Fleas!

[Lynda Kamrath]

We have never had problems with fleas before, but Zeppo seems to have them all the time.  A neighborhood dog who jumps our fence and comes into the yard has fleas and I think that is where it started.  We have had flea dips, Frontline Plus monthly, and flea spray, but he keeps coming up with more fleas.  Harpo has had only a few and the Frontline Plus seems to be enough for him.  When I was living in Brazil, I had a very fair roommate who was bitten constantly by mosquitoes but I never seemed to have a problem with them.  Zeppo is so very fair with white, very fine hair.  Is it something about his skin that causes him to have the fleas or are they just more observable on him? They don't seem to be in the rugs or on our bed.  Why Zeppo?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I  have no idea if it has anything to do with fair skin.  Men claim to be bit more by mosquitoes than woman, etc.  

 I will add though that what works for one, doesnt always work for another.  

So, I have a few questions.  Where are you purchasing Frontline?   Only get flea products from a vet.  Stores and internet markets use knockoff products. Only a REAL vet can  purchase Frontline for resale or distribution.  

If you  are getting Frontline from a real  vet, try a different product.  You might want to look into Advantage or Advantix II instead of Frontline

[F, Calla & Luca]

I disregarded Joanne. 1-800-Petmeds is very reputable IMO.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Let  me try to ;find  the article I  read from .... I'll find it. I know Karen found it when I mentioned it before.  Perhaps a Vet is on staff at 1-800-Petmeds?

But, that is the law. Only vets can purchase and redistribute Frontline.  There is a risk when buying in Costco, Sam's Club, or the internet of not getting genuine products

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

here is one of the articles

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2009/august/beware-frontline...

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

This reference states otherwise, so, who knows if it is law, good practice, ethics, or whatever?

  Still, the costs from my vet actually are lower if I purchase from their office than somewhere else. Also, my records then ( especially for insurance ) will show care

Q: What should I do if someone other than a client asks me to sell them flea and tick products that are labeled for distribution only through veterinarians?

A: Most flea/tick products are not prescription drugs, yet some manufacturers choose to sell flea/tick products only through veterinarians or veterinary medical facilities, such as clinics or hospitals, with the expectation that the products will only be sold as agreed between the manufacturer and the individual veterinarian or facility. Before you sell flea and tick products to a non-client, ask yourself if doing so would be in line with state distribution and/or tax laws, with any agreements you have with flea/tick product manufacturers, and with the AVMA's Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics. To summarize:

• Would your sale of the flea/tick product to them comply with applicable distribution and tax laws?
• Does the flea/tick product package or label include a statement that says the product is only to be sold by or under the direction of a veterinarian?
• When purchasing the flea/tick product, did you agree with the manufacturer how the product must be sold (ie, only to a client, only within a VCPR, etc.)? If so, you should review the specifics of the agreement.
• Would selling the product to them be in line with the AVMA's Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics?

https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/FAQs/Pages/Prescriptions-and-Phar...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If there are fleas on Zeppo, there are flea eggs and larvae in your home. You can't see them, but trust me, they are there. Flea larvae can live dormant in an empty home for more than a year. They emerge from the larval stage when movement and carbon dioxide alert them to the fact that a food supply (blood) is available. It is very, very difficult to eradicate fleas from the environment.

Skin and coat color has nothing to do with attracting fleas. Like most other predatory creatures, they are attracted to their food source. 

Here is some good information: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef602.asp

Last month, JD's acupuncture vet found a few flecks of flea dirt and one dying flea on Jack. I had just brushed him that morning and saw nothing. He has been on Frontline religiously, but it was apparently not enough. I reapplied the Frontline, even though he had it only two weeks earlier. washed all bedding (his and mine) in hot water, and started very thorough daily vacuuming. I did find one live flea on his bed a day later, but that was it. I feel like I dodged a bullet, lol. 

[Leslie J]

Somehow Cocoa picked up fleas which were immune to Frontline. Lots of fleas- and she's definitely not fair, lol! She's never had flea problems before. I tried a flea bath, additional Frontline, and cleaned everything I could think of. I was so disappointed when within a few weeks she was scratching like crazy. I guess no matter how hard you try to clean you might not get all of them.

I cleaned again, got her another flea bath and switched to Comfortis. It's been a couple of months and we don't see any flea evidence. I don't like giving her oral insecticide, but so far she hasn't had side effects. Maybe you need to try a new product.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I don't know about dogs, but I certainly get bit ( mosquitoes) more than anyone is our house.  Plus, a overblown reaction.  If there is a flea in the house, I know it, since I am more likely to get bit before the animals.

  Time to treat the yard and entire house.  AND, do it all over again in 2 weeks time.  Like Karen mentioned, those eggs will be hatching and you will have a whole new crew of fleas to contend with.   You may not see them, but 100% they are there!

  Knock on wood, we have had great success with Trifexis.  Haven't seen a single flea all season.

[Leslie J]

The fleas liked me too! I was the only one in my family bit when Cocoa had fleas, and the flea bites really itched! I can see why she was scratching so much!

[Stacy, Bruno, Molly and Gracie]

We had a flea problem with our doddle, Bruno, and it took me months to eradicate the problem, but I was determined. Here are the steps we took:

1. We went to our vet and switched to Vectra 3D which is only available through a vet. We have used it now for 2 years and it is all we use

2. I vacuumed DAILY the entire house, wood floors and all (my house had not been vacuumed that much LOL)

3. I got diatomaceous earth and used this on the dogs' bedding, carpets, and all over the yard. I also put it on the dogs

4. I vacuumed some more :)

I hope this helps and like it was said before seeing any signs indicates that there are fleas lurking. Good luck!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Like it.  We actually have an appointment with the vet tomorrow to get a prescription for Comfortis.  He says the Frontline and Advantix have been in use so long that the fleas now have immunity to those dog drugs.  They recommend Comfortix, but you need a prescription for it.  And what is diatomaceous earth?  Sounds more holistic than bombing the house (multiple times).

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yes, thank you, thank you.  We went to the vet and got some Comfortis,  which is an oral medication taken once a month.  I don't like giving my dogs oral insecticide, but I also don't like fleas.  For some reason the Frontline Plus worked for Harpo, but not for Zeppo.  Then I looked around and found diatomaceous earth at a pool and spa place here in Salinas.  I will be getting some tomorrow.  The vet said to wait to bomb the house and that the Comfortis should work at getting rid of the fleas.  We will see.  So, now Comfortis and diatomaceous earth.  We wash all the bedding frequently and vacuum frequently also, so hope that does it.