S.O.S. NEED HELP and ADVICE ASAP!!!

[shelly]

I can NOT believe this....TORI HAS FLEAS!!!! Oh My G_D!  What can I do... Of course my groomer is not there.. it's 7:00 on Sunday, and she's off tomorrow!  Is there anything I can do NOW to get rid of them???  I am so itchy and I fell nauseous!  Of course now that my laundry is all done, I have to start washing our bedding... will ordinary washing do?  She sleeps on a pillow on the floor in my room too!  OH BOY... can you tell I am DYING!  I know it's only bugs and there are worse things, but OMD!  THANKS!!!!!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

OMD Shelly!! Poor you and poor TORI!!  Oh I hope you get some Capstar tomorrow!!  I keep using the fleas stuff because I am paranoid about the fleas!! We have been using the generic for Advantix....  Let us know how it turns out!! xoxo SRB

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Shelly...one thing else you need to do immediately is to throw out the vacuum bag and put a new one in each time you vacuum until you know you no longer have fleas in the house or carpet.  They will manage to get out of the bag if you don't throw it way.  I actually have sprayed bug or flea spray into the bag before I used it.  That was years ago.  We have not had flea in years and it is because I keep Gracie Doodle on Comfortis which is a monthly flea pill.  I also use Sentinel for heartworm which also works on all the flea cycles.  I alternate each pill every 15 days.  Whatever you chose, you want it to kill the adult fleas instantly as well as the eggs and new baby fleas.  There are some treatments that only treat the new born and the eggs but not the adult.  Whatever product you chose make sure it addresses all cycles of the flea and if Tori is in the water a lot and you are using a topical treatment, find one that doesn't wash off in the water.  I by far prefer the pill form over the topical but there is much debate about that here on DK.  Good Luck!

[shelly]

Ok.. 7 AM and I have defleaed her.  I walked around with white socks on and thank the doodle gods... have not seen one.  Thank God for my mother in law... she came over to help me vacuum and launder bedding.  We have NEVER had fleas in all the years I have had dogs -ever... so I was truly grossed out - could ya' tell??? LOL.

 

I am so afraid to use anything chemical - pill or topical with her because she is so darn sensitive to everything!  I think I mentioned that she vomits from her heartworm pills and has a weak tummy.... 

 

I was thinking of taking off and going to the vet early in the A.M... but I don't see any on her, and who says I will even get an appt. early.  Do you think this warrants quick action?

 

Poor puppy - she really was in the tub for almost an hour...first I soaked her, lathered her and I actually rubbed her dry, and as I did some dead fleas dropped off.  I didn't want to let her out of the tub until no more fell when I rubbed her with the towel...it's true what they say about becoming desensitized to the little buggers... I just wanted them OFF of her!

 

I think you are right, andrea.... She has NOT even really been outside at all.  We have had so much rain lately and she hasn't even bee out for a neighborhood walk or romp in the yard.... just out to potty... My in-laws (AKA my gardeners) did recently cut back some ivy and rake up near her 'spot', do you think there are fleas there????

 

How long does the shampoo last?  It says only to repeat in a week?

 

Ugh!  All I know is this reminded me of when my class gets lice!  So creepy!  One time I even got it from them... same kind of cleanup.

 

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!  Even  the first thing DH said was, don't freak out... ask your doodle friends!  We have him now, girls!!!  LOL

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This all sounds like good news.  Hopefully the flea situation is now behind you!

[shelly]

THANKS Jane... now I have to go deal with a class full of VERY noisy kids after only 5 hours sleep... thought about using this as an excuse for a day off, but, I have a student teacher doing a lesson for her professor tomorrow... ugh!  Too many responsibilities for me to handle today!  LOL... I laugh (now)... I know there are SOOOOO many worse things than fleas that could have happened, but I was 'in the moment'.... now I'm looking at every dark dot of anything.... she hasn't been out yet, and I am hoping she did NOT get them from her potty spot, because that would be a WHOLE new problem... have a nice day everyone!  And THANKS A TRILLION!

[Becka]

Shelly, I don't know if anybody mentioned this already, but you probably want to get a flea comb. With a black dog it can be particularly hard to find fleas, and the comb will help you when you do regular checks. I had a flea infestation a couple of years ago when I was living in a neighborhood with a lot of feral cats (Feral cats and fleas are both big problems in South Florida--it's the dark side of never having cold weather) that used to hang out on my outdoor furniture. I ended up calling in a professional, but I didn't have any pets at the time.

[shelly]

Becka... nothing's worse than fleas that aren't even from you own pets!  EWEE.....

[Becka]

I know--and to make matters worse, my mother was visiting from Minnesota at the time. Welcome to Florida, Mom. :(

[shelly]

Oh NO!

[Susan and Sasha]

Yay!!

Sounds like good news so far girlfriend!

I'm so happy that Nothing was on the white socks when you were walking around...and Yes...I can just see you doing that now!    I probably would still be wearing them for a week!  Lol...

Becka's idea of a flea comb sounds good too!

I would probably take Tori to be checked...but...that's just because I would be wondering about it until I did...not sure if you would need to?? (smile)

I don't think I read if you took Tori to the groomer recently...and if you didn't...maybe it would be a good idea to make sure  that "her spot" is free of fleas!    There must be something to do to make outside areas "flea free"??

If you did take her to the groomer...it woud be good to let the groomer know...to prevent further episodes.

On the positive side...

You have a Wonderful MIL who helped you...when you really needed her! 

You got on top of this...Quickly...and with the "white sock test"...it looks like the flea situation might be under control!

Your DH is now "A DK Beliver"!!

You are a "Night Owl"...so five hours of sleep...is Normal for you!!  Lol...

Sasha and I are sending Great Big Hugs to You and Tori...and hope and pray that the flea situation is Gone Forever!!

 

[shelly]

Thanks Susan!  Actually Tori spends like 0 time in the yard lately (I know... mean Doddle Mommy - lol)  Took her to the vet because...YES! I could NOT stop thinking if I 'got 'em all' and wanted to be sure she didn't get any back.  They gave her the "magical pill" ... and all should be dead now... the vet said they should fall off, but with her coat - I doubt it... I will brush her again tomorrow...she also gave her the Frontline. (And.... I got 'puppy prozac' for her nervousness- but that's another post) So all in all, it was a productive visit. Just hope that my Miss Sensitive" does not have any reaction to any of it.. I will continue my vacuuming and examining.  And YES!  My mother in law is THE best when it comes to stuff like that... actually , besides myself and the kids... she worries about Tori just as much - even above DH!   So another episode of "the Life of Tori-girl" hopefully over...

As far as the late hours... no problem for me as long as I can sleep in!  LOL  but facing my class this morning with a headache that just won't quit.... NOPE... must be my age! Just 8 more months and a new decade....in fact - the vet we saw this time was new... she couldn't have been more than 30 TOPS - boy oh boy!

As for DH... he's a closet DKer!

Thanks so much for your 'lift me up"

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm so glad to hear that the flea scare is over. Blessings to you and your sweet girl.