[Dailydrool] Flea Treatment

[Karen]

Have I ever told you that I hate fleas?  They are right up there with the Ra-Tailaban members.
I have a few things that I use to combat the critters.   I am in an area that Frontline just was not 
doing it's job.  I hadn't had fleas in years until  Tula came in.

For fosters that come in with fleas they immediately go in the tub.  I usually use  Sadee Maye's Medicated Mane and Tail Shampoo which I found kills fleas...woohooo what a plus.  The other thing that kills fleas immediately is the Dawn (blue) dish liquid.  I let the water stand in the tub with a squirt of Dawn in it just in case some jump quickly.  Dawn penetrates the shells of fleas to destroy them.  For those of you that have the Rapid Bath are you aware that if you save the little shampoo container you can refill it with your shampoo using a large syringe (no needle)?  What a money saver and works perfectly.  

The gang gets a dried kelp + garlic powder mix sprinkled on their food every night which really  has done amazing at keeping the bugs off, even skeeters!  The Willow's Flea Concoction, as I call it takes about 3 weeks to kick in but has been a doG send for Sadee Maye whose allergies worsen after getting a spot on treatment.  

As for the house if you get fleas all I can say is vacuum daily, even the furniture and the base boards!  I use a steam system to clean so everything gets steamed down including the curtains.  I will also use just about a cap full of Ammonia in the wash that cannot be bleached.  (Ammonia is safe for colors.)  The yard gets a Ammonia, Dawn blue and water mix that I spray on and leave for a couple of hours.  I then use the sprinklers to soak it in so the gang will be safe.  I have never had any of my plants die from it.  For those that use wood chips in your yard add a little cedar bark is great for keeping pests away!  I have a cedar tree planted in my yard hoping fleas will stay away.

If you must bomb your house don't waste your money on the stuff at Wal Mart.  Either go to a feed store or get them at the vet.  I learned this years ago and haven't changed my opinion. Be sure to take the cushions off the couch and set mattresses up so it penetrates well.  If you have items you absolutely cannot wash then you can put them in a black trash bag and seal it up for 30 days to kill the eggs that hatch.  I only had one big flea problem years ago and learned some really important lessons from a very good, experienced vet.  Of course he laughed at me when I bought a bomb for each room and two for under the house.  I was making da*n sure the fleas were going to DIE!

Droolz,
Karen and The Dog House Gang

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