Fleas

[Frannie & Callie]

This morning I was rubbing Callie's belly and found a flea, marching bold as brass across her stomach (this is the thing that always enrages me about bugs - they always walk around like they belong). We hadn't been outside yet, so it had to have either been on her all night (the cleaning lady was at my house yesterday so I don't think it would have come from the carpet or the bed (ick)). I didn't find any more fleas on Callie and I went ahead and gave her her frontline, even though she wasn't due to get it until Saturday. She hasn't been particularly itchy, and I don't see any red bite areas.

 

Could my dog and house be completely infested???

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sure that's true. The Frontline Plus is really a miracle to prevent them. It's only when they get a foothold in your house that it's a problem. I just get crazy about it because of what happened to me. I wasn't using any flea preventatives, never had, and my dog was 14 years old. This is also why I absolutely cannot understand anyone who is hesitant to use the preventatives. I researched it like it was my master's dissertation when it happened to me, and there is simply NO "natural" remedy that will prevent an infestation from happening. People say, well, (name of natural remedy) is working so far, and to that I say: I used nothing for 14 years, and never saw a flea, so I guess you could say that using "nothing" works too...until it doesn't. Nobody ever got hit by a car, either...until they got hit by a car.
I am sure that infestation shortened my dog's life.

[Frannie & Callie]

Yep - and Callie never noticed the blinds until the day she did. It only takes once to learn the lesson!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yep, I freak out if I am a day late with that stuff. Right now I am approaching the 15th, my day for flea meds and they have not arrived in the mail yet....panicking begins now.

Frannie good luck don't worry too much....

[Frannie & Callie]

I'm trying not to! Callie always gets her preventives but we've been outside SO much lately.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Frannie, I'm sure this is the LAST thing you needed. I wouldn't get too crazy yet, since Callie has been on Frontline right along. Fingers crossed that this was a "hermit flea" with no friends or family.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Love the concept of hermit fleas.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

This discussion obviously got all of our attention.

Maybe someone (Karen?) could give us step by step instructions on getting rid of and/or preventing an infestation.

Thanks

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Frannie - maybe that bad little dood Einstein, left behind a little reminder of his stay???

[Frannie & Callie]

Einstein got her preventive on the first, so I doubt she was the culprit. Besides, that dood would have no interest in fleas, unless they carry pens that she can eat!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

You know I have always said that I saw no purpose to fleas, ticks and cockroaches. Then this morning on the AOL headlines there is an article about scientists discovering something in cockroach brains (yes, BRAINS) that kills e-coli and mrsa!! Perhaps we can donate our fleas to science and they can check out their brains too! That is if they even HAVE one!!

Frannie, I hope the hermit flea is the one and ONLY!!

[Frannie & Callie]

fingers, toes, and paws crossed that it was a lonely little hermit flea. (Jane, "hermit flea" is now an official DK saying)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

we had a small infestation a few months back.... we tried all the natural remedies first.... citronella and neem spray and shampoo but it took 3 baths and Zodiac spray (chemicals)on the animals and all over the house to get rid of them. Cooper was itchy, but not too bad. DH found quite a few fleas on him. The cats suffered the most - very itchy, scabs everywhere. It was either a reaction to the flea bites or an allergy to the new food they were having - they were wearing cones for about a month poor things.