VET found a FLEA!!!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I am just going crazy with this. It was the LAST thing I needed or expected. Took puppy to vet for routine shots and leave with list of instructions on what to get to fumigate the house, wash all bedding, vaccum everything, frontline for the puppy and itching just with the thought of fleas in my house. I have to admit, this is my worst nightmare. Murphy has been on frontline routinely so he is fine, but Bella has them for sure. I just looked for myself under a bright light, after DH sprayed the yard and I tore the house apart and have 5 loads of laundry waiting in line for the washer.  I can see some, they are quick and it seems futile to keep looking as I hope they will be dead in the next 24 hours.

Anyone have any suggestions? How do I stop this from becoming a worse nightmare than it already is? 

[Amy & Bernie]

Sue, vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. It's the best thing. The people that lived in our home before us left us some - from their dogs. I was mortified. But it's just a process. Vacuum and empty the bag/canister after each room, that way you can see where they're collecting. I was vacuuming once in the morning and once at night - most bug companies recommend once a day but I felt better vacuuming before work and before bed. Fortunately after Bella's treatment kicks in she'll be like a flea killer, along with Murphy, so they'll die off pretty quick once they can't feed anymore. To be extra safe it would help if all the people in your home wear bug spray from the toes up to your waistline, to keep any desperate ones from jumping on you all. It's disgusting and you feel violated, but it will be fine. Bernie brings them in from outside very rarely but since he's treated they're already half dead when we check him in the mud room before coming inside. I feel your pain!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hopefully, you caught it before there were lots of eggs laid. Even if the adult fleas are killed, the eggs and larva can live in the carpets, sofas, floor crevices, etc. for months. Vacuum every day very thoroughly, and don't forget to vacuum the sofas and under the beds. After you vacuum, if you walk around in white socks, you'll see the fleas hop onto your feet if there any. (Same outside.) The vibrations from the vacuum cause them to emerge. They're usually concentrated where the dog sleeps or spends a lot of time.
If you have vacuum bags, change them after every vacuuming and get them out of the house. Borax in the bags helps, too.
Good luck, I hope you caught it early.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I'd vacuum 10 times a day if it would help. We have a Dyson bagless vacuum cleaner so I can wash it out after every use. She must have gotten them on the plane as the breeder reports no problem and I have no reason to doubt her. That was a week ago friday. Would that be soon enough to catch it early, 10 days?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't know. I don't want to scare you, but each female lays millions of eggs. When a flea bites a dog who's on Frontline, it doesn't reproduce before it dies, but otherwise...
Put some Borax in the Dyson canister. The more often and more thoroughly you vacuum, the better. You want to get all of whatever larva there are to hatch.
It's a real PITA, but bombing the house is what it took for me, and not just once or twice. However, I had a really bad infestation...they were biting me. It usually doesn't get to that point.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Thanks, Is Borax that 20 Mule-team stuff? I've never had to look for Borax before. Dh sprayed the yard, and we are bombing in the AM. Vet said to do every month for 6 months! Seems like a lot but I will do whatever. I don't have any Borax at home now and I work till late tomorrow so it'll have to wait till tomorrow night. I emptied the canister outside, but haven't washed it yet. Guess I will go do that now. None are biting us that we know of but I am itching like crazy anyway!!!! Mind over matter I know.

[Amy & Bernie]

I know it drives you crazy Sue! But from my experience vacuuming and keeping them from biting the dog (treatment) and you (bug spray, tuck pant legs into socks) is the best. We spread carpet powder designed to break up and dry out eggs and larva, but we were fortunate enough to already have a weekend trip planned. Not only did the carpet powder do its job, the fleas didn't have anyone to bite. If there was ever an excuse to head up to the cabin for a weekend you have one now!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

We are leaving Wed morning until thurs night so that may help. We didn't get carpet powder yet so I will look for that when I look for borax. Thanks. I will be doing a lot of vacuuming I can see. Oh well, she isn;t uncomfortable and has the frontline now so as long as the fleas are leaving them alone I can deal with it all better. Watching them itch would send me into a scratching frenzy for sure.

[Amy & Bernie]

As much time as you can give the powder to work! Most of them also have a built in "bait" - may be marketing but it made me feel better. If you can keep your dogs out of any rooms by keeping the door shut you can leave the powder in even longer. Diatomaceous Earth is also recommended, and natural. Our local Ace Hardware carries it. We tried both commercial powders and Diatomaceous Earth because I was SO freaked out, so can't say what worked better, but either way, both had me vacuuming constantly!

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/diatomaceous-earth.html

[Christine & Shelby]

While I haven't had any flea problems with Shelby or in my current home.... I did move in to an apartment years ago that (I didn't have any pets) that had a major investation - they were everywhere and I had hundreds of bites. I wear white socks all the time and don't enjoy going barefoot very often. You will find them on your socks if you walk the carpets. Treatment and vaccuming did the trick! I would be aggressive rather than waiting until it's really bad.... it will be best for you, your family and your pets!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree, Christine.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Forgive me if I missed this in the other posts. I see Vacuum Vacuum Vacuum but has anyone said add moth balls to the bags too? They are poisonous so be cautious using them around the animals but I believe that helps kill them as they enter the bag too.

[Amy & Bernie]

I've read that too Joanne, but then a lot of sites/bug people recommend you empty the bag/canister into an outdoor trash can after every run through of the house to make sure they don't crawl out and get back into your carpet. The thought! Ick! But if moth balls or borax in the canister kills them within minutes I guess that solves the problem too!