Can't get rid of fleas from the dogs

[Junior Bianno]

We noticed fleas on the dogs (cocker spaniels) about 3 weeks ago. Not many but you can see the odd one if you inspect closely, and it's caused red skin irritation on the back legs of one of them - probably because he's scratching himself all the time.

The trouble is we can't get rid of them. We've taken them to the vet and got the prescribed shampoo and done this loads of times as instructed. We used all the flea killers for the carpets and soft furnishings etc, and cleaned the floors in the house from top to bottom using a Rug Doctor...and they still keep appearing!!

Any helpful tips for getting rid of the pesky blighters?

[Morningside]

You need the proper carpet and floor flea spray from the vets. Do everywhere mainly in the corners and all the cracks in the floor. Wash all their bedding.

[bexVN]

Shampoos for fleas a waste of time tbh, surprised a vet prescribed it?.

Wash all their bedding 60 degree wash. Use a house spray like Vetkem Acclaim (available online) either this one or Indorex (I wouldn't bother with any others, my personal preference is the Vetkem.

Vacuum top to bottom, spray ALL rooms, dark nooks and crannies, leave 24hrs then turn up heating +++ and vacuum everyday.

For the dogs I would suggest nexguard spectra or Advocate. And flea comb them everyday.

[Junior Bianno]

That's really useful thanks. I'll try those recommendations.

I need to check out why the vet recommended a shampoo then. It's been a nightmare washing them all the time

[bexVN]

Junior Bianno said:

That's really useful thanks. I'll try those recommendations.

I need to check out why the vet recommended a shampoo then. It's been a nightmare washing them all the time

Let's put it this way. The last time I remember working in a practice that sold a shampoo to kill fleas must be almost 20yrs ago!!

The shampoo will kill the fleas on the dog at the time but they have very little affect afterwards and certainly won't stop or kill new fleas getting on to your dogs once the coat has dried. Unless there is one out there I don't know.about.

[chrisga]

Also have multiple dogs and have unfortunately had this in the past. Need to treat dogs with advocat (the one that goes on the neck and is taken in through the skin from vets, not supermarket stuff) or similar as Bex says and at the earliest opportunity retreat (think there are two types from memory which can be taken closer together). Think we had to do 3 months on the trot to finally kill them all off. We also treated all carpets/nooks and crannies with Indorex and washed all dog beds on hottest setting. Also treated car boot and anywhere else the dogs lay which could have harboured the little feckers. It wasn't pleasant but got there in the end.

Good luck.

[Saleen836]

Save some money and buy the spray from Amazon...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Virbac-INDOREX-Indorex-Fl... I made the mistake of buying a can from my vet and they charged me £22

[bexVN]

Saleen836 said:

Save some money and buy the spray from Amazon...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Virbac-INDOREX-Indorex-Fl... I made the mistake of buying a can from my vet and they charged me £22

I buy Vetkem online even though I work in a vets!! I was able to buy it for less online than what the cost price was if I got it through work, just crazy really!!

Just have to be sure it is from a UK site so I would prefer to use a proper British online pharmacy (the one you have highlighted via Amazon is a legitimate site)

[Jasandjules]

Yes raw feed them and put garlic in the food.

[Joey Ramone]

chrisga said:

Need to treat dogs with advocat

Good luck.

Yeah, and good luck to the dog after you've poured a bottle of bright yellow liqueur over it.

[bexVN]

Jasandjules said:

Yes raw feed them and put garlic in the food.

Garlic won't kill the fleas they already have unfortunately.
Maybe afterwards as a repellent but you really should put doseage guides up if you are recommending this because garlic can have its own risks (especially in cats and certain breeds of dogs)

[Jasandjules]

No it won't kill the fleas on the dog but after a week or two it will hopefully render the blood bad tasting and they will just drop off.

Guides here

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-for-do...

[anonymous-user]

I had a similar problem but it was a cat. To remove fleas from you house will take a lot of work. For every flea you find there are loads more in stages ready to becom adult fleas. I probably spent sbout 600 quid all in.

You need to vacuum twice a day everywhere, all up the sides and nooks and throw the collected straight in bin bag. Throw away bedding and get new stuff and treat it. The dogs need treating but make sure you ask the type as thet have different actions on flea cycyle.

The sprays, some are a bit of a con as they kill the flea but not the life cycle stages. In the end I bought heavy duty professipnal stuff at a 150 quid a litre and sprayed the house top to bottom. The fleas have not come back. I had called out a pro who used ficam w but they were useless.
If the fleas are outside but nemotodes but it may be too late to treat you garden.

[bexVN]

^^ very few things can kill the eggs (program tablets/ liquid/ injection stops eggs hatching) but a good spray will kill the larvae as they hatch. Heat and daily vacuuming stimulates the eggs to hatch out more quickly so the spray can then get on and do its job.

My neighbours got a bad flea problem sorted with one can of Vet kem and good advice from me! They had been struggling for weeks using rubbish sprays etc until then!

[bexVN]

Jasandjules said:

No it won't kill the fleas on the dog but after a week or two it will hopefully render the blood bad tasting and they will just drop off.

Guides here

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-for-do...

Fleas will survive weeks without a feed (eggs can stay dormant for months) how would you treat the house. Especially as the fleas will turn on to the humans if they can't feed off the animals.

Great link btw
I love the last paragraph and sentence!
I don't usually like that website.

Edited by bexVN on Friday 7th October 19:22

Edited by bexVN on Friday 7th October 19:28

[anonymous-user]

Garlic is a wives tale. Hardcore chemicals kill them. I used cimitrol which is great stuff but highly dangerous.

[4x4Tyke]

Advantage or Front line. You need something that targets both stages of the lifecycle and persists. Otherwise the next generation hatches and you are back to square one.

[Jasandjules]

The Spruce goose said:

Garlic is a wives tale. Hardcore chemicals kill them. I used cimitrol which is great stuff but highly dangerous.

Plenty of raw feeders who don't suffer from fleas would strongly disagree with you. And plenty of people don't like using chemicals which can cause all sorts of bother to people and animals.

[anonymous-user]

Jasandjules said:

Plenty of raw feeders who don't suffer from fleas would strongly disagree with you. And plenty of people don't like using chemicals which can cause all sorts of bother to people and animals.

there is zero scientific evidence for its use. also it is toxic for dogs.

if you want a non chemical approach, Diatomaceous earth will work but you can't get it wet as it doesn't work. the animal can be be bathed in it and put on there bedding. I also used with a combination of boric salt (sodium borate) but not suitable for small kids and cats where they come into contact. Again take care as well as need to leave it a few days to work effectively. it works on adults fleas and larvae. But the flea lifecycle is about 20 days so you need to treat again.

[Jasandjules]

Oddly DE never worked for us but there we go.