Help I'm being eaten alive

Or it at least feels like it.  We dog sat for a friend who's adorable little "baby" infested us with fleas.  I'm about to go out of my mind.  The whole using hydrocortison cream, taking benadryl and constant scrubbing of the house thing really isn't working for me.  The kids haven't been bitten and neither has my husband but I'm a mess.   My vacuum actually had to be put in for repairs because the motor was starting to burn out from the constant use.

I've tried -

flea baths for the dogs & cats (not fun for the kitties or me)

flea sprays (house and pet)

lightbulb over the dish soapped water trick

sweeping, mopping and vacuuming to oblivion

frontline

capstar

and this flea stuff the groomer swears by

outside has been treated with soap/water and ditomecious earth and you don't 'feel' them out there

We got about 4 days max where my dogs weren't itching insanely and I couldn't feel them pouncing on me.  I'm about to just bomb the house but I keep reading that it's not going to work either and I'm seriously at my wit's end.  Bombing would really need to be a strategic thing since with 4 kids home and requiring at least 3 hours out of the house (in the hundred degree heat most days) plus the extra time I need to clean all surfaces again before they're safe.

Does anyone have some kid friendly alternatives?  The cats have a couple here and there but a flea comb after a bath seems to do the trick for them fine.  My poor dogs are crawling with them, my lab mix more so then my beagle.

where do you live??

I have been living in texas for about a year now.  We never had problems with fleas(lived in oklahoma and wyoming before) until about half a year ago.  We have 2 cats and are renting a somewhat older house.

When we first moved in our neighbors told us there were fleas in the yard, but we didn't have a problem for quite a while since they are strictly indoor cats.  Then BAM fleas everywhere.  We also have tried everything to get rid of them.  I really don't know what else to do and the landlord doesn't care(his dogs have fleas as well). They got a lot worse when summer rolled around but I just can't take it anymore.

We tried everything, flea collars, the stuff you put on their backs, spraying, vacuuming every day, weekly shampooing.  Last week we even bug bombed the house and shaved the cats.  It is a lot easier to see the fleas now that they are shaved and I can see how many are killed when we shampoo and pick off any that are still moving, but they just keep coming back. 

Honestly, I think our only solution will be to move to a new place that doesn't have so many cracks and holes for the bastards to crawl through.  I hate fleas.

You have to break the reproductive cycle. That can take a couple of months. I have had several flea infestations over the years. I start with cleaning first. Sweep the floors and upholstery and put any throw rugs and all bedding in the laundry. Bomb the house. Spray the yard. Clean the animals. Treat the animals. You may have to rebomb the house in about 3-4 weeks.

After you sweep, empty the trash straight out to your garbage can. Do not keep the bag or the sweepings in the house.

Original Post by moonikins:

You have to break the reproductive cycle. That can take a couple of months. I have had several flea infestations over the years. I start with cleaning first. Sweep the floors and upholstery and put any throw rugs and all bedding in the laundry. Bomb the house. Spray the yard. Clean the animals. Treat the animals. You may have to rebomb the house in about 3-4 weeks.

After you sweep, empty the trash straight out to your garbage can. Do not keep the bag or the sweepings in the house.

 so there is a light at the end of the tunnel??  We do all this(need to rebomb in 2 weeks), but it is just so frustrating to put so much time and effort into de-fleaing and not see results.  Is it a really gradual decrease in fleas, or is it a sudden disapearance of them after a few months?

There's a sudden decrease, and a notable decrease shortly after the first bomb. Then after the 2nd bombing, nothing. Check the bombs you buy. They should contain an ingredient that kills fleas and either kills the egss or prevents any new fleas from reproducing. You have to break the reproductive cycle. Get a product for your animals that kills the fleas and eggs and/or larvae. I know Frontline and Revolution work, there are also some over the counter products as well.

I get a pesticide powder or spray for the lawn. Look for one that mentions fleas. I hate spraying a general pesticide, but if you have a flea infestation, you pretty much have to do it.

Original Post by moonikins:

There's a sudden decrease, and a notable decrease shortly after the first bomb. Then after the 2nd bombing, nothing. Check the bombs you buy. They should contain an ingredient that kills fleas and either kills the egss or prevents any new fleas from reproducing. You have to break the reproductive cycle. Get a product for your animals that kills the fleas and eggs and/or larvae. I know Frontline and Revolution work, there are also some over the counter products as well.

I get a pesticide powder or spray for the lawn. Look for one that mentions fleas. I hate spraying a general pesticide, but if you have a flea infestation, you pretty much have to do it.

 thanks! I kept expecting instant results or to at least see a general decrease with time.  We did see a decrease in fleas the first couple days after the bombing but after that it went back to how it was.  It was  so discouraging.  I will keep my hopes up that the 2nd bombing will do the trick though.    Besides the fleas, we love our place and would hate to move.  My poor bald kitties :(  If I had been more patient, maybe that wouldn't have been necessary!

Oh, and I have read that fleas can become immune to certain products so you have to keep changing up brands of sprays, collars, shampoos, etc. every few months to prevent that. 

I only shampoo the animals with gentle soap. The soap and water kills the fleas. No need to put chemicals on the poor critters. The fleas can become immune to pesticides, but they can't become immune to products that interrupt their reproductive cycle. Aim for that. It works much better and faster. I can't remember the name of the bombs I bought, but I got them at a pet store. Call your vet and see what they recommend.

Thanks!  Didn't know about the immunity issue so I'll have to keep that in mind.  The vet is getting in some new chewable pill soon that supposedly is better then frontline.  We're in FL and the girls at the vet's office said it's a really bad year for fleas.  When we first had our friend's dog she was itching and smelled so I gave her a bath....fleas in the water.... so I'm pretty sure it wasn't the yard.

We have company tonight so I'm just cleaning up as I can and prepping for my counter-flea campaign bombing run #1 tomorrow.  I hate to do it but it has to be done I guess.  After that, back to my reg. scheduled sweeping/mopping etc before we bomb again in a few weeks.  I figured we'd have to do it more then once =(

Original Post by moonikins:

I only shampoo the animals with gentle soap. The soap and water kills the fleas. No need to put chemicals on the poor critters. The fleas can become immune to pesticides, but they can't become immune to products that interrupt their reproductive cycle. Aim for that. It works much better and faster. I can't remember the name of the bombs I bought, but I got them at a pet store. Call your vet and see what they recommend.

 ah, ok, I hate spending money on the flea shampoos anyway.  I doubt the cats will really notice much of a difference though.  Just getting wet is torture to them.  They act like I am trying to drown them when they get baths....it breaks my heart!!! 

I don't remember which bombs we use, but I did my research and think I got an appropriate brand.  Wish I didn't have to wait so long to do it over.  Its ridiculous to think that these pests spend so much time as eggs or larva and only a week or 2 as adults and still reek such havoc!

Original Post by ladyduece:

Thanks!  Didn't know about the immunity issue so I'll have to keep that in mind.  The vet is getting in some new chewable pill soon that supposedly is better then frontline.  We're in FL and the girls at the vet's office said it's a really bad year for fleas.  When we first had our friend's dog she was itching and smelled so I gave her a bath....fleas in the water.... so I'm pretty sure it wasn't the yard.

 

We have company tonight so I'm just cleaning up as I can and prepping for my counter-flea campaign bombing run #1 tomorrow.  I hate to do it but it has to be done I guess.  After that, back to my reg. scheduled sweeping/mopping etc before we bomb again in a few weeks.  I figured we'd have to do it more then once =(

 

 I think the chewable pills, collars, and frontline type stuff that goes on their backs are more of preventative measures.  i don't think they really help once an infestation is in place.  Hopefully the bombing will finish them off and all you will need are preventative treatments from then on.  Good luck!!!!

Just about the only shampoo we've found for our beagle that doesn't send her into itch fits is one from the groomer that helps with flea and tick.  It's safe for the cats too so that's a nice plus.  She actually started to get a skin condition (fur falling out in spots) when I tried dawn like other sites had suggested.

The bombs we got were supposedly the best according to the pet store folks.  Here's hoping

as far as preventive (when you get there :) ) we have found advantage to be way better than frontline for fleas. one of our doggies is allergic to fleas and even one will break him out.

Dawn kills fleas. We rescued some kittens that were covered so I washed them in a little dawn to get rid of them, worked.

I know we had issues growing up and I wish I could remember how we got rid of them!!! I know dad used a powder outside.

Original Post by ladyduece:

Just about the only shampoo we've found for our beagle that doesn't send her into itch fits is one from the groomer that helps with flea and tick.  It's safe for the cats too so that's a nice plus.  She actually started to get a skin condition (fur falling out in spots) when I tried dawn like other sites had suggested.

The bombs we got were supposedly the best according to the pet store folks.  Here's hoping

 ooh, that sucks. poor doggie! I hadn't heard that before.

I never used it on the dogs, since they've never been covered like those kittens were. We use baby shampoo.

Any dish soap or even regular shampoo will kill any adult fleas on the animal. Some flea shampoos may help with fleas that jump on after a bath, but to kill current fleas on an animal all you need is soap and water. They drown pretty quickly.

I just took my cat to the vet for a skin condition. The vet had to convince me it was from fleas, because I knew we didn't have fleas in the house. The dog and the other cat weren't having problems. He examined her and told me I was correct that we didn't have a flea problem, but that Moon is just highly allergic to the bite and if one flea bites her she'll lick that spot for 2-3 weeks until all the hair is gone.

I'm treating her with Revolution for the rest of the summer as well as the other cat. I'll start the dog on something similar this week. I don't want the fleas to get a strong hold in the house. This house is all carpeting and upholstery which is far worse. My last house only had carpeting upstairs, the rest was hardwood. Much easier to get rid of fleas when there isn't much carpeting.

Did you know the flea doesn't stay on the animal very long at all? They bite, draw blood and then jump off pretty quickly.

Original Post by moonikins:

...

Did you know the flea doesn't stay on the animal very long at all? They bite, draw blood and then jump off pretty quickly.

 A-holes!  Leave my babies alone!!!

My groomer recommended using Ivory Dish soap when I give my dog a bath. It kills fleas and is gentle enough for her skin.

The vet should have a pill that you can give the dog and this kills and repeals the fleas, but I think it's only used when it's a bad infestation.

Also...put a flea collar in your vacuum, that way the fleas die when they sucked up into the bag or container.

Good luck! 

have you properly cleaned your furniture. This may suck for a while but get moth balls and put them in your couch cusions, wash all pillows, blankets and sheets in hot water. Also put moth balls under your matress. Like I said it will suck but that is how we got rid of our flea problem when nothing eles worked. Everything eles is just temporary. Make sure you vaccum all the dead ones then reapply. I know the pet store makes a carpet powder that works pretty good. use these and keep vaccuming.

agree on the flea collar thing or moth balls in the vaccum. Or you can buy a ton of flea collars and put them every where. but that may not work well.

Original Post by gem86:

have you properly cleaned your furniture. This may suck for a while but get moth balls and put them in your couch cusions, wash all pillows, blankets and sheets in hot water. Also put moth balls under your matress. Like I said it will suck but that is how we got rid of our flea problem when nothing eles worked. Everything eles is just temporary. Make sure you vaccum all the dead ones then reapply. I know the pet store makes a carpet powder that works pretty good. use these and keep vaccuming.

agree on the flea collar thing or moth balls in the vaccum. Or you can buy a ton of flea collars and put them every where. but that may not work well.

 moth balls??  really??  hadn't heard that one before!

When I lived in GA I had a major flea infestation.  I used the raid bombs for fleas.  I had to do it 2 rimes and then they were gone.  I also up'd the amount of garlic I ate and also feed some to the animals. My vet down there said they would bite less....so I added garlic to everything and a garlic pill.  I have to say I stopped being bitten long before I did the 2nd bombing.  I truly don't know if it was coincidence or not. 

 Don't give up hope, you'll win the battle.  And they if I were you I would send the receipts for all the flea crap to this 'friend' that dropped off the flea infest mongrel.  But then that's just me. 

Original Post by pamm915:

When I lived in GA I had a major flea infestation.  I used the raid bombs for fleas.  I had to do it 2 rimes and then they were gone.  I also up'd the amount of garlic I ate and also feed some to the animals. My vet down there said they would bite less....so I added garlic to everything and a garlic pill.  I have to say I stopped being bitten long before I did the 2nd bombing.  I truly don't know if it was coincidence or not. 

 Don't give up hope, you'll win the battle.  And they if I were you I would send the receipts for all the flea crap to this 'friend' that dropped off the flea infest mongrel.  But then that's just me. 

 oddly enough, even though the cats are covered in the fleas, my husband and I are never bothered by them personally.  Maybe we already eat enough garlic??

My kitten got fleas.  I bombed.  Twice in one month.  It worked and they never came back.  After you bomb just keep frontline on the animals (I find that it works better than a lot of other brands).  Good luck and I totally feel for ya!