Dog..fleas?

[kevin007]

Do all dogs get fleas and ticks? or do they get it if they are dirty or not clean? i want to know a little bit more about this..i dont want fleas jumping around my house

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Um, yes. People can get ticks too, and can get bit by fleas. It doesn't really matter how clean the dog is because they are parasites, they get on anything they can. I've heard frontline works great at keeping fleas and ticks off cats and dogs, it worked for my grams cat who had fleas really bad and for someone I knew Jack Russel, who was allergic to flea bites.

 

[kevin007]

if a dog has never been outside..will it still get these things? my friend says that her cats dont have ticks..cause they've never been out side

also..how can i prevent ticks and fleas to go on my dog? i wont want fleas or ticks in my house! ...or..if there no way?

 

[Mr Miagi]

Your vet can help you prevent them. With several creams and tablets etc etc. But keeping your cat/dog indoors is not the sole reason why her animals dont have fleas.

Fleas and tics are caused by poor hygene and contact with other animals.

If the animal is kept clean, is allowed to roll in dirt etc, and generally kept in good/excellent health they well keep fleas and tics at bay themselves.

My cat and dog have remained healthy, share there territorys with several other dogs and cats, and neither have had fleas or anything of the sort.

 

[kevin007]

so...what you're saying is that if the dog is kept well...they wont have fleas or ticks?

 

[mm_simb]

Actually any dog can get fleas if they go outside. Ticks and fleas can be more prominent in some areas but they can still exist in places where they aren't seen a lot of times. If you walk your dog and your dog ever contacts another dog it will get fleas and ticks. My cats have never gotten fleas or ticks with me because they are strictly indoor cats but cats don't neccessarily need to be walked and dogs do. A vet can help you choose a method of prevention if you ask for one.

 

[Ruby Shark]

Fleas can definately be spread through contact with other animals who have them.
Also, if your animal brings fleas into the house, and you don't regularly vacuum or wash carpets and beddings, (especially where the animal sleeps etc.), it is easier for them to reproduce as the eggs remain in these hidden locations and multiply the problem.

A flea doesn't care how healthy or clean an animal is when it comes to feeding. I regularly see animals who are of excellent health who have problems with fleas. Animals who don't use flea products can indeed have no problems with fleas...but usually that's luck and maybe even location.

My dog is in excellent health (other than an eye and petella problem which have no relation in terms of flea problems) and I found a flea on him before he was put on medication.

Fleas can still enter your house and live on your animals whether they go outdoors or not. Before I got my dog, I had two strictly indoor cats. One day, we found a flea on our cat and we couldn't figure out how it ended up on her. It turns out that my boyfriend had a family of racoons in his chimney and he may have brought them over to my house on his socks. Or...one may have jumped on one of us in the backyard and came in, which is a little more believable.

There are products available that will nip flea problems in the butt. Two that I have experience with are Revolution and Advantage Multi. They both work very well and protect your dog against heartworm as well (something that every dog should have protection against).
I would recommend speaking with your vet and having your dog in for an exam as there are specific doses depending on your animal's weight.
Furthermore, any form of heartworm medication should NOT be taken unless you have a negative heartworm test prior to usage as it can be dangerous to your dog's health.
I know you were only asking about fleas, but I thought I would mention these two products as they are essentially a two-in-one product (they also cover other internal parasites etc.) and are very important for your dog's health. This is assuming that you don't have him/her on any already.

If you must only use flea medication(although I don't recommend it), than I would suggest plain advantage.
Your vet can fill you in on everything about the product (if he/she uses it) or tell you about other ones they may use. Good luck and sorry for the long post.

 

[Bloo]

As the others have said, there are a many products on the market to combat flea problems. Fact is, if you have a dog, he's going to pick up fleas when you take him for a walk. Whether you like it or not. However, the products on the market are there to help combat this in different ways.
Two of the best products are:
Program manufactured by Novartis
Advantage manufactured by Bayer (info article)

Your vet can advise you on how these specifically work, as they work in slightly different ways. So the choice is yours. I would not advise buying a flea collar or anything to combat fleas in a supermarket.

For more information about fleas and their life-cycle, look at this article by Novartis.

Having a dog does not have mean that you house will be invested with fleas. I grew up in a house with 4 dogs who spent most of their daily lives out doors but slept indoors at night (the 2 little ones even on beds!) and we never had any fleas whatsoever.

 

[kevin007]

everyone, THANK YOU for your reply, i'm getting more knowledge =] thank you

 

[SarahBravo]

My cats are outside cats, and share the neighbourhood with at least 20 other cats - they get dosed with Frontline Plus (liquid drops on the back of the neck) once a month, and every 6 months or so I spray the edges of the rooms with a household flea spray that I got from the vet. I have never seen a flea in my house, and don't expect I will. Fleas can be brought in by animals and humans who walk through grass etc that a cat or dog with fleas has walked through, it doesn't have to be direct contact - even if your dogs are indoor dogs it's best to be preventative and use something, just in case.

Your vet will be able to help you, no trouble!

Sarah

 

[Bloo]

Sarah, you're right ! I completely forgot about Frontline. Another brand I would highly recommend

 

[Angry_Platy]

Its weird this is mentioned here.....the reason I say that is my poor dog is allergic to flea bites and we are just getting over a quite sever problem.

We have been using Frontline on him since he was a puppy (12 weeks old) and he never had bad itches or anything. Around about January, we noticed he was scratching more than normal but we figured it might be the heat (summer time and all). In February he was scratching his ear so bad he was bleedng (from behind the ear),....so we took him to the vet who gave him an injection of cortisone, some flea rinse stuff, some special shampoo (for his skin) and omega-3 FAs to add to his food (total cost $121). They said to keep the Frontline up and to use it once a fortnight instead of once a month. We tried EVERYTHING the vet had said....bathing him twice a week, putting the omega 3 FAs on his food, rinsing him in the flea rinse, and Frontline, yet he was still scratching. The vet said it would take time and to be patient.

Then I was at the LPS one day buying fish "SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!!". I noticed at the counter a new flea treatment on special. So I asked abut it casually mentioning that nothing works for my dogs fleas. The first thing they asked me was if I was using Frontline. To which I replied yes. And they told me that the formula for Frontline had changed a few months prior (which is when we bought the new packet which was shortly before he started having problems)....and it was no longer as effective and many customers had been in saying the same thing. They recommended Advantage for both the dog and the cat. I was a little bit skeptical but I bought it anyways wanting to try anything.

3 weeks after using the Advantage the dog was scratching a LOT less, wasn't making himself bleed anymore and we no longer see fleas on his skin. Now, a little while on, he no longer scratches himself madly, doesn't have any flea bites and STILL, no fleas. They both cost the same here so its no skin off my nose. And if it akes the dog flea-free I will lways use it over Frontline!!

Long story I know, but flea related

 

[Bloo]

Brilliant news ! Glad to hear the problem is sorted, as it can be very frustrating for dog and owner alike, not to find the cause & solution to the problem. However I'm very surprised that your vet did not recommend another flea product in line with the oils & baths (or actually as a first resort)
For some reason, some dogs respond to some products better than others, so it can sometimes be a bit of trial and error.