I recently took Wyn to the vet for a routine check-up. Wyn’s veterinarian is thorough and her exams reflect that. She did the routine annual test and checked him over from head to toe, and when I say ‘toe,’ I mean she looked between each toe.
Then she got out a fine-toothed flea comb and said, “This is the worst year we’ve ever had for fleas, I’m checking everybody.” She ran the comb over different parts of Wyn’s body and just above the base of his tail, she said, “yep, flea dirt. He’s got some fleas.”
I was mortified. “You must be mistaken,” I said. ”He’s never had a flea. I play with him at night and see his belly. I look everywhere.” She showed me the comb. I nearly had a heart attack. The thought that MY dog has fleas made me sick to my stomach.
Wyn is on one of the products that you apply to the base of the neck once a month. I apply it the same way each month, like clockwork. I won’t say the name of the product because right now, it’s not working. It may have been fine before, but it’s not holding up to what is being described as one of the worst flea years ever.
I’ve declared war. Wyn got a bath, of course and I treated the carpets with Fleabusters(R), a great natural non-pesticide product. I’m looking into getting the yard treated.
In a May 2012 Citizen Canine blog, I wrote about a science article that said fleas have been around 165 million years and they crawled around on the dinosaurs in the Jurassic period. That’s okay, fleas, you ain’t messin’ with my dog. At least at my house, I’m determined to eliminate you.
Are any of you fighting fleas? Any tips? Do you think dogs can adapt to the product-on-the-neck so it isn’t effective?
AKC's Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy Director, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
My rottie had been on a name brand spot-on flea control for years, and then one season it just quit working. I switched him to flea control in pill form for a few months, and was then able to switch back to the spot-on.
If one of the products isn’t working for you, switch to the other one. I do the same as you however I go a couple steps further. I have taken a flea powder and mixed it in with two thirds diatomaceous earth. I put that at the base of the tail and around the back end underside. Diatomaceous earth scratches the waxy surface of the flea and causes it to dehydrate. I have a flea collar in my vacuum and I vacuum the carpets and furniture multiple times a week. This coupled with baths with essential oil shampoos meant to repel fleas has made this flea season a breeze for my three dogs so far.
After more than a decade of using Fipronil it stopped working for us 2 years ago. I noticed it first on my cats, then I found 1 dog (who sleeps near the cats) with fleas. Since I had just recently applied Fipronil I was dismayed (that stuff is expensive to apply to many pets to no affect!). I do have friends in other areas, and some in Europe, who tell me Fipronil is still working very well in their area.
We actually removed the carpet from the room the cats like to sleep in (it was the last room with carpet anyway) and stained the concrete to match the rest of the house. Washed or thew away all the cat beds, all the human bedding, and vacuumed the entire house several times (and we threw away the vacuum bag contents outside of the house, never leave that stuff inside).
Then we changed active ingredient, applied it all again, and the flea problem was gone in 1 week.
Hopefully, never to return…. but since fleas are adaptable I’m sure if I am around long enough…
We have a golden doodle whose coat is thick and shaggy. I check for fleas and tics, but am afraid it is easy to miss them with this kind of coat. Any suggestions? She’s a 5 month old puppy and is on the once a month meds on the neck treatment. We don’t take her into woodsy areas or fields, but we have rabbits and squirrels in our yard.
I have alternated flea control products for a long time – ever since the old stand-by ‘Carbaryl 7′ – ‘Sevin Dust’ quit working – back in the very early 70′s ! Still works for ticks – and is now working again on fleas – but my best success has been with a ‘flea free environment’ — but it means my dogs live a pretty isolated life – my dog yard is gravel/concrete and we burn it 3-4 times a year to eliminate any stray grasses – ( won’t use an herbicide ), and [knock wood] I may only have to use a product one – two times a year – if that –
But if you go to dog parks, for walkies, to group classes, even just out in the neighborhood – you’ll need something – even a repellant – one of the all natural sprays is better IMPO than some (most) of the chemicals that are being used today — Fleas and Roaches will be here long after we are all gone!
My dog had severe flea allergies. We always used f plus, but one season was horiffic. That was the only time we had an issue. The vet gave us Capst– and it killed the buggers right away. Another great treatment is D-earth..this kills the by destroying the skeleton. Diatomaceous earth. It can be used outside, or added to food. It is safe for dogs.