How to Bomb for fleas

[cmcoker]

Just noticed your local, fleas are worse this year from what I've seen. We haven't had any good freezes, so they just keep on breeding.

 

[Brian W]

What are you putting in the back of her neck? Is it Bravecto or something OTC? If it's some type of fipronil based topical, baths are counter productive.

Flea collars are worthless, unless it's a Seresto flea collar? I've heard good things on the Seresto but have not used myself. Seen so many fleas running around, on, under the otc flea collars, I wish they wouldn't sell them..

Black dots are flea poop often referred to as flea dirt to make it sound nicer..

Do you have any other animals in the house? Guinea pigs, rabbits, etc. Every animal has to be treated or they'll keep going.

I would also watch the litter box, they can get tapeworms from eating fleas. These look like a grain of rice or cucumber seed on the poop. Sometimes you will even see them under the tail area, if they dried out they look like yellow uncooked rice... you vet can get you a dewormer if you see anything like that.

I do not remember the brand name. We have used it as long as I can remember. The same stuff. I believe its like $60-75 for 6mo-1yr worth or tubes.
She received a flea bath and the next day we put the tube on her, I was not going to put it on if she was going to get a shower, lol.

I am just using a cheap $19.99 flea collar. I will look into Seresto flea collars.

I see the flea poop but there is a TON of flea larve (curled up things) along with eggs (clearish white eggs)

She is the only animal in the house. She is 7 and has never had fleas until we moved in.
The apartment told us they put new carpet in a day before I moved in....so who knows if the place was already infected or the carpet was infected...

Thanks for the litter tip. I change the box out monthly I will check it and heep an eye on it.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Brian W]

Just noticed your local, fleas are worse this year from what I've seen. We haven't had any good freezes, so they just keep on breeding.

Yep! Im in Euless. right inbetween DFW.

I thought about taking her to my parents house and let her stay there for a couple days and leaving all the windows open when it does freeze, but not sure how or if that would be effective.

I'm telling you this is the worst experience of my life with bugs/pests.

They do not bother me but I know they bother my Cat and it ticks me off. Its just very frustrating I cannot kill them no matter what I do or try.

 

[jsker]

Bring in the pro

 

[Brian W]

The "Victim"

 

[Amps Reef Life]

Dang, never thought I'd come to a post about fleas on a reefing website and leave with a wealth of knowledge on how to handle them. Cheers!!! Lean something new every day!

 

[Brian W]

Dang, never thought I'd come to a post about fleas on a reefing website and leave with a wealth of knowledge on how to handle them. Cheers!!! Lean something new every day!

tellin' ya.

 

[vertigo01]

Look up a product called Suspend SC. I have used it as an interior and exterior insecticide for years and have had no bad repercussions.

 

[cmcoker]

I'm just wondering if the topical was Frontline? It's an older topical that says every 3 months but monthly is needed around here. Reason I wonder, is that particular topical (well any fipronil based product) needs to be applied to a slightly dirty coat. It is dispersed in the oils on the coat and if you bathe them you need to wait at least 2 days before you apply it.
Personnaly I dont think that cats coats are oily enough for it to be the best option..

Sound like the apartment was empty of animals a little while and once you guys moved in the fleas had a party. Unfortunately, there's no fast solution to getting rid of them completely. Keep working at vacuuming, washing bedding, etc. And it will get better with use of a good topical or oral flea prevention.

 

[Robink]

Cheapest way to get rid of fleas: if you have any carpets sprinkle borax on the carpet and sweep it in and leave it. You can vacuum it up in a few days. The fleas need moisture to survive, this takes all the moisture out of the carpet and they'll be gone forever.
You can also sprinkle it on the pet beds and brush it in.

 

[Hpolascik]

I bought some flea spray called nature something. It’s in a beige bottle with a green sprayer. )It’s sll natural chemicals). I ran the vacuum really good vacuuming the carpet, furniture etc. I mixed the flea spray solution and and a carpet flea shampoo together. I shampooed the carpet and furniture really good. I purchased a seresto flea collar I might have seen 4-5 fleas total right after the shampoo n the carpet was still damp but that was it. My kids bought a stray with fleas over and it went straight into the tub for a good soaking. The trick to killing fleas on an animal during its bath is to use tons of shampoo or dawn dish detergent. Work up s thick lather and work it in for several minutes. You need to basically smother the fleas with the shampoo. It you don’t leave the shampoo on long enough the fleas will not die. Then put on the SERESTO flea collar and no fleas ever again. I tried every flea treatment on the market, even the pills from the vet to get rid of those little buggers with negative results. I have 2 inside dogs, 1 outside dog and a inside cat. Since using the seresto collars no fleas for over 18 months even after walking my dogs in a field where I know there are fleas.

 

[Mical]

try "20 Mule Team Borax" from any grocery store. Lightly sprinkle it on carpets/floor and let sit a couple of days, cover your tank with light weight cloth and after 2-3 days vacuum. You won't see fleas anymore.

 

[BCSreef]

Try this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024E5YE2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Its an insect growth regulator. It prevents fleas and other insects from maturing/reproducing. Good stuff. I use it in my greenhouse and it gets rid of 6-legged pests. Non-toxic to vertebrates and most other animals. Could be an issue for crustaceans and other arthropods. Just cover the tank & sumps to be sure.

 

[bradejoe]

As an FYI, some of the flea collars and topicals will interact with each other, rendering them both useless - the ingredients can inactivate each other. This is likely the source of your problem.

For what it's worth - I'm a vet. I have way more information to offer about fleas (10 years in practice) than I have to offer about your tank (still a self-proclaimed amateur).

 

[Mark Gray]

There is a flea coller out that will keep them off the cat for 9 months. If I was at home I could give you the name but I can't remember it right now. I live in Georgia and have lots of fleas in my yard, but no problem inside

 

[ChrisOFL]

I used a product called Nitenpyram. It is an oral medication that can be purchased at pet stores or amazon. You can give it to your pet daily for bad infestations and it worked for me when nothing else would. It kills the fleas when the bite into your pet so it needs to be given regularly until they stop being able to reproduce. It is safe to use in both cats and dogs which is what made me try it originally but it works better than any topical/flea collar I've ever tried.

 

[reeferfoxx]

If the floors are peppered with eggs it can difficult getting rid of them.

What I did was crank the heat up to 80 degrees on the house so the eggs would hatch and then turn the AC on till it became 60 degrees or lower. Doing this makes your pets a magnet and keeps the fleas from laying more eggs. After thats done you give the animals the flea drops so when the flea bites, they all die.

 

[kanders87]

Veterinary technician here.
I think the Seresto collar is your best bet. It gives your cat continuous protection for 9 months so you really only need to keep up with vacuuming and washing bedding. No baths or topicals need to be done. If you were using Frontline, I’d stop. There have been a lot of cases of frontline resistant fleas and may be part of your issue. I also agree with everything cmcoker has said thus far.

 

[120reefkeeper]

First make sure your treating any animals you may have. This will prevent them from feeding. Second if you have carpet you can use Borax . You buy it in the grocery store detergent isle. Shake it on the carpet and let it sit overnight. Vacuum in the morning and empty the container or bag. The borax dehydrates them .

Just make sure the borax doesn’t get airborne, shake it out low to the carpet.

 

[liveround69]

My mother who has dementia kept taking her dog to the vet earlier this year and not only ran up needless vet bills cause the dog wasnt really sick but she also brought home a case of fleas from the vet. After that I went through the bombing phase (didnt work) , Bayer pest spray from home depot ( didnt work), and even a few trips to the local vet who likes to rob people (does it to everyone not just me)(also treatment didnt work - CAPSTAR pills) . Thus after all the money spent such as $250 on Frontline etc,..i finally talked to my friend at the local pet store and he told to purchase the SERESTO collars for the cat and dog. I usually wouldnt have a problem purchasing a flea collar but these things were $65 a piece!. My friend assured me that they work great and are the best thing on the market for keeping fleas off the animal. Reluctantly i bought them and was shocked to slowly see the flea infestation dissipate to nothing. Currently they are gone and i dont have to worry as long as i keep Mom away from the vet lol. I like the new expensive collars. They work!