I put frontline plus on my dog every month and I can't keep fleas off him. we have two cats (indoor) but we aren't as strict with monthly applications of frontline with them. I am pretty sure my dog is bringing the fleas in from outside and he stays out while we are at work, except when excessively hot/cold. I am thinking I need to do three things but am not sure which order I need to do them in, that's what I need advice on the proper order to do so.
1. Spray yard to kill fleas. Anyone know of a good, long lasting product?
2. Bomb house. Again, anyone know which product to use, how much to use and where to buy it?
3. Either bath all animals or get them a flea dip.

If anyone has any suggestions or if you can think of other steps , I would appreciate it. Thanks.

HI Elliot~
I have used K-9 Advantix on GSD for 2yrs, I apply it every month and knock on word hse has never had flees or ticks. When she plays with other dogs bugs and Mosquitos dont even come near here. Just a thought maybe you can switch to see how it works.

Hi Elliot...

A couple of things:

If you're going to bomb the house, spray the yard, and treat the animals don't do all three at the same time. Space it out by a week for each treatment. That's a lot of chemicals you're exposing your animals to. You may already know this but you'd be surprised how many people don't.

I don't know if the order really matters but I know the thought of fleas in my house freaks me out.

If you prefer topicals, try switching to Advantage or Advantix. For whatever reason the topical flea meds sometimes just stop working for a particular dog and switching to another product helps.

**If your dog likes to cuddle up with your cats then do NOT use Advantix. Advantix is dangerous to cats.**

A lot of people make the mistake of applying flea meds right after a bath. Even a gentle shampoo strips the skin of oil and that oil is what's needed to get the medication under the skin and working within the dog's system. Wait a day or two after a bath...and I'd wait longer if I was using a flea dip or flea shampoo.

My cats are indoors but they still get a monthly flea treatment simply because of the dog. And if the cats get fleas they can spread it everywhere...like the bed.

we've had to deal with this during the summer...a neighbor sprays and the fleas migrate into our yard.

we've always used Frontline and had very good success but it doesn't matter a whole lot when they come from another yard...they'll jump on her and jump off in the house.

I've found that we have to do everything all at the same time to get them all in and out of the house.

 Quote:

**If your dog likes to cuddle up with your cats then do NOT use Advantix. Advantix is dangerous to cats.**

I have heard that before. Is it only dangerous before it has dried up or is it still dangerous even after it has dried up. Thanks for the heads up.

My dog stays outside and she was getting a reaction to mosquitos. I sprayed her with apple cidar vinegar the kind with the white stuff in the bottom of the jar. It gave her a real strong smell but after she dried the smell went away. The cider makes it where fleas and mosquitos will not bite your dog. Seems to work for me

It really does sound like a lot of chemicals to use at once but I've always been told if you don't do yard, house, dog all on the same day that you are pretty much chasing them from the yard to the house to the dog etc.


Lisa

 Quote: Elliot Parker

I have heard that before. Is it only dangerous before it has dried up or is it still dangerous even after it has dried up. Thanks for the heads up.

It is most toxic when it's freshly applied...I don't know about after it's dried but do you really want to take a chance?

The manufacturer, Bayer, does not recommend using Advantix AT ALL if you have dogs and cats in close contact. The Bayer Rep told me that personally and the DVMs I worked with did not advise using it if cats were in the house.

Advantage is OK to use but it doesn't protect against ticks.

As for the spraying, we have our yard sprayed every month. Our exterminator says we need to keep our dog inside for 2-3 hours so everything can dry completely. Likewise, when we spray inside the house twice a year, the dog and cats need to be kept out for the same amount of time. If you do bomb everything at once then plan on having your animals out of the house and yard for a few hours.

like william said, use Apple Cider Vinegar (make sure it has the "mother" in it). You can also add garlic powder/supplements to your dogs food. It makes the skin/fur smell and taste bad to fleas and ticks and they won't bite. It works very well.

I like the Sentinel. Even in Florida's year round flea season, one pill, once a month takes care of fleas, heartworm, hookworm and some other stuff. $11 per dog per month.

I have yet to see a down side to this treatment compared to others.