Oh shite, the dog's got fleas!

[Floellabumbags]

I've just discovered the dog's got critters. We frontlined him in spring but the buggers have appeared anyway. I've sent DH to the pet shop for shampoo, treatment and worming tabs. I'm washing cushions , bed linen, sofa covers...

Do I need to spray rugs and carpets? I'm considering getting the Bissell out to wash them or possibly a flame thrower. Has anyone got any advice or gin?

RunYouJuiceBitch some interesting advice, but missing one vital part.

I live in a rural area, surrounded by woodland- my cats are hunters- 2-3 mornings a week I wake up to dead prey. Birds, mice, voles, pigeons, rabbits. I can't see the point in being vigilant with my carpets when my cats are being exposed to fleas from wild animals on an almost daily basis.I regularly spot treat and it does eradicate the fleas, but as re infestation is inevitable I can't see the point in being overly fussy in the home.

I've bought a flea trap from Amazon on the recommendation of the pest man (I'm 31 weeks pregnant so he was reluctant to douse the place in DDT or whatever was in his cannister). It was £13 and is a sticky pad under a very Heath Robinson lamp fitting. Watching one die at the moment and another of the hoppy bastards has just joined the party.

First infestation of fleas here this year - cats for 15 years , dog for 5. Local pet shop said this year has been terrible and they were inundated with requests for treatments. Frontline absolutely rubbish and bloody expensive. Started to panic with the frontline not working as we were going on holiday and dog going to the doggy sitter............ Trip to the vet - prescribed something different to frontline (put in food) and all sorted. My house has never been so clean, I am such a slob and having to vacuum so much was doing my head in.

Why is everything such a money spinner? - now feel we have to subscribe to the vets treatment at £££££s to be administered every month.

woodlands The products I mentioned are all available without prescription.

Cailleach If you treat your cats with effective products at the correct intervals, any fleas they pick up will be killed before reproducing and thus your cats will not shed any eggs in the house.

Obviously you can't prevent flea eggs from dropping off their prey, but I'm honestly not sure how well cat fleas reproduce on rodents. One to look up, I think.

woodlands Sorry, to clarify, all the household products are available without prescription, as is Advantage spot-on.