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Pets

35 replies

Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 09:52

Hi sorry to put this on AIBU but I was hoping for some help regarding fleas. About 2 months ago my cat got fleas, I presumed its because of the warmer weather she has been going out more. I took her to the PDSA and got her treated and bought treatment for the next month also. In the last week she has been licking the fur away again, she has been given the second dose of treatment. I also treat our dog at the same time, I'm not sure if the dog has them, she is 15 and sleeps a lot and doesn't appear to be scratching herself. I also bought Indorex and sprayed the bits where the cat would lie. I now think they still haven't gone as the poor cat is licking and biting at herself. I have 2 bites on my ankle so I'm convinced they're all over the house. I have been trying since Wednesday to get in touch with the PDSA and no matter what number I press when given options I just get cut off. I have tried to book an appointment online and its saying I'm not registered. I'm sorry for putting this on here but I feel terribly sorry for her and I'm hoping someone may know how to actually speak to a person IRL. If I need to take the post down I will, thanks in advamce.

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ScottBakula · 10/05/2024 22:24

Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 11:45

Crikey @ScottBakula it's going to take me forever!!!

It took me sooooo long but it was worth it, I used two cans and got rid of the little buggers and it made me have a clear out too !

Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 16:48

Hello @Pickingmyselfup I think stronghold may have been what the PDSA, All I could remember was it started with an S. Anyway she obvs has fleas again. I have no Indorex left and I'm now wondering if the dog has them too??? Both of them were treated again at the same time on Sunday and I've sprayed Indorex every where I could. Only problem is my sofa cushions can't be removed so I've just had to spray them x

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Pickingmyselfup · 10/05/2024 16:12

I had a nightmare with this last year! Only one of us kept getting bitten so I didn't think it was fleas but turned out it was! I went to the vets and got the cat treated with stronghold and indoorexed everything, it worked! I also washed everything I could aside from the clothes in the wardrobe and the king-sized quilt, was such a PITA and perhaps not necessary because this was before the stronghold.

Another bite recently so applied stronghold and nothing since. It's like magic!

It can only be bought from the vet or with a prescription so it's a bit of a faff but worth it for a flea free house.

Maybe get some flea traps to be sure what you are dealing with.

Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 16:07

Hi @crumbledog does it actually work? Do you just place it next to where she sleeps?

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whatisforteamum · 10/05/2024 16:00

Thank you.got indorex.
Will do it this w end while everyone is away.
We've dealt with bed bugs yrs ago brought in from a cheap hotel.
We can do this.!!

Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 13:03

Thanks for all your advice @crumbledog I hope I get rid of them soon. I had wanted to ask the vet if it was ok to give her an antihistamine to stop the poor soul scratching. I couldn't flea comb her as she would take your face off, she's not a friendly cuddly cat.

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crumbledog · 10/05/2024 12:43

Warm soapy water bowls around the house and read up about the Diatomaceous earth, its about £10.00 a 10kg bag.
Keep vacuuming and make sure to empty the bag outside, so they don't crawl out.
Flea comb them too.

Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 12:32

Hi @crumbledog I was thinking of using the flea bombs as I've been told not to treat the pets until the next lot of treatment incase of overdose, so I'm just thinking of the best way to treat the house. I bought 1 can of Indorex but I can't afford anymore. Someone who posted earlier said she has to buy 6!!!. I've looked at the bombs on Amazon but there is a lot of negative reviews x

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crumbledog · 10/05/2024 12:10

@Mollylegs
This is copied from British pest control site ‘ Around 95% of flea eggs, larvae and pupae live in the environment, not on pets.’

The environment is really important to treat as well. The stuff you put on pets, only really kills the live fleas.
Once the eggs hatch, the cycle starts again. That’s why it’s an ongoing process until you get rid of the little buggars.

Warm bowls of soapy water left around will attract them. They’ll jump in and die.

Also, Diatomaceous earth, you can order big bags from Amazon sprinkled around will kill them as well, it’s not toxic to pets.Its a fine white powder, but don’t use if you have a filter in hoover, cause it will wreck it.

Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 11:50

Thank you @agncndmkd128494 I presume maybe I still had them in my house and I didn't know it. The cat and the dog both get treat at the same time. I feel daft cause I'm thinking if I have treat them both but the house still has them its a vicious circle. I'm struggling trying to get everything washed/cleaned/aired all at the same time x

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Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 11:45

Crikey @ScottBakula it's going to take me forever!!!

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Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 11:43

Thanks @crumbledog I am wondering if they were still in the house fromthe last time I treat them both.

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Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 11:37

Hi @Tel12 I had been using advantage but it must have stopped working on the cat. I can't see any on the dog but she has a thick, coarse black coat so maybe I just haven't spotted them. Unfortunately my husband left me last year so I'm on benefits at the moment so I had to use the PDSA and they were great, they gave me a prescription flea treatment and the cat has had 2 up to now. The fleas seemed to have gone but have came back this last week.

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Tel12 · 10/05/2024 11:24

You could try using a flea comb too, although the visible ones are not the whole problem. The treatment from the vet is expensive, here it's £50 for one tablet but lasts for 3 months.

Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 11:24

Thank you @aodirjjd I treat them both at the same time with advantage but I was given something else for the cat but the fleas have still come back.

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Frlrlrubert · 10/05/2024 11:22

Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 10:52

Hi @Frlrlrubert I bought 1 can of Indorex but it's not enough, I could honestly cry this is the first time I have had anything like this and the cat is nearly 14!!

We made the same mistake. I think we ended up needing 6 cans. 3 per time for a 3 bed house.

agncndmkd128494 · 10/05/2024 11:15

Fleas are horrible things to get rid of once they get into your soft furnishings. You will need to wash everything, bedding/cushions/blankets etc on a hot wash, hoover everywhere into all the edges and either spray your sofa etc with flea sprays or I have used "flea bombs" a couple of times and they work well.
The important thing though is treating the animals, both at the same time and with an effective treatment. Bath the dog also.
My dog had fleas that were really stubborn to get rid of but since both cat and dog have been on flea treatment prescribed by the vet for a couple of years now we have not had any, both are on bravecto, spot on for the cat and chewy tablet for the dog.

ScottBakula · 10/05/2024 11:07

I agree with @Frlrlrubert , you need to spray absolutely everything with indorex .

It's time consuming and a pain but pull all the furniture away from the walls and spray behind and under it , turn sofas / armchairs/ beds and anything else with a fabric / soft bottom upside-down and spray that , cushions, curtains, bedding, wash all your clothing on the hotest wash it can tolerate, spray inside all your shoes .
Though I haven't tried apparently freezing things for 48 + hrs works too so that may be useful for cushions and coats that can't be washed. Also dry cleaning works so get all your blankets done.

Do each room individually then keep the door shut till you have done the whole house.
It took me a whole day to do my small 2 bed house

Keep your cat and dog out of the house if you can , the chemicals are bloody horrible!

crumbledog · 10/05/2024 10:57

Flea treatments can take a few months to work, because they have to kill the fleas during each cycle, same for the environment. I was also told that they mostly live in the environment and jump on the pet to feed, so it’s really important to treat that thoroughly as well, so regular vacuuming, washing all soft furnishing and spray with strong flea killer.

Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 10:52

Hi @Frlrlrubert I bought 1 can of Indorex but it's not enough, I could honestly cry this is the first time I have had anything like this and the cat is nearly 14!!

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aodirjjd · 10/05/2024 10:49

If your cat has fleas your dog does too. You need to treat both

Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 10:48

Hi @Maneandfeathers I had been using advantage but after she got fleas a couple of months ago I had to take her to the vets and they gave me something stronger. I had redone her with more of the prescription stuff but shes got them again.

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Maneandfeathers · 10/05/2024 10:47

An easy way to tell if it’s fleas is to brush a comb through the cat and tap any dirt onto a while piece of paper, put a tiny bit of water over and if it goes red it’s likely fleas (dry blood) It sounds likely though unfortunately.

They can be really hard to get rid of though, I sympathise!

Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 10:45

Thanks @Halfheadhighlights I've washed all throws, going to do cushions now but the sofa will just have to be hoovered.

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Original poster
Mollylegs · 10/05/2024 10:38

Hi @whatisforteamum its a bloody nightmare, I feel so sorry for my cat x

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