Fleas!!!!

I remember seeing that Advantage (it may have been Advantix, not sure) can predispose to gallbladder mucocele. And Frontline does not work on fleas here. So far I've had no issues with Credelio, and they are only on that 4 months of the year. Thanks for the info though, I hope you can find something that will work for Blueberry.
 
I finally spoke to the vet and they do have a spot on treatment I can use on Blueberry…Revolution (not sure if it’s a copy of an American product)…doesn’t have a risk of seizures and while it’s not very effective against ticks it’s very effective against fleas which is what we need.
I asked her how long they need to be on it and she said a minimum of 3 months! She said if I haven’t seen any after 3 months we can stop otherwise we’d need to do it for 6 months! She said the eggs can live for a longggg time! She also said I should fog the house once a month!
I’d better go stock up on the spray!
I’ll continue using the diatomaceous earth on the carpet (I have area rugs on the main floor) and I’ve been giving the dogs apple cider vinegar with their food (thanks for the tip Ann) as it does repel fleas.
I wouldn’t wish this on anyone (except maybe my sister :ROFLMAO:)
 
Most of that is worst case. But better one and done than half way and find out you get a do over.
Very true! It’s just every time I see Finnie scratch I think flea even though he’s on the preventative. I’m vacuuming daily and tomorrow I’m going to Petsmart to see if they have any flea collars for the vacuum (Sandy’s idea…cutting up and putting a piece in the dust bin) as they can live in the vacuum. And then it’s just a matter of constantly keeping it clean and spraying occasionally (I’ll do weekly spraying of baseboards and carpets) and fogging monthly. They had just over a month to get a foothold.
 
I apologize if these have been posted, I haven't had time to read the whole thread.

When I was a kid (some 30-35 years ago) I had a Collie that developed fleas. We gave him some treatment or another from the vet, it almost killed him! Most of his hair fell out and everything :-O Since that experience, I'm always very hesitant to use prescription strength drugs unless I know exactly what I'm doing.

My first dog (Pepper) had fleas, so I gave her garlic pills. I know that was on the dangerous side since they're in the onion family, so it was a gamble either way. But she loved the pills and ate them as treats, and within a few days the fleas were gone!

Later on in life, I developed a sudden and severe allergy to ant bites. I discovered that when I had a few bites and ended up in the hospital! So in an attempt to get rid of ants, I bought a bag of food-grade diatomaceous earth that I've spread around the perimeter of the house.

Since Pepper I've had 2 other dogs and 2 cats, and have yet to see fleas on any of them. And I've only had maybe 3 ticks on them, total. I can't say whether they all left because of the garlic pills that I gave to Pepper or if it was the diatomaceous earth, but those are the only two things I've done that might have repelled them. And I live in the middle of about 1,000 acres of wild woods, so you would think they'd be all over the place!
 
I apologize if these have been posted, I haven't had time to read the whole thread.

When I was a kid (some 30-35 years ago) I had a Collie that developed fleas. We gave him some treatment or another from the vet, it almost killed him! Most of his hair fell out and everything :-O Since that experience, I'm always very hesitant to use prescription strength drugs unless I know exactly what I'm doing.

My first dog (Pepper) had fleas, so I gave her garlic pills. I know that was on the dangerous side since they're in the onion family, so it was a gamble either way. But she loved the pills and ate them as treats, and within a few days the fleas were gone!

Later on in life, I developed a sudden and severe allergy to ant bites. I discovered that when I had a few bites and ended up in the hospital! So in an attempt to get rid of ants, I bought a bag of food-grade diatomaceous earth that I've spread around the perimeter of the house.

Since Pepper I've had 2 other dogs and 2 cats, and have yet to see fleas on any of them. And I've only had maybe 3 ticks on them, total. I can't say whether they all left because of the garlic pills that I gave to Pepper or if it was the diatomaceous earth, but those are the only two things I've done that might have repelled them. And I live in the middle of about 1,000 acres of wild woods, so you would think they'd be all over the place!
I’ve also been using the diatomaceous earth although I am treating them with a flea med from the vet (I’m doing a spot on treatment which has fewer side effects). The diatomaceous earth I’m actually putting in their fur as well as using a neem oil shampoo. Friday is bath day…I find the diatomaceous earth really dries their coat but I haven’t seen a flea since I bathed them and then started using the diatomaceous earth. I’m also using it on the carpet and after letting it sit for awhile I vacuum it up. And daily vacuuming! Pre fleas I’d vacuum 2 x per week…now I see that dust bunny and I think fleas and vacuum lol. I was also told (by Ann) that Apple cider vinegar is a natural flea repellent so I’m also giving them 1 tsp/day with their food…my dogs are on raw and will eat anything lol…they don’t complain about the vinegar!
 
Good point with the vinegar! I tried adding a tiny amount to their water, but all of my animals refused to touch that water :-O

Another variable I'd forgotten is that I began to add turmeric (golden milk, really) to their food around that same time. I'm not sure if that had an impact because flea prevention wasn't the goal, but it could have had an impact without me realizing it.

FWIW, you can also add food grade DE to their food to help get rid of internal parasites! I have never done that, but it's one to keep in the back of your mind in case you ever need it.
 
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