you aren't dealing with new fleas. Hopefully you can track down the source and find a way to stop new fleas from coming in. Getting rid of the cat won't help. They will bite people without the cat to feast on. It's not like the cat wanted to bring in fleas. He's probably suffering a lot. The sore may simply be a reaction to being overcome by fleas. You can get diatomaceous earth (food grade) to kill the fleas. info: http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/diatomaceous_earth_fleas.html If you think fleas may be coming in from the yard you could look into buying nematodes. Both of those options are perfectly safe for your cat and the human members of your family. You can put the DE almost anywhere. Do you know how the cat got fleas to begin with? Did he get out? Or is it possible someone is bringing in fleas?
I’m pretty sure that when I lived in a 3rd floor apt I bought in fleas and gave them to my cat (I visited friends who had cats which apparently had fleas).
If the cat goes outside then he’ll just keep bringing in new fleas. All the treatments you’re doing would generally work if you aren’t dealing with new fleas. Hopefully you can track down the source and find a way to stop new fleas from coming in.

Getting rid of the cat won’t help. They will bite people without the cat to feast on.
It’s not like the cat wanted to bring in fleas. He’s probably suffering a lot. The sore may simply be a reaction to being overcome by fleas.

You can get diatomaceous earth (food grade) to kill the fleas. info: http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/diatomaceous_earth_fleas.html

If you think fleas may be coming in from the yard you could look into buying nematodes.

Both of those options are perfectly safe for your cat and the human members of your family. You can put the DE almost anywhere.

]]> By: Stickiā™„Chick http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/comment-page-1/#comment-989 Stickiā™„Chick Sun, 04 Apr 2010 21:33:30 +0000 http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/#comment-989 Gawd, I remember that happening to me. I've since changed my mind, and I don't let my cats out anymore (I don't want to deal with worms from them eating other peoples rotten meat garbage and I don't want to scoop them up, dead off the road ). When you wash the cat, wash twice in a row. The first time doesn't lather up much at all. Rince the cat off, then lather up a 2nd time, and rub, rub, rub down at the skin, in between all that fine downy hair. Make sure you get in good around the neck, and on the lower tummy, where the fleas tend to congregate. Watch where you cat sleeps, and treat those areas... that's mostly where fleas live (they only go on the cat to feed). Another thing that worked for me was to put a bowl of water on the floor, then shine one of those bendy neck lamps down onto it. The fleas jump to the light, and bounce off into the water. Oh, yes, and this is important... make sure you put some dish soap in the water to break the water tension so that the fleas sink and drown, otherwise, they will float at the top and kick their way out. Is there not some treatment you can feed your cat that causes the fleas to become sterile, so they can't reproduce and will eventually die off??? I thought I heard about something like that many years ago. EDIT / ADD: He may have a sore throat from licking all that topical crap off when he cleans himself. I used the topical stuff -- was just supposed to mist the cat -- but I didn't understand how the fleas (down inside against the skin) would get killed by a mist on top, and I saturated him with it. I basically poisoned my cat, who visciously hissed (from under the sofa) at anything that moved for the next 3 days (he was normally a big, loving suck who'd never hissed in his life). Your cat's throat may be a result of topical. So, shampoo only, and put the money into taking care of the areas where the pet sleeps / getting an exterminator. EDIT / ADD MORE: I heard that putting brewers yeast into the cat's food helps. Apparantly, fleas don't like the taste of cat's blood with brewers yeast in it. I haven't tried this myself, though. It's just something I'd heard. Gawd, I remember that happening to me. I’ve since changed my mind, and I don’t let my cats out anymore (I don’t want to deal with worms from them eating other peoples rotten meat garbage and I don’t want to scoop them up, dead off the road ).

When you wash the cat, wash twice in a row. The first time doesn’t lather up much at all. Rince the cat off, then lather up a 2nd time, and rub, rub, rub down at the skin, in between all that fine downy hair. Make sure you get in good around the neck, and on the lower tummy, where the fleas tend to congregate. Watch where you cat sleeps, and treat those areas… that’s mostly where fleas live (they only go on the cat to feed).

Another thing that worked for me was to put a bowl of water on the floor, then shine one of those bendy neck lamps down onto it. The fleas jump to the light, and bounce off into the water. Oh, yes, and this is important… make sure you put some dish soap in the water to break the water tension so that the fleas sink and drown, otherwise, they will float at the top and kick their way out.

Is there not some treatment you can feed your cat that causes the fleas to become sterile, so they can’t reproduce and will eventually die off??? I thought I heard about something like that many years ago.

EDIT / ADD: He may have a sore throat from licking all that topical crap off when he cleans himself. I used the topical stuff — was just supposed to mist the cat — but I didn’t understand how the fleas (down inside against the skin) would get killed by a mist on top, and I saturated him with it. I basically poisoned my cat, who visciously hissed (from under the sofa) at anything that moved for the next 3 days (he was normally a big, loving suck who’d never hissed in his life). Your cat’s throat may be a result of topical. So, shampoo only, and put the money into taking care of the areas where the pet sleeps / getting an exterminator.

EDIT / ADD MORE: I heard that putting brewers yeast into the cat’s food helps. Apparantly, fleas don’t like the taste of cat’s blood with brewers yeast in it. I haven’t tried this myself, though. It’s just something I’d heard.

]]> By: Alyssa E http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/comment-page-1/#comment-988 Alyssa E Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:41:16 +0000 http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/#comment-988 Nope, getting rid of the cat is mean! And it will not help with the fleas, as you can tell they can still bite you so they get what they need and hop off into the carpet and hatch eggs. Get sevin dust and use it like carpet powder, just be sure to not breathe the dust (wear a mask) and keep the pets and kid out of the room. Wash every piece of cloth in the house, with hot water if possible. Throw the vacuum bag away every session that you use it, or wrap it in several trash bags and stuff it in the freezer for several days. Any other things that you cannot wash wrap in plastic bags and stuff in the freezer. Vacuum every day with the sevin dust. Keep using the bug bombs too as the eggs that were laid in the carpet will keep hatching. If these do not work call an exterminator. If the cat has ringworm, it needs to see a vet. You and your son can catch it too so you need to take it to the vet to know if that is what it is. Ask a local animal rescue or shelter if they can help you out with taking it to the vet as you have already spent so much because of the fleas. You might also see if the vet can keep the cat for a few days just to get it out of the house. See if you and your son can stay with someone, set the bug bombs and make sure that any clothes you wear or take with you are freshly washed and carry them in plastic bags as there may be fleas or flea eggs on any suitcases or bags. Then visit the house only to vacuum then reset more bug bombs. Also treat your car and your yard for fleas. Nope, getting rid of the cat is mean! And it will not help with the fleas, as you can tell they can still bite you so they get what they need and hop off into the carpet and hatch eggs. Get sevin dust and use it like carpet powder, just be sure to not breathe the dust (wear a mask) and keep the pets and kid out of the room. Wash every piece of cloth in the house, with hot water if possible. Throw the vacuum bag away every session that you use it, or wrap it in several trash bags and stuff it in the freezer for several days. Any other things that you cannot wash wrap in plastic bags and stuff in the freezer. Vacuum every day with the sevin dust. Keep using the bug bombs too as the eggs that were laid in the carpet will keep hatching. If these do not work call an exterminator.

If the cat has ringworm, it needs to see a vet. You and your son can catch it too so you need to take it to the vet to know if that is what it is. Ask a local animal rescue or shelter if they can help you out with taking it to the vet as you have already spent so much because of the fleas. You might also see if the vet can keep the cat for a few days just to get it out of the house. See if you and your son can stay with someone, set the bug bombs and make sure that any clothes you wear or take with you are freshly washed and carry them in plastic bags as there may be fleas or flea eggs on any suitcases or bags. Then visit the house only to vacuum then reset more bug bombs.

Also treat your car and your yard for fleas.

]]> By: Cptokay http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/comment-page-1/#comment-987 Cptokay Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:27:13 +0000 http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/#comment-987 No simple answer, you may need to use more than one product at a time. Your veterinarian would be the best one to advise on what to do next. Sounds like you need an insect growth regulator to prevent the hatching of the flea eggs or development into larva. There are products that have these as a topical placed on the pet and those you spray or sprinkle into the carpet where the eggs and larva hide out. Just contact your veterinarian and ask for further advice. No simple answer, you may need to use more than one product at a time. Your veterinarian would be the best one to advise on what to do next. Sounds like you need an insect growth regulator to prevent the hatching of the flea eggs or development into larva. There are products that have these as a topical placed on the pet and those you spray or sprinkle into the carpet where the eggs and larva hide out. Just contact your veterinarian and ask for further advice.

]]> By: MandaBear http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/comment-page-1/#comment-986 MandaBear Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:24:14 +0000 http://dogskincoat.sickdogbreed.com/sites/2010/04/04/i-cant-get-rid-of-the-fleas/#comment-986 When you treated the cat and the carpets, did you wash everything your cat sleeps on? Fleas also lay their eggs on the animals bedding, and as long as there are live eggs they will keep breeding. When you treat the cat you need to vacuum all the carpets and if you have material couches vacuum them, and wash any blankets, beds, sheets etc your cat sleeps on. The fleas will eventually die if you got rid of the cat, but do you really want to? When you treated the cat and the carpets, did you wash everything your cat sleeps on? Fleas also lay their eggs on the animals bedding, and as long as there are live eggs they will keep breeding.

When you treat the cat you need to vacuum all the carpets and if you have material couches vacuum them, and wash any blankets, beds, sheets etc your cat sleeps on.

The fleas will eventually die if you got rid of the cat, but do you really want to?

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