My 3 dogs are my everyday family. They make me laugh, play, give and receive affection, and make getting up everyday worthwhile when regular access to my human family isn't possible.
That said: this year, since moving to my "new" 1920 home in Richmond, Indiana, more rain has fallen than usual followed by a long, hot, dry spell. Guessing that's what caused the
outbreak of determined bugs, too.
Don't worry! I KNOW what this is and a praying mantis, or any number of them,
will never be a target for extinction here. Lady bugs also get carried outside--never killed.
As for fleas, bed bugs, ticks, roaches, mosquitoes...HATE THEM.
So, I ALWAYS treat the entryways to my home, as well as my dogs
to avoid the acquisition of any of those bugs. Hate bugs. HATE.
So, I ALWAYS treat the entryways to my home, as well as my dogs
to avoid the acquisition of any of those bugs. Hate bugs. HATE.
So, when Lizzy started scratching awhile back, I assumed she
had dry skin. It's normal for a border collie, and I rubbed some baby oil into parts of her fur (it works on baby's "cradle cap" too). Then Molly, the youngest black poodle, started scratching.
Then Lucy started scratching a bit.
Then Lucy started scratching a bit.
OH NO. I went through the normal phases before acknowledging a plague.
Denial.
Illogical reasoning.
Wishful thinking.
HORROR.
Resignation.
Got to work.
During the wishful thinking phase is actually when I started treating the house, "just in case."
Then gave each of them
Denial.
Illogical reasoning.
Wishful thinking.
HORROR.
Resignation.
Got to work.
During the wishful thinking phase is actually when I started treating the house, "just in case."
Then gave each of them
a flea and tick bath.
Nothing to speak of came off of Molly, so the wishful thinking phase continued and
I thought we were safe.
Nothing to speak of came off of Molly, so the wishful thinking phase continued and
I thought we were safe.
But, I think they just hid out in her thick, in-need-of-a-haircut-then-this-happened coat.
Next, it was recently shaved, Lucy's turn.
Next, it was recently shaved, Lucy's turn.
Poor thing was covered with them!
They hung on so stubbornly to Lucy's newly shaved skin, despite the flea shampoo,
that teensy trickles of blood marked where they'd let go after being scrubbed off.
They hung on so stubbornly to Lucy's newly shaved skin, despite the flea shampoo,
that teensy trickles of blood marked where they'd let go after being scrubbed off.
Thus began one of the worst weeks of our collective lives, and it's not over.
Trying to get rid of fleas that have been allowed in the house for weeks (coming in with all 3 dogs)
because I didn't know they were there,
is a NIGHTMARE.
Trying to get rid of fleas that have been allowed in the house for weeks (coming in with all 3 dogs)
because I didn't know they were there,
is a NIGHTMARE.
But, I've learned some things along the way that I want to share (and remember, although, mark my words, this'll never happen again bc I won't be so naive).
Thing ONE: Forget about apple cider vinegar for fleas.
Why? It's only a repellant, it doesn't kill the little beasties or their eggs.
Not here in Indiana, anyway, and not when it comes to my dogs.
So, basically, you're just pushing the bugs around when you use it.
Wherever you spray, whatever you spray, that's infested with those little monsters from hell,
becomes abhorrent to them and they simply hop off and onto something or someone else.
The only good apple cider vinegar can serve is prior to taking outdoor walks, maybe,
but only if you completely spray it all over yourself and all of your clothing, too.
Otherwise, you're just offering to be your pets' fleas new host.
I bought a gallon of apple cider vinegar that I'll hang onto for some other purpose.
The image above is one I found on the internet.
It's an incomplete representation of what this treatment can do, at best,
but basically it's false, misleading advertising, as far as I'm concerned.
Not here in Indiana, anyway, and not when it comes to my dogs.
So, basically, you're just pushing the bugs around when you use it.
Wherever you spray, whatever you spray, that's infested with those little monsters from hell,
becomes abhorrent to them and they simply hop off and onto something or someone else.
The only good apple cider vinegar can serve is prior to taking outdoor walks, maybe,
but only if you completely spray it all over yourself and all of your clothing, too.
Otherwise, you're just offering to be your pets' fleas new host.
I bought a gallon of apple cider vinegar that I'll hang onto for some other purpose.
The image above is one I found on the internet.
It's an incomplete representation of what this treatment can do, at best,
but basically it's false, misleading advertising, as far as I'm concerned.
Also, gnats seem to like the odor it produces. There's that. I invited gnats in to dine.
Thing TWO: As previously mentioned, I'd already treated my dogs for fleas and ticks.
Of course! Every month.
This year, tho, in Indiana, even Frontline isn't working for everyone. Who knew???
Another fun fact is that, naturally, if you've already ineffectively treated your dogs with topical flea/tick drops, my vet told me, you must wait a minimum of 3 weeks before treating them again.
To do so sooner might poison your poor fur babies!!!
(a month is better, but these are desperate times).
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, is that magical 3 week day!!
I've given them all the vet prescribed oral treatment. (Lucy eats anything, so that was easy. Molly didn't want to eat hers until she saw Lucy eat her own. Lizzy didn't want anything to do with her chewable pill. Clearly not as appetizing as Heartguard. So, Lucy tried to obligingly gulp down Lizzy's--a 2nd, $18, possibly lethal dose--she did not succeed.
Lizzy swallowed when she found it thrust into the back of her throat. 😂
Am banking all my sanity on its helping us out of this mess!!!
A Google search reveals a 5 star rating.
Don't underestimate the power of a good oral or topical treatment.
It's always worked in the past.
I used a double dose of the cheap kind on my huge, long-haired german shepherd, Gideon, for his entire life and never had flea trouble.
So, I've continued to use the cheap brand because,
until this year, it worked.
Indiana, however, gets MORE rain than Maryland (or Utah, of course),
so from now on, we'll use the vet's recommended and prescribed brand.
No one, who's used it here, is having flea trouble--at all.
Even better, once the new treatment gets to work, a vet once told me,
the chemicals in their skin will actually help treat whatever area they're in, as well,
wherever they go!!! Good news, yes?!
Of course! Every month.
This year, tho, in Indiana, even Frontline isn't working for everyone. Who knew???
Another fun fact is that, naturally, if you've already ineffectively treated your dogs with topical flea/tick drops, my vet told me, you must wait a minimum of 3 weeks before treating them again.
To do so sooner might poison your poor fur babies!!!
(a month is better, but these are desperate times).
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, is that magical 3 week day!!
I've given them all the vet prescribed oral treatment. (Lucy eats anything, so that was easy. Molly didn't want to eat hers until she saw Lucy eat her own. Lizzy didn't want anything to do with her chewable pill. Clearly not as appetizing as Heartguard. So, Lucy tried to obligingly gulp down Lizzy's--a 2nd, $18, possibly lethal dose--she did not succeed.
Lizzy swallowed when she found it thrust into the back of her throat. 😂
Am banking all my sanity on its helping us out of this mess!!!
A Google search reveals a 5 star rating.
Don't underestimate the power of a good oral or topical treatment.
It's always worked in the past.
I used a double dose of the cheap kind on my huge, long-haired german shepherd, Gideon, for his entire life and never had flea trouble.
So, I've continued to use the cheap brand because,
until this year, it worked.
Indiana, however, gets MORE rain than Maryland (or Utah, of course),
so from now on, we'll use the vet's recommended and prescribed brand.
No one, who's used it here, is having flea trouble--at all.
Even better, once the new treatment gets to work, a vet once told me,
the chemicals in their skin will actually help treat whatever area they're in, as well,
wherever they go!!! Good news, yes?!
Geez, I hope they're right about that!
Thing THREE: My dogs and I have a routine of indoor/outdoor + together/apart time. When I bathed them, though, the fleas that didn't die jumped ship and went everywhere. I kept hoping they didn't have too many, that maybe the stuff I was using on the carpets, etc would help treat their coats as well. Nope. Maybe it's cruel, but don't let your dogs back in the house until they're flea free. My dogs have the misfortune of being "highly intelligent" and sensitive types,
so, they feel like they're in trouble for something all the time now,
since I won't let them in past the sunroom, where they sleep at night. They've accepted this.
Because they're dogs. Sigh. Can you imagine pulling this on a young human?
so, they feel like they're in trouble for something all the time now,
since I won't let them in past the sunroom, where they sleep at night. They've accepted this.
Because they're dogs. Sigh. Can you imagine pulling this on a young human?
Thing FOUR; Yes, hot water laundering with bleach kills them (I've done at least a dozen loads of laundry this week), but it doesn't stop more fleas from hopping right back on,
or laying, once the material is dry. Bleach is "Awesome," tho--
cleaning with it KILLS the fleas, larvae and eggs.
Since 1 cup in a load of laundry works,
then watered down in a bucket of water, this goes a long, long way.
So, don a pair of gloves and clean every surface with bleach that'll tolerate the stuff!
or laying, once the material is dry. Bleach is "Awesome," tho--
cleaning with it KILLS the fleas, larvae and eggs.
Since 1 cup in a load of laundry works,
then watered down in a bucket of water, this goes a long, long way.
So, don a pair of gloves and clean every surface with bleach that'll tolerate the stuff!
Thing FIVE: Every time you come in contact with your dog (& hey, I have sensitive dogs who must be petted, plus the basics of being fed and let out to run) you have to spritz yourself and your clothes and everything you sit on (car seat) down again. I was using apple cider vinegar and water
until I figured out what that was actually doing.
Then I used alcohol and water, until I discovered that doesn't their eggs. Flea eggs can survive up to SEVEN MONTHS, ya all! Do I want them to come calling in 2020? HA.
Finally found something that at least claims to kill
fleas, larvae & their eggs that's safe to spray on myself:
1 part isopropyl alcohol to 1 part water
with a little Dawn dish soap.
It smells medicine-y and you need to avoid your eyes,
but it's more effective and smells better than vinegar!
Probably other brands of dish soap work as well,
but I'm way past wanting to experiment and every Google search
I've perused claims that DAWN is the brand to go with.
until I figured out what that was actually doing.
Then I used alcohol and water, until I discovered that doesn't their eggs. Flea eggs can survive up to SEVEN MONTHS, ya all! Do I want them to come calling in 2020? HA.
Finally found something that at least claims to kill
fleas, larvae & their eggs that's safe to spray on myself:
with a little Dawn dish soap.
It smells medicine-y and you need to avoid your eyes,
but it's more effective and smells better than vinegar!
Probably other brands of dish soap work as well,
but I'm way past wanting to experiment and every Google search
I've perused claims that DAWN is the brand to go with.
Thing SIX: Borax is grrrrreat for killing fleas and larva (and all kinds of critters).
It's cheap and won't hurt, but rather, it cleans your carpet. Wear gloves,
a mask over your nose and mouth,
plus goggles for your eyes.
Borax is strong stuff. I spread it everywhere and then vacuumed it all up after a couple of days. But, you need salt, I've discovered, to kill the eggs. Ironic since the eggs are the same size, huh? In some areas, I hear, the salt alone will kill 'em all bc they dry them out.
But, I'm posting for those of you who have super resilient bugs, like we do in Indiana.
I'll treat all my floors again this week as suggested on line. First, sprinkle salt everywhere. THEN, sprinkle the Borax. Let them sit there for several hours (I'll let it all stay put for a couple of days again--I'm SERIOUS about this). Vacuum. On wood floors or vinyl, vacuum or sweep then mop.
Thing SEVEN: DO fog the worst areas...
...but not where you eat or sleep. READ THE BOX. There are different kinds. Not all of them will help with fleas. Follow the directions so you don't poison yourself or your pets. I've used foggers in the sunroom, garage, basement, walk-up attic and family room (where the dogs and I usually play). I'll use the fogger for fleas again in some areas. Killed a ton of bugs first go 'round with one kind, but next I want those fleas gone too, any that might have strayed into the attic and basement. I'm only using the fogger for fleas in the sunroom, and I've fogged that area on 2 separate days, as prescribed on the box (with the dogs outside all day). I used only the flea and tick fogger in the family room as also, but not enough ventilation in there to feel comfortable fogging it twice. I didn't allow the fumes to coat the front of the mattress in my sleeper sofa either. I sprayed that with alcohol and water. Now that I know what kills the eggs, I'll spray the mattress again with the added Dawn,
along with all of my furniture.
It's cheap and won't hurt, but rather, it cleans your carpet. Wear gloves,
a mask over your nose and mouth,
plus goggles for your eyes.
Borax is strong stuff. I spread it everywhere and then vacuumed it all up after a couple of days. But, you need salt, I've discovered, to kill the eggs. Ironic since the eggs are the same size, huh? In some areas, I hear, the salt alone will kill 'em all bc they dry them out.
But, I'm posting for those of you who have super resilient bugs, like we do in Indiana.
I'll treat all my floors again this week as suggested on line. First, sprinkle salt everywhere. THEN, sprinkle the Borax. Let them sit there for several hours (I'll let it all stay put for a couple of days again--I'm SERIOUS about this). Vacuum. On wood floors or vinyl, vacuum or sweep then mop.
Thing SEVEN: DO fog the worst areas...
...but not where you eat or sleep. READ THE BOX. There are different kinds. Not all of them will help with fleas. Follow the directions so you don't poison yourself or your pets. I've used foggers in the sunroom, garage, basement, walk-up attic and family room (where the dogs and I usually play). I'll use the fogger for fleas again in some areas. Killed a ton of bugs first go 'round with one kind, but next I want those fleas gone too, any that might have strayed into the attic and basement. I'm only using the fogger for fleas in the sunroom, and I've fogged that area on 2 separate days, as prescribed on the box (with the dogs outside all day). I used only the flea and tick fogger in the family room as also, but not enough ventilation in there to feel comfortable fogging it twice. I didn't allow the fumes to coat the front of the mattress in my sleeper sofa either. I sprayed that with alcohol and water. Now that I know what kills the eggs, I'll spray the mattress again with the added Dawn,
along with all of my furniture.
Thing EIGHT: Treat the yard outside and areas where your dog lies down differently. I sprayed the kennel area when the dogs wouldn't be on that surface again for about 24 hours.
This is good to use indoors and out. I spray around the doors, windows, behind furniture...wherever nothing with a skeleton inside its body (that's welcome in my home) ever goes. Sprayed areas stop being dangerous to bigger life forms within hours after they dry. I usually give it more time than that and thoroughly wipe away the residue where there's any possibility that prolonged skin contact may occur. Never use it on anything that might end up in a mouth.
For outdoor, longer treatment, I sprinkled flea and bug killer granules
around the outside of the dogs' kennel, garage, base of the house...
Do NOT let your dog(s) or kids hang around those areas where the granules are until they've had plenty of time to sink down below the surface of the ground. But, if you want those pests to stop coming in and if, like me, you live in an area surrounded by trees, grass,
squirrels, birds and other adorable flea-carrying critters,
treating the outside of your home thoroughly is a must. Thankfully, the birds and squirrels don't come up close to my house, or anywhere near my dogs' outside kennel,
and those are the places I've treated. Just need to stop the bugs from crossing the threshold to where the pups and I live.
Thing NINE: Coconut oil continues to be a friend
Multiple sources on line indicate that it's good for my dogs. Eaten or applied topically, it's a not only a repellant to fleas, the lauric acid in it kills them. (Do I seem to take a lurid pleasure in killing fleas? Not really. My choice would be the simple cessation of their existence.)
It also softens the dogs' coats and kills yeast!!
They'll be getting more of this!
This is good to use indoors and out. I spray around the doors, windows, behind furniture...wherever nothing with a skeleton inside its body (that's welcome in my home) ever goes. Sprayed areas stop being dangerous to bigger life forms within hours after they dry. I usually give it more time than that and thoroughly wipe away the residue where there's any possibility that prolonged skin contact may occur. Never use it on anything that might end up in a mouth.
For outdoor, longer treatment, I sprinkled flea and bug killer granules
around the outside of the dogs' kennel, garage, base of the house...
Do NOT let your dog(s) or kids hang around those areas where the granules are until they've had plenty of time to sink down below the surface of the ground. But, if you want those pests to stop coming in and if, like me, you live in an area surrounded by trees, grass,
squirrels, birds and other adorable flea-carrying critters,
treating the outside of your home thoroughly is a must. Thankfully, the birds and squirrels don't come up close to my house, or anywhere near my dogs' outside kennel,
and those are the places I've treated. Just need to stop the bugs from crossing the threshold to where the pups and I live.
Thing NINE: Coconut oil continues to be a friend
Multiple sources on line indicate that it's good for my dogs. Eaten or applied topically, it's a not only a repellant to fleas, the lauric acid in it kills them. (Do I seem to take a lurid pleasure in killing fleas? Not really. My choice would be the simple cessation of their existence.)
It also softens the dogs' coats and kills yeast!!
They'll be getting more of this!
Thing TEN:
Thing TEN: Mice aren't nearly as much of a hassle. I awoke to a mouse in my bedroom waste basket at 1 am. Put a cube of this in it and let the mouse go back to feeding. I've put them in a few places. It works. The mice run off to die elsewhere and, I'm sorry, NO, I don't feel sad for the mice. Pets are one thing. Pests are another. AAAAND they carry fleas!!!!
Thing TEN: Mice aren't nearly as much of a hassle. I awoke to a mouse in my bedroom waste basket at 1 am. Put a cube of this in it and let the mouse go back to feeding. I've put them in a few places. It works. The mice run off to die elsewhere and, I'm sorry, NO, I don't feel sad for the mice. Pets are one thing. Pests are another. AAAAND they carry fleas!!!!
Thanks Joanna I've been bug free so far as far as the mouse thing I turn off lights in basement to see light where holes are then fill with spray foam and I keep those lil green bricks in the containers they make for them above rafters in basement I hardly ever see them anymore and thanks for the flea tips
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