not a fish question - but need help

[darthtang aw]

Originally Posted by nina&noah
http:///forum/post/3156012
Darth, I don't understand why it annoys you so much that I suggested a homeopathic approach.
I am not annoyed at the homeopathic approach..in fact I promote that approach usually for many pet related and gardening things. But this is one case where I do not.
Pyrethrum has been known to affect the nervous system of mammals (dogs cats, mice, gerbils, etc.....even sometimes humans). It also breaks down quickly in sunlight and does not destroy the flea eggs. So effectively the OP would have to continue prolonged treatments within their own home with this option. Pyrethrum also kills fish quickly...even the smallest amounts in an aquarium will wipe it out.Diatamatious earth would be a safer in home alternative...it doesn't breakdown as quickly, however it doesn't work as quickly either.
I have no issue with homepathic methods, as you can see, I know quite a few. I just have issues staying homepathic when that option doesn't net the proper end results....and the end result is the killing of the egg.

 

[swilliamson79]

Thank you all for your response's
I didnt mean to start a big debate about methods used.
I will leave that at that - as i'm not opposed to using either methods. I just needed something to start quickly taking care of the problem - before more started hatching and driving us all nuts

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/3155929
may as well use a fogger if you are going to do that.
http://www.gardentech.com/images/06G..._432-1210_.pdf
fogger's creep me out. All I want to do is be somewhere that has been completely coated with poison.

 

[keri]

Originally Posted by nina&noah
http:///forum/post/3156012
Darth, I don't understand why it annoys you so much that I suggested a homeopathic approach. We lecture all the time about having a "naturalist" approach to the aquarium, and then suggest poisons to treat our home. It doesn't make sense to me.
Since you asked, what I would do is buy nematodes to release in the yard. The nematodes eat the fleas in all stages of its lifecycle. Do a google search on nematodes and fleas for more info. Then, I would soak my dog in a peppermint tea bath and comb her out real well to make sure I got rid of them all. I would use pyrethrum powder on the carpets. All of these items are available online. The pyrethrum powder and peppermint tea can be bought at a healthfood store.
Darth, that is just what I would do. I never said you didn't know what you were talking about. You're right about everything you said. I was just letting the OP and anyone else who is interested know that there are other options. That is all.
When you say "Nematode" what do you mean? Saying "Get some nematodes for your yard" is like saying "Get some fish for your tank" or "Get some mammals as pets" The term "nematode" covers in incredibly diverse group of creatures. Some nematodes (Toxocara canis ) are the roundworms most often infesting dogs, big badness, you wouldn't want that in your yard! (speaking of which, if he has fleas it wouldn't be a bad idea to throw some dewormer at him)
I'm all for people going gung ho on homeopathy, it's not my thing but to each their own, right now the dog Actually has a problem and there are some simpler, and more effective cures for it. (Speaking of "natural" how natural is it to introduce a foreign species of "nematode" into your yard, seems like a bad idea!) Ok, that sounds a little harsh but I get really upset when I see owners coming into my work with dogs covered in fleas because they insist on using "natural" products like garlic that really don't work, if you had bugs crawling on you wouldn't you want them dead - like right away?? Nina & Noah maybe you are blessed with living in an area that isn't as bad for fleas, and certainly having a white dog it is easier to see them right away and nip a small problem in the bud so please don't think I am angry at you.... If you catch it at the very first flea and kill that flea there is no problem to be had. I've also seen dogs HORRIBLY infested with fleas, Miserably itchy and sad be Flea-Free in a matter of hours with Advantage (and if that bad I usually give them a capstar at that time)
Anyway, where was I going?Oh yeah, Advantage, it's great, or I hear you guys have a great product called "Frontline" we don't have it here but I hear good things. I would start with an application of one of those and go from there... Are the fleas biting YOU in your house? You may have caught it before it gets really bad and sometimes having the pet treated is enough (The fleas you see only represent 5% of the population, the rest are eggs and larvae in your floors) Vacuuming the house stimulates more eggs to hatch so vacuum really well, dump the bag, and then vacuum again in a couple hours (again dumping the bag in a Sealed bag outside, another poster made a good point: Keep the flea collar off your pet but feel free to throw it in your vacuum! Does the trick)
At this point you can choose to use a premise spray or not depending on how bad it is, but we have different stuff here in Canada so I can't recommend anything in particular, unless you have Siphotrol? Works great and continues to kill fleas in the carpet for up to 7 months, as with anything aerosolized, cover your tanks or avoid that room alltogether.
edit: SCSInet: Advantage won't repel fleas but it does have a label claim stating that it will "kill fleas before they bite" which, Maybe but fleas don't tend to mess around like a tick on your pets fur they usually bite right away....It Will kill them without biting tho, I did a little experiment one day at work, 1 drop of advantage in a pill vial filled with fleas and hair and without it even touching them they began to twitch, Revolution took a lot longer, but in the end they were all dead, just being near it)