Best Flea stuff to get

brianregan09

So yeah exactly what it says on the thread name

Have used them small ones that are 7 euro in Dunnes and Bathed both my collies and there still itching like mad

This came about because our lawnmower broke down last year and we haven't been able to afford to fix it till now so the back where the lads go out to the toilet has gotten overgrown pretty badly

Basically wanting to know the best way to rid them of the little bastards for good

Bunnyslippers

I'd say the frontline spot on stuff is pretty good, or ask your vet, avoid supermarket stuff or cheap brands as they are often flea repellents and don't kill them. Just make sure you don't bath your dogs for 4 days before and after using it as they rely on oils in their coats to spread well, it may take two doses 8 weeks apart to get rid of them. The length of grass won't have any affect on fleas but where your dogs sleep is where the fleas will breed and hide, so wash all their bedding on a hot wash! If you have carpets then Hoover really well everyday for a week to really help get shot of them, if they are really bad you can use stuff like Vetkem Acclaim which you spray all through your carpets to kill the little buggers!:). I think the warm weather hasn't helped as the fleas love it and multiply like mad!

brianregan09

Fortunatley we don't have any carpets so that's not too bad I'm beginning to think our Cat is the culprit as I had thought a few weeks ago they were improving after using said supermarket stuff but they have just gotten worse again and my OH swears the Cat doesn't have any . we didnt' do him at all

aonb

Have you inspected your dogs to ensure that they actually have fleas?
Part their coats around neck/shoulder area with your fingers, white bits are best, and look for small moving creatures?
If you cant see anything, there can be other reasons for itching!
Do that same with the cat - if the cat has fleas you need to dose the cat too
You need to take the dogs bedding and wash it in hot water cycle
Go to the vet, and get a SPOT ON treatment for the dogs, by their weight and the cat too.
I would recommend ADVOCATE as it zaps worms/fleas/mites - for cats and dogs - and starts to work pretty much immediately. FRONTLINE is good too
Supermarket brands of flea killers are pretty much weak/useless - pet shops too dont have license to sell the 'serious' flea killers - you need to get it from the vet.
You are at nothing though if you dont do all 3 animals at the same time, wash their bedding, and re-dose them again in a months time (or whatever the repeat time is for the product you buy - vet will tell you) - you dont have to see a vet - the receptionist/nurse will sell it to you over their counter

brianregan09

Oh yeah there crawling

aonb

well good in that you can fix the flea problem easily - as opposed to a skin/allergy! Off you go to the vet for 3 packets of ADVOCATE or FRONTLINE or some other vet recommended anti-flea - go with an approximate weight of the 2 dogs and the cat. Dont forget to wash every item of bedding - and collars - and any mats/rugs they sleep on - give the floors a good wash/vacuum (under skirting etc) while you are at it

brianregan09

How long does it usually take to work we put it on last night and we can still see fleas on them

aonb

what product did you use?
Were they badly infested?
Are the fleas moving?
If its Frontline or Advocate they will start to work quickly - the chemical is absorbed into the dogs system - see this:

FRONTLINE Plus will spread over the coat of your pet within 24 hours and will continue to be effective for 8 weeks on dogs and 6 weeks on cats. Any fleas that jump onto your pet will die within 8-24 hours. Be aware, however that the adult fleas on your pet represent only 5% of the total flea population.