Snow on the ground and Fleas

[casper324]

I can’t believe I just combed fleas off my dog, its February and we have over a foot of snow on the ground. :mad:, this isn’t fair. I battled fleas last year and tried Advantix, Frontline Plus and a brand from TSS that caused my dog to have a neurological episode. I added Brewers YEast and garlic to the dogs diets in the fall and I thought it helped but yes I got lazy and didn’t think fleas lived through the winter.

The other night I thought I heard mice in my attic, could mice be bringing them in the house?

[flatnfabulous]

There is a very good chance that they were either already in the environment or you could have brought them in also. Treating the house is as improtant as treating the dog. Find a premise spray tha has IGR (insect growth regulator). Treat the house vaccuum, then retreat. MAke sure you get under everything, between couch cusions etc. Also treat the animal(s) for at least four months. If topicals haven’t worked, see if your vet carries a spinosad monthly pill. Vaccuum, vaccuum, vaccuum, and also be careful with the garlic. Anecdotal evidence that it works, but definite evidence that it can harm in the wrong amounts.
Fun flea fact, you can freeze a flea and then thaw it out, and that sucker will come right back to life.
Good luck fighting the good fight.

[casper324]

Gee thanks and I thought winter would kill the little buggers. I do believe we have super fleas now who are resistant to the old standbys of Advantix and Frontline. They are actually larger then fleas I remembered before Frontline.

BTW, great advice about the IGR, I read the brand I have in the house and it states it does not affect larvae as its too hard. I’ll remember that…

I only have one carpeted room in the house, a spare bedroom. The fleas infested that room last year terribly. I used to enjoy doing the flea test, a pan of water with a candle in the middle in the room at night, they go to the heat and drown. I enjoyed the kill until I realized there were 20 bodies floating. Whats the old saying if you see 2 fleas you have 20???

[flatnfabulous]

The living adult fleas you see are 5% of the population living in your house. Don’t discount spraying hard floors. Any little crack or crevise can hide flea eggs. And your welcomee. I gave my animals all fleas once, was not fun getting rid of them!

[hoopoe]

fleas don’t need carpeting, they can be in baseboards, cracks etc.

Don’t forget treating the inside of your car too

[Cooper]

The environmental stages of fleas can easily survive winter months. The best way to address the environmental stage is an oral IGR. I believe Sentinel is your only choice, now that Program tabs are off the market. Also important to treat all animal in your house. Cats can be treated with Program injectable.