The ins and outs of killing fleas, in and off the dog, in and around the beds...

[DazzleII]

Went to the vet and have got Advocate.

I'm now madly doing hot washes and hoovering.

BUT my question is:

If the Advocate works, and kills all fleas that jump onto the dog, then is it actually that much of a problem if a few fleas/their larvae/their eggs remain in the soft furnishings? Won't they just jump on the dog and be killed by the Advocate, as long as I keep up the monthly doses?

Or will they be breeding madly and plotting world domination?

Advocate has worked for us in the past - the failure is due to forgetting to put it on - it's been two months since the last dose.

You can get flea powder and spray quite cheaply from wilikes, or elsewhere I imagine, for soft furnishings and floors.

Thanks - I don't use insecticides; I'm using hoover and steam power!

I thought dog fleas (unlike cat fleas) could only breed on dogs?

Thanks, Elibean - anyone know if that's true????

I'll google later

If its any consolation, I re-advocated the dog yesterday as have bites all over my back

Wonder if this mild weather is contributing? I never had a single flea bite in 13 years with my last dog...

Around 90% of the fleas live in your soft furnishings not on your dog, so yes, it's very important to treat the house.

Elibean, I've read that it's to do with putting the central heating on - all the lovely eggs hatch and the house comes alive with the sound of fleas.

BUT I still don't quite get what goes on.

If the dog's got Advocate on, which he has, and the fleas are attracted mainly to him, then they will jump on him and be killed by Advocate, surely?

AFAIK, when they jump on me, although I'm not wearing Advocate, I believe they can't live on my blood, so they jump off. They must then find the dog again in order to survive, surely, and then, surely, they will be killed by Advocate?

So why oh why oh why isn't the whole thing over a bit quicker?

Anyone fancy coming round for a coffee?

Or maybe a bite?

hi Dazzle- you are making me itchy! the fleas found on dogs are actually most commonly cat fleas- fleas don't tend to be species specific (unlike lice) and they will bite humans (as I can testify- the one time we had an infestation, after taking in a kitten from a farm, I was the only one who seemed bothered by them, I was covered in bites!) They won't live on you, but they will bite you!

I would probably recommend doing the house too- sorry! A lot of the sprays you get now last 12 mths, so act as a preventative measure too.

I really do hate insecticides in the house.

That's why I was so conscientious about dosing him. Until I left it up to dh and he miserably failed.

I understand reluctance to insecticides. From reading about fleas last night - and seeing lots of horrible pictures which is your fault Dazzle! - it will take you about 6 months to clear the dog and house completely due to breeding cycles and the like. In the meantime you need to make your blood less appetising to the fleas by taking/eating lots of garlic (you can get odourless pills) and using teatree oil.

Thanks! I luuuurve garlic anyway (especially on a night like tonight, cackle).

I will make the dc take more garlic.

I still don't really get it, though, re how fleas live today.

In a state of luxury

I didn't realise they would be all over the garden

I only ever seem to get bitten in the garden

That was pre-dog, too - I think they jump off the local foxes or possibly cats? Nasty little ankle biters, ugh.

I Advocated pup as soon as we got him, and just re-done him (as he got bathed in between and its been over 3 weeks now - and scratching again), do you think I need to do house as well already?

No, I meant 'only bitten when I am in the garden. And, thankfully, only around the ankles - ladygarden indeed [shudders]

They'd better stay outta my lady garden.