Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My boyfriend and I just moved into a 2 bedroom apartment, because we are expecting a baby in 2 months. We have no pets, but the people who lived here before must have because this apartment has fleas. It is all carpeted and I don't want to use any chemicals since I am pregnant and the baby will be here soon.
I heard that salt works really well, but since we live on the 5th floor and have no pets, I was wondering if I should still repeat the treatment all of the time or if I should be OK with a few treatments since there is no way for them to get back in? Also if anyone thinks there are any better ways, please let me know.
By Kay
Yes, salt works great. If you can find popcorn salt (usually available at restaurant supply stores or online) that is best because it will not show in carpet while you are treating it, plus it penetrates deep into the fibers. You want to sprinkle it into your carpet thoroughly, then use a broom or whatever you have to beat it deep into the carpet.
It needs to stay in for two weeks. If you have to vacuum before 2 weeks, then you will need to repeat the treatment. This works quickly and safely. I have had many, many, rescue dogs and this is the only way I would treat for fleas. Safe for adults and pets.
I just moved from Idaho, where there pretty much aren't any fleas, to Louisiana where there are too many fleas. It has been two days and my little dog is covered in them. I have given her medicine down her back, put a flea collar on her, and given her a bath with flea shampoo. She will not stop scratching, and she is covered with little red bites.
I am living with my cousin who has a cat that goes in and out, but is not having this problem. She also has a dog that stays outside, he doesn't seem to be having the same problem either. What do I do? Why are they attacking her the way they are? I'm feeling horrible for my dog!
By Stormie W.
Diatamaceous earth (food grade). Available at farm centers (Tractor Supply) fora bout $10 for a 12 lb bag. Google this stuff. It is wonderful. I use (and used) on my dog and cats - take a old knee high and put the DE inside it and "pat" (like a powder puff) all over your pet. I guarantee you it will work. Last year, fleas were so bad in PA I literally put this stuff, a thin layer, over my entire basement floor. Waited a week and shop vaced it up. Google it's uses (I even drank it for a while!) - just remember to get the FOOD GRADE ONLY. Do not use the agriculture grade - that has poison in it. I believe I even actually spelled it right!
Sounds as though you as though you are the proud owner of a furbaby with a flea allergy :( Sounds insane, but it's pretty common. Like humans, animals can develop allergies and react more severely than the previously to the same allergen. In addition to treating your pet and any others and the bedding, etc. treating your yard with a food grade pesticide is a good option.
I would like to know which type of topical treatment you used on the back of the dog, and if you went in between the hairs, in a part and put it on the dog on the actual skin.
If it is frontline, then I would choose another one.
Flea bites can cause all sorts of grief, especially with the reactions of a dog which has had no bites before. Bless it's heart! I would immediately get a cat food which is high quality. I would choose one with no wheat, soy or corn.
Diamond pet foods have great foods, and there are ones at tractor supply which meet these needs. You start from the inside out. You have to put quality food in. When you put other food which is full of corn and other by products, you have a problem waiting to happen.
Once that is taken care of, I would make sure that the house is vacuumed frequently since they lay eggs all the time. Put a flea collar in your vacuum bag if you use a bag and a plastic bag over the hose part of the vacuum.
Here is what I do and it seems to work:
First the better quality food, which will make less stool and make the animal healthier.
Then vacuum the floor all the time, daily or every other day at first.
Sprinkle salt all over your house, on the floors, under the bedsheets ( I don't like feeling it on my skin, so I put it under the sheets and such). Put salt in the cushions of chairs etc. It is a dessicant and dries out the fleas.
It is also not really harmful. You don't have to be in a hurry to vacuum it up like you might feel like doing with borax.
I like to do that, and I also hear a lot of great news over putting a solar light over a bowl of water at night. Just keep the solar light in a window and then hang or attach it to a spot over the water. Other people might use a lamp but any light source will do. Here is an article on this sort of trap:
www.wikihow.com/
Now get a flea comb and get obsessive about combing though your dogs or cats fur and looking for fleas.
Flea shampoo is not really that effective. I use dawn, soap and leave it on them a while, about five minutes to get rid of tons of fleas. Make a large ring of soap around their neck. You will see the fleas climb up to their face, that is when the picking begins. Have a bottle of water or alcohol to put them in.
Keed little jars of water and soap all over the house so when you pick them off the pet you can put them in there. You will eventually get good at squeezing them into to kill them, the fleas. Some people cannot stomach that. LOL
Always disinfect your hands after handling fleas.
After you have done all this, and keep the yard grass down if you can. You should see a reduction in fleas.
I am including an article on yeast infections in pets in case this ever is a problem from the Great Dane Lady who in my opinion is very knowledgeable on this.
www.greatdanelady.com/
Blessings,
Robyn from Tennessee
We are being eaten alive, help! How do I get rid of fleas without spending a fortune?
By Snowball
Here is one of my favorite articles from earthclinic.com:
www.earthclinic.com/
However, rather than use borax I use salt poured under the sheets and in the couch cushions and on the carpets. I leave it a few days and vacuum. If you have a serious infestation you need to vacuum everyday, put a flea collar in the vacuum bag and store the vacuum outside or the fleas will keep crawlin back out. Put a dish of hot water with a drop of dishwasher soap under beds etc where you have seen fleas and they will jump in. Some people use a night light over the shallow dish of soap and water. Make sure your pets can't get to this and drink it.
Vacuum every day, and wash all the dogs clothing and anything else in dawn in vinegar in the wash. Just squirt a couple of squirts of dawn dish detergent and add vinegar to the wash.
I actually go through my pets especially the kittens with a flea comb and then drop the fleas in the soap and water.
Regarding my earlier post about earthclinic.com I would never use tea tree oil on a cat as they are not able to get it out of their systems. Make sure and read the warnings on the posts also.
A great solution for fleas is original Skin So Soft bath oil from Avon. I mix one part Skin So Soft and five parts water. Put it in a spray bottle. It is also great to keep flies away and if you have an itch, it stops the itch immediately. It is great to use on animals just keep it away from their face. I check my two girls throughout the day and when I see a flea running across their tummies I spray SSS and the flea dies on contact. I always keep a tiny spray bottle in my pocket.
I need an immediate home remedy for home and dog flea infestation!
Its too late at night to go to any store.
I have tried everything and I cannot get rid of the fleas on my dog.
By brenda from Siloam Springs, AR
I would order frontline spray and do it once a month. Throw salt all over everything, the carpet, under your sheets, etc. Put a flea collar in the vacuum bag, and vacuum all the time. I always wash the dogs in dawn detergent and leave it on for ten minutes. Then rinse and rinse and rinse and rinse and flea comb while they are wet. Frontline Spray is cheaper than the topical spot treatment but the spot treatment might work faster. You can do a pill from the vet that will kill all the fleas in 24 hours but this is just to get the infested dog clean. It has no residual effects.
If I just had one dog, I would probably use the frontline topical spot treatment once a month. Go to earthclinic.com for more ideas on home remedies and other forms of treatment of fleas. Robyn
I don't like Frontline because the flea has to bite before it works. I use Adams on my dog. I have also ordered some Lavender oil. Fleas can't stand the stuff and it's good for irritated skin. (Also good for headaches!)
I have 5 dogs n 5 cats. Last year i had a bad flea infestation and was desperate. No matter what I did , couldn't get rid of the lil pests. This year i got some cedar spray from cedarcide and this works. no fleas-mites-ticks etc. is all natural and not harmful to pets. also neem oil spray works too. Both products are all natural -good for the skins and prevents fleas. I wont use frontline and advantage or products like that as it is harmful to ur pet. can find on the web. Also use on pet area and around your home.
Got to the vet and they have this pill that you can give to your dog once a month I live in Siloam Springs, AR also and they charge I think $13 for one pill but it works and you don't have to worry about it again until next month
Hello, Can you take you pets to a groomer? Then apply advantage every 3 weeks, that should do the trick. Good luck
I need a safe way to get rid of fleas on my cat.
I need to know home remedies to kill fleas in house and on my pets.
By Dan
How do I kill fleas quickly on my dogs?
By Dericktroys from IN
I have fleas in my home. I can't afford an exterminator. What can I do?
What is the best way to clear up a bad infestation on the dog and the house? No chemicals please!
I was looking on the internet a while back and I remember it saying something about using oil, apple cider vinegar, and water. I don't remember what the measurements were for this or if it even works. Someone help please!
I have 5 day old kittens with fleas; how do I get rid of them? Is it only Dawn soap or does Ajax dishsoap work too?
By Deana C.
I have used other dish soaps and they all work well for kittens and puppies.
I didn't know what it was, but have been getting bitten by fleas for awhile. Now I know, and have been trying to treat the problem, but can't get it stopped. I believe they are in and under my livingroom couch. I can't really treat them because of my man's uncleanliness. I have been putting salt and borax acid on rugs and using bug spray. Will I ever get rid of them, if I can't treat the main spots?
By O. Scott
I was told some time ago that there is a solution that can be mixed to spray outside in the yard for bugs, including mosquitoes and fleas which includes Coke. I have moved and lost the paper it was written on. Does anyone out there know about this mixture? I believe it includes 3 things.
By Carolyn C.
Ammonia applied to carpets where your dogs and cats sleep can be effective in killing fleas. Be sure to let animals out while you do this. This is a page about using ammonia to kill fleas.
Many people want to avoid chemical flea treatments on their pets. Some homemade herbal treatments can be effective in deterring fleas. Here are some natural remedies for cats and dogs.
Does mayonnaise kill fleas on dogs? I know it works on head lice. Is it safe for dogs or cats?
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
This page contains the following solutions.
Our pets are like members of the family and we want to protect them. But, it is inevitable that our dog and cats will attract those pesky fleas. Flea collars, sprays, ointments, and pills aren't 100% effective all the time either, so what can we do?
My roommate and I just recently started having problems with fleas in our house. I saved a stray, injured kitten less than a month ago and only had it in the house for less than a day.
I have a Beagle and my husband and I are living in a house with 3 cats that are badly infested with fleas, and another dog.
I have 4 dogs ranging in size from 12lbs to 45lbs and a cat. I need a really good home remedy for fleas and a good remedy for a large yard.
