Need HELP Re: Fleas

tonyheaney

we have a Fea Issue and we have used all kinds of sprays, nontoxic dust everything. My kids are bitten all over and are now walking around like Mummys with amount of plasters covering where they have scratched. Doctor gave cream and its not working and a pest control estimating a charge of €250

we need help anyone

Chuchote

Vet will give you a spot-on treatment that enters the dog/s' bloodstream and stays for three months. That will stop the fleas from reproducing. It'll also deal with any worm problems.
Hoover every day for the next fortnight, with special attention around the edge of the walls, and wash wooden floors well with washing soda.
Check if you might have mice that are bringing fleas in.

tonyheaney

Chuchote wrote: »

Vet will give you a spot-on treatment that enters the dog/s' bloodstream and stays for three months. That will stop the fleas from reproducing. It'll also deal with any worm problems.
Hoover every day for the next fortnight, with special attention around the edge of the walls, and wash wooden floors well with washing soda.
Check if you might have mice that are bringing fleas in.

we had a cat (Not a dog) and he has been out doors for the past month now with no access to the house.

we treated the house with the dust powered stuff and the spray, used a candle and warm soapy water. still the kids are destroyed

Johngoose

tonyheaney wrote: »

we have a Fea Issue and we have used all kinds of sprays, nontoxic dust everything. My kids are bitten all over and are now walking around like Mummys with amount of plasters covering where they have scratched. Doctor gave cream and its not working and a pest control estimating a charge of €250

we need help anyone

You need to treat pets and get them out of the house.We had a similar issue before with fleas.We bought a few cans of flea killing spray and sprayed them all over the carpets (fleas can live in carpets). The spray does stink so maybe have a disposable face mask. Also turn off the heating and leave the Windows open,the cold is the flea's enemy.Was all bed sheets that's may have eggs,etc. It is hell on earth and I do fell sorry for you.I wouldn't spend €250 on experts though.

Johngoose

Johngoose wrote: »

You need to treat pets and get them out of the house.We had a similar issue before with fleas.We bought a few cans of flea killing spray and sprayed them all over the carpets (fleas can live in carpets). The spray does stink so maybe have a disposable face mask. Also turn off the heating and leave the Windows open,the cold is the flea's enemy.Was all bed sheets that's may have eggs,etc. It is hell on earth and I do fell sorry for you.I wouldn't spend €250 on experts though.

We bought the sprays in Tesco

Chuchote

Hmm. Sounds as if the house is infested all right. I'd be inclined to bring your cat to the vet anyway for spot-on treatment in case the kids are playing with him outside. And maybe set some mousetraps – these are good https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rentokil-Advanced-Mouse-Trap-Pack/dp/B000T5N0JE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471787202&sr=8-1&keywords=rentokil+mouse+trap

Something's bringing them into the house, probably mice under the floorboards. Is the spray you're using Skoosh? Works pretty well.

Do you know what room the fleas are mainly in? When are the kids getting bitten – in bed? (You'll see the blood spots left by biting fleas on the sheets.) You may have to take the mattresses out and treat them, if so.

looksee

We found that the (expensive) spray from the vet was way more successful than any of the cheaper sprays. Also the fleas tend to bite fairly near to where they are (this is just personal experience) so if they are in the carpets you will get bitten round the ankles, if they are in beds you can be bitten all over.

When the children (and yourself) get up, pull the bed covers back quite quickly, and look to see are there any fleas. There is a theory about catching them by slamming a bar of damp soap down on them but you need to be very fast! Just keep washing bedding and clothing, hoovering everywhere especially places where the pet goes/ tended to sleep. Treat the cat with the anti flea drops from the vet - put on the back of the neck. The supermarket stuff is just not good enough.

tonyheaney

Chuchote wrote: »

Hmm. Sounds as if the house is infested all right. I'd be inclined to bring your cat to the vet anyway for spot-on treatment in case the kids are playing with him outside. And maybe set some mousetraps – these are good https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rentokil-Advanced-Mouse-Trap-Pack/dp/B000T5N0JE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471787202&sr=8-1&keywords=rentokil+mouse+trap

Something's bringing them into the house, probably mice under the floorboards. Is the spray you're using Skoosh? Works pretty well.

Do you know what room the fleas are mainly in? When are the kids getting bitten – in bed? (You'll see the blood spots left by biting fleas on the sheets.) You may have to take the mattresses out and treat them, if so.

Definitely the kids bedrooms and the bathroom. My wife was standing in the bathroom just after her shower and got bit. Forget the blood spots on the bed the Kids are covered head to toe in bites and have scratched them they are bleeding. I am uaffected they dont bite me



Diatom (For Fleas) http://www.kentwoolgrowers.co.uk/image/cache/data/biolink-diatom-powder-2kg-900x900.jpg

and Johnson's Household Flea Spray

http://media.petsathome.com/wcsstore/pah-cas01//300/3483PL.jpg

Rancid

Indorex spray from the vet for furniture and carpets, follow the instructions on the tin and it will clear them.
Hoover diligently a couple of times a day.
Sounds like a lot of work but persevere and you'll get rid of them.
The spot-on from the vet works well and it seems to make any residual fleas in the house a bit slow and dopey.

tonyheaney

looksee wrote: »

We found that the (expensive) spray from the vet was way more successful than any of the cheaper sprays. Also the fleas tend to bite fairly near to where they are (this is just personal experience) so if they are in the carpets you will get bitten round the ankles, if they are in beds you can be bitten all over.

When the children (and yourself) get up, pull the bed covers back quite quickly, and look to see are there any fleas. There is a theory about catching them by slamming a bar of damp soap down on them but you need to be very fast! Just keep washing bedding and clothing, hoovering everywhere especially places where the pet goes/ tended to sleep. Treat the cat with the anti flea drops from the vet - put on the back of the neck. The supermarket stuff is just not good enough.

The Cat is no longer in the house and has been outside for the past month.

My wifes ankles are bit heavily and seem to follow a line pattern

My son Jack is bit all over and is on the lower bunk bed

I quarantined the bedroom for a week and 1. Sprayed the room with the dust power Then 2. Sprayed the aerosol spray every day, 3. We washed all the bed clothes, and for the week kept the door closed and window open day and night.

As soon as the kids returned the continued to be bitten.

No animals are bringing them into the house and there are no mice in the house,

my3cents

Any long grass nearby that the kids play in?

tonyheaney

yes about 3 feet from the main french doors, the wife put all the bedding out there last week when the sun was strong

my3cents

So get the grass cut and keep the kids and the bedding away from the long grass.

Where do you think the feas come from that get on cats an dogs? You are cutting out the middle man (dog) and I guess the kids are bringing them in. Fleas in the grass can detect the warmth of an animal and make a jump for it, in this case the animal is human.

Wesser

I would just get the professional
Out to do a proper job to be honest. You have probably spent 250 e already between sprays, washing powder doctors fees and headache
Pills.

Applying a cream to the children directly will not solve the root problem. Treat the root problem by getting a professional
In to spray the house and get the cat properly treated by a vet.

DBB

Unless you buy the flea spray from the vet, you're wasting your time op. Several people here have already advised this. The stuff from the supermarket will not do the job. The vet-bought household spray actually smells quite nice. RIP was the brand I used with success when my new-build house was infested before I moved in. It's not cheap, but it works.
All bedding removed and hot-washed, all mattresses sprayed with the vet-bought household flea spray. All rugs and carpets, all crevices, under skirting, around bed legs, spray everywhere... and hoover every day.

tonyheaney

DBB wrote: »

Unless you buy the flea spray from the vet, you're wasting your time op. Several people here have already advised this. The stuff from the supermarket will not do the job. The vet-bought household spray actually smells quite nice. RIP was the brand I used with success when my new-build house was infested before I moved in. It's not cheap, but it works.
All bedding removed and hot-washed, all mattresses sprayed with the vet-bought household flea spray. All rugs and carpets, all crevices, under skirting, around bed legs, spray everywhere... and hoover every day.

We bought nothing from the supermarket. All stuff we bought was from 2 different vet and pet stores.

hovering now (Again) like a mad man

DBB

tonyheaney wrote: »

We bought nothing from the supermarket. All stuff we bought was from 2 different vet and pet stores.

hovering now (Again) like a mad man

Sorry op, I got you mixed up with another poster who said they'd bought the spray in Tesco
What was the brand you bought?
I wonder too *might* you need to stick a flea collar into your hoover bag/dust compartment? I know there may be concerns about the fumes being blown out of the hoover (though pets wear the collars around the house anyway so I can't see that this is an issue), but is it possible that you're inadvertently storing viable eggs in the hoover, which are continuing the life cycle?
No doubt about it though... You're missing something, as you're on successive generations of fleas since your problem first appeared. Whether you missed some during spraying, or missed out on some bedding, or the hoover is storing them for you... Maybe start from scratch again (pardon the pun) with that RIP spray from the vet. I don't know how quickly they can build up resistance to insecticide products... Hopefully not yet.

my3cents

Some the the chemicals used to treat fleas deteriorate in storage so even getting them from the vets is no guarantee they will work.

Chuchote

Also, remember that hoovering will cause eggs to hatch, so after hoovering put down some more Skoosh or whatever you're using, especially under beds and around the edges of walls.

janmaree

I had them in my bedroom a couple of years ago and I did everything advised here plus a homemade flea trap. Everyone laughed........but it works and how. All you need is a shallowish dish with warm soapy water, (I used a pasta bowl and Fairy liquid) and a small lamp, like a bedside lamp. I had one that could bend over like a crane but anything small will do. The heat from the lamp attracts them, they jump in the soapy water and they drown. They can get out of plain water but the soapy mixture affects the waxy coating on their bodies and they drown. Experts in the family laughed long and hard at my antics but it worked. I was counting corpses for a few days but the numbers fell and then there were no more. I used Indorex on the mattress and duvet, washed sheets really frequently and hoovered well. I even sprayed Indorex into the drum of the Dyson so that they got a dose one way or the other and emptied the drum each time outside and straight into the bin. It can be done but it's tough and I sympathise with all the scratching in your house, some of us are tasty and others not so much. Personally, I dab vinegar on any kind of bite I get but I did read an interesting snippet on Boards (camping or something outdoors) where a hot teaspoon, say after stirring the cuppa, applied to the bite stops the itch fairly quickly. I haven't tried that one yet because thankfully we haven't had a flea problem yet this year but we will, I will and I will let you know.

Rancid

Yes, hoovering and walking causes enough vibrations for the fleas to emerge from their cocoons ready to bite. So hoovering twice in 10 mins makes some sense!
Years ago I came across some advice to put a cut up flea collar in the dust bag of the hoover, probably a good idea.
Another suggestion is to wear long white socks while hoovering, you'll easily see any that jump on for a quick bite.

looksee

I think you may have over emphasised quarantining one room - we kept using all our rooms but washed bedding pretty much every day and kept hoovering. There is no point spraying every day - if you read the tin you will see you are trying to interrupt the life cycle. I cannot remember all the details but I think you spray then spray again a few days later to deal with the eggs. You need to wash clothing as well, have the children wear washable stuff so they can be hot washed.

Johngoose

The fleas will die eventually without the host (cat in your case).They can't live too long off human blood.

Johngoose

DBB wrote: »

Sorry op, I got you mixed up with another poster who said they'd bought the spray in Tesco
What was the brand you bought?
I wonder too *might* you need to stick a flea collar into your hoover bag/dust compartment? I know there may be concerns about the fumes being blown out of the hoover (though pets wear the collars around the house anyway so I can't see that this is an issue), but is it possible that you're inadvertently storing viable eggs in the hoover, which are continuing the life cycle?
No doubt about it though... You're missing something, as you're on successive generations of fleas since your problem first appeared. Whether you missed some during spraying, or missed out on some bedding, or the hoover is storing them for you... Maybe start from scratch again (pardon the pun) with that RIP spray from the vet. I don't know how quickly they can build up resistance to insecticide products... Hopefully not yet.

Hi I can't remember the name of the spray to be truthful,it wasn't cheap and it was in the pet food section of my local Tesco.I do remember reading that you should block off the end of your Hoover with tissue to prevent them coming out of the nozel later.

DBB

janmaree wrote: »

All you need is a shallowish dish with warm soapy water, (I used a pasta bowl and Fairy liquid) and a small lamp, like a bedside lamp. I had one that could bend over like a crane but anything small will do. The heat from the lamp attracts them, they jump in the soapy water and they drown. They can get out of plain water but the soapy mixture affects the waxy coating on their bodies and they drown.

Love this idea
Flea control without the harmful chemicals... Excellent!

my3cents

DBB wrote: »

Love this idea
Flea control without the harmful chemicals... Excellent!

You can buy a comercial version that uses a light bulb and a sticky pad
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zero-In-Flea-Killer-ZER020/dp/B001R4PA12/ .

Chuchote

my3cents wrote: »

You can buy a comercial version that uses a light bulb and a sticky pad
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zero-In-Flea-Killer-ZER020/dp/B001R4PA12/ .

I did. Didn't catch a single flea, though my ankles and shins were red with hives at the time.

dusty207

Nothing to do with getting rid of the fleas but a few things that might give your kids some respite from the itching are calamine lotion, aloe vera gel or over the counter anti histamine tablets.

New Home

A steam cleaner will also help.

The Bug

I would suggest buying one of those flea collars you get for cats in the supermarket. Don't put it on the cat though because they can be dangerous. Cut it up and hoover it up, it'll kill any fleas you hoover up from the floor, couches etc.

Chuchote

Anthisan is good for suppressing itchiness. Dunno if you can use it on kids, ask the chemist.

If you're putting flea collars or other insecticide in the hoover, ditch it out regularly, and when the fleas are gone get rid of the last one; not good for humans either.

kathleen37

I hate to say it, but could it be bed buds and not fleas?

my3cents

kathleen37 wrote: »

I hate to say it, but could it be bed buds and not fleas?

What time of year do they flower

tonyheaney

kathleen37 wrote: »

I hate to say it, but could it be bed buds and not fleas?

No definitely fleas did a google search and compared to a HQ photo I took

seagull

Strange as it sounds, you can sometimes control the fleas better by allowing your animals in, as long as you're treating them. The fleas bite the pet, take up the chemicals, and then die.

Fleas can keep going quite well on human blood, but are unlikely to reproduce, so if there are no new fleas being brought in, the population should start dropping.

taytobreath

Im sorry I have nothing useful to say.

but i always get itchy whenever i read these type threads

dusty207

taytobreath wrote: »

Im sorry I have nothing useful to say.

but i always get itchy whenever i read these type threads

You better flee so

r93kaey5p2izun

Having dealt with massive infestations a couple of times I can only say that you just have to be persistent. I have used lots of sprays but the only one I find successful is Indorex. Personally I have resorted to doing the beds and mattresses despite it saying not to.

Definitely put a flea collar in the hoover and spray inside it too. I would allow the pet in as the fleas are attracted to them and will die after biting them - I find this works quicker. For treating pets I find Advocate most successful but if you can actually see them running on or jumping off the animal then a direct blast with Frontline gives near immediate results.


I have also resorted to using salt once - you absolutely cover the carpet in a thick layer and leave for a day or two before hoovering. I can't say this worked for certain as it was in conjunction with the chemicals but it seemed to finally end one dreadful infestation of a carpet. And I was willing to give anything a chance!

Don't forget to treat for tapeworm after as it's carried by the flea. I now spray the whole house with Indorex in March and have had no trouble since despite animals definitely picking up fleas a couple of times.

tonyheaney

Casen Crooked Fog wrote: »

Having dealt with massive infestations a couple of times I can only say that you just have to be persistent. I have used lots of sprays but the only one I find successful is Indorex. Personally I have resorted to doing the beds and mattresses despite it saying not to.

Definitely put a flea collar in the hoover and spray inside it too. I would allow the pet in as the fleas are attracted to them and will die after biting them - I find this works quicker. For treating pets I find Advocate most successful but if you can actually see them running on or jumping off the animal then a direct blast with Frontline gives near immediate results.


I have also resorted to using salt once - you absolutely cover the carpet in a thick layer and leave for a day or two before hoovering. I can't say this worked for certain as it was in conjunction with the chemicals but it seemed to finally end one dreadful infestation of a carpet. And I was willing to give anything a chance!

Don't forget to treat for tapeworm after as it's carried by the flea. I now spray the whole house with Indorex in March and have had no trouble since despite animals definitely picking up fleas a couple of times.

1. Can you get Indorex In Ireland?

2. How long before beds are safe to sleep in?

3. I would allow the pet in as the fleas are attracted to them and will die after biting them - I find this works quicker. was that a typo? Did you say being the cat back into the house?

4. Are fleas seasonal?

Rancid

Indorex is definitely available in Ireland. Only sold in vets, as far as I know.
I've used it more than once and if you follow the instructions on the tin it's extremely effective.
Perseverance is the key, you'll always find the few fleas, albeit dopey ones, for a while after so persistent hoovering is essential.

After treating the cats with Advantage or Advocate it seems that keeping them IN the house is recommended.

Chuchote

tonyheaney wrote: »

Did you say being the cat back into the house?

Yup. If you get the cat treated (by the vet, they'll know which of the spot-on treatments is currently working best), she'll act as a little walking flea lure, and they'll gobble up her delicious poisoned blood. Kerpowie fleas!

And yes, fleas are a seasonal thing. They tend to arrive in my house either in high summer or in the mouse breeding season when mice will move indoors to have their litters.

r93kaey5p2izun

tonyheaney wrote: »

1. Can you get Indorex In Ireland?

2. How long before beds are safe to sleep in?

3. I would allow the pet in as the fleas are attracted to them and will die after biting them - I find this works quicker. was that a typo? Did you say being the cat back into the house?

4. Are fleas seasonal?

Indorex is available from lots of vets in Ireland.

I'm no expert on the chemical safety so I couldn't say when/if the beds are safe after. I spray the room and don't go back in for around 6-8 hours later then slept in the bed that night. But there are no children in the house.

Yes bring the cat back in. Once treated it is a walking flea trap. The fleas will be attracted to the cat and die after biting him.

Fleas are more prevalent in summer but they can appear at any time and with central heating they can be active all year indoors.

Queenalocin

Have you treated any of the cuddly toys around the house? They need to be washed in the hottest wash possible, and tumbled dried, failing that, stick them in the freezer for 24/48 hours.

my3cents

tonyheaney wrote: »

1. Can you get Indorex In Ireland?

2. How long before beds are safe to sleep in?

3. I would allow the pet in as the fleas are attracted to them and will die after biting them - I find this works quicker. was that a typo? Did you say being the cat back into the house?

4. Are fleas seasonal?

Indorex - http://www.virbac.co.uk/files/live/sites/gb-public/files/Virbac%20UK/Indorex/Indorex%20Pet%20Owner%20Leaflet.pdf

If you can't find it anywhere else Amazon have it https://www.amazon.co.uk/Virbac-INDOREX-Indorex-Flea-Spray/dp/B00GKHI2PW/ .

New Home

In case anyone wanted to know, Indorex's active ingredients are Permethrin, Pyripoxyfen and Piperonyl Butoxide.

mada82

Suffering with a flea problem since last week myself. Brought the cats to get frontline combo and got pest control in. They will make another two visits to spray the house.

Has anyone any experience of frontline combo? How do I know it's working on the cats.

They were treated on Saturday and I brushed them tonight and saw tiny black and white dots on their fur on the brush. Although no live insects.

Still the odd flea jumping on me in the odd room though.

A really expensive a tough lesson learned here.

aonb

Ive found ADVOCATE and FRONTLINE very effective. My cat is in/out all day, so I am religious in keeping her treated on schedule. As long as she is treated I dont and never have treated the dogs. The important thing is though that you continue the treatments during the season - I keep a date in the diary for the next treatment - its so expensive, its worth keep it going on schedule

tonyheaney

Rancid wrote: »

Indorex is definitely available in Ireland. Only sold in vets, as far as I know.
I've used it more than once and if you follow the instructions on the tin it's extremely effective.
Perseverance is the key, you'll always find the few fleas, albeit dopey ones, for a while after so persistent hoovering is essential.

After treating the cats with Advantage or Advocate it seems that keeping them IN the house is recommended.

how much to treat/poison her blood by a vet?

tonyheaney

New Home wrote: »

In case anyone wanted to know, Indorex's active ingredients are Permethrin, Pyripoxyfen and Piperonyl Butoxide.

are they dangerous to kids and bedding and hamsters?

mada82

tonyheaney wrote: »

how much to treat/poison her blood by a vet?

I got 3 cats done with frontline combo for just under 30 euro.

New Home

Permethrin, as far as I can remember, is derived from the pyrethrum plant or is the synthetic version of it, I would have no idea about the other two, I just thought that people could compare them to the active ingredients of other insecticides they might already have in the house (I don't know about their concentration either). I'm wouldn't know what effect they might have on smaller animals or whether they are absorbed through the human skin, but they are poisons after all. Perhaps if you rang a vet they should be able to tell you.