QuestionI wanted to post a two-fold question, but after reviewing answers concerning potty training I will accept what I feared. I continue to LOVE her anyway. The other concerning fleas, she has never has this problem before and I simply am scared of chemicals because of her 3lb size. She is never outside, she mostly uses a pee pee pad indoors, but I have bathed her, the bedclothes, her floor bedding and vacuumed daily for approx. 1 week. After 1 week another bath and more fleas. Do you have any other suggestions that I might try.
AnswerJoyce,
I'm afraid that chemicals are your only option if you want to get rid of the fleas. I live in an area where the fleas are usually really bad. As you can imagine having multiple dogs can make getting rid of fleas hard to do. The flea population can grow at an alarming rate when you have several dogs.
In order to stay ahead of the problem we spray our yard with a chemical that you mix with water. You can find these kinds of chemicals at Home Depot or a farm supply store. They are only for using outdoors though.
Your problem is that the house is infested with fleas and no matter how much you wash the bedding and your dog you are not going to be able to get rid of them. What you need to do to completely rid yourself of the fleas is a three prong attack.
1. Go to your vet and purchase enough flea bombs to bomb your whole house. Also purchase some Frontline flea stuff for your dog. Frontline is best because it goes on the back of their neck between the shoulder blades and it spreads onto the skin in a very short period of time. Frontline works with the oils in your dogs skin so do not give her a bath two days before or two days after you apply the Frontline.
When a flea gets on your dog they will jump off and lay eggs in the carpet. When you use frontline it not only kills the adult fleas that bite your dog but it prevents them from laying eggs that will hatch. Frontline is also the best because it stays on your dog even after you have given them a bath or they get wet. Other flea products must be reapplied after bathing. In order to get rid of the flea population you must kill the fleas and the eggs. So, apply the Frontline two days before you bomb the house.
2. After the Frontline has been on your dog for two days you need to bomb the house. Store bought flea control products simply don't work so make sure you purchase them from your vet.
3. Leave all bedding where it is when you bomb the house and then after you bomb wash all bedding immediately. If she sleeps with you this includes your bedding as well.
This should eliminate all the fleas in your house and yard. She may still occasionally get a flea but as long as you are using the Frontline the population will not grow and any fleas that may be around will die after biting her. They also will not be able to lay eggs that will produce more fleas.
Getting rid of a flea infestation is not an easy task, but once you get rid of them it is relatively easy to keep them from coming back. I have been dealing with flea infestations for 25 years and this is the only method that I have found that works. My home is flea free and has been for some time because I use Frontline. Remember, killing the fleas on your dog is not enough. You must kill every flea in your house and then keep the new ones from laying eggs.
