Ok, this is kinda gross. My mother stayed at my house for 2 days then left her dog with me while she goes to see my sister for a few days. Rocky has been itching a lot and yesterday I saw bugs on him :shock: My dogs have never had fleas so I'm not even sure what they look like. Some of the bugs were little black specks that are fast - I assume these are fleas - but there were also bigger brown bugs that were flat and moved slow. I put Rocky in quarantine (the garage), went to Petsmart to get carpet spray and some spray for him. My dogs had the monthly flea and tick treatment July 1st (Hartz) and I also sprayed some more flea killer on them. So what do I do now? I have a vet appointment for tommorrow morning but is there anything else the vet can do? I'm very paranoid about my dogs getting fleas besides being kinda gross, they are supposed to start doggie daycare next week. Any advice EOCers? Oh and for my mothers defense she really loves this dog and I think takes good care of him but she is legally blind, which is probably why she didn't see the bugs.

Sounds like fleas, and maybe ticks.

Check here (http://members.cox.net/rilyme/tick_identification.html) and here (http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/paraav/labs/fleaid1.htm)

Are these what you're seeing?

Icky.

You should have your mom's dog flea dipped immediately. If you don't do it yourself, take it to Petsmart or pay your vet/groomer to do it. The dip is pretty toxic--not good for you or the dog--but a one time thing should be okay assuming mom's dog is in good health.

If your dogs are on topspot (I highly recommend Frontline Plus) fleas and ticks cannot live or mature on your dogs.

Good luck. Oh, you may want to spray any areas that your mom's dog has been with Adam's Flea & Tick mist (repellent, insecticide). Again, this stuff is stinky and overpowering (toxic to me) but it works for the short term.

-g

Sounds like fleas, and maybe ticks.

Check here (http://members.cox.net/rilyme/tick_identification.html) and here (http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/paraav/labs/fleaid1.htm)

Are these what you're seeing?


Not really the tick picture - I didn't see any legs and it was flat not puffed up. More like the flea picture but smaller.

Do you think taking him to the vet's a good idea?

Not really the tick picture - I didn't see any legs and it was flat not puffed up. More like the flea picture but smaller.

Do you think taking him to the vet's a good idea?
the pictures were really enlarged, neither the tick or the flea are very big. But from what you've described I do think that is what you're dealing with.

You've already got the stuff for the house, and your mom's dog right? But, if it's much of an infestation, which it sounds like, I would either get some capstar from the vet and/or do the flea dip.

If you go the vet route, remember, there are some fairly expensive (but good) flea and tick out there...

I would do just like gisele said, go to the groomer and have a 'flea dip'.

Honestly, you could go the vet route, but it would just be more expensive.

If you're worried there is some other infestions...Yes, take him to the vet. Just my opinion.

The vet is more expensive

bad part is now you probably have the fleas in your house (think carpet)
to make sure you or your dogs don't get infested, you will also need to flea bomb your house

good luck

Don't waste your time or money bombing. The only thing I found to combat the problem was to sprinkle boric acid on all of my carpets. It's a mild acid and comes as a white powder often labeled as roach or ant powder.

I had tried everything the vet had told me to no avail but this stuff worked perfectly.

Glenn

One house I bought a while back was flea infested. I went into the bathroom and sat on the throne, then noticed Lots of black specks appearing on my white sport socks. It was pretty gross.

I set off 4 flea bombs throughout the house (they will kill the eggs too). Then after the house was aired out I used a flea powder on all of the carpet, vacuumed several times, and shampooed the carpets thoroughly. I had my dog flea dipped and kept a flea collar on her for a few weeks.

Never found a flea in the house after that. Good luck.

EDIT: BTW - unless you are totally in love with carpet you might think about replacing it with other floor covering. For a little scariness do a google search on "Dust Mites" and read some of the nice things they do to you and your dog.

Last night after finding the fleas, I did spray all the carpets, etc and got him a flea spray. I checked him out at lunch and didn't see anything crawling so hopefully there all dead. He does have some green discharge from a sore, so I probably will take him to the vet. To make sure nothing more serious is going on.

If anyone can manage it, don't have carpeting AND pets. Wood floors, tile, stone, marmoleum anything but carpet. Also, be careful with the flea bombs; don't use more than recommended for your space or you can have a blast/explosion. If you (or a pet) have allergies or hypersensitivities this is especially key to keeping reactions under control.

Don't forget to wash all cloth, throw rugs, linens, blankets, curtains, etc. in hot water.

Definitely fleas, and the flat things likely ticks. Their legs are tiny (8 of 'em), and tucked under up front.

Carefully check your dog to see if there are any small, bulbous growths. Those would be the remaining blood-filled abdomen of the ticks that have buried their heads under the dog's skin.

I've used "Frontline Plus" for my dogs for nearly a decade, and they've prevented fleas and ticks even when we lived near the Duke Forrest of North Carolina, where flea/tick infestations were of biblical proportions due to the large deer population. Frontline also make sprays to treat larger infestations, which is what you have. If you can see one flea, there are probably 15 you didn't see; if you saw 15, then they're already all over the place.

As for your home, I'd try to boric salt suggestion first, and then the flea bombs. The former is much safer, and usually just as effective.

Good luck!

You can make a great flea trap with a lightbulb over a bowl/plate of water. Fleas jump toward the warm light, and land in the water. You can get rid of a small carpet infestation this way. I'm not making this up, either!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Flea-Trap

You can make a great flea trap with a lightbulb over a bowl/plate of water. Fleas jump toward the warm light, and land in the water. You can get rid of a small carpet infestation this way. I'm not making this up, either!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Flea-Trap

That's true, I've seen it before. But I think they used dish washing soap in the water too. I think anyway...

I took Rocky to the vet today and you guessed it - fleas. One of his sores was infected so he is on antibotics and Frontline. I also put my 3 on Frontline - I have been using the Hartz. The vet said to apply it every month but on the box it says it will kill fleas for 3 months. What is your opinion? I hate to pay $50 a month for my 3 just on their flea and tick protection.

Once a month, and I would be happy if mine was just $50.00 a month. :)

You can always go with any of the online sources, Drs. Foster and Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Shop.cfm?Ne=4&N=2001), Petedge (http://www.petedge.com/home.jsp), J.B Wholesale (http://www.jbpet.com/index.php?main_page=index&src=Google01&gclid=CKHky_DqtI0CFQzXgAodmSg-uQ).

There are others, but I have used these and recommend them highly.

I took Rocky to the vet today and you guessed it - fleas. One of his sores was infected so he is on antibotics and Frontline. I also put my 3 on Frontline - I have been using the Hartz. The vet said to apply it every month but on the box it says it will kill fleas for 3 months. What is your opinion? I hate to pay $50 a month for my 3 just on their flea and tick protection.
You must apply it every month. And really, get Frontline Plus (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=7200). Also, it's cheaper from Drs. Foster and Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/). Petsmed claims to be cheaper. However, after you initial order with free shipping, the cost is slightly higher than Drs. Foster and Smith. Also, Frontline Plus is more comprehensive in the types and stages of flea and tick control.

Do not bother with Bio Spot, it doesn't work. Well if you dog is kept indoors primarily and never in contact with outside pets it might. Hartz isn't very effective either. And don't bother with flea and tick collars--a waste of money.

Flea and tick protection: I don't know how it is where you live, but deer ticks/lyme disease is pretty prevalent here. So, tick protection is a must.

-g

*You should apply it around the same day each month, it works out to every 28-30 days and the meds come with reminder stickers. If you give your dogs Heartgard (and you should) do it when you give Heartgard. That way it is easy to remember.

I recommend Revolution-yes, it's prescription, yes it's $pendy! It controls all three pests, though, and in 4 years with 2 cats in a carpeted motorhome, I never-never-never have flea problems! I live in Florida in the summertime too! My pets are worth it, and so is the peace of mind. Good luck!

I second the borax thing. I tried everything, foggers, sprays, etc., and borax was the only thing that worked. My suggestion is put it on the floor, let it sit without vacuuming as long as you can, vacuum to get all the dead fleas and crap up, and then do a second application of borax. You want to do this every once in a while so you don't vacuum up all the borax that's down in the floor. Keeps them from coming back.

If there are fleas on your dog (or cat), and alternative to dips is to give them a pill called Capstar. It starts killing fleas that are on your pet in 30 minutes. It really does work; I've seen it in action. I was a vet tech for a while and we gave this to dogs that came in with severe infestations. It's prescription so you'd need to go to the vet to get it but it's worth it. Here's a link to their site: http://www.capstar.novartis.us/dog/en/label.shtml
I think it was mentioned above but the heartworm pill Sentinel has a flea preventative built in. They don't kill adult fleas but they prevent eggs from developing. Frontline or Advantix topical flea and tick applications are always a great idea. They last one month but during the summer (which here in Atlanta lasts from March to October) I apply it every month and 1/2. During the winter, it goes on once every 2 1/2 months. I love my dog but I'm not rich either :)

Anyway, just my 2 cents.