Fleas Nightmare

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Alon - 25 Jan 2007 00:27 GMT

Hi,

I live in the UK and I recently moved into a house which had 1 Dog and
2 Cats. About a week after I moved I noticed that I was getting lots of
Flea bites and my Rabbit was scratching as well. We have powdered the
house with Diatomaceous earth and we put Advantage 40 by Bayer on our
Rabbit for 4 weeks (1 each week). After 2-3 weeks the fleas seem to all
die off. We cleaned the whole house from Diatomaceous earth. Now about
1.5 months later have caught 2 live fleas, one yesterday and one today
on my hand. My rabbit doesn't seem to scratch, and except those live
ones I didn't get any bites.
My questions are - Can these fleas (probably a Cat or Dog Flea) breed
on humans or rabbits? Should I start the whole treatment again?

Any help will be appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Alon

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Phil Anthropist - 25 Jan 2007 06:08 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Alon

I am not a vet, just a cat and dog owner (also in the UK). Both the cat and
dog had fleas years ago and we got rid of them and have kept them free of
fleas since by applying Frontline flea killer to their fur. When they had
fleas we also used an electric flea killer
(http://www.lamp-post.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CH20139). This electric flea
killer caught several fleas that I assume were living in a mattress or
carpet in between biting me around the ankles. Your fleas must be getting a
blood meal from somewhere. If they were biting you then you would have sores
around your ankles and if they were biting your rabbit then I assume it
would show signs of itching. For peace of mind I think if I was in your
situation I would try an electric flea killer and repeat the treatment on
the rabbit.

Reply to this Message

Alon - 26 Jan 2007 09:05 GMT

Thanks

I'll give it a try

> > Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> situation I would try an electric flea killer and repeat the treatment on
> the rabbit.

Reply to this Message

Linda Boucher - 26 Jan 2007 22:18 GMT

Hi
i dont think frontline is save for rabbits
frontline will kill your bunnies,please dont used this
Linda

> Thanks
>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> > situation I would try an electric flea killer and repeat the treatment on
> > the rabbit.

Reply to this Message

Ruth - 27 Jan 2007 12:41 GMT

Definitely do not use frontline. I found this information on one of the vet
websites for treatment of internal and external parasites in rabbits. Word
of caution, before you take anyone's advice on this on any other ng, do some
research.

Rabbits
a.. Avoid using Frontline on your rabbit(s). It has been known to cause
death and seizures in such animals.
b.. Advantage has been reported to be safe for use on rabbits. Check with
your veterinarian for the proper dosage for your pet.
c.. Never use flea collars, flea dips, or permythrin- or
pyrethrin-containing products such as Bio-Spot on rabbits.
d.. Be cautious when using herbal products on your rabbit(s). Many are
toxic to them, especially pennyroyal.
e.. As with ferrets, apply topical liquid products only on areas where
your rabbit cannot reach to lick and ingest.
f.. A "natural" product known as Worm-Out can be added to your rabbit's
food and/or sprinkled on its' fur to aid in reducing both external and
internal parasites, including fleas.

Signature

Ruth, Woody & Thumper

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Phil Anthropist - 27 Jan 2007 13:55 GMT

> Definitely do not use frontline. I found this information on one of the
> vet websites for treatment of internal and external parasites in rabbits.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> food and/or sprinkled on its' fur to aid in reducing both external and
> internal parasites, including fleas.

I am sorry if I gave the impression that Frontline can be used on rabbits. I
was trying to explain how we eradicated cat and dog fleas which on
reflection is irrelevant to the original post. Frontline is prescription
only in the UK and a vet would not prescribe it for rabbit use.

Reply to this Message

Alon - 27 Jan 2007 15:27 GMT

Thank you all for the help and care for my Rabbit I appreciate it very
much.

> > Definitely do not use frontline. I found this information on one of the
> > vet websites for treatment of internal and external parasites in rabbits.
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> reflection is irrelevant to the original post. Frontline is prescription
> only in the UK and a vet would not prescribe it for rabbit use.

Reply to this Message

Kay Lancaster - 28 Jan 2007 22:42 GMT

Another tactic to consider is the use of a premises spray containing an IGR
(insect growth regulator) like methoprene or nylar. These will not give
instant results unless there's a pesticide like a pyrethroid or such mixed
with them. What the IGRs do is prevent larval fleas from growing up to be
adult, biting, reproducing fleas... the fleas are permanently stalled at the
larval stage, and the population then declines.

Nylar has the advantage of being more UV -stable than methoprene, so can be used
outdoors (though its active much longer indoors). I'd check with a vet
before using either around pet rabbits, but AFAIK, plain IGRs are of such
low toxicity in mammals that it's unlikely to be an issue. Cost for just
the IGR (without a fast knockdown pesticide added) is also pretty reasonable,
about $15-20 for a 1500 sq ft house per year. Concentrate is mixed with plain
water and sprayed on floors, crevices, under furniture, etc. with a pump-up
garden sprayer.

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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / January 2007

Fleas Nightmare