Fleas at the barn - ugh

[JJARAB]

So, while I’m not naïve enough to think that we NEVER had fleas at the barn where I board, this year it seems like we are absolutely INFESTED. They are constantly on me, my horse, and evidently in my helmet, because even after washing my hair (I guess non-flea killing shampoo doesn’t make them go away) I just picked one off of myself this morning. AT MY OFFICE.

In the eight years I’ve been there, I can’t recall it ever being this bad. They actually seem worse IN the barn than out in the field. I have to be REALLY careful because I have two pets (out of the 6) that are very allergic to flea bites and will rip their hair out if they get bitten. I put in a LOT of work at home to minimize any potential flea problems (vacuuming, washing, treatments for the pets). I can’t afford to be carting them home with me.

What can I do? It’s alleged that they fogged the barn a few times, but it’s obviously done squat. Do I spray myself with OFF or a spray you put on your pets? Should I strip his stall and saturate it with a premise spray? Should I spray him with a flea spray AND fly spray (I use Pirhana)?

uggh. I have a case of the willies now just talking about it. I HATE FLEAS!

[moving_to_dc]

I am in southern MD, just across the Potomac from Quantico, so I am roughly in the same region as you. The fleas here have been horrible, too. My “tack room” cats who actually never go outside are COVERED in fleas, and the Frontline I had on had isn’t doing much to kill them.

I do know that fleas can be hard to get rid of once they have infested a structure/area, and it can take up to 3 months to fully eradicate all the life cycles.

Here’s my plan for my property:
Treat all 4 legged smaller-than-a-horse furry critters - I will likely rotate 2 or 3 different topicals, applying one every 2 weeks, in addition to oral treatments.

Spray barn/buildings with OTC killer.

Spray surrounding areas/pathways with granules or liquid killer. I can’t logistically treat all the ground, but I plan to do the “high-traffic” areas, to limit the fleas that hitch a ride.

[Alagirl]

A vet told me one time that any shampoo, if left on in a lather for ten minutes, would do the trick of killing fleas.
(As I recall it, that was when I found my Beagle pup on my front steps, two hands full of dog, half of it fleas. The pup was anemic, she was covered so badly!)

Around here Frontline does no longer work. Vet gave me Revolution for my cats.

[Beentheredonethat]

I have never seen a flea at the barn. I was under the impression they don’t like the smell of horses.

I’ve been on a flea rampage at home as I have two litters of Siamese kittens. Here are some ideas.

Bathing will only kill fleas at that moment.

They supposedly don’t like certain smells, like eucalyptus, cedar, and lemon. I have cedar oil and mix it with water and spray it everywhere.

Food grade diatamocaeous earth, boric acid (can be gotten at the $1 store) and salt kill fleas. Sprinkle it everywhere. You can rub the DE on the animals.

I just ordered some nemo oil, which is supposed to be a natural flea deterrent you can rub on the animals, and it makes them shiny. I also just ordered some beneficial nematodes for the soil outside. That might work very well for the barn.

[JJARAB]

I have never seen a flea at the barn. I was under the impression they don’t like the smell of horses.

Mine must smell good to them or something, because they were all over his legs (which I’m trying to treat for mud fever right now). Is there a decent flea repellant for people that won’t kill me? I sat down tonight to put my boots on and within seconds there were DOZENS of them on me. I use oral and topical treatments on the kids at home, plus vacuuming, washing their bedding and ours frequently.

[Chief2]

We had the huge flea problem last year. Advantage on the cats (Advantix for dogs) worked great. Frontline did nothing at all.

[appdream]

5 parts borax (Borateen, in the laundry aisle of the grocery store) and 1 part salt works great to break their cycle. Sprinkle it around your floors. Reapply after sweeping.

[Dewey]

Sounds like a horrible infestation. I will chime in with others and say that after a few years, Frontline stopped working for us. We switched to Advantage with better results.

When DH and I first moved to the South with our dog, we had a horrible infestation similar to what you are describing. I had never experienced anything like it and was in despair. Nothing worked. I was bathing the dog every other day, and she was just covered with the things. One day at the pet store, I picked up a canister of a product called Bio Flea Halt! which was beneficial nematodes. I mixed it with water and sprinkled it with a watering can on area of the back lawn the dog frequented. The results were astounding–all fleas gone within a few days. I never saw anything like it.

I have never been able to buy Bio Flea Halt! again. I bought another brand of nematodes several years later, and it helped, but the results were not as dramatic.

Good luck. If the nematodes don’t work, you may want to call in a professional exterminator.

[JJARAB]

Unfortunately I need to tread carefully with the farm situation - it is a boarding facility, not my own property (trust me, if it was, I would resort to freaking napalm if that’s what it took).
They have now infested my car. I’m going to have to take off tomorrow, take everything out, vacuum, shampoo the carpets and spray. I took a 20 minute shower this morning, washed my hair about 4 times, sprayed myself with Deep Woods OFF before I got in the car and I STILL.HAD.FLEAS.ON.ME here at my desk. This is disgusting and I am pissed.

[Dewey]

I would speak to the barn owners. The fleas have infested your car, they are a problem at work, and as long as they are a problem at the barn, you’re going to continue to have re-infestations. You shouldn’t have to put up with this. If they are unwilling to get in an exterminator, you may have to move to another facility. Level with them. The situation is intolerable!

One tip when you vacuum: put a few moth balls in the vacuum cleaner bag. Fleas can escape the vacuum cleaner and re-infest your car or house. It’s a good idea to change the bag immediately, too, and enclose it in a plastic garbage bag which you close off with a twist tie and immediately dispose of away from your house or car.

[PonyPenny]

Comfortis pills are the absolutely best flea treatment around. Kind of pricey, but well worth it. None of the topicals even come close. Diatamocaeous earth sprinkled around the property in generous amounts may help. For your home call an exterminator.