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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Fleas... so many fleas

16 replies

lunakitty2609 · 28/08/2017 19:24

Hi, first post so please don't bite ^^

I have a golden Labrador who is almost 12 years old. I also have 2 Siamese cats. The cats are indoor so never go outside, however, they both and the dog have an uncontrollable amount of fleas. I have tried flea shampoo for both the dog and the cats. (cats were a nightmare in the bath!) I've tried a house spray called R.I.P Fleas which I got from the vets. I've tried the little 'Spot on' things. Nothing seems to be working, they're all still crawling with them. They're driving me and the pets mental. I need them gone.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I'm getting desperate now.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 28/08/2017 19:28

What spot on treatment did you use? I use prescription only flea treatment from the vets as I have heard that the ones you can buy over the counter are not as good.

SKYTVADDICT · 28/08/2017 19:31

We tried everything (just 1 dog). Bought 24 hr tablets from pet shop, flea baths, spot on stuff, sprayed and hoovered house (2 cans!) And he still had them. Got a 3 month tablet from vet and they seem to have disappeared fingers crossed x

MaisyMary77 · 28/08/2017 19:34

I also use meds from the vets. I've got two labradors; they have one Bravecto tablet each, every three months. This keeps away ticks and fleas and kills existing beasties. At £35 a tablet it seems expensive but it works out at about £11.50 a month. There's also a loyalty stamp card-buy three tablets, get one free.
Comfortis is also good-kills existing beasties and lasts a month. £60 for 6 month supply.

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 29/08/2017 13:46

Don't use Frontline as it no longer works on fleas (my sister says) - I get Advocate spot on from vets as this deals with horrible seriously dangerous things like heartworm and some other worms in addition to fleas. With regard to your house/carpets, etc, you need a REALLY STRONG flea-killing SPRAY - ask your vet for advice on that as most sprays don't do the job.

gamerchick · 29/08/2017 13:53

What kind of spot on do you use? We can only use advocate on ours. We get the odd one or 2 ( I can bring them home from work) or she'll pick a couple up but they don't take hold and turn into an infestation. You have to keep right on top of it and give it every 4 weeks on the dot.

Maybe you need to get the dude in to spray the house and start from scratch.

NewBrian · 29/08/2017 21:32

Vets for proper prescription flea treatment for all and indorex flea spray in the house will get rid of them. There's no point buying the cheaper alternatives or using shampoos.

fuzzyllama · 29/08/2017 21:39

Comfortis tablet for the dog, stronghold for the cats and indorex spray for the whole house should get things under control. Prescription only flea treatment is a must, things like frontline and bob Martin etc that you can get over the counter just don't work.

Ylvamoon · 29/08/2017 22:04

In addition to all the flea killing stuff, I'd recommend that you wash dog/ cat bedding (and soft furnishings if you can) at 60°C* to kill any eggs or larva and keep doing this regular - every 5-10 days. Google the flea cycle and time your treatments with the little beasties life cycle... when they hatch to stop them turning into breeding adults.
Pay special attention to quiet areas like under radiators or pet bed when treating with sprays...

anything less is not effective!!

mineofuselessinformation · 29/08/2017 22:13

Hoover at least once a day - twice if you can. Empty Hoover into a bag that goes straight outside into your dustbin. Pay special attention to the edges of the room around skirting boards. (Even if you have hard floors.)
Indorex all soft furnishings.
Flea bomb if you can exclude pets and your family from rooms, if it is feasible. (You will need to cover fish tanks etc.)
Make sure you're using an effective flea treatment for your pets.
It can take a couple of weeks to feel you're getting on top of it. If, by that stage, you don't think that it's improving, it's time to call in the professionals.

Youmademe · 31/08/2017 17:18

I use Advocate on mine once a moth every month on the back of the neck between the shoulder blades. She has picked up a few live fleas from a friend with cats looking after her but these are picked off and popped as it's usually just a few.

Use Acclaim in the house. It's a giant spray bottle which is about £25 a bottle, it will kell all flea stages. However you nee to boil wash every washable items your dogs have been near. Even your bedding, your clothes, all the dog beds. Put them out on a line if you can while you spray the house. You will have to be out the house for a while after you spray as this stuff is pretty hardcore. Spray around all the edges and nooks and crannies of all rooms and down the seems of all furniture and the sofas. Flexible eggs can lay dormant for a year before hatching so it's better to take a multi angled approach. Advocate kills all stages, the live fleas, and the flea eggs which hatch and then jump on your pet to feed which will then kill them too.

After researching fle treatments extensively (as I have a fle-bite allergy), I wanted to use the option least toxic to my dog while doing the job. I ruled out Comfortis? As the reported side effects from users were scary and so we're the oral pill forms. This has worked completely for us . mineofuselessinformation had fab advice also.

gingerhousecat · 31/08/2017 22:43

Hi, we have two house cats (they used to go in the yard sometimes in our old house) they both ended up covered in fleas I presume just from the yard. We used indorex flea spray for the house which cost about a £10 and this covered the whole house ( a terraced 2 bed so not huge) along with advantage flea spot on - all from vetsuk website. Solved the problem straight away! Currently using effipro flea treatment and never had a problem and my cats go in the garden. Not dogs but hope it helps x

Original poster

lunakitty2609 · 01/09/2017 15:27

Hi, Thank you so so much for all of your great advice.
I have just administered a fresh dose of Frontline and hoovered then sprayed the house again. Washing all of the bedding on a 60-degree wash as I type this.
I did find this though and have given them a call. If anyone lives in South Somerset this is the link to the local council pest control www.southsomerset.gov.uk/environment/environmental-health/environmental-protection/pest-control/charges-and-fees/

I'm sure other councils do the same thing. I'm expecting a call in 2-3 days to arrange an appointment. Cannot wait

OP posts:

Orangebird69 · 01/09/2017 15:29

Frontline, and indeed any other OTC products are rubbish. Go to your vet and get proper spot ons. Then get some indorex spray for your house and vacuum everyday for at least a fortnight.

gamerchick · 01/09/2017 19:34

Frontline doesn't work.

It's a form of insanity yanno to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results good luck.

exWifebeginsat40 · 01/09/2017 19:40

are you rural OP? we have wheat fields at the bottom of the garden that were harvested a week or so ago and our 3 cats are ITCHY.

otherwise, honestly, we use Frontline and it works for us. the cats, i mean - not me and DP...

Original poster

lunakitty2609 · 02/09/2017 16:26

exWifebeginsat40 Yes rural but the cats don't go out and the dog is too old to walk far anymore. I think they were in the house before we moved in. Been here for 7 months and it's been getting gradually worse. Got pest control calling Monday so hopefully, they'll be gone for good soon

OP posts:

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