Flea dander, but no visible fleas yet

The last few days I've been finding tiny black crusties on my dog. I showed DH, who is an exterminator and he said it's flea dander. Sure, enough, we found more flea dander in his bedding. We have yet to find an actual flea and DH who does plenty of flea jobs (though not recently so I don't think he brought any home), has been looking very carefully.

I'm almost 8 months pregnant, so needless to say I don't want to expose myself (or the dog) to harmful chemicals. What should we do here? Go see the vet?

We're neat freaks. In fact, my dog just had a bath last week and I had washed all his bedding. Of course, they're all back in the wash machine again today.

Help!

ETA: The vet's office told me to get Advantix and have DH apply it. I guess I just won't touch him for a little while (that's going to be hard!)

Message edited 10/30/2010 10:11:35 AM.

Re: Flea dander, but no visible fleas yet

Vacuum...a lot! I do not use chemicals on my dog ever just because I don't want him to ever be exposed to them. There is an organic flea and tick bath called Dr. Richards Organics. I get it at Petco. I would bathe him with that, leave it on for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse it off. Do this and the same day wash the bedding and vacuum the whole house. Put a flea collar, or part of a flea collar, in the vacuum bag. It won't smell great while you are actually vacuuming but if you vacuum up any fleas or eggs, it will kill them in the bag. Flea season should be ending soon, but I would repeat this as often as necessary as long as you have to. I do it and have been very successful. As long as you are using a mild shampoo without unnatural fragrances and preservatives, it is okay to bathe them a little more often. I am into showing dogs and people who show their dogs bathe them very frequently and it is fine. I would also get a flea comb. You can comb the dog down to the skin and if there are fleas in the path they will come out on the comb. Grab them quick! Little buggers jump fast! Hope this helps. Feel free if you have any other questions about my version of natural flea and tick prevention. :o)

Re: Flea dander, but no visible fleas yet

Honestly i would just start using what you did, Frontline or Advantix, etc. That will break the flea cycle and that's the best thing you can do. I would not use chemicals, etc, esp being pg.

As for flea products on your dog, just make sure to wash your hands after petting your dog.

I am a fraek about chemicals, etc, and we still used Frontline on our dogs throughout my pg. Much worse to get fleas and bit by a flea than the slimmest risk with a product like Advantix.

if you did not apply the Advantix yet I would personally suggest Frontline instead....

does it look like black pepper? B/c that's what flea dirt looks like. It's not really crusty.

Message edited 10/30/2010 5:40:24 PM.

Re: Flea dander, but no visible fleas yet

Thanks for the responses. The vet recommended Advantix. My DH applied it yesterday afternoon and I didn't touch the dog for several hours and I'm still avoiding the application site.
Before we gave it to him, I combed him out with a flea comb and found a ton of dander and a few live ones (which I drowned in Palmolive). This am I found one really teeny one on him and hardly any dander. I'm really hoping that's the last of it and the Advantix just hadn't fully kicked in yet. If they don't go away, the vet said to come back for the pill.

Anyone have experience with the pill?

Re: Flea dander, but no visible fleas yet

Never used the pill. It can be used with a topical flea med? I have no clue.

yes, take water with suds from dishwashing liquid (dawn, etc), and drown the suckers you pull off your dog, by swishing the comb with the fleas in them submersed in water. you will see the fleas drown and die. Could take a while to see a change but it will come. HTH

Message edited 11/1/2010 2:38:26 AM.

Re: Flea dander, but no visible fleas yet

Re: Flea dander, but no visible fleas yet