AIBU?
To think someone should flea treat the bloody dog?!?
MoreCakePlz · 30/07/2015 08:29
DH got a dog when he lived with his parents before we got together. When he moved out, first with friends, then with me, the fog stayed at his parents but he diligently continued to go back there once a day to walk it. Fast forward 8 years and this ridiculous arrangement still continues.
Now to the AIBU bit...
when FiL and MiL go away the dog often stays with us. However twice in the last couple of years he's had fleas so bad they've stayed in the Capet after he's gone and I've had to pay for an exterminator to get rid of them. On another occasion I bought flea treatment and treated him myself because I couldn't bear to see him scratching.
MiL came over to our new house yesterday and bought the dog who scratched a lot while he was here. Now I have bites on my feet and I'm worried the house has fleas again!
MiL struggles to treat him because he's a big dog with a thick coat and she's frail, FiL isn't really interested at all in the dog and DH sees his responsibilities as ending firmly with the walks.
AIBU to think that for the sake of the dog and my sanity , one of them should bloody step up and get him regularly treated???
LilyMayViolet · 30/07/2015 08:41
It's very irresponsible of them not to flea treat their dog. We do ours religiously and have no problems. I once looked after a dog with fleas and had the same awful experience that you did. Fleas love to feast on me and Dd in particular. The poor dog must be very uncomfortable.
Nabuma · 30/07/2015 08:43
Yes, it's cruel and a bad flea infestation in the house is nightmare to get rid of-the eggs can lay dormant around the house for fucking years. I think you need to speak to dh-it's his responsibility to sort this out, not frail mil and fil and not yours either (although I can see why you did it last time). I took a friends cat in when she moved temporarily. She had fleas and it was easily treated with the monthly stuff on the back of the neck but I can't remember the name although it's very popular. The house caught them too and a friend recommended Indorex which I got from amazon. It's a tad dear (although worth it esp compared with exterminator costs) but you spray it everywhere. Hoovering regularly prompts any eggs to hatch (heat, vibration-they think it's a possible host) and then they're slightly easier to kill with the spray. Think, hoover, spray, hoover, spray regularly until bites stop appearing. Dont forget to treat your mattress-bites could be coming from there as they can really get anywhere even where dog hasn't been. But maybe keep any kids away, and windows doors open. Good luck, it's a bloody horrible feeling having that in your home.
SkatesMcgee · 30/07/2015 08:49
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ohidoliketobe · 30/07/2015 09:12
Someone should yes. Your DH bought the dog and obviously still feels some responsibility towards it. You can order flea treatment in bulk online (vetmeds website and similar(. If you just bought it in would he be more inclined to do it? All 3 of them sound pretty lazy tbh. Poor dog.
MoreCakePlz · 30/07/2015 09:29
MiL and FiLs house also has fleas but because they're not bothered by the bites (and nor is my DH) they haven't had it properly treated. It got to the point where if I went round there, I could see them crawling on my hands. I made a fuss, they sprayed a bit of treatment around and now Hoover more regularly which seems to have calmed things down but I don't think it's gotten rid of them.
They have a pretty good relationship with the vet and always take him to have his glands squeezed/if he's hurt etc but for some reason don't see regularly treating his fleas as a priority!
Vet actually does a flea clinic once a week but suggestions he be taken along are met with indifference.
MoreCakePlz · 30/07/2015 09:34
Have asked DH when the dog will come to live with us so we can manage all of this properly - apparently never because MiL will miss it too much. This makes things more complicated in terms of responsibilities!
Agreed DH should step up if MiL and FiL won't can't, but he doesn't see it that way 
girlywhirly · 30/07/2015 09:55
Agree, the dog and environments must be treated for fleas and worms, as they have interlinked life cycles.
Vets often have loyalty schemes where you pay a monthly direct debit, and for this your pet gets two health checks a year, flea and worm medication, and often discounts on pet diets and any other treatment needed. I pay £9.35 a month for my cat. She gets her check up every six months and I collect her medication at the same time. Vets can supply flea sprays for the home as well, Acclaim is one I have used in the past for previous homes with different cats. It can penetrate the flea egg cases and stop them hatching. Don't be tempted to use cheap flea sprays as they will only kill the fleas themselves.
It's expensive caring for a pet properly, and if neither DH or his parents are willing to do this the dog should be rehomed.
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