Fleas!!!!!! Help me!!!!!

[crow_noir]

Yeah, when we first rescued King almost his whole back half was bald except for his legs and end of his tail. Not only was it bald, but it was pretty much one big oozing scab. He too had a severe flea allergy. I'm against chemicals, but going natural just wasn't worth the risk for this poor baby. We had had him for about three years. It was getting into the late spring (here in MI) and we hadn't got around to putting the Frontline P on him yet. He started having episodes of itching like crazy and going bald again. One flea bite is all it takes.

Those scabs can't heal if the itching continues. That's why the vet gave him a cortisone shot. So that he could have immediate relief for a few days. It was plenty of time to get the itching to go away. (We had to give him two the first time i got him.)

I highly recommend trying it over steroids for now. Steroids are great for food or seasonal allergies.

It did take a few months for the scab to entirely heal. If Boone scabs up please do your best NOT to pick at it. It will scab over a few times. And yes, the hair should grow back in fully with quality feed. (I recommend raw eggs and fish oil too if you can spare it.)

(If you haven't noticed <---- King was a GSD too. That's why i thought his case might be relevant for you.)

Ok, yeah it was Frontline that I used, not Frontline Plus. I will have to start saving my money. I'm just going to stop buying all the crap that we've been buying because it's just a total waste of money and I hate to be around all the chemicals.

This is great advice, everyone. I really appreciate it. I'm going to first treat the dogs, especially Boone, who is just so miserable. He USED to be such a gorgeous GSD, and now I'm embarresed to walk him because I feel like a terrible owner since he has so much hair loss and bald spots and hot spots

I thank you all for such good advice. I never thought I'd ever have this kind of problem You are all wonderful!!!!!

[Hellow]

Ok, i am seeing a problem. What you need to do is take all of your carpeted or furry stuff out of your house, wash it. Before you bring it back in, get down on your knees and check the area where the wall and the floor meet for ANY cracks
which could allow a flee into or out of the wall. If you find one, get some flea chemical and spray the entrance of the crack with it. Then spray under anything that has a solid bottom (like the entertainment centers on the market). Then bomb the place then bring your stuff back in. If you still find fleas then i dont know what to do. Also, do you have a attic or basement?

[shais_mom]

Ok, i am seeing a problem. What you need to do is take all of your carpeted or furry stuff out of your house, wash it. Before you bring it back in, get down on your knees and check the area where the wall and the floor meet for ANY cracks
which could allow a flee into or out of the wall. If you find one, get some flea chemical and spray the entrance of the crack with it. Then spray under anything that has a solid bottom (like the entertainment centers on the market). Then bomb the place then bring your stuff back in. If you still find fleas then i dont know what to do. Also, do you have a attic or basement?

she's already said she doesn't have carpet.

[Hellow]

Well, where the hardwood floor and the wall meet. And i ment things like rugs.

[AdoreMyDogs]

Well, where the hardwood floor and the wall meet. And i ment things like rugs.

Yeah, I've even fogged the entire house, even though we don't have carpet. I also wash the bathroom rugs and the rug we have in the bedroom.

[AdoreMyDogs]

So.........
step 1: save some money
step 2: buy frontline PLUS for the doggers and kittens
step 3: take Boone for a cortazone shot, poor baby
step 4: pray, pray, pray and pray

PT is the best! I really, really hope the Frontline Plus works. It'll be awhile before I can afford it as it's very expensive and we have 4 pets, two of which are big ol' doggers. It hurt us to have me quit work, but being home with Quinn is worth all the sacrifices, even if we have to live with fleas for a little longer.

You guys are the best. Thanks so much

[crow_noir]

Would you mind if the rest of us skip right to step 4 for you?

Money saving tips for Frontline Plus. (Mind you some people will advise against these.) 1). If you have a dog that is near the border of the weight categories choose the lower weight package. Our vet said that there is no harm in doing so. (Now putting a Chihuahua's script on a Grate Dane is another matter.)(Also you'd never want to overdose.) 2.) Also, if you have a large dog and a small dog and you've seen how much you have to give each out of the standard package, and the large dog is on the border of the two weight categories buy the larger weight package. Apply most of the application to the large dog and save the appropriate amount for the smaller dog. This is ONLY if you are ABSOLUTELY certain of the proper dosing. 3.) I don't know how well this would work in your situation, but under NORMAL circumstances you actually only have to apply Frontline Plus every three months. NOT every month. (I think though due to your situation you have to apply it every month... something to do with the breeding cycle of the fleas and how long certain ingredients last for.) After you get the situation under control though it is something to consider. Maybe you could extend it by a week rather than applying it on the month on the dot, or at a month and a half. It's not like this stuff magically leaves their system.

I'm still curious on what would happen if you sprinkled garlic powder in one of the rooms (that the kitties aren't allowed in.) *slightly amused feeling.* *wonders where she can get a bag of fleas and a labratory at* (Well i at least have the answer to one of those questions. :-/ )

So.........
step 1: save some money
step 2: buy frontline PLUS for the doggers and kittens
step 3: take Boone for a cortazone shot, poor baby
step 4: pray, pray, pray and pray

PT is the best! I really, really hope the Frontline Plus works. It'll be awhile before I can afford it as it's very expensive and we have 4 pets, two of which are big ol' doggers. It hurt us to have me quit work, but being home with Quinn is worth all the sacrifices, even if we have to live with fleas for a little longer.

You guys are the best. Thanks so much

[AdoreMyDogs]

Yeah, when we first rescued King almost his whole back half was bald except for his legs and end of his tail. Not only was it bald, but it was pretty much one big oozing scab. He too had a severe flea allergy.

Those scabs can't heal if the itching continues. That's why the vet gave him a cortisone shot. So that he could have immediate relief for a few days. It was plenty of time to get the itching to go away.

It did take a few months for the scab to entirely heal. If Boone scabs up please do your best NOT to pick at it. It will scab over a few times. And yes, the hair should grow back in fully with quality feed. (I recommend raw eggs and fish oil too if you can spare it.)

Oh trust me, not picking at his scabs won't be a problem, being as I can't even touch Boone without being repulsed at his smell. You know that smell that a dog with a flea allergy and hot spots has? Super-duper musky and smells rather like he's not been bathed after rolling in some oiley, rotton substance. I feel bad but I can't even touch him without running to the sink and scrubbing my hands. I try to touch him as little as possible, but he gets talked to quite a bit. I feel bad, he's such a sweet dog, but I'm quite repulsed at his odor I feel like such a bad furmom

[crow_noir]

Oh god! Thanks for reminding me. <---sarcasm.

I think i nearly puked and my eyes were watering (both from the nausea and the sad memory.)

It IS an awful smell. Yes, i know that smell. Apparently it is ingrained into my brain. (Thankfully King's smell from back there didn't cling horribly... maybe that's because there was next to no oil back there.)

Poor babies.

*gives virtual scritchies to Boone. (away from the bum)*

Oh yes... and that HUGE raw area made bath time oh so much fun for King. It was so hard to gently wash him around the scabbing and toweling him was even more of an adventure.)

Oh trust me, not picking at his scabs won't be a problem, being as I can't even touch Boone without being repulsed at his smell. You know that smell that a dog with a flea allergy and hot spots has? Super-duper musky and smells rather like he's not been bathed after rolling in some oiley, rotton substance. I feel bad but I can't even touch him without running to the sink and scrubbing my hands. I try to touch him as little as possible, but he gets talked to quite a bit. I feel bad, he's such a sweet dog, but I'm quite repulsed at his odor I feel like such a bad furmom

[lizbud]

Leslie, have you tried this stuff?

http://www.sergeantsnatural.com/science.html


I picked it up at Krogers for about $8. I needed something to spray in
my garage and some areas inside the house. It works GREAT.The smell
is unusual but not unpleasant. I use the Advantage flea drops for the dogs
and cats, but I apparently was carring the critters into the house on my
clothes. The Vet told me this flea season has been the worse
in a long time around here. i really hope you find something soon. I've been
in your situation once long ago & it was the pits.