[ChiCaddy]

My little guy just turned 9 months and I found a black jumping bug inside his fur. We used frontline about two months ago for the first time and hesitated to use it again once we found out my wife is pregnant. Well yesterday we got one of the bugs out and didnt see any more. We agreed to apply a dose of frontline and the wife would stay away from the pup for a few days. I also threw away his bedding, vacummmed the house thoroughly and put his blankets in the wash.

My question is what else should I be doing? It would be terrible if the house got infested.

Anyone here have prior experience with being pregnant and the application of flea meds ?

 

[teetee]

I have no idea about pregnancy and flea meds..BUT I have heard of the pill form of flea meds. I couldn't tell you anything about them :/ Sorry.

 

[chaiteahuahua]

Try looking into Diatomaceous Earth-- just make sure it is one geared for use on pets. This is the brand we use: LuminoPets.com Home Page
We found a flea on Brewster a couple weeks ago, applied some DE, and no fleas since!

 

[LostLakeLua]

I really like the De-Flea line from Natural Chemistry. They have a pet AND bedding spray; which is really nice.

That said I have not yet been pregnant; so I don't know much about Frontline and if it causes any problems in pregnant humans.

If you do keep up with the Frontline treatment monthly though, fleas won't have a chance to even be brought into the environment (I mean, unless they have another pet/source). They are icky little creatures for sure; we had one bad infestation after I was trying to just treat them on an "as needed" basis... never again; we live in a heavily wooded area now so I learned my lesson and I apply it every month. Since you just noticed it now and he's had another dose; you likely caught it 'early enough' especially if you already threw away his bedding. =) Good luck; and oh congratulations on your upcoming addition. =)

 

[pupluv168]

From what I've researched, it seems as though Frontline is one of the safest products out there. What I would do is make sure that you apply the Frontline rather from your wife. And I'd tell her to avoid petting the area where it is applied for 24 hours (until it is completely dried).

Again, this is what I have researched. I'd call the number on the box and talk to a representative.

 

[ChiCaddy]

Thanks to all for the responses. I did some more research and found the following site:

http://www.greenpaws.org/_docs/GP_productlist.pdf

It seems that the stuff in Frontline Plus is really bad and a neurotoxin, especially bad for young kids and pregnant women. I think in near future I will switch him to a pill combination of heart worm and flea treatment. They seem to be the least bad for humans. I think the flea/heart-worm combo pill only kills the eggs, so if I ever were to notice adult fleas on him, I would give him Capstar which immediately kills all adult fleas. (but not eggs).

What do you guys think of this combo? Anyone out there use Sentinel or trifexis?

 

[pupluv168]

My grandmother uses Trifexis on her Shih Tzu. She has for years. She swears by it. The only reason I don't use it is because I only give Toby half a dose and it is difficult to do that with the pill. I'm still researching- right now he gets Vectra 3d for fleas ticks and mosquitoes (1/2 dose) and heartguard plus for heartworm and internal parasites (1/2 dose).

I hope you find something safe!

 

[Philippa]

I would apply the frontline every month. I prefer K9 Advantix but, for me, the only things that ever work for keeping fleas off are the real products (i.e., not "natural remedies") Then again, I live in Florida and we had such a warm winter that the bug count this year is up 300%.

But as far as your wife is concerned, I think that's being waaaay too cautious. It's not like she's drinking the frontline... If it's okay for my 2 pound puppy it should be okay for your wife and the baby.

 

[Chi Nation]

Try using "Trifexis", its a multi preventative that is a pill and your wife will not have exclude herself from the puppy. Trifexis® (spinosad + milbemycin oxime) Three Types of Parasite Protection for Dogs — trifexis.com

 

[CHITheresa]

Here is some safe home made treatment

Here is home made treatment, works great

2 lemons
1 Pkg fresh Rosemary
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp whole cloves
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 dropper Neem Seed oil

Slice lemon very thin and add all ingredients to a mason jar or alike. Cover with boiling water and steep for 6 to 8 hours. Re-use ingredients to make another batch. Put some in spray bottle or put on pet with cloth soaked. Store in refrigerator last six months.

 

[Chi Nation]

Here is some safe home made treatment

Here is home made treatment, works great

2 lemons
1 Pkg fresh Rosemary
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp whole cloves
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 dropper Neem Seed oil

Slice lemon very thin and add all ingredients to a mason jar or alike. Cover with boiling water and steep for 6 to 8 hours. Re-use ingredients to make another batch. Put some in spray bottle or put on pet with cloth soaked. Store in refrigerator last six months.

Thats sounds like so.ething my dogs would try to eat! lol

 

[CHITheresa]

Thats sounds like so.ething my dogs would try to eat! lol

If they do lick it, it wont hurt them at all. works great...

 

[AussieLass]

Sorry, but fleas is where I stop even trying to be a greenie, tree-huggin', hemp wearin', save the whales earth crusader!

Seriously girls, get a grip .... if these mumbo jumbo natural concoctions worked, do you not think some entrepreneurial so & so would've shoved it in a bottle to save people like me who can't even find their way to a supermarket, let alone their own kitchen, and be marketing it & selling it as the next best thing since sliced bread or shake a bottle pankcakes. Up there's for thinking, down there is for dancin'!!!

Someone give me a witch's brew that absolutely works (ie kills ALL fleas in all stages of the life cycle) and I'll do the set up of and run our global company, making you a partner to take 50% of the billions we'll rake in.

Kill them, kill them with fire ('tis the only natural thing that will work) or, kill them with poison - anything else is just driving them into cracks, corners, crevices where they'll wait and hate and, when they launch their get even strike, god have mercy on you, your house and your pets - the only dang thing that will be safe is yer fish. Don't say I didn't warn you - flea eggs can lay in empty houses, sand etc for years without hatching and the second something alive walks through that space, the rise from the dead screaming "ATTAAAAACK!"

 

[Chi Nation]

I'm gonna try it out. Sounds like it smells pretty good too.

 

[CHITheresa]

Sorry, but fleas is where I stop even trying to be a greenie, tree-huggin', hemp wearin', save the whales earth crusader!

Seriously girls, get a grip .... if these mumbo jumbo natural concoctions worked, do you not think some entrepreneurial so & so would've shoved it in a bottle to save people like me who can't even find their way to a supermarket, let alone their own kitchen, and be marketing it & selling it as the next best thing since sliced bread or shake a bottle pankcakes. Up there's for thinking, down there is for dancin'!!!

Someone give me a witch's brew that absolutely works (ie kills ALL fleas in all stages of the life cycle) and I'll do the set up of and run our global company, making you a partner to take 50% of the billions we'll rake in.

Kill them, kill them with fire ('tis the only natural thing that will work) or, kill them with poison - anything else is just driving them into cracks, corners, crevices where they'll wait and hate and, when they launch their get even strike, god have mercy on you, your house and your pets - the only dang thing that will be safe is yer fish. Don't say I didn't warn you - flea eggs can lay in empty houses, sand etc for years without hatching and the second something alive walks through that space, the rise from the dead screaming "ATTAAAAACK!"

What ever!!!!!!

 

[AussieLass]

What ever!!!!!!

Wow! So much thought put into that response, outstanding!!!!!!

 

[pupluv168]

Dee, I live in Florida. And I could not agree more with you! When it comes to fleas and ticks I don't play games!

PS- You are beyond funny!

 

[Chi Nation]

Sorry, but fleas is where I stop even trying to be a greenie, tree-huggin', hemp wearin', save the whales earth crusader!

Seriously girls, get a grip .... if these mumbo jumbo natural concoctions worked, do you not think some entrepreneurial so & so would've shoved it in a bottle to save people like me who can't even find their way to a supermarket, let alone their own kitchen, and be marketing it & selling it as the next best thing since sliced bread or shake a bottle pankcakes. Up there's for thinking, down there is for dancin'!!!

Someone give me a witch's brew that absolutely works (ie kills ALL fleas in all stages of the life cycle) and I'll do the set up of and run our global company, making you a partner to take 50% of the billions we'll rake in.

Kill them, kill them with fire ('tis the only natural thing that will work) or, kill them with poison - anything else is just driving them into cracks, corners, crevices where they'll wait and hate and, when they launch their get even strike, god have mercy on you, your house and your pets - the only dang thing that will be safe is yer fish. Don't say I didn't warn you - flea eggs can lay in empty houses, sand etc for years without hatching and the second something alive walks through that space, the rise from the dead screaming "ATTAAAAACK!"

You sure have a great way with words hahaha!!! Very expresive! :foxes251:

 

[AussieLass]

Dee, I live in Florida. And I could not agree more with you! When it comes to fleas and ticks I don't play games!

PS- You are beyond funny!

Not according to some, apparently

Hahaha, well, I wasn't trying to be funny, I was actually being deadly serious about a very serious issue that includes fleas AND TAPEWORMS for those who're going to have little babies crawling around on floors and petting dogs where the eggs are on the coat bla bla bla!!!

I have a really evil allergy to flea bites that has built up over the years. I rented a holiday unit years ago, my little girl & I walked in and within a few minutes our legs were BLACK, quite literally covered with 100's & 100's of fleas. I used 2 flea bombs & a whole huge can of surface spray within a few short minutes, the place was literally wet with spray, but that only worked as far as the door, once outside, holy hell batman, it was on again!

Then when I was a Realtor, it was not unusual to walk into empty homes and after the 1st visit when they had been awakened & hatched, be attacked by dozens at a time. A few times like that & I became worse & worse after each attack until eventually I was told by Docs to do whatever it takes to avoid getting bit. I'm afraid, garlic, parsley, eye of bat, toe of newt just doesn't cut it for me. It may well do for some, but if you're serious about killing them in all stages of their life cycle, and keeping your inside space devoid of them for health reasons, then you need to get 'REAL" :toothy9:

What amazes me more than anything is people's general ignorance about the actual lifecycle of fleas, what commercial meds do what specifically (they are all different in the way they act - for example "Sentinel" is useless against fleas you pick up whilst out & about, so you have to use an auxillary killer, but that auxillary killer is useless against larvae/eggs etc) so there is no such thing as a one pronged attack with the little blighters and there is nothing you can do to keep outside of your home from having them for any length of time.

 

[Brodysmom]

Dee, I see where you are coming from. We had a flea infestation years ago when we had a Great Pyrenees. OMG. I never want that to happen again. Awful. And I know this has been a horrible year for fleas.

Having said that .... I am not going to put a potent neurotoxin on my 5 pound dog JUST IN CASE. If I see a flea - sure. But if I can go through him with a flea comb and he's not scratching and there's no sign of a flea - why would I bombard his little body with those chemical poisons?

That's where I hedge my bets and use a naturopathic herbal solution that REPELS bugs. And yes, it does seem to work. Haven't seen a flea all year. But... we do treat the yard, it's been too hot to go anywhere, and he is mostly in the house. If we were going to dog parks or out and about, pet stores, etc. then he might pick one up. And like I said - THEN I would have no hesitation in treating. But I would use the least invasive strategy possible... dawn dishwashing liquid, flea comb, etc. before I would resort to the neurotoxins that are in flea medications.

http://www.apnm.org/publications/resources/fleachemfin.pdf