Fleas

"Joy" wrote in message ...

Koala's paperwork says he was treated for fleas. However, since I
brought him home, my ankles are covered with bites. Any suggestions?
I'm tempted to buy two flea collars and wear them as ankle bracelets.

Joy


Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

~~~~~~~
I have not had fleas for many years, but I found Advantage (*not* Advantix,
which is manufactured only for dogs and can be deadly for cats) to be
reliable years ago when I used it. I also used it after adopting Selina and
Nikki (even though I could not see any signs of problems--used it "just in
case"). I made the mistake of using Revolution many years ago, and both
Holly and Duffy had bad reactions. My poor little Duffy jumped straight up
in the air and began to run at full speed around and around the room. He
was running so fast that I could not get to him, and I was afraid that he
would hit his head on the walls or furniture. So, I never used it again.
Above all, do not use OTC flea treatments. There have been many reports of
bad reactions, including death.

Jill's suggestion is good. In addition, I recommend treating the full house
because fleas move around. The mere fact that you have only seen them in
one room does not mean that they have not migrated. Pay special attention
to bedding and soft cushions. My veterinarian told me some years that he
says they have "timed release eggs" because flea eggs can hatch as much as
two year later, even without a host. I also suggest buying a flea collar.
Do *not* use it on a cat. Instead, cut it in small pieces and vacuum it up
after you have vacuumed the house and emptied the bag or canister. The
pieces of flea collar will remain in the vacuum cleaner until the next
cleaning and will kill fleas that may hatch inside the vacuum.

Good luck! Fleas can be very difficult, especially it it get to be a real
infestation. It might also be a good idea to contact the shelter. They may
be willing to help because Koala should have been free of fleas before he
was sent home with you.

MaryL

On 8/12/2014 12:05 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Joy" wrote in message
...
Koala's paperwork says he was treated for fleas. However, since I brought
him home, my ankles are covered with bites. Any suggestions? I'm tempted
to buy two flea collars and wear them as ankle bracelets.

Joy

I use Stronghold. It's a spot-on and it also kills earmites and gets rid of
intestinal worms (not tapeworm). I'd check with the shelter to see if it's
ok to use it since he's allegedly been treated already.
As far as I know Boyfie has never had fleas, I think my house is too cold
during the winter for any to survive anyway ;-) but I use Stronghold every
six months just in case.

I'm not sure if you can get it in the US as I was going to send you a link
but the first page links seem to be Uk suppliers and I didn't have enough
time to search for USA links, sorry. It used to be prescription only.
It's good stuff.
Don't let Koala out of the room he's in until his flea problem is sorted,
otherwise, well you know this, they'll be in your carpets and soft
furnishings.
The shelter seem to have let him be adopted without making sure he has no
ongoing health problems for his new owner. That's quite naughty.

Tweed

Thank you.

--
Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

On 8/12/2014 12:32 PM, MaryL wrote:


"Joy" wrote in message ...

Koala's paperwork says he was treated for fleas. However, since I
brought him home, my ankles are covered with bites. Any suggestions?
I'm tempted to buy two flea collars and wear them as ankle bracelets.

Joy


Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

~~~~~~~
I have not had fleas for many years, but I found Advantage (*not*
Advantix, which is manufactured only for dogs and can be deadly for
cats) to be reliable years ago when I used it. I also used it after
adopting Selina and Nikki (even though I could not see any signs of
problems--used it "just in case"). I made the mistake of using
Revolution many years ago, and both Holly and Duffy had bad reactions.
My poor little Duffy jumped straight up in the air and began to run at
full speed around and around the room. He was running so fast that I
could not get to him, and I was afraid that he would hit his head on the
walls or furniture. So, I never used it again. Above all, do not use
OTC flea treatments. There have been many reports of bad reactions,
including death.

Jill's suggestion is good. In addition, I recommend treating the full
house because fleas move around. The mere fact that you have only seen
them in one room does not mean that they have not migrated. Pay special
attention to bedding and soft cushions. My veterinarian told me some
years that he says they have "timed release eggs" because flea eggs can
hatch as much as two year later, even without a host. I also suggest
buying a flea collar. Do *not* use it on a cat. Instead, cut it in
small pieces and vacuum it up after you have vacuumed the house and
emptied the bag or canister. The pieces of flea collar will remain in
the vacuum cleaner until the next cleaning and will kill fleas that may
hatch inside the vacuum.

Good luck! Fleas can be very difficult, especially it it get to be a
real infestation. It might also be a good idea to contact the shelter.
They may be willing to help because Koala should have been free of fleas
before he was sent home with you.

MaryL


Thank you.

--
Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" wrote in message
m...


Judith Latham wrote:

I like the idea of getting two flea collars for your ankles. I might do
this for work as we have fleas in the building. We know we have because
one of the younger members of staff, Katie, caught one and brought it to
me on her finger to ask what it was. She dropped it on my desk and I
immediately killed it. It was a flea it looked like a flea, jumped like a
flea and crushed like a flea, it was a flea. We have suspected it for a
while as we've been getting a few bites. Now we have proof. We've
reported
it but that was three weeks ago and nothing has been done. Katie still
has
it on the piece of paper in a plastic wallet. she even emailed a copy to
the appropriate person although it just looked like a dot.

If you have fleas in the building, you probably have mice and/or rats, as
well!

Not so.

Judith needs to get the office sprayed. One pregnant flea carried there on
clothes will cause this problem.
I once carried a flea back from Tigger (he always has them) but it jumped
into the basin when I was washing and drowned.
When Boyfie & Tigger go for their yearly check and injections, their fur is
trawled for fleas. Boyfie never has a single one. Tigger does. Whether
it's due to Stronghold, probably, or just because fleas cannot survive my
house temperatures in the winter I don't know.
Having a woodburner, it goes out overnight. I once woke up in winter to
find my flannel (small towel for the face) had fallen into the bath and
frozen to the plughole.

"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
To get management to fumigate the building again (it was done 2
years ago) we have no chance. Although I could mention it to one of the
bosses that she could take fleas home to her little dog. That might give a
motive to get it done, she's not only thinks the world of her dog but is
really house proud.

Judith

The management *have* to do it. It's a health & safety issue if their
employees are bitten by fleas in the workplace.
Ask them nicely to do it, and if they refuse, remind them of the above.
I don't know what line of work you are in, but if members of the public are
not usually in your offices, a member of staff must be bringing them in.
In any case, it's the management's responsibility to get rid of them.

Tweed