How do you control fleas ?

[mychooks]

Does diatomacious earth work ? I and my animals are going crazy with this year's flea problem. I have sat for hours, combing out and killing fleas with haemostats, I've tried flea powder, even that systemic stuff from the vet doesn't work any more.
I bathe my small dogs twice a week and I vacuum the house (and my bed) every day.
I am picking up a large bag of DE tomorow. If anyone has any advice......please help.

 

[easttxchick]

Boy, I wish I could help you, but I am fighting the same thing. Flea colors, exterminators, baths, combing and 2 rounds of that darn Advantage and Top Spot-nothing is working!

 

[Luna_Chick66]

when you vaccuum the house makes sure you remove the vaccuum bag right away... burn it if you can, but don't keep it in your house.

 

[breezy]

Not all flea killers are created equaL. Get Frontline or Advantix from the vet and treat once a month for 3 months. Make sure that if you bathe your pet your using a soap free shampoo or your washing the product off as fast as it goes on. Use spray flea control that contains an IGR in the house and yard. IGR stands for insect growth regulator. It interrupts the fleas lifecycle. Fleas only spend about 5% of their time on the living pet the other 95% is spent in the environment which is why you need to treat all the pets including cats, the yard and the house concurrently.
Fleas totally suck

. Good luck

 

[debilorrah]

Flea bombs, carpet powder. When we moved to the high desert that problem was eliminated. Two really good things about living here - no fleas, no roaches.

 

[therealsilkiechick]

we had the same prob my kid's kept bringing fleas in from my FIL's house from his labs. this is the worst year we have ever had with them and tried everything to get rid of them. never tried de on them though but it has never helped us with chicken stuff so i gave up on useing it. someone suggested frontline or advantage said it was the only thing100% kills them and their life cycle. i didn't have the money to buy it at the vets so i checked on ebay. i got a 6mth supply of it for $17 at vets it was twice that for 3mths. when it came in we put it on after baths within 24 hours i didn't see a flea and haven't seen them scratch since. noone is getting bit up anymore, it was driveing us crazy. we did the cats and the dogs i will never buy anything else again. i'm amazed how quick and reliable frontline is wished i'd of tried it years ago.

 

[faykokoWV]

7 dogs, 2 cats AAARRRGGGH! We are over run with fleas every year at this time. Zodiac carpet powder, Zodiac upholestry spray, frequent washing of linens, weekly dog baths and when they finally get down to just a few fleas, one week of capstar for everyone just to finish them off. By Thanksgiving we should be flea free again until next September.

No matter what we do though, we get them every year at this time. I guess the animals are warmer than the outside and the fleas just want to stay warm.

 

[duck walk]

I used liquid seven in a sprayer attached to the water hose for the yard every ten days for four treatments...20 mule team borax in the house and carpeting...dog beds and any cracks and crannies they could hide and breed in...vacuum and repeat ever two to three days until you quit seeing them...bathing in Dawn dish detergent kills what is on the dogs but has no risidual action...adams fleas spray on the dogs...you have to break the reproduction cycle or you will never get rid of them...the above worked for me for a heavy infestation we brought home from the vet clinic...you just have to be religious in the treating at the right time frames...
the borax kills the larva as well as the big fleas...and, if anyone comes to visit with a dog, check the dog out before it enters the yard to be certain it has no passengers...it is very easy to re infest if you don't screen visitors...

 

[mychooks]

Quote:
Its a helluva reason to move to the desert though !

 

[Sammimom]

Borax brushed with a broom on/in every carpeted and upholstered surface and brushed under all the baseboards, let sit 24 hours, then vacuum up and discard the bag. This must be done in the whole house, because one undone room will become the haven for fleas if left alone.

I'm a fan of the Zodiac bombs if you feel you must use one, much less stinky and wet then many others. I've also had luck with the flea topical treatments (advantage, etc) but good regular shampooing and treating the home itself (aka breeding ground) have always the most effective for me.