[LA Bliss]

I live in Mid-levels and have a small dog. He's currently on Frontline for flea control & I make sure he gets it every month on time.

But everytime we return from a walk, I always find at least a few fleas on him. So I end up either giving him a bath or having to sit there & pluck the fleas off him. (Just thinking about it makes me shiver!)

Being that he sleeps with us on the bed, it's becoming a big problem. So much so, that now I'm reluctant to take him for walks, which sucks for my dog.

Do I just need to use a stronger flea medication? What brands do you use for your dogs? Are there any special shampoos or methods I can use to keep the fleas away?

Thanks in advance for your help! This post just got me really itchy. =)

[XI_YAN]

frontline and similar products do not prevent fleas from getting on your dog. It works systemically to kill the fleas when they bite the dog. I'd recommend you get a bottle of frontline spray to give your dog a quick spray after a walk to kill any nasties that found their way onto him. Or chat to your vet.

[iden]

Originally Posted by LA Bliss

I live in Mid-levels and have a small dog. He's currently on Frontline for flea control & I make sure he gets it every month on time.

But everytime we return from a walk, I always find at least a few fleas on him. So I end up either giving him a bath or having to sit there & pluck the fleas off him. (Just thinking about it makes me shiver!)

Being that he sleeps with us on the bed, it's becoming a big problem. So much so, that now I'm reluctant to take him for walks, which sucks for my dog.

Do I just need to use a stronger flea medication? What brands do you use for your dogs? Are there any special shampoos or methods I can use to keep the fleas away?

Thanks in advance for your help! This post just got me really itchy. =)

I'm feel your pain... My dog is also currently on Frontline, every coupla mths just to keep things in check. I use Johnson's Dog Flea Shampoo (standard stuff), which seems to have worked somewhat... But then again, I don't always look sooo closely after each & every walk like you!

Re: Walks & flea merry-go-rounds
Definitely not easy trying to keep me dog away from springy grass & messy shrubery other hairy creatures leave traces in, but I try mostly concrete & lanes, & all of a sudden quickly jogging past obvious culprit spots... so she's no real time to linger & pick up unwanted passengers along zee way. She's sometimes whines in sulky disappointment tho'

But dogs will be dogs, loving the "great outdoors" & all that... Completely OBLIVIOUS to our angst.

[LA Bliss]

Thank you, Xi_Yan, for your advice. I'll definitely pick up a bottle of the Frontline spray. Never knew they had such a thing!

Thank you, Iden. I'm also definitely picking up a bottle of the flea shampoo. By the way, what are the "obvious culprit spots" as you mentioned so that I can sprint past it during my walks?

[Skyhook]

Its been awhile since we had a dog, but on the only occasion that it did get fleas we used a proper dusting powder. It looks like talc, but applicate it all over the dog, being mindful that its poisonous not to get it in the dogs eyes or mouth.

If you have an infestation of fleas like whats been explained, I am pretty certain your vet will recommend that method.

Also, don't forget to dose the bedding where your dog sleeps, also, it might be a good idea to get a fumigator bomb from the super market and smoke bomb your apartment just to be doubly sure you have killed any fleas that might decide to breed/nest in your home.

[sandyduncan]

ok. this MIGHT be an old wives tale but it works for me!!! Fresh garlic in the dogs food. I grew up in sydney where fleas are a problem. Our dog always had crushed garlic in its food and we only got the occassional flea. i still recommend "frontline" or "advantage" but try the natural alternative as well.

[htadothk]

Or you could try a natural alternative :

Azmira Organic Neem Spray

[htadothk]

If you want a natural alternative try Azmira's Organic Neem Spray.

[VetinHK]

Hello LA Bliss,

just a few more things worth mentioning...

though it's not on the label, in my experience frontline should not be used on any pet that has been washed either 4 days before putting it on, or abour 3-4 days after it. If the pet has inflamed skin, you may need to use the frontline more regularly, say every 2-3 weeks...

frontline does not kill fleas instantly. they will jump on your dog and live there for anything from 2-12 hours before they die off... so after you go for a walk you're bound to pick some up. but using frontlie will reduce the number of fleas, and it will will them given time.

fleas will lay eggs, 50-100 eggs per flea per day. these are in your carpet and bedding. however if you clean these regularly, and use frontline or advantage, you will have maximum impact on the flea population.

consider Capstar tablets when you come home from a walk. I am not sure how often you can use them, as I have not used them for ages, but they will kill fleas picked up from a walk within 30min to 1 hr of giving the tablet.

as stated before, flea bombs or other environmental control can help, but in your case, the fleas are brought in during a walk. generally fleas and flea larvae etc jump onto your dog, have a feed, then jump off to pupate/moult or lay eggs etc... once they have been on your dog for a while the frontline or advantage will kill them, so effectively it atacks all life cycle stages.

avoid powders and cheap sprays. some of the chemicals are harmfull. others, like permethirins/pyrethrins (which are toxic to cats) are great when initially put on, but over time they fall off the skin, or become inactive, and are not at high enough concentrations to be effective. also some fleas can resist these poisons...

consider changing where you walk, such that you dont walk on or near grass/gardens that other dogs have been on, or where stray cats live, as these areas are heavily infested with fleas. if you cant avoid this, just be rigorous with frontline/advantage and capstar, i guess!!

hope this helps,

cheers...

vet in HK