Anyone have a good way to rid pets of fleas?

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

Oh and you can give your dogs garlic pills as well as vinegar.

 

[biggin]

You can dust them with 7-dust. It's cheaper than Frontline or any of the other flea sprays.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

We used to get fleas once a year every year when we were kids. Pop would stay up late at night to treat them. Sprinkling everything with Sevin dust, let it set for a while and then vaccuum up the majority of it. It worked and I see where people use it on their chickens and other stuff.

But I don't know. It's a poison right? Makes me nervous just thinking for using it around my pets.

 

[PineappleMama]

We went YEARS without a flea in sight, then suddenly BAM they were everywhere.

And nothing worked on them. Friend on the other end of town saw the same problem, so I don't think it was just a case of the neighbor bombing and them running here. He's tried every thing... but I haven't heard him mention a pill... will definitely pass that on... he prefers that kind of method... pills/neck goo... to home/yard natural cures...

We've tried the salt thing (supposedly dries out the babies) ... couldn't tell a difference before the walking on salted floors got to us... and that's definitely not one you can use on your grass... even if it does work which I can't confirm.

I'ma have to try some of these ideas... thanks for this topic and the many great posts!

 

[mstricer]

try DE its natural. Can be expensive though.

 

[PineappleMama]

Yikes... went to http://www.comfortis4dogs.com/ and the side effects are a little scary...

Important Safety Information

* The most common adverse reaction reported is vomiting.

* Other adverse reactions reported in decreasing order of frequency are: depression/lethargy, decreased appetite, incoordination, diarrhea, itching, trembling, excessive salivation and seizures.

* Following concomitant extra label use of ivermectin with Comfortis

, some dogs have experienced the following clinical signs: trembling/twitching, salivation /drooling, seizures, incoordination, excessive dilation of pupils, blindness and disorientation.

* Post approval experience continues to support the safety of Comfortis when used concurrently with heartworm preventatives according to label directions.

I'm afraid to even see what'll happen if I

* Click here for full product label including complete safety information.

So, instead of itchy you could have a vomiting, twitching, depressed, uncoordinated pup with the trots?

YEAH... think I'll definitely try the other options before doing this one...

Again, appreciate all the ideas so I, and others, have some viable (no side effects) options.

 

[weimarmama]

Quote:
We had the same problem with Frontline and Advantix...I have raised dogs most of my life and I have never found a solution like Comfortis. Our dogs have only been on it for about two weeks...I was thrilled to see that you have had sucess up to 6 or 7 weeks. If that works for us, it will be well worth the extra buck or two it cost per dose. I thought the Frontline had stopped working due to the fact that my dogs swim everyday so loved the idea that Comfortis works internally and wont wash off.

So far it has been an absolute miracle here at our house!!!

I think it's mainly been the southeastern US that's been having the most problems with Frontline & other topical treatments not working. We have those super fleas, & I guess they've built up a resistance to it. When we were using Frontline, we were having the worst problems with tapeworms because, of course, a dog only has to swallow one infected flea, & then they're extremely hard to get rid of. So, DF had asked his boss to start stocking Comfortis, & when it came in he tried it out on our dogs before he started recommending it to anyone. I remember I was a little upset at first & told him that "I couldn't believe he was experimenting on our children."

But, when it worked, I'll admit that I did apologize to him. And since then, we haven't had the first tapeworm. So, I'm happy with it. Plus, it's nice not having to plan out their baths. The absolute longest we've gone between doses is 9 weeks. That was one time this past winter, which was the coldest winter we've had in a while. So, I think that was kind of a fluke.

 

[kingpartyof5]

Thank you everyone for your input. I will have to try the vinegar thing. Our vet did give us some capstar (sp?) which killed the buggers for about 24-36 hours, but that was it. We have used knockout, DE, salt, etc. I will put some borax down tonight and see if that works. Then I will investigate the pill. This is just A CRAZY YEAR FOR FLEAS!

 

[calista]

Intriguing permanent flea trap with some positive reviews:

http://www.pickii.com/p/flea-trap/

"- Control even the worst flea infestations in homes - Safe and simple permanent appliance that uses heat and light to draw fleas from up to 25' away - Fleas attracted to the trap fall through the grid and meet a sticky demise on the replaceable capture pad..." (MORE)

 

[apryl]

If you free range your chickens I wouldn't use this... but if you don't, buy some sevin dust and you can sprinkle (its powder) it around your yard. You can also use it on your carpet, let it sit for 2 hrs and then vacuum it up. I use frontline and *knock on wood* it has worked for us for the past 6 yrs.

For fleas in the house, you can also stick a few moth balls in your vacuum cleaner bag (or the bag less receptacle) and vacuum daily. Be sure to dump the bag or the container every time you vacuum.