Flea prevention?

[OlliOlliOlli]

I have a serious flea problem out here in Texas. I have 5 dogs and my man living with me. The man never seems to get bitten, maybe his skin pH is healthier than mine. My 5 are covered in fleas, constantly...not just covered, but infested.

Example is last night at 1am they were crying and biting at themselves so I plopped them in the bathtub and scrubbed them down with 10 day flea and tick shampoo. I then rubbed them down and brushed them with lavender oil afterwards. This morning (heh) I got up at 12pm (went to bed at 3am, doggies weren't scratching) but they were scratching again and biting themselves!

I can't do a "flea bomb" because I've got 4 parrots. I've tried lavender, I've tried various flea and tick shampoos. I've tried the flea gels that go between the shoulders -- I've had SOME luck with those.

We honestly can't afford the Frontline/Advantix. We ran some numbers and it's like $50 a month right now. When the puppies are grown, one will be 60 pounds and one will be 120 pounds...it will cost even more. I am also not fond of feeding my animals overpriced chemicals from big pharma.

Are there any other alternatives? I am sick of nuking my animals with chemicals. Is there something stronger I could get from TSC or an agri store, maybe intended for horses? This is getting insane.

 

[cassie]

We had a BIG flea problem here. Now we don't. We used Frontline and then we had some guy spraying around the outside of the house for spiders. I guess he got enough spray in the yard to kill off where the fleas breed because we haven't had a problem for months and right now we aren't using flea products at all. Don't see any fleas either. Fleas on the dog are only part of the problem. You need to find a way to interrupt their breeding cycle. BTW, vacuuming upholstery and carpets frequently helps. Flea eggs and larvae end up there. You might try using Sevin. When you apply flea powder make sure you get the feet and up the leg really well. When fleas jump up on the dog from the ground, that's where they land. There are some non toxic chemicals you can spray around in the yard and carpets that target the eggs and larvae.

 

[Sillystunt]

we use food grade DE, seems to work

 

[scbatz33]

We had a HUGE flea problem several years ago. I was introduced to Advantix and WOW!!! No worries anymore. Of course, when we lived in NC and ticks were a major problem but not for us. We didn't need to use the preventative every month. Once we got the problem under control, then it was maybe every other or every third month. This year I haven't used anything yet, but I'm going to since we found our first tick. But heck, It's almost July!!!

I know you don't want to use chemicals, but outside of spraying your yard with nematodes to eat the flea larvae outside, I have yet to find anything that works better topically or in house. The thing with the topicals is that once it's on the dogs, it will spread where ever they lay in the house. It even takes out flies - In my experience. So we have never had to bomb or hire someone to spray the house.

 

[OlliOlliOlli]

What's DE?

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
oh god please don't make me spell it..lol

Diamatacious earth and i know that is spelt wrong

www.custommilling.com will have info on it! like what it's made of etc

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Ducks do a great job controlling fleas outside and if your dogs are outside, consider sprinkling them with sevin dust. Read the label first.

I use advatix, but it is quite pricey.

If it's that bad you may want to remove the birds and bomb it .

 

[piecemaker]

I put 20 Mule Team Borax in the carpet. Just shake it around like carpet fresh. Get it around the base boards and other places the little buggers hide. Don't forget the furnture and under it. The lable says to leave it for 30 mins I leave til the next time I vacume, usally the next day. The box says it will kill fleas and other bugs for a year. That is all I use in the house (for the last 2 or 3 years). If the 3 dogs have gone some where and brought a hitch hiker home (fleas) I wil use Frontline spray on them. The Borax is very cheap you can get it at the dollar store or wally world in the laundry aisle.

good luck piecemaker

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Try Seargents Natural defense Flea & Tick spray. I use it on my dog and cats.

 

[Skyesrocket]

Advantix could save you money in the long run.
For the first time in many years my house became infested with fleas. I tried the sprays, flea bathing and even dusted my backyard with Sevin but nothing helped.
My neighbor gave me one tube of Advantix, his dog is a large breed and mine are small. I used the one tube on six dogs three weeks ago and haven't seen a flea since then. I didn't even treat the house again. I guess the fleas jumped on the dogs and died.
I ordered more Advantix on Ebay and will be using it from now on.
Good Luck!