FLEAS-Help

[Chintez]

I tried Diatomaceous Earth. It did not work. It lightly rained the next day I applied it though.

This seems to be mainly a outdoor problem. I am very frustrated that I can't even walk into my own backyard, let alone have my dog outside without picking up fleas that torture him.

Walk outside, come in and have over twenty fleas on my pants. I do not know what to do. I hate using chemicals, but I am beginning to think it is the only way.

I need suggestions asap. Things to use. How to use them properly to ensure my dogs safety.

 

[Zoom]

I would put him on Frontline Plus. I know you said you dont' like using chemicals, but if your dog is picking up fleas, he's possibly picking up flea-borne diseases or even other insects like ticks and mosquitos. It's a fairly safe product as far as mass-produced chemical deterents go.

Try sprinkling your yard with Sevin Dust and see if that helps any.

 

[Saje]

I'd try the earth again. It is recommended after rain or dew:

Insect Control - Suggested Application Rates:

Dusting: For crops and pastures use 6 to 18 kgs per hectare (6 to 10 kgs. in calm air). Dust after rain, overhead irrigation, or after a heavy dew to increase sticking of the powder. Dust plant upward from the ground, covering all stems, top and underside of leaves. For enclosed area use 1/2 to 3/4 pound per 1000 square feet. Hang dust bags in doorways of barns, milking parlours, etc. Sprinkle in areas where ants and roaches are present or areas in which they run, such as baseboards, under sinks, etc.

In The Row: Use four pounds per acre injected over the seed. Premix Diateasoseus Earth with a wetting agent and water, then add mixture to plantbr.

As a Spray: Mix two pounds per gallon of water with a wetting agent. Rates as low as 1/4 pound per 5 gallons water with a wetting agent have been effective. Be sure to keep mixture agitated.

Trees: Sprinkle liberally on the ground and around tree trunks. Tree trunks can also be painted with a mixture of Diatomaceous Earth, water, flax soap or a wetting agent. This will inhibit migration of various fruit flies (maggot stage), worms and the Japanese Beetle (grub stage). When a spray is desired, refer to spray rates.

 

[Chintez]

I would put him on Frontline Plus. I know you said you dont' like using chemicals, but if your dog is picking up fleas, he's possibly picking up flea-borne diseases or even other insects like ticks and mosquitos. It's a fairly safe product as far as mass-produced chemical deterents go.

Try sprinkling your yard with Sevin Dust and see if that helps any.

To clarify: I dislike the use of actual chemicals for getting rid of bugs.
He is on Frontline top spot, and was at the vet two weeks ago for a check-up, do to the flea 'infestation'.

ETA: Vet told us to use the frontline every two weeks.

I'll give Sevin dust a try.

 

[Chintez]

Saje, then I suppose I used it correctly. It had absoloutly no effect though. They are just as bad as they were before using it.

 

[Zoom]

That's too much...each dose is regulated for a time-release effect over a month's time. Or at least the Plus is, I'm not so sure about the Top Spot.

About the fleas themselves...depending on where you live, you could just wait for winter to kick into full swing and hope that kills most of them off. Try the diotamaceous earth again when you know it's not going to rain soon, and maybe the double combo will work?

 

[Ash47]

I believe Saje is saying that the earth is supposed to be applied AFTER a rain. Right Saje?

 

[Chintez]

He's a pomeranian, so a fairly small dog.

He had a dose of Frontline on the 9th and on the 24th. I won't apply the next one in two weeks if I can get these fleas under control.

What is the best way to use Diatomaceous Earth? As I was throwing it in the yard, most of it was lost in the air. As it is a very fine powder.

 

[Gempress]

If the fleas are so bad that they're crawling all over you too, I suggest calling a professional bug control company. From what you described, that's insane.

 

[Saje]

I would mix the earth with something else to help it spead and then get pretty close to the ground. I don't know though. I still haven't gotten mine for the dogs yet.

And yes, I understood that it should be applied after the rain.

 

[Zoom]

I posted right after Saje and didnt' see her list of application instructions until after the fact.

 

[Ash47]

Oh, I didn't mean you Zoom. I was referring to Chintez. Sorry for confusin ya!

 

[bubbatd]

I find K9 Advantix better than Frontline.

 

[Chintez]

Always used frontline. Works decent, wouldn't say good enough.

 

[Ash47]

I like Interceptor and Heartgard tablets.

 

[Saje]

Mordy will probably be some help with this. PM her or ask her when she's online next.

 

[Mordy]

diatomaceous earth only works when it's dry. if it rains, you have to reapply after everything has dried up again. you sprinkle it directly on the ground, generating as little dust in the air as possible. personally i use a shake can that can hold about a pound of DE at a time.

another thing you can use against fleas is neem oil. i've also successfully used it against whiteflies. 2-3 tablespoons of neem oil and a teaspoon of citronella oil to a quart/liter of water, in a spray bottle.

 

[Chintez]

Will the Diatomaceous Earth actually kill them beneath the grass though?
It only got above the grass.

 

[Mordy]

it kills insects (not just fleas) by coming in contact with them. the diatom piecess are very sharp and slice the insect exoskeleton, which causes death.

so for it to work, it must be where the fleas are. so if you sprinkle it on the grass, you need to apply it as directly as possible. it may help if you keep your lawn cut short.

 

[durvish]

About the fleas themselves...depending on where you live, you could just wait for winter to kick into full swing and hope that kills most of them off.

If I remember right fleas just become dormant in cold weather, they don't die.