Friends dog has fleas....

stripes

I have said yes to have my best friends dog overnight at weekend. Problem is she has just mentioned she has found a flea on her dog (infestation a few months ago) but will bath and treat before stay.

I have a dog (no fleas) and my son and I are allergic to flea bites. Should I still dog sit? Will the flea bath be enough?

Rev

Fleas don't live on the dog. They just jump on the dog to feed.

Fleas live in the house. Carpets. Skirting boards. Furniture. Everywhere.

If your friend has visited it's just as likely she's brought a flea in as it is the dog will. On her shoes in her clothes etc etc. The dog doesn't need to have visited.

What does she intend to bath the dog with?

Last year I spent £100 on flea stuff. Couldn't understand why they wouldn't go. Turns out my uncles dog had fleas and he kept bringing them down (the uncle not the dog). I asked him several times to sort his dog. He didn't. So I bought him some indorex and advantage and told him he wasn't welcome in my house until he had his dogs flea problem sorted. As I was sick to death of wasting money and it wasn't fair to have my dogs be uncomfortable because he couldn't be bothered. Not to mention the vet bills because my dog has a flea allergy. So steroids etc etc.

I'm not suggesting you do similar but unless she's treating the dog with something like advantage or strong hold and treating the house with something like RIP flea or indorex then the fleas still be there and the dog will bring them to your house.

If you're happy she's used suitable products I'd grab a spot on for my dog as a precaution and go ahead as planned. If she's used pet shop flea shampoo there's not a chance I'd be allowing her or the dog in my house.

Might seem harsh but it's quite simply not worth it.

stripes

Thanks Rev for the advice.

She is using advantage same as the one I use on my dog not myself but I think she's not doing the house.

However problem solved any how's, I messaged her if there were any fleas still on the dog after the flea bath and she is putting dog into kennels instead. I think she realised I was concerned.

questionss

Bathing will limit the efficacy of any flea treatment. If she's using advantage she really shouldn't bathe him for at least 2days before or after.
I'd suggest she treats her home with indorex or acclaim; I'd also treat my home as a preventive measure before he arrives so that any incoming fleas or eggs that drop off his coat don't get chance to develop.

Natasha87

It is thought that approximately 95% of the fleas, flea larvae and pupae live in the home. Leaving only 5% of fleas on the pet to feed. If your friend is only treating her dog and not the house then she will not eliminate her flea infestation. Sure the fleas that jump on the Dog will die but the ones in the environment will continue to breed and it becomes almost pointless to have just treated the Dog.

As Rev has said it is also just as likely that your friend will bring them in on her clothes as the Dog. I have worked in a pet store for the past decade and can't tell you the amount of times customers have come in with this issue where they have cat/dog sat their friends pet and ended up with a flea infestation in their own home. It is not only frustrating for you but will cost you time and money to sort out.

It's really down to you if you want to have the Dog in your home but if I was you I would make sure your friend buys you a can of flea treatment such as Indorex or RIP for your house. Then when the Dog leaves you can spray your house top to bottom.

It is important to remember there is a part of the flea lifecycle that no product can kill and that is when they are pupae (i.e cocooned and deep in the carpet) this means that when you have sprayed once it is also best to leave it a week and let them hatch out of the cocoon so you can kill them all.

Hoovering before spraying is also useful as the heat and movement makes the fleas feel like it is lunch time so they come to the surface of the carpet and you can spray them for maximum impact.

Remember to spray under radiators too. Anywhere dark and warm will be there ideal hiding place.

Best of luck with whatever you choose x