Fleas on Dog

This is going to be kinda long so I apologize up front...I'm so p-o'd about this, that no one realized it sooner....I went to MIL's house today and she mentioned she found black specks on one of her dogs. Long story short, we found out both of her dogs have fleas. She bought flea stuff and bathed them in that and in Dawn soap as per the girl in Petco.

Flash forward to about a half hour ago, I notice my dog going to town on his backside near his tail, my dog has chewed a major gash into his back in a couple of spots and we found some small bugs on him too, 2 alive and crawling a couple dead.

My dog went to my IL's last Monday, about a week and a half ago now. That is the only contact he's had with any dogs and spent the entire day outside. He dog not go outside himself unless it's for a walk and that's on the street not grass.

My MIL doesn't think it's fleas bc they look like tiny gnats not like the pic of the flea on the package. Since it's late DH is running out to buy Dawn soap but what do I do now? Go to the vet or just buy flea meds tomorrow? Do I have to do something special to my furniture and rugs to clean them? It's been so long now, I'm worried that they could have gotten around our house. I've never had to deal with this before and neither has MIL.

Re: Fleas on Dog

Go to the vet to get flea treatments asap. And yes, your MIL should have told you before she allowed yoru dog over, esp if your dog was not on flea meds.

That's the most important thing you can do. You can also buy a flea comb and pick live fleas off of yoru dog, then submerse the comb into a cup mixed with Dawn dishwashingdetergent and water. The Dawn helps thicken up the water, to drown the fleas.

They are definitely around the house by this point in time. That's why you need to use a monthly flea treatment on your dog, from the vet, to stop the cycle. It may get worse before it gets better as new fleas mature and pop up. I am not a fan of flea bombs so I cant say I would do that. And no flea combs, or flea med baths, they can be dangerous and not needed. Just bathe in a Dawn sudsy bath and use the flea meds asap.

I know how miserable fleas can be. And I would be fuming if I were you.

Re: Fleas on Dog

Sounds like fleas--I feel your pain. I've been dealing with this since the end of Oct. They're a PIA.
Call the vet tomorrow. The vet might suggest a topical like Frontline or an oral pill, or suggest using both. On the day you treat, wash everything your dog lays on and vacuum really well.
You might need to repeat the topical monthly for a while. We didn't and now they're back!

Also get a flea comb, if you don't have one. As you comb off fleas, drown them in a bowl of water and Dawn.

Oh and I bathed my dog in Dawn and it didn't seem to work. Two days later, I found a flea on him.

Good luck!

Re: Fleas on Dog

Re: Fleas on Dog

Re: Fleas on Dog

We use Frontline but if you're not a fan of Frontline or Advantix try the Adams Spray. My Aunt swears by it and she's been using on her dogs for years and has never had a flea problem. She says it's not as harsh.