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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Fleas driving us to distraction

32 replies

AInightingale · 07/10/2023 16:40

Hi, is anyone else struggling with fleas? Treated dog (and house, and bedding) with Frontline multiple times in the past two years, but she never seems to be flea-free. None of us have bites so the house couldn't be that bad. I have bathed my dog and rinsed in water with vinegar in it – doesn't work either. No actual infestation or flea dirt present, but the Frontline is not killing the live fleas, and I can't get rid of them from the house, clearly, or they wouldn't still be bothering the dog. Do I need a professional? Jeez, does my house actually need fumigated? I am so embarrassed by this and not much fun for the dog either.

OP posts:
Pinkflamingopants · 07/10/2023 16:50

Indorex for your house, and get the flea treatment from the vets for the dog. Slightly more expensive but lasts 3 months and always does the trick. I don’t think frontline etc really cut it

Newpeep · 07/10/2023 17:05

We've seen an uptick on both our cat and dog. We are using prescribed treatments but if it continues we will treat the house with Indorex too.

You do seem to see them more when the fleas are dying so it doesn't mean to say the treatment isn't working but it is a bit disconcerting. None of us are being bitten or bothered at all, just seeing the odd ones on both animals.

FortunaMajor · 07/10/2023 17:16

You can buy effective flea treatment tablets over the counter. Anything containing Nitenpyram as the active ingredient will kill live fleas. You should be able to get it from most pet shops and places like The Range. Brands such as Capstar, Johnson's 4Fleas or Bob Martin Clear.

Try using Advantage as your next spot on, as it's a different drug to Frontline which is becoming less effective.

Spray your home, but the best thing you can do is keep hoovering twice a day for a month. Also clean all bedding on a hot wash.

If that fails then a trip to the vet is in order for something stronger.

It's been a really bad year for them.

Original poster
AInightingale · 07/10/2023 18:09

Thanks, interesting about the Frontline. It has always worked fine on my cats, might as well be putting holy water on the dog for all the good it seems to do. Yet the vet is very positive about it and insists it is still effective.

My chemist was sold out of Advantix funnily enough. Aagghhh she is scratching again even as I type this!

OP posts:
EddieHowesShithousingMags · 07/10/2023 18:11

Bravecto flea treatment from the vets. Makes the dog a walking flea killer.

Original poster
AInightingale · 07/10/2023 18:15

Would this work? It seems very cheap but it does contain the nitenpyram stuff mentioned above, Johnsons 4Fleas Tablets Puppies & Small Dogs 3 Treatment Pack : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

OP posts:
FortunaMajor · 07/10/2023 18:19

Yes, that product will kill them, but you also need to follow up with a prevention treatment to stop them coming back.

Frontline contains Fipronil which is no longer as effective as it used to be. You need something else as it clearly isn't working.

Newpeep · 07/10/2023 18:22

You really need something prescribed from the vet. We use Advantage which is usually very effective. Advocate is another we have been given.

Seresto collars are also highly effective. I have used them in the past.

hermioneee · 07/10/2023 18:25

Indorex for the house - you need to hoover those buggers up twice a day.
Bravecto- the only thing that worked for when dog had them earlier this year. Not frontline, not a flea collar, Given that tomorrow is Sunday and you may not be able to get to the vet I'd go to pets at home and get some capstar- that will start to kill them in 6 hours.
But you need bravecto really and to do an obsessive job on the house for a few days.

They're bloody awful aren't they.

Blackcoffee1 · 07/10/2023 18:29

Petsathome do a monthly subscription of the back-of-the-neck treatment, £12.50 a month DD and they post it to you. It lasts a month so in theory fleas should be prevented 100% of the time.

You also need to use an aerosol spray to blitz the house - sofas, carpets, rugs, floorboards, dogs
beds etc (might be easier to buy new beds). And repeat after a few days to break the egg cycle.

Fleas can even survive in the garden in grass/patio for like a week without a host. It’s grim.

Original poster
AInightingale · 07/10/2023 18:30

They ARE bloody awful. My son put two in a container of water earlier, they were in it for a minute, no kidding, and they were STILL ALIVE. They are beyond being survivalists, it is nearly supernatural.

OP posts:
RaeHitsEbSire · 07/10/2023 18:32

We have struggled this year - DH and I were getting flea bites on our legs! We vacuumed, steam-cleaned and indorexed the whole house twice, then kept vacuuming which seems to have shifted them (obviously treated the pets too - cats but most fleas on dogs are actually cat fleas).

mrswarthog · 07/10/2023 18:35

We use this to kill them in the house (added value in any flies that venture in drop too in the first couple of weeks)
InsectoKil Flea Bombs for The Home (Pack of 4 Flea Killer Smoke Bombs) Professional Strength Mini Smoke Bomb Foggers for Effective Flea Treatment https://amzn.eu/d/79tgjnS

DRS1970 · 07/10/2023 18:38

Try a different brand. Fleas can develop immunity to products if used too often.

HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow · 07/10/2023 18:49

Had this a few years ago. Someone said that some fleas appeared to be immune to frontline, so I ordered something different and it did the trick

WilbursWinnie · 07/10/2023 19:22

Hoover, hoover, hoover. It's the only way. You need to get along the skirting boards and under sofas etc. Wash any bedding or blankets...

Good luck!

Original poster
AInightingale · 07/10/2023 21:01

And empty the hoover bag! God knows what's living in there... 😱

OP posts:
piscofrisco · 07/10/2023 23:12

Where is the best place to get indorex from please? It's £34 on Amazon-surely that can't be right?!
Our two dogs are scratching like mad, and they have never had fleas before ever. We can't see any-yet. But I would imagine it won't be long!

May09Bump · 07/10/2023 23:26

We started to use Nexgard Spectra following getting bit by a tick when a puppy. Touch wood, has prevented her getting Fleas too.

We get a prescription from the vet, then buy from below as much cheaper.
NexGard Spectra for Extra Small Dogs - Pet Drugs Online

I'd get professional advice on house infestation, they may be able to provide a stronger spray or advise something else.

https://www.petdrugsonline.co.uk/nexgard-spectra-flea-worm-treatment-extra-small-dogs

ZebraD · 07/10/2023 23:30

We had an Infestation last year and it was an absolute nightmare. We tried, smoke bombs, sprays, tablets, droplets for her back, mopping, hoovering, shampooing, combing and mostly daily and although we reduced them they didn’t clear completely….until…seresto collar! Worked wonders! Can’t recommend it enough after the stress we went through

Scutterbug · 07/10/2023 23:32

Another vote for going to the vets and getting bravecto.

piscofrisco · 08/10/2023 07:25

Thanks @Ruffallo have ordered. Woke up feeling very itchy this morning but no bites so hoping it's mostly in my head at the min. Will treat the dogs and boil wash the beds and hoover like mad til it arrives.

ZebraD · 08/10/2023 08:26

Those sprays were just chemicals in a can for us and pretty useless, just hoovering will suffice.

Seresto Dog Flea Collar with Tick Control, Large https://amzn.eu/d/4rQT0Nb