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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Help! Ddog has fleas

21 replies

kathycomehome22 · 17/02/2023 17:51

As the title says 😫😫
Long haired JTR has been scratching for a few days. Dh said it wouldn't be fleas because we would have seen them and had bites ourself (we haven't). But took him to the vets today and lo and behold it's fleas. We also have two borderline feral cats who pretty much live in the fields and woods behind our house and only come in to get fed so it's probably come from them. Both will need catching and treating too which will be easier said than done.
So what do I do?! Dh has been and got spray which I've doused the soft surfaces in. We mostly have tiled or hardwood floors which is probably better than carpets but we do have some carpeted rooms too.
To top it off our washer is on the blink and not due to be fixed until next week. What do I do?! I have dc one of which is only a year old so im freaking out. Thankfully none of us have bites.

OP posts:

cloud9612 · 17/02/2023 17:57

The best thing we found for our three cats was Itch Pet. Tried everything from Pets at Home, Amazon etc. only thing that worked was Itch Pet!

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 17/02/2023 18:00

You need to get a prescription for all pets from the vet. Nothing you can buy direct from a shop will work.

Original poster

kathycomehome22 · 17/02/2023 18:08

Ah yes I know. JRT has got medication now. The other animals will be getting taken asap. But what do I need to do in the house? I've sprayed all the obvious surfaces but I feel on edge.

OP posts:

gettingalifttothestation · 17/02/2023 18:19

If you don't use monthly flea treatment from the vets cats and dogs will become infested pretty quickly. You need to keep up with this. In the meantime you need to spray all soft furnishings with a flea spray. Wash everything on a hot wash and hoover all the time.

Original poster

kathycomehome22 · 17/02/2023 18:21

gettingalifttothestation · 17/02/2023 18:19

Have learnt this the hard way. Especially with the cats who just roam and probably bring all sorts in. They are very grumpy and don't like being handled so will be tough to treat them but we are going to have to.

OP posts:

Twentywisteria · 17/02/2023 18:30

Indorex spray liberally on everything - best stuff to use. Floors, carpets, under beds, everything. Wash everything that fits in the washing machine at 60 (know your washer is on the blink but you'll have to get it fixed).

Get prescription flea and worm treatment from vets. OTC isn't nearly as effective. Pets at Home has a £10 per month worm and flea plan you can get. It is just applied to the back of the neck.

Diarise to treat all 3 every month.

I just dealt with fleas on my cat. Did all the above yesterday and am now flea-free. You really have to treat all the animals and then the environment ASAP or you'll struggle to get rid.

Twentywisteria · 17/02/2023 18:30

Cats can get tapeworms from eating fleas so they all need worming too.

Twentywisteria · 17/02/2023 18:31

Forgot hoovering! The hoover vibration hatches the eggs apparently and then you use Indorex after. Also clean your vacuum filter after emptying and spray with flea spray.

Kladebs · 17/02/2023 18:41

Agree that the cats need prescription flea treatment too rather than otc, plus worming treatment.
We had a problem a few years ago. Hoovering and indorex spray. I spray the house a couple of times a year too still.
Once the treatments on the pets, you'll notice a quick difference. They play a big part in killing them off.

WrendaleCountryDogs · 17/02/2023 18:44

Why did you take to vets??

Cat and dog fleas are different. Unlikely cats will catch off the dogs.

Just treat the dog. Not sure why you need to ask??

CocoFifi · 17/02/2023 18:45

If you feed the feral
cats you can get Bravecto from the vet which kills fleas and worms for up to three months. It is in a chew form, so put it in their food and job done

Sugarplumfairy65 · 17/02/2023 18:47

Not sure why you've got 3 pets who need regular flea treatment to keep them healthy and happy but you don't treat them regularly? That's neglectful.

Twentywisteria · 17/02/2023 18:48

WrendaleCountryDogs · 17/02/2023 18:44

Why did you take to vets??

Cat and dog fleas are different. Unlikely cats will catch off the dogs.

Just treat the dog. Not sure why you need to ask??

Your information is not correct. Although they are called cat and dog fleas, both can get either or both. Look at the RSPCA website for example.

tsmainsqueeze · 17/02/2023 18:50

WrendaleCountryDogs · 17/02/2023 18:44

Why did you take to vets??

Cat and dog fleas are different. Unlikely cats will catch off the dogs.

Just treat the dog. Not sure why you need to ask??

The cat flea will infest the dog.

MereDintofPandiculation · 17/02/2023 18:53

Any fleas will sooner or later jump on to a dog and get zapped by the flea treatment. So even without washing, it’s a problem that will resolve. Dog fleas prefer dogs to humans.

I once moved into a flat which had previously been occupied by a dog with fleas. I walked with bare legs and carrying a bowl of soapy water around the entire flat when I came from work, and as each flea leapt on to me, I caught it and dropped it in the water. First night I got a few dozen, by the end of the week it was two or three.

Twentywisteria · 17/02/2023 18:54

MereDintofPandiculation · 17/02/2023 18:53

Any fleas will sooner or later jump on to a dog and get zapped by the flea treatment. So even without washing, it’s a problem that will resolve. Dog fleas prefer dogs to humans.

Think I'd prefer flea spray to becoming a human flea trap!

Original poster

kathycomehome22 · 17/02/2023 18:56

WrendaleCountryDogs · 17/02/2023 18:44

Why did you take to vets??

Cat and dog fleas are different. Unlikely cats will catch off the dogs.

Just treat the dog. Not sure why you need to ask??

We took the dog to the vet because he was clearly uncomfortable with something. This was confirmed to be fleas. The vet advised the cats need seeing and treating too. Not sure what's difficult about that?

OP posts:

Twentywisteria · 17/02/2023 18:58

kathycomehome22 · 17/02/2023 18:56

Show quote history

There's nothing wrong with going to the vet. I did the same with my cat.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 17/02/2023 19:14

Vacuum.

Bamboozle123 · 17/02/2023 19:31

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 17/02/2023 18:00

You need to get a prescription for all pets from the vet. Nothing you can buy direct from a shop will work.

This.

Don't mess around buying stuff from the pet shop - anything they sell will not make a difference.

Did your vet not prescribe something? Prinocate is the medication of choice currently.

Johnisafckface · 17/02/2023 20:48

I treat the animals first, then I set up flea bombs throughout the house. set them off and leave for a few hours, it will get into every crevice in the house and it will take care of them. it will kill the flea eggs as well so they don't hatch and become fleas.

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