I think we have fleas...I have noticed these small black bugs, which don't fly around the house. Not positive they are fleas, but it would explain why Ted has been licking his paws so much and biting his tail and Bella is itching. I frontlined them about two months ago, but waited to do it again until last night since I wanted their immune systems to recoup from their run in with the cat and ensuing meds and surgery.

I have searched on here for what to do next...I looked at the dogs bellies last night for any sign of fleas, but I did not find anything. When I first noticed these bugs in my bathroom, I sprayed a natural insect killer made from cinnamon. Last night I found them on the kitchen counter, which is hard to see since it is a dark mix of colored granite.

Now what? Should I use a carpet spray or powder that I have seen made with Nylar and Linalool? Should I use Diatomaceous earth? I have asthma and am worried about these, but I want to nip this in the butt before it gets worse. I am going to wash the dog bed covers, but do I need to wash the beds too?

Do I need to spray the backyard with anything? Is it safe for the dogs to walk on these chemicals or natural products? I have seen some things made from orange peel. I regularly mop with a natural lemon soap.

Any further advice would be appreciated. I am planning a trip to the pet supply warehouse near me and I want to know what else I need. It is getting hot this weekend, it will be 100 by next week, will this help kill anything outside?

Thanks!!!

Catch one and see if it is a flea.

Can you get a flea comb through those coats?

Check to see if the dogs are infested.

http://www.stopthefleas.com/fleas-on-pets.html

 Quote: keith kaplan

II looked at the dogs bellies last night for any sign of fleas, but I did not find anything.

A better place to look would be at the base of their tail.

Might not see a flea, but there might be some "flea dirt" in the hair down close to the skin. It is flea poop and a sure sign they've been there.

"The diagnosis of a flea infestation can be made by finding the adult fleas or 'flea dirt' (described above) on the animal. The best places to use a flea comb to detect fleas is around the hindquarters and head of the pet. These same areas should be examined for the 'flea dirt.' After using the flea comb, transfer any debris found on the comb to a piect of white paper toweling and moisten it. If the 'dirt' dissolves into a red color, it is 'flea dirt'."

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2094&aid=593

I will try to catch one and use a flea comb to see if there is any debris. Michael, when I catch one, is there something specific that I can look for to determine if it is a flea?

I have just started noticing them. I have not had any flea issues before, probably due to the hot dry heat of Arizona. However, we did have a lot of rain this winter and we are dealing with a lot of bugs, which usually happens in the spring here.

If it is fleas, now what? I have already frontlined, I plan on vacuuming tonight, should I put a product in the carpet, spray or powder or DE? Do I need to spray down the yard with anything? I have read they thrive in shaded moist areas, none of which we have in my yard. It is all rocks and a few bushes.

Do I was their beds or just covers? Their beds have cedar chips in them which I understand helps control fleas. I have 7 dog beds, not sure I want to throw all of them out...

Anything else I need to do?

Thanks!

 Quote:

I will try to catch one and use a flea comb to see if there is any debris. Michael, when I catch one, is there something specific that I can look for to determine if it is a flea?

Ask him if he's a spider. If he say's no, he's probably a flea.

What if he says, 'candy-gram'.

Wash the bed covers in hot water. You can also put the beds themsleves, filling and all, into a hot dryer and let them tumble. Heat kills fleas (and dust mites).

Haha...very funny...

I will wash the covers and throw the beds in the dryer.

As to my questions about the yard and carpet products, any suggestions??

Thanks.

Try one of the general purpose yard sprays that attach to your hose. Most all of them will work on fleas and they dry pretty quick. Everytime you water it will kind of re-activate it so all you have to do is keep the dogs off it when its wet for a couple of weeks.