Fleas

trolleyrun

I know there have been a few threads on this, but thought I'd start a new one. I've read some of the other threads, but could still use some advice.

I noticed a couple of days ago that Pipsqueak was scratching. I had a flea collar in the cupboard so put that on her. I was getting bitten as well. It turns out she got flea(s) whilst spending the day with a friend of mine, who didn't tell me about her dogs having fleas :mad:

Anyways, I've hoovered everywhere, and done more laundry than ever before. I've ordered Indorex and some prescribed flea treatment for Pipsqueak - I forget the name of it.

I read on other threads about steam cleaning, but I don't have such a device, nor can I afford one at the moment. As it's frosty outside, and no sign of the temperature going up, would it be sufficient to hang my duvet outside for a few hours? I can then hoover the bed again. I don't really have another way of dealing with the duvet as it won't fit in the washing machine, also it's feather.

Any other hints and tips will be gratefully received, as the bites are driving both of us bonkers. I picked 4 fleas off pipsqueak last night, poor thing. Luckily, she's very good and lets me search through her fur without any squirming.

dandelionclock30

I thought that to kill fleas you had to wash all bedding on a high temperature? thats what I did. Could you take the duuvet to a laundrette and get them to either do a service wash on it or dry clean it if you cant do it yourself? I took two heavy throws I had on my bed to be dry cleaned when we had fleas. i think it cost £25.00 for them both doing.
I did my quilt in the washer but I was lucky as it was thin and it was September.
Also flea collars dont tend to work, the fleas just run down to the tail. Use your flea treatment as prescribed and keep hovering around every day until the problem is cleared.
I had this antd it was difficult to get rid of them. I ended up getting flea bombs for each room as I found that Indorex wasnt that effective.Good luck with them.

[Deleted User]

A little tip from me - when you get your Indorex, make sure you spray under sofas and behind cupboards etc as many people forget to do this and that's where the little blighters like to hide!

Best of luck with getting rid of them!

elsien

Hoover regularly and put a poundland flea collar in the Hoover bag. Stops any eggs you Hoover up from hatching and helps break the cycle.

trolleyrun

Thank you everyone. I've counted my bites and I've got 12! Gives me the heebeejeebies and feel really dirty. I've been to the vet to pick up Pipsqueak's flea tablet. They recommended this one to get it into her bloodstream quickly. She has an enormous amount of hair on her back, so this should hopefully help. I've bought a flea comb, so I can check easier if it's not working.

I've hoovered everywhere again, and the washing machine is going constantly. Not MSE at all, as I'm on a meter. But that's by the by. I've also bought a can of skoosh which I've sprayed liberally while I wait for my Indorex delivery.

I've soaked one duvet in soapy hot water in the bathtub (read online somewhere this is good to drown the beggars). I'll try to find a launderette near me, as I don't know of any around here. Hopefully, it'll be washable as it's feathers. I love this duvet and I don't want to have to throw it. I've thrown out a couple of pillows (they were on their last legs anyways) and washed another.

Hopefully all this will help in the fight, but I'll look into the fog bombs if needs be.

bouncydog1

We deflea ours every month as they are outdoor cats. Use your spray under rads, mats etc as flea eggs survive and hatch out of flea season. I remember lying on the carpet and spotting a flea infestation which was most unpleasant and took a while to get rid of!

You could also try putting bedding etc in the freezer in a bag if you have a large enough freezer as I know that this is recommended to kill headlice. Bedding has to be washed at least at 60 degrees to be effective.

I'vealso been told by my 21 year old DD that she gets bitten because fleas are attracted to oestrogen so that is the reason "older ladies" such as I don't suffer!!!

Further tip: a damp bar of soap is Very effective when run around the tail end as the fleas stick to it - you need to make sure the soap is "sticky". I also bath my cats if the fleas are a real problem at least they are then spared the bites and itching.

trolleyrun

Thanks, Bouncy. I've washed my bed linens on 60C, but the duvet will have to wait as no laundrettes open near me until after the weekend. I've hoovered it and sprayed it with Skoosh.

A question for those in the know, do I keep hoovering every day after applying Skoosh or Indorex? And do I need to re-apply it? The instructions doesn't give this information and I'm not sure.

I'm pleased to report no further bites overnight, but the ones I already have are very itchy. Luckily, I have FucidinH available so that's helping. I used the flea comb on Pipsqueak last night and no sign of any fleas, but will continue to check her daily. She's been so good and not scratching too much, bless her.

Off to hoover again!

greatgimpo

This is the bit that everyone forgets - if you transported your dog by car, that needs a spray too.

sheramber

A treatment with Skoosh last 9 weeks and one with Indorex lasts 6 months.