Can't get rid of flea problem, over a year!

jmb1

Hoping someone can help as at wits end.

Either our dog or cat has brought in fleas and have been suffering on and off with recurring flea cycle for over a year now. We've done all the usual vacuuming, spraying everywhere throughly several times now.

Most recently tried Indorex Verbac which has twice *seemed* to have done the trick but a couple of weeks later, more fleas on dog / bites on legs.

I've looked into getting the council in but they charge excess of £100 and no guarantees, plus it states they only spray carpets so not convinced that wil work either.

Flea spray is costing a small fortune buying it in every couple of months. Please help!

theoretica

Have you considered if they might be bringing fleas in repeatedly from somewhere?

Marmaduke123

I assume you are treating your dog and cat monthly with a proper flea treatment recommended by the vet?
If so Indorex or similar used exactly according to the instructions should do the job in the house. Make sure you wash all animal bedding and thoroughly hoover all soft furnishings too. 
Good luck, I've been there!

Brie

Haven't needed to use a cattery for a few years but the one I took our Ariadne to recommended tablets before she was allowed in.  Their website is now saying that if a pet is found with fleas they will be treated with Capstar.  This is a different name than the one previously but I know that fleas become immune to products so different ones need to be used.  

The trick is to get something that kills the reproductive cycle.  So what I'd used in the past didn't necessarily kill the fleas (which have a short life cycle) but means that the eggs are infertile so the problem diminishes.  We went from having a huge problem (I'd find them on me when I was at work!!) to nothing at all.  

Capstart (never tried it myself) is available for both cats and dogs apparently.

marcia_

 No amount of spraying and cleaning will get rid of the fleas if you are not treating the animals? 

jmb1

marcia_ said:

 No amount of spraying and cleaning will get rid of the fleas if you are not treating the animals? 

I have been regularly treating both animals. I have just bought the Capstar that @Brie recommended though (thanks, youve been really helpful today in all my posts! )

Lilolil06

Hi a couple of things some flea treatments stop eggs from hatching so if they catch them it helps eliminate them, there are smoke bombs which are very effective keep pets and yourselves out for the day. One last thing empty hoover outside or any eggs hoovered up will float around like dust.
Hope these help.

TripleH

Lilolil06 said:

Hi a couple of things some flea 2treatments stop eggs from hatching so if they catch them it helps eliminate them, there are smoke bombs which are very effective keep pets and yourselves out for the day. One last thing empty hoover outside or any eggs hoovered up will float around like dust.
Hope these help.

Might it be worth giving the hoover and the attachments a thorough clean as well?

sheramber

Hoover along skirting boards, down the sides of cushions that cannot be removed and thoroughly hoovered or washed. 

 All over and under sofas, chairs etc. A friend discovered they were in her curtains. 

This applies to all areas that the animals  go into.

If they go on your lap your clothes could be infected. 


Iwashed the dogs’ bedding and towels on flea shampoo. 

If your hoover has a bag put a flea collar in it. Any fleas hoovered up will be killed, otherwise they can crawl out again. 

If it a plastic drum then wash thoroughly. Again I would use flea shampoo to get into any crevices .

Fleas spend little time on the animal. They hop off to lay eggs on any dark place.

Flea eggs  can lay dormant for months until they hatch into larvae, so you need to repeat hoovering every day until no signs of them. 

The animals may be getting reinfected if they go back to where the fleas are. The chances are it is your cat that is bringing them in. 

JessieH_2

jmb1 said:

Hoping someone can help as at wits end.

Either our dog or cat has brought in fleas and have been suffering on and off with recurring flea cycle for over a year now. We've done all the usual vacuuming, spraying everywhere throughly several times now.

Most recently tried Indorex Verbac which has twice *seemed* to have done the trick but a couple of weeks later, more fleas on dog / bites on legs.

I've looked into getting the council in but they charge excess of £100 and no guarantees, plus it states they only spray carpets so not convinced that wil work either.

Flea spray is costing a small fortune buying it in every couple of months. Please help!

Put a roasting tin or similar in the middle of the floor at bedtime (when you turn out the lights switch of tv etc), in each room affected, with a nightlight on upturned eggcup or small cup, half fill tin with water and light nightlight on retiring for the night. In the morning, you will find drowned fleas, they're attracted to the warmth/light, jump towards it, fall in the water and drown as luckily the little beasts can't swim. It also encourages eggs to hatch out and leap to the warmth. FINALLY, after the useless sprays, endless also useless hoovering & washing etc, using this system, my house became flea free and a peaceful place to be. I also found actually washing both dog and cat in dog flea shampoo was the only way to get rid of fleas on the animals. Monthly treatments/neck application, was useless no matter whether bought from pet shop or my actual Vet. Flea Shampoo and nightlights over water will give you flea freedom. My cats didn't enjoy being washed but they got used to it. If washing cover head with towel when you get them out, if they can't shake their head, they can't shake their body either, and you'll stay drier! Good Luck!

sheramber

Your  cat could be getting reinfected outside if they are going into areas where fleas are.

No amount of treating the house will work if they are constantly being brought in.

In which case you need to use  a repellent, such as a flea collar,  or a treatment that lasts , on the animal so that the fleas are killed when they bite and before they drip off to lay eggs.

Most of the fleas found on dogs are cat fleas.

My friend’s dog caught fleas from her cat but the cat showed no discomfort from them. 

Speak to your vet as some of the fleas  treatments are no longer effective in some areas.