Is anyone having problems with flea products working?

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Peggy and Mickey (GA)

Peggy and Mickey (GA)

Member Since 2010
We are using Advantage II and Frontline on one of 7 cats.
The house/furniture has been treated. All of the cat trees have been treated and the 3 rugs too.
Still have fleas and flea dirt on cats.
I am puzzled.
 
The main thing I understand about fleas is that unless you use a product which kills the eggs, they are just going to keep coming back.

I wouldn't be surprised if some products begin to not work on fleas, that they become immune to them. It's not because you used too much or anything, it's just that over time the use of these flea meds by everyone causes the fleas to become immune to the effects.

A friend of mine had to have her apartment flea bombed years ago. They were so bad they would jump on your legs when you sat on her couch. I'm not sure how that works, but it was her last resort after trying flea powders and other stuff.
 
I'm having flea product issues this year also but it's 'usual' here...it happens every year. One year Frontline works best, other times Advantage then others with Revolution. I'm having good luck this year with the FirstSentry Flea spray available at PetSmart. We've already gone thru 2 outbreaks this year....

GOOD LUCK!
 
You might look into diatomaeous earth (food grade): http://www.care2.com/greenliving/all-around-non-toxic-flea-control.html

My sister has been using it with good success. I think the key is to use a light hand in sprinkling it on carpeting, cats, etc. but really work it into the pile. I got some to try here right before Jeddie's diagnosis, but have not used it because I don't want him to be ingesting it. It is safe, in fact it is added to livestock feed to cut down on bugs in the feed as well as intestinal parasites. Many sites recommend it for human consumption as a replacement for minerals missing from our diet. Not sure I would go that far... but it s non-toxic and won't be creating immunity in the flea population.

Also, if you have rugs and carpets, get them steam cleaned periodically to help kill eggs that can lay dormant for something like two years.

I had fleas as bad as Vicky described in my first apartment because the guy downstairs left his dog chained in the yard all day and he got infested, so then he left the dog sleeping in the hallway all night because he didn't want fleas in his place. My cat used to go out and climb down the tree and come back inside via an open window in the basement and climb the stairs back up and she got infested. Anyway, I had to flea bomb my place to get rid of them. It's a mess because you have to put all your dishes into plastic bags - or wash them all afterwards - because the fumes can get into your cabinets. And you have to vacuum and wash down all flat surfaces of the residue. But it does work. They say you have to be out of your home for 6 hours and then it is OK for you and your pets to enter, but I would err on the side of caution and do the cleaning. And, of course, the animals all need to be treated at the same time with spray or something.

More and more I am wanting to go with natural and non toxic products. Even steam cleaning carpet with plain water will get them pretty clean and is fine as a flea treatment.
 
They are just terrible the past two years with us. Used frontline for years with no problem. Last yr noticed the frontline not working so well with cats. This year too! So switched to AdvantageII. It finally has started working. Still have some fleas and ticks, but not as bad. Mine go in and out during the day so will always have them. The vets in this area have said that the frontline doesn't work anymore. Either the fleas are immune to it. Or they have changed the strength of the product. Interesting though, my dog still is on frontline and is doing good with it. No fleas or ticks and she is also outdoor. Weird huh.

I posted the same question in health a couple weeks ago. Got some good responses. Might want to look it up.

lori
 
Earlier this year my two were on Frontline Plus, and it was failing. Before I moved (less than a mile), Mullet was an in/out cat, while Bob was always indoors. No problem with fleas. This house came with fleas apparently. Here, I live right on the road, so Mullet no longer goes out. They do have access to a screened porch, so they can still come into contact with fleas. But a month and a half ago, it got unbearable. I had to board them overnight, bomb the house and spray around the porch. At the vet, they were given Capstar (which works amazingly but only kills adult fleas). Also treated with Revolution for the first time, and I am very pleased with the results so far. The tech said that many customers lately have switched from Frontline + because it wasn't working as well. Maybe it's a "local" thing, where they become immune to one product so you have to switch?
Carl
 
We've got whole areas around here that are immune to Frontline and have been for the past two years.
Currently i am using Advantage with Sneakers (who doesn't go out frequently but does go out).
 
Funny thing my cats are indoors only. I only have a 6x9 rug in living room and 2 runners one in the hallway and one in a bedroom. I have frontline spray it's for animals but I use it on my furniture and cat trees. I might have to bomb the house. Hummm, what to do with 7 cats while I do this....vet visit?

They aren't jumping on my legs but I do get the occasional flea on my arms from the couch. Once I had one in my hair, totally freaked me out! Makes you want to throw the furniture out. :lol:
And I flea comb the cats, and am always pulling 10-15 fleas off of them. Poor Thomas is allergic to fleas he gets scabby and has to get a pred shot every 4-5 months.
I was using advantage, then switched to frontline and accidentally the petmeds people sent me advantage 2 .
carl, I didn't have a problem with fleas until I moved 4 yrs ago, guess my house came with fleas too! diatomaeous earth sounds good too, and I do have a steam cleaner..guess I will get on it when I get a day off soon.
I also heard that 20 mule team borax works for fleas. It either suffocates them or slices them in half. Not sure though.
Thanks everyone!~!
 
Peggy,
What I learned from the vet tech I talked to is this - the eggs can lie dormant for a long time, and it's hard to get them all from the furniture and carpets. She said I should bomb the house within two months again. And recommended I put another dose of Revolution on the cats in 3 weeks instead of waiting a whole month. She told me that before I bomb again, to open all the windows and vacuum twice. According to her, the flea eggs can be "activated to hatch" by humidity and by vibration. So I want it humid and the vacuum will serve for vibration. The bombs can kill eggs, but it's more likely to work on the flea babies and adults. I figure it's worth a try, because I don't want to be back to square one. I had to board my two overnight so I'd have plenty of time to bomb and clean up before they were exposed to the after effects. This next time, I'll probably spray around the yard one day, then put them out on the porch and let them whine about it while the house is full of fog the next day. Overnighting is expensive! Plus I don't imagine it's much fun to sit in a cage at the vet all night when there's no medical reason for being there. All that stress can't be much fun.

Carl
 
Sheila & Beau & Jeddie said:
You might look into diatomaeous earth (food grade): http://www.care2.com/greenliving/all-around-non-toxic-flea-control.html
Click to expand...
I live in Florida, we have rugs in our house, we have 6 pets that go inside and outside and we never have flea problems.
I use DE. I started by adding it to my geese food after reading it would eliminate the need for harsh chemical de-wormers. The particles are described as being like "shards of glass", yet since they're microscopic, they don't affect our systems, they're just too tiny. But for a worm or flea for that....the "glass" is digested and walla....no more fleas or worms! . Since then, I've added it to all of my dog's and cat's food and I also sprinkle it on any rugs we have. I use Comfortis for the dogs and Revolution for the cats (I buy the dog size vial and use a syringe to dose the correct amount for the cats-- the potency/strength is exactly the same and it's MUCH less expensive that way).
 
Thanks Carl and Jessica.
What is the dosage/measurements you use for flea meds for cats? Say over 9lbs and under 9lbs. That is a great Idea. I am spending over 100$ monthly on flea products.
I like the sound of DE too.
 
Peggy,
I use the cat specific ones, so I'll let Jessica tell you how she divides the dog version for the correct amount. The box for the cat ones says "For cats 5.1-15 lbs in weight, and at least 8 weeks of age", and the dose per applicator is .75ml. When I bought them last month, they had them on sale (buy 6 get 2 free) so I was able to at least save some money on them.

Carl
 
Peggy,

I buy food grade DE (very important to buy food grade if you don't buy one labeled for pets - this is an absolute must :shock: :shock: ). I buy a 50lb bag for about $15.00 + shipping - and it lasts me for 2+ years (that's using it for dogs, cats, geese, and inside rugs).

If you search "diatomaceous earth" + "pet food" on Google, you'll find all sorts of information on DE, how it's used, why it works, etc. I think it would make sense to do that so you feel comfortable with the theory and uses. Here is the dosing schedule I use :

Daily recommended food grade diatomaceous earth feeding rates:
Kittens - 1/2 teaspoon
Cats - 1 teaspoon
Puppies - 1/2 to 1 tsp.
Dogs under 35 lbs. - 1 teaspoon
Dogs over 35 lbs. - 1 tablespoon
Dogs over 100 lbs. - 2 tablespoons
Cattle, Dairy Cows, & Hogs - 2% of dry feed ration
Chickens/Gamebirds - 5% in feed
Goats, Sheep, Alpacas, & Llamas - 2% in grain
Horses - 1/2 to 1 cup in daily ration
Zoo animals - 2% in daily feed
*Humans - 1 heaping tablespoon daily

PS - I'm not sure why....but I always find myself looking like the "mad baker" once I'm done mixing DE!
accidentally-dropped-flour-on-my-cat_thumb.jpg
 
Jessica, have you used it ON the cats - sprinkled in their fur? I think my sister has done that, but not sure.

Do you take it? The websites make is sound like a miracle cure for all that ails us - not sure what to believe in terms of actually eating it. confused_cat
 
Sheila & Beau & Jeddie said:
Jessica, have you used it ON the cats - sprinkled in their fur? I think my sister has done that, but not sure.

Do you take it? The websites make is sound like a miracle cure for all that ails us - not sure what to believe in terms of actually eating it. confused_cat
Click to expand...

I don't eat it myself....not because I wouldn't, but more so just because I'm probably the worst patient out there...oh the irony.

But I certainly do feed it to my animals and put it on my rugs/furniture - I can't be sure it's the DE, but I really don't have any flea issues and I we have been worm free with our livestock for years. It makes perfect sense that you could put it directly on the animal.
 
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