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Original poster

Fleas

29 replies

MervGriffinShow · 28/12/2020 22:39

Sorry if this isn't the best place for this!

I'm being bitten by fleas. It's been going on for a couple of months, with a bite every few days or so. I didn't realise what it was until I saw a flea on my arm a couple of weeks ago.

I re-treated the dog with spot treatment on her skin, put all bedding in the wash, steamed rugs etc and hoovered the shit out of everything. It all stopped for about 10 days and then I got another bite. Yesterday I caught a flea on my hand and this evening I've caught one on my arm.

Its always when I'm sat on the couch that it happens, and it's generally my arm. It's 1 side of my body, at the arm of the couch. I'm not sure there's fleas in the couch as it's leather so not really anywhere for them to go, but I've given it a wash with warm soapy water anyway. It's all wooden floors downstairs.

My husband isn't being bitten at all. There was a tiny amount of flea dirt on the dog, but no sign of any actual fleas and she isn't scratching.

What do I do next???

OP posts:
SchrodingersImmigrant · 28/12/2020 22:43

You need to super clean the sofa. Every little crease

nancybotwinbloom · 28/12/2020 22:46

And treat everywhere with indorex.

FlatulentSproutEater · 28/12/2020 22:52

We finally cured our persistent flea problem with a handheld steam cleaner, many many hooverings and about 6 tins of Indorex. It's cheaper on eBay than anywhere else. Buggers will hide anywhere - any dark crack or crevice.
Also I don't know if this helped or not but I like to think it did - a spray bottle with water and grapefruit essential oil - apparently they hate that.

Potatoespuds · 28/12/2020 22:53

We had this. Used indorex, flea bombs and continued spot one for cats ( we now only use vet ones). Lots of hoovering hot washes ect.

Seemed to work for month or so then they came back. Only thing that worked was pest control.

I’d try indorex once but if it doesn’t work just go for pest control. I wish we’d done it much earlier.

They are horrid wee buggers.

FlatulentSproutEater · 28/12/2020 22:54

Should add that it's a good idea to direct the steam around all the edges of the room as well as under chairs, sofas etc - any place that is dark and untouched by daily use is what they love!

indemMUND · 28/12/2020 22:55

Pest control. If they're jumping about you're at infestation level. I speak from recent experience. Indorex didn't work for us. 2 x pest control whole house sprays finally sorted it.

kasho5 · 28/12/2020 22:59

Have you got the spot on from the vet? I got it elsewhere once - it didn’t work and our poor cat was infested. That, vacuuming often and indorex worked for me.

MereDintofPandiculation · 28/12/2020 23:00

Pest control. If they're jumping about you're at infestation level. I speak from recent experience. Indorex didn't work for us. 2 x pest control whole house sprays finally sorted it.

We moved into a rented flat which had a bad flea problem. I walked round the edges of all the rooms each night carrying a bowl of soapy water into which I dropped any fleas which leapt on to my legs. Very quickly got down from catching 70+ per night to about a dozen and then down to none.

Original poster
MervGriffinShow · 28/12/2020 23:01

OK thank you. I've just ordered indorex from Amazon so will have it Wednesday. Do I just spray everything with it? And do I need to be out of the house for a few hours?

OP posts:
Original poster
MervGriffinShow · 28/12/2020 23:04

MereDintofPandiculation I've literally only seen those 3. I had a torch around the edges of the room and can't see a thing either. I just can't fathom where they're coming from!

I have an electric reclining sofa so going to see if I can tip that onto its front tomorrow and steam underneath it.

OP posts:
Original poster
MervGriffinShow · 28/12/2020 23:05

@kasho5

Have you got the spot on from the vet? I got it elsewhere once - it didn’t work and our poor cat was infested. That, vacuuming often and indorex worked for me.
Yes, the dog has a pet plan thing and flea treatment is included.
OP posts:
LittleMissTeacup · 28/12/2020 23:06

The sofa can have them even though it’s leather.
I think there’s instructions on indorex but from what I remember you spray things such as the sofa, carpets etc with them and then close the door and leave the room for a few hours.
You mentioned a dog, so make sure the dog is out of the house before you start spraying and keep them out of the room for a few hours afterwards too.

helloxhristmas · 28/12/2020 23:08

What treatment are you using? Our vet won't use spot on any more because the fleas are resistant it's a tablet, I can't remember the name sorry

Cherrysoup · 28/12/2020 23:08

Spray Indorex on everything in a room, all carpet, curtains, bedding etc. Don’t forget inside your cupboards/clothes. Get Bravecto from the vet. Whatever you’re using isn’t working. The fleas die if they bite the treated dog. We had an infestation during lockdown, so fun. Bravecto sorted it, plus multiple sprayings of Indorex.

LittleMissTeacup · 28/12/2020 23:08

Dare I say it, but we had fleas and the dog didn’t have them due to the vet’s plan, and the pest control told me that women always seem to be bitten more than men.
Ours were under the floor boards upstairs in our reno house... turns out the buggers can go into a state of hibernation for 2 or so years and us ripping the house apart probably disturbed them!

BarelyMerry · 28/12/2020 23:09

You'll need to open the windows and wear a mask when you spray the indorex, and probably best to stay out of the room until it settles down

LittleMissTeacup · 28/12/2020 23:09

We have Nexgard tablet for the dog on prescription from vets

NameChangeUnwiseAdvice · 28/12/2020 23:11

Indorex!!!! Get a couple of tins and spray the fucking shit out of every single thing in your house. Our cat picked them up and they were everywhere but a blast of that fixed it in a week.

BaddestDaughter · 28/12/2020 23:11

I would get in pest control too, if they've been there a few months and you're actually seeing them. Your DH will be being bitten too, just not reacting to them. And both of you will be potentially taking them and dropping them outside for other people, as will your dog. Really, just get a guy in. They know what they're doing and it will save you time and hassle in the long run. Don't try natural remedies.

yeOldeTrout · 28/12/2020 23:13

Check the label, but afaik Not required to mask up when spraying the Indorex. I had a lengthy chat with some pest control guy (he couldn't stop talking) who said anything you could buy yourself (as non professional) wasn't that dangerous, wasn't allowed legally to be that dangerous.

Vacuum extremely well everywhere. Do not clean the places you sprayed the Indorex with (so no vacuuming or wiping down) for at least 3 days after application; you're leaving it to do its work.

You'll get nowhere without a treatment that works on the live dog, though.

Original poster
MervGriffinShow · 28/12/2020 23:14

Its advantage spot on the dog is using.

OK so if I steam under the sofa, hoover everywhere again and wash the crap out of the sofa and then spray the indorex stuff and go out for a couple of hours walk or whatever? I'll ring the vet tomorrow about flea treatment too.

OP posts:
Sittinginmyoodie · 28/12/2020 23:15

Are you sure they're from the dog? I thought if the 'host' was still present, they didn't bite others?

We moved into a rental that was infested with the little gits. To the point where they were in the toilet. Envy (Not envy).

I can't remember what we used, but it wasn't until we got a professional in to nuke them that we finally got rid of them.

ekidmxcl · 28/12/2020 23:19

I am interested in what kind of flea preventer people use on their dogs. My dog has a plan at the vets and we get advocate spot on flea preventer every month. I find it absolutely crap despite applying it very carefully. I wonder if my vets has some sort of deal for this stuff because they don’t seem to want to give anything else. I’d like something in tablet form as my dog takes tablets really well and additionally the advocate smells absolutely awful.

indemMUND · 28/12/2020 23:21

Tbf we got the house treated with Ficam W which has been withdrawn from the market now. Pest control guy said we'd had the last of it but it had been the most effective he'd used. He was also incredulous that we had pet rats I had to move outside while he sprayed as he spends most of his time killing them. One of my cats is the culprit though. Impervious to most flea treatment, the little bastard.

FarTooSkinny · 28/12/2020 23:23

Burn your house down. And your neighbours. Just to be sure