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Fleas!
Jul 28, 2017 22:00:00 GMT
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Post by barley on Jul 28, 2017 22:00:00 GMT
At the end of our walk this evening, I noticed something on Alfie's nose as I clipped him back on the lead. It was a very slow, dozy flea! I squished it and didn't think any more of it.
Just now he was laid on my bed and I saw something moving on his coat and again, it was a very slow flea. They were both really odd and acting like they were half dead, moving slowly rather than leaping around like they usually do, but they were most definitely 100% fleas.
I've stripped my bedding and put it on a 90c wash along with his blanket that covers his side of the bed. I've gone over & over him with a flea comb but can't find any dirt whatsoever, and it's super easy to see on him since he's white?!
I used to use Advantix on him every four weeks throughout the summer but had been wary of too many chemicals since his KD diagnosis so I hadn't started again yet this year. Despite not being able to see any dirt or anymore fleas, I have just put a tube on him just incase as I definitely don't want an infestation in the flat or at the office!
I'm not keen on giving it every four weeks again, but on the other hand, I really don't want fleas either! Are any of the 'natural' alternatives actually any good? I don't really want to give him anything orally, but wondered about natural sprays? Although I know they're all likely to stink and that really puts me off!
A quick look online suggests Advantix isn't processed by the kidneys anyway, but I'm still not totally happy with the idea.
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Post by cazypops on Jul 28, 2017 22:31:04 GMT
I can't vouch for if it works or not, but I know that smilesbetter uses a home made applecider vinegar spray on Rosa that she swears by.  |
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Fleas!
Jul 29, 2017 19:18:47 GMT
Post by caz2golden on Jul 29, 2017 19:18:47 GMT
As a repellent you might like to consider CSJ skinny spray and shampoo.
No idea if it really works though as mine do not have fleas.
I have the shampoo and when I do bath my two I use it.
Planning on getting something similar by company called serendipity herbals for my holiday in October as I avoid chemicals but my aim is ticks rather than fleas.
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Fleas!
Jul 29, 2017 19:20:24 GMT
Post by orpheous87 on Jul 29, 2017 19:20:24 GMT
I use Billy No Mates for my girls barley. It's a herbal supplement that gets added to their food though, so not sure if you'd want that? It doesn't kill fleas though, just repels them so if there's any chance you might have an infestation (even a small one), you'd need to use conventional methods to get rid of it first. Plus, BNM takes about 6 weeks to fully get into their system. |
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Post by barley on Jul 29, 2017 20:11:16 GMT
I can't vouch for if it works or not, but I know that smilesbetter uses a home made applecider vinegar spray on Rosa that she swears by. I've heard lots of good things about ACV. It's meant to be good for yeasty skin and hotspots too, both of which Alfie is prone too so I think I'll look into that more! As a repellent you might like to consider CSJ skinny spray and shampoo. No idea if it really works though as mine do not have fleas. I have the shampoo and when I do bath my two I use it. Planning on getting something similar by company called serendipity herbals for my holiday in October as I avoid chemicals but my aim is ticks rather than fleas. How does the skinny spray smell? Is it strong/bad?! I use Billy No Mates for my girls barley . It's a herbal supplement that gets added to their food though, so not sure if you'd want that? It doesn't kill fleas though, just repels them so if there's any chance you might have an infestation (even a small one), you'd need to use conventional methods to get rid of it first. Plus, BNM takes about 6 weeks to fully get into their system. I've gone over him several times today with a flea comb, with him standing on damp white paper to check for flea dirt and there is absolutely nothing coming off him. No live fleas either so I think they were just two rogue ones and I have hopefully nipped it in the bud quickly. I feel slightly less icky knowing he's had an Advantix just incase though! I used to use the BNM liquid a few years ago. That was when I was still living with my parents and my mum was extra paranoid about things like fleas so I used to give BNM and spot-ons! Not overly keen on the idea of him taking something orally, he gets so many supplements & medications in his dinner as it is these days, but I'll have a look at the ingredients again and see if it looks KD friendly. Thanks for the replies guys |
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Post by caz2golden on Jul 29, 2017 21:18:55 GMT
I have the shampoo not the spray.
I do not have a sense of smell but family have never complained after I have bathed them so the shampoo can not smell too bad!
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Fleas!
Jul 30, 2017 18:44:24 GMT
Post by barley on Jul 30, 2017 18:44:24 GMT
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Fleas!
Aug 11, 2017 22:07:22 GMT
Post by migsy on Aug 11, 2017 22:07:22 GMT
Are you sure they were fleas and not ticks barley? as ticks are very tiny like the size of a money spider. I have on occasion been lucky enough to spot the odd one on Skip after a walk in the woods before it's had chance to attach.At the weekend I thought a money spider was crawling on my knee in the car after our walk in the woods,and was horrified to realise it was a tiny tick! Ugh! I don't use flea products as luckily we have never had a problem with them,but Skip did pick up one after a vet visit,and like you I flew into a mad panic. Thank goodness it must have been a quick jumper from the vets,as I too spread out a sheet to thoroughly go through his coat for days until I was convinced he was clear. |
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Post by barley on Aug 13, 2017 19:59:13 GMT
Are you sure they were fleas and not ticks barley ? as ticks are very tiny like the size of a money spider. I have on occasion been lucky enough to spot the odd one on Skip after a walk in the woods before it's had chance to attach.At the weekend I thought a money spider was crawling on my knee in the car after our walk in the woods,and was horrified to realise it was a tiny tick! Ugh! I don't use flea products as luckily we have never had a problem with them,but Skip did pick up one after a vet visit,and like you I flew into a mad panic. Thank goodness it must have been a quick jumper from the vets,as I too spread out a sheet to thoroughly go through his coat for days until I was convinced he was clear. Definitely fleas, in all their horrid long legged horribleness! I found a few more live but very dozy ones on him. I bathed him in 4Fleas shampoo, blitzed the flat with the Frontline Homegard spray, put a cat flea collar in the hoover cyclinder, hoovered like a mad thing, and then put another Advantix on Alfie (two weeks after the first) and touch wood, I think they're all gone. I found a couple of dead ones on Alfie's blanket on my bed on Friday evening, but nothing dead or alive since, and I've been going over him with a flea comb several times a day. Horrid things! |
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Fleas!
Aug 13, 2017 20:22:01 GMT
Post by scallywag on Aug 13, 2017 20:22:01 GMT
Whats the idea of the collar in the hoover barley ? To kill any you hooverd up or to emit chemicals into the air |
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Post by barley on Aug 13, 2017 20:30:43 GMT
scallywag it kills any that are sucked into the hoover, rather than them just being able to crawl out and get in the carpet again!
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Post by cazypops on Aug 13, 2017 20:54:59 GMT
scallywag it kills any that are sucked into the hoover, rather than them just being able to crawl out and get in the carpet again! I know I empty the hoover after nearly every time I use it, but what a good Idea. I think I might get one too and put it in the vacuum just in case. Not that we have any, but you never know as the cat gets the odd one now and again.   |
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Fleas!
Aug 13, 2017 22:18:44 GMT
Post by migsy on Aug 13, 2017 22:18:44 GMT
I can imagine your flurry of activity barley,goodness knows how many times a day the sheet went down for another comb andinspection of Skips fur to be certain nothing was lurking,it really freaked me out.The flea collar in the hoover sounds like a stroke of genius! One thing recommended on Google was salt sprinkled under furniture and in the base of dogs bed (under the cushion),don't know if it's effective but I suppose anything is worth a try in those circumstances.Glad yours was soon eliminated,it must be the worst nightmare for a pet owner. |
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Post by barley on Aug 14, 2017 7:54:52 GMT
Flea collar in the hoover definitely wasn't my idea, I saw it online |
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