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If an area doesn't seem to have fleas, it's probably because most people keep them killed off... and don't mention them before getting them killed off again... have flea collars on dogs and cats... it gets as low as -20 F. around here... although not much lately...
 
I would have to see them. I don't remember those flea collars ever working.
 
My. wolf-dog never had fleas. We had a cat that would get fleas but my wife would bathe her to get rid of them so we missed having an infestation.

I have never had a flea collar that worked but they may have improved them in recent years.
 
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My vet told me it is impossible to get rid of fleas in my area because I'm in the woods and the fleas are outside as well as inside. I have 30 acres that are partially wooded and a forest around on 3 sides. The deer, possums, squirrels, rabbits, mice, rats, etc all carry fleas. The moisture makes it the perfect environment. They are in the house, in the vehicles, and all over. I have tried flea collars, flea pills, flea drops, diatomaceous earth, flea powder, spray, etc and nothing has worked. The monthly flea pills for the dogs don't even work for a week. We give our older dogs flea pills and they have flea collars.
Once the puppies are gone, I will lock all pets out of the front room and put some flea powder in the carpet and vacuum. I'll make sure its not Hartz brand though. That stuff kills pets but not fleas.
The lady who wants the pups promised she will take them but is not sure if she can afford to pay for some of the treatments/etc for them. Quite frankly, if it gets them off my hands, I'm willing to pay for the spaying/neutering and heartworm shots just so I won't have to deal with them anymore. My brother is about ready to shoot them. He's started kicking them whenever they get in front of him.
I'm trying to get myself to go to sleep since I have to be up early but my brain keeps reminding me that I have to think about getting up early. Taking my friend for a dental consultation and then I'm staining a door he put up.
 
Eddie_T said:
I guess that would be a circle of thirds rather than fifths
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Major thirds gets you a repetition of the same 3 notes, minor thirds gets you the same 4, so I guess a 3-stage lifecycle means a circle of major thirds. The "happy" interval...not so much when you're scratching flea bites!

When our cat had fleas years ago I used to catch them; smudging between thumb and forefinger didn't kill them either, I had to pinch them between my nails.
 
When we lived in Florida fleas were common. We had a Doberman and a Poodle and just washed them often and used kennel flea/tick spray concentrate. I looked at ingredients finding that it was the same as in the small bottles for dip but considerably less per ounce. Fleas can't stand sun and heat. I have been sitting in the sun with the Dobe and saw fleas moving for the shady side of the dog (time for a spritz and wipe down). Don't believe the naysayers it just takes persistence.

Getting rid of fleas | CDC
 
Eddie_T said:
When we lived in Florida fleas were common. We had a Doberman and a Poodle and just washed them often and used kennel flea/tick spray concentrate. I looked at ingredients finding that it was the same as in the small bottles for dip but considerably less per ounce. Fleas can't stand sun and heat. I have been sitting in the sun with the Dobe and saw fleas moving for the shady side of the dog (time for a spritz and wipe down). Don't believe the naysayers it just takes persistence.

Getting rid of fleas | CDC
Click to expand...

The problem with the recommendations of the CDC and the Veterinarians is it's all chemical poisoning. The chemicals absorb through the animal's skin (and humans) and affect every organ. Then the sickness that results from that is treated with more chemicals.
 
Spicoli43 said:
The problem with the recommendations of the CDC and the Veterinarians is it's all chemical poisoning. The chemicals absorb through the animal's skin (and humans) and affect every organ. Then the sickness that results from that is treated with more chemicals.
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That is a concern but unfortunately one has to choose an option live with flea infestation or use chemicals.

I mixed some 1% povidone-iodine for my nasal spritzer and used it last evening and today since I went out for supper.
 
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If the plant-based options aren't also chemicals (probably derived from the plants' own poisons used for self-defense), what are they?
 
Flyover said:
If the plant-based options aren't also chemicals (probably derived from the plants' own poisons used for self-defense), what are they?
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Good point! Digitalis is made from foxglove and can prove quite poisonous.
 
I was really just being pedantic though. I know what Spicoli meant and was giving him a hard time. He means manufactured chemicals, not found in nature, that are likely to harm our bodies or otherwise lead to health problems if absorbed or applied topically. And I agree, it's a good idea to avoid those if you can.

I still haven't installed the new faucet, and other DIY tasks are adding up. Work has been unusually busy the last few months!

I got my son off training wheels a couple days ago (much, much easier and faster than I expected; he basically got the hang of it immediately), and then yesterday his baby sister came along and somehow managed to pop the inner tube on his front tire by pulling on the valve, so I have been hearing nonstop requests from him to put the new tube in. If I get a chance I hope to do it tomorrow.
 
Agreed.

There is a solution to the problem but it is difficult and time consuming. Bathe all the animals and place them in uninfested containment. Do the best to clear the house and property then introduce one clean animal that is easily bathed. Bathe it daily as it becomes a host and reduce the frequency of bathing as the flea count with bathing diminishes. I have forgotten how long this must continue to break the cycle.

I did it once but I was the host and I would walk a pattern every morning with bared lower legs and a small jar of water with a strong detergent solution. I would wet my finger and when a flea jumped on my ankle I would touch it and deposit it in the water. My wife, dog and cat were at her mom's so I was the only one in the house. After 20 minutes or so there would be no more captures and I would carefully spray (avoiding over spray) the path with a strong insecticide. I repeated this daily until I got no more hits. When wife and animals returned returned we kept close watch on them and bathed often. Fortunately the dog was a toy poodle and the cat was a Maine Coon that loved a bath. My wife used a comb to remove addled fleas and place them in a strong detergent solution.

I knew a lady that lived in Amite that had cats and no fleas but she didn't let them go outdoors.
 
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Bathing 15 cats, 4 dogs, and 2 cows daily is not happening. LOL. I've lived with fleas around almost my whole life so its not a big deal to me. I will do what I can to reduce their numbers though.

Didn't get to stain the door for my friend because he wants to move it over first. I need to drop a charger off at his house tomorrow bc he lost his for his cordless drill. Also need to get inspection sticker for CR-V and put new registration sticker on it. It sat for over a year so it will need other maintenance. My brother has to go to the casino and get drug tested and show them his birth certificate. Requiring bc is asinine in a place where a lot of people have lost their homes and personal documents. I still remember when a friend of mine needed to get an ID (he can't drive for medical reasons) and his mother refused to give him his ss card and birth certificate. He couldn't get one without the other. I eventually found the right forms for him to fill out if he'd lost both and he works as a technician at an eye doctor now.
 
You are a first for me. I have never heard of anyone before that could tolerate living with fleas or letting their animals suffer. After our experience we would go into DEFCON 3 if we saw just one flea or even flea scat on an animal.
 
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Eddie, I'm going to do my best to reduce the numbers but I'm being realistic about not being able to kill all the fleas-- particularly when they are all around in the woods and I have 30 acres. My vet told me straight up that it is impossible to get rid of all of the fleas- especially the ones outside. Its not that I want to let my animals suffer, but I can't get rid of the fleas entirely.

Just got bad news from the woman who wanted to adopt the dog- she said they can't take the dogs and not to contact her again. I guess she and her husband were fighting about it. So, I will have to find someone else to take them or find a shelter to drop them at. I guess she didn't want further contact because she was afraid I'd make her feel guilty about them going to a shelter or being separated. But I sent one last message thanking her for info she provided to help my friend with his dental and that was it. I may have to post them on FB marketplace or ask the school busdriver (who shares a property line with me) if he knows someone who can take them.

Got inspection sticker and registration sticker on the CR-V so it is running. My brother drives it terribly but it has good insurance and he's on it. I don't know how someone can fishtail in a vehicle like that, but he does. And he almost went through 2 red lights bc he wasn't paying attention. Might have been tired. Tried to go through the car wash but it was broken.
 
A vet isn't necessarily a smart person when it comes to pest control (IOW that's not medicine). I have five acres of woods and critters so I know there are fleas and ticks out there. My kennel is in the edge of the woods but it was never infested with fleas. Fleas cannot exist without a host. If they are in the grass there is a host (or hosts) that is supporting them (fleas don't eat grass).

A lawn area can be sprayed to break the cycle and create a buffer zone and certainly the house can be treated. Keep the lawn mowed close as fleas can't stand heat and it makes it easier to spray.You have entirely too many animals. You should have only the number you can easily manage and give proper attention to. As long as you seek and accept excuses (such as quoting your vet) you will make no progress.
 
BuzzLOL said:
One year a friend talked me into adding oysters to the Thanksgiving stuffing. Nobody would eat it because it smelled and tasted like it was rotten/spoiled... Rather than waste it, I ate most of it myself, trying to hide the taste under lots of turkey gravy, but wasn't enjoying it like usual.
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When Mom made stuffing and now the times I make it, oysters are squished into the bread crumbs.
 
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