Flea treatment – again!

[admin]

Dear all.

Looking to pick your brains, please. Mable has suffered with fleas in the past, and whilst I’ve not seen any infestation for years, she gets quite irritated skin in the summer and I think it’s a flea allergic dermatitis – it seems to improve when I treat her regularly. She hates the spot-on treatments, but I’ve continued to use Stronghold (spot on, also called Revolution) because it works well, and Frontline didn’t work for us. I tried her on Comfortis (oral tablet) last year but she vomited. A lot. Back to Stronghold.

So a couple of weeks ago I treated her, and although she hates it, we’ve not had any problems with it. This time, her fur has fallen out at the application site, and her skin at the site is dry, scaly and irritated. She is not bothered, but from what I’ve read, this is quite a rare side effect (1%) and now I’m worried, because of her sister’s history with allergies and ultimately, IMHA. Equally, I NEED to treat her for fleas in the summer months because her skin also suffers.

I guess my question is whether you think these skin irritations I’m seeing with her are a warning sign. I’d be grateful for your thoughts.

Thanks in advance

Mary and Mable xxx

[lynn]

hi mary,
yes I agree flea’s are even more of a worry for those of us with IMHA babies… as I always told everyone .. D.E is as good thing to always keep but it has to be food grade to use on fur babies… another thing I like is to treat the yard with something safe and natural… I use natural chemistry yard and kennel spray… but must be dry before you allow your dear fur baby out… and either the wipes or spray by vetri-science for the fur baby…. I love this product and I use the wipes you can buy either wipes or spray… I use both … it last about 3 day’s on the fur baby. I am afraid of the spot on treatments. we don’t have fleas but the dangerous tick and deer ticks at that. so I treat with natural thing like above products… but with any you have to watch your fur baby… that’s why the pre measured wipes are my favorite and the spray to spray to use on sofas,chairs,pillows, their beds, even curtains and any place I can… ha! ticks can hitch a ride on us just like flea’s… we have many deer in our yard but the fenced part .. it’s just awful… and D.E. works on both and other bug’s too! even though I have wooden floor I vac daily and I throw away the bag during summer months it cost throwing the bag’s away…. I do just in case there is a hiding tick . I mop with vinegar and peppermint oil too. it has never hurt the wood on my floors and smells so good like a peppermint patie.and the yard after you sray it it smells so good for a few weeks or so. this is what I do don’t know if it will help you or not… I haven’t had a tick on any of my fur babies in 20 years but during treatment for Hayley on a vet visit I had to pick fleas off from her before getting in the car to take her home. I put D.E. on her and then sprayed her with vets best which does not work like vetri-science does. I order it from mr.chewy.com I get a lot of things from mr.chewy and they bring it to your door …. I love that as I am a older senior who can’t go out too easy and shop for my little Hayley… they have all the things I use for grooming like the earthbath shampoo and the ear cleaner and even the orijen food I use and freeze dried treats by orijen nail clipper’s harness and gates you name it they have it for your fur baby.i use to home cook but many health issues I just went to kibble…. because I can’t . I hope this info helps. lynn & hayley

[lynn]

mary,
sorry I didn’t answer the question on skin irritation…. it could be a reaction to the spot on or flea bite. when Hayley got a flea from the vet visit I used dermagic shampoo on her it helped her skin … Hayley can not take flea bites at allbut this poor fur baby in the office had fleas so bad and you could se them jumping onthat poor fur baby. I ordered it from on-line that shampoo is great for irritation on your fur baby skin and it the skin rescue was used it was a life saver for Hayley.cleared her right up.i sure hope mables skin gets better… they bite and pull their fur out when the flea bites … some fur babies do that.. and reaction to spot on can cause the fur to come out also…. but as for the IMHA I do not think it causes that to happen but someone who knows more than I do would have to answer that… I have never came across that in all the years faced with imha in Hayley or other I have know with their fur baby… so that I am sorry I do not know. I sure hope mable finds some relief that helps soon. lynn & Hayley p.s. in first post there are good opts for flea control that is safe and really works.

[lynn]

Mary,
I just talked to a friend who has 6 fur children one that is a kittie fur baby. I asked her if she had any problems with ticks as she live in same area as I do . Beth said no I never have flea’s or ticks. I asked her what she did to keep them away… this is what Beth told me. all she has ever done is use brewer’s yeast ( not the yeast used in bread )… not in adding it to food or recipes… but! she uses it like flea powder under the fur even her kittie that is 19 years young she walks him on lead in her yard. I have never heard of this treatment but thought I would pass it on. Who would have thought that would work… not me! I do know brewer’s yeast isn’t good with fur babies who have problem’s with yeast on paw’s or ear’s… so I thought. I could be wrong there… don’t know. It will be interesting to hear back on this treatment how ever. thought I would pass it on as she states that’s all she has ever used and no problems… states it doesn’t kill them the pests just hate the smell.. so I really don’t know. lynn & hayley

[admin]

Dear Lynn

Thank you SO much for all the wonderful information you had sent me. I really do appreciate it and will look into all the things you have mentioned. I checked the skin last night and it’s still quite dry. She isn’t worried by it, but I hate that this treatment has done that to her and I’m worried now it might have “burnt” her. So, I really do need to start looking at more natural products I think. There are no signs she has fleas at the moment, so I’m combing her daily just to try to make sure.

Thank you again for all your help with this. Lots of great information for me to look into.

Mary and Mable x

[Vally]

Actually yes Lynn, I’ve heard of Brewer’s yeast working to keep fleas away too. That might be worth checking Mary.

I think there’s been a big difference this last summer with fleas on Bingo and I’m pretty sure it was the regular vitamin b shots. Hardly any fleas at all on him. Other people around me were complaining that fleas were bad this year but Bingo breezed through it.

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[admin]

Hi Mary. I am so sorry poor Mable is going through this. Sadue too has problems with her skin and consequently, her fur, this year from fleas. This is the first year this has affected her this way.

I agree with ALL Lynn says. I use mood grade DE all over: in Sadie’s bed, on rugs, anywhere where she lies or sleeps (except our bed) It has really helped!!! I have not seen OBE flea in over two months.

I also wanted to send you this link from Dr. Dodds mentioning Vitinin B supplements, like flea treats.com. See #3.

http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/50941099993/q-a-with-dr-dodds-flea-control

I am going to get some and try for Sadie. Good luck with all this. It is heartbreaking to see them so miserable with these peaty critters!!!

Sending lots of love and rubs (instead of scratches) on those itchy spots,

Linda and Sadie

[admin]

PS – that would be, have not seen ONE flea! Goodness, Linda