Fleas!

Re: Fleas!

Mark Walsh — Sun, 06 May 2012 18:52:58 GMT

I was wondering whether the recent rubbish weather could have delayed the onset of common parasites this year. One downside of warm sunny weather is the more frequent occurance of fly-strike and I also wonder if the bacteria and viruses out there thrive more in warm and dry conditons?

Re: Fleas!

Mark Walsh — Sun, 06 May 2012 18:49:59 GMT

I like stronghold, I find it works well and is less expensive though when I was in private practice I was encouraged to promote advocate.

Re: Fleas!

Sal the 1st — Sun, 06 May 2012 10:38:25 GMT

well all I can say is one of my cats is an avid bunny hunter and has come in a few times with rabbit fleas. We use effipro and indorex and I can safely say we don not have a flea problem - and I would know because flea bites drive me nuts!

Re: Fleas!

bongo — Sun, 06 May 2012 10:19:21 GMT

I used FL combo on my cat and he still had fleas after 6 months, hoovered like a crazy person every day AND treated the house with acclaim spray. Changed to Advantage and fleas sorted after one application! Don't forget to treat for worms also!

Re: Fleas!

Helen Tottey — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:40:33 GMT

Treat the house and explain lifecylce to client. that way they understand why they need to treat the pet every month so when the pupae decide to hatch out they can;t get dinner!

Re: Fleas!

Laura James — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:35:29 GMT

I've recently changed my animals from Frontline to Advocate as I found the FL wasn't working, I was spraying with RIP, boil washing and religiously apllying FLSP monthly. Changed to advocate and within two months I've noticed a major difference - the family aren't being bitten, not seeing the fleas jumping (yes I know I have longer to do to get it totally under control) but I'm very happy with the results so far!

Re: Fleas!

louise170388 — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:33:30 GMT

Im a big fan of FLSP, combo or normal. I always say to treat all animals at the same time and treat the house with indorex/acclaim if they have an infestation. Usuallly does the trick, only ever heard of one client to say that FL hasn't worked for their pets.

My practice have just started selling 'seresto' flea collars. I was dubious at first but some of the staff and alot of clients have bought them and so far so good :)

Re: Fleas!

JaneRVN — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:26:07 GMT

FL normal and Capstar are really only of benefit in a flea free environment (i.e a hospital). They kill adults in contact with it but don't interrupt the breeding cycle.

Therefore you need at least 2 products... and an iron will!

We moved into our flat 2 years ago. 1 room had carpet and as we checked it out after completion my husband noted jumping things on the carpet... Despite waiting a week to move in, ripping up carpet and underlay, treating daily and hoovering daily with Indorex our regime that lasted 4 months was:-

treating the 2 cats and 1 dog with advocate and FL combo monthly, but alternating so getting different product every 2 weeks
hoovering daily and treating hoover with Indorex
washing everything at 90 degrees every 2 days
spraying with Indorex and then Staykil (worked better IMO) every 2 days

I have no idea how some clients would get rid of infestations when they come and buy 1 pack of 3 months FL and say it sorted it!

I would say Staykil over Indorex and Advocate over SH or FL Combo. Some clients want Skoosh as it doesnt contain as many chemicals, but it coats everything in silicone and makes your home like an ice rink - quite dangerous!

Re: Fleas!

Sal the 1st — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:35:43 GMT

I had a client at a previous practice whose house was absolutely hooching. As a hoarder she put my dad to shame - treating the rooms just wasnt working because of the amount of stuff in them. In the finish we bagged up as many things as we could into black bags and gave each black bag a bloody good dose of Indorex and left them sealed in the backgarden/ greenhouse. Once we had got down to actually being able to see furnishings and carpet we treated the rooms (the pets had already been treated) and we did get things under control that way. The council had refused to fumigate because of the amount of belongings in the room - but in fairness to them they had cleared and treated the year before. It can be done but the client has to really do it properly or its a waste of time and money. So many times I have seen people giving a little squirt of frontline or indorex and using it like Chanel and expecting it to work

Re: Fleas!

Fuzzyduck — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:32:15 GMT

I have found frontline spot on absolutely useless on fleas, we had a stray jack russel hopping in fleas, you could see them crawling all over it, used frontline and 3 days later still hopping in them, didnt kill them at all!!

Fleas must have become resistant to it or something, used an advantage and it killed them all within a couple of hours. I dont recommend frontline anymore.

Re: Fleas!

SmegSlayer — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:14:25 GMT

Capstar is a tablet which kills fleas and starts working within about 10 mins- you can watch the fleas droping off but only lasts for 24 hours.

The other option for your client is to fork out for the council or private company to fumigate her home

Re: Fleas!

Wendy73 — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:44:42 GMT

We tend to advise using Advantage or Advocate and obviously a good household spray as well. Have heard of Capstar but know very little about it.

Re: Fleas!

Julie-Anne Wilson — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:57:03 GMT

I think it all falls down to owner compliance. You can explain the instructions on the household spray to them but a lot of the time I see them tuning out right around the time I say "You have to spray everything and boil wash what you can." For some people, it's too much and they'll just spray what they feel needs to be sprayed.

Re: Fleas!

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:08:16 GMT

Hoover, hoover, hoover! Also spray the vacuum cleaner bag with indorex so nothing hatches inside it. Pull out washing machine, fridge, any place warm and humid, hoover and indorex. Then for the pet, flea protocol of your choice. Even if you kill the fleas on the pet, everyone ignores the house. ( everyone will chime in with different favorite pills and spot ons, i'm staying out of that. I have my favorites too!)

Re: Fleas!

SmegSlayer — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:27:45 GMT

what is your current protocol? Personally, if fleas are already a problem, a one off capstar and advocate with a good household flea spray e.g. Acclaim, RIP etc