It seems our dog brought in some fleas. We live in a 3-story house, and my girlfriend and I mostly sleep in the family room, keeping baby gates up to block the dog and cat from going upstairs. They only have access to the kitchen and basement. I’ve been vacuuming the family room and bathroom regularly, and for weeks, I haven’t seen any fleas or been bitten. We check our socks and feet before heading upstairs and always before entering the baby’s nursery. But, now the dog and cat are scratching and biting a lot! I feel like I’m ahead of the game but could use the best recommendations for non-prescription treatments since we’re tight on money right now. I heard Comfortis is good, but it’s no longer available. Can anyone suggest a good alternative? Also, if we get a professional treatment for the house, is it safe for the baby? We both work full-time, so I’m trying to stay ahead of this as best as I can. Thanks for your help in advance.
Based on my experience, over-the-counter treatments don’t work well, especially if there’s already an infestation. You might end up spending more money on those products than if you just went to the vet for a prescription.
@Marlon
Forgot to mention, we’ve been using the Torro flea traps around the house. We change them every 2 weeks, and one trap has 8 fleas, while the others have about 2-3 each…
Shane said:
@Marlon
Forgot to mention, we’ve been using the Torro flea traps around the house. We change them every 2 weeks, and one trap has 8 fleas, while the others have about 2-3 each…
That might help a little, but if you’ve got a full-on infestation, it’s not enough. Prescription treatments are the most effective, and don’t forget to treat the pets properly. Over-the-counter stuff just isn’t as effective anymore because fleas have built up resistance to them. We went through this with one of our cats, and the over-the-counter treatments didn’t do much. It just made everything harder to manage.
I found a spray called Adam’s, which really worked for me.
Pax said:
I found a spray called Adam’s, which really worked for me.
I saw that in Walmart, they have both a shampoo and house spray. Which one did you use?
Pax said:
I found a spray called Adam’s, which really worked for me.
I saw that in Walmart, they have both a shampoo and house spray. Which one did you use?
I used the carpet spray, and kept the animals in certain areas or covered their spots with old sheets.
@Pax
What exactly did you cover with the old sheets? Also, is this product safe for babies? What’s the wait time after using it?
Shane said:
@Pax
What exactly did you cover with the old sheets? Also, is this product safe for babies? What’s the wait time after using it?
I covered the areas where the animals usually lay down, like their beds and carpets. The old sheets made it easier to clean and swap out. As for the other questions, I recommend checking the instructions for safety and wait times.
When dealing with a bad flea problem, the pills really work. If fleas are deep in the carpet, you might need to get the carpet steam cleaned or use a flea bomb, but that’s a last resort.
Capstar is great for killing fleas instantly and will give your pets some quick relief, but keep in mind that unless you use monthly flea treatments, the fleas will just come back. Capstar only works on the fleas that are already on the animals. You might want to use Frontline for over-the-counter monthly treatment, but for a major infestation, it might not do much. If you’re serious about getting rid of the fleas, I recommend prescription meds from the vet, and doing thorough treatments around the house, including washing all bedding. Look up the flea lifecycle online to understand how long the process can take. I know it’s not fun, but it’s the most effective way to handle it. Don’t forget to give your pets good baths!
Diatomaceous earth is also an amazing product. Just make sure you get the food-grade kind.