Fleas

[R. Johnson]

Hey, need some advice. We brought home a new puppy yesterday and today my wife has found a single flea on him. Now she's wanting to go nuclear and bug bomb the house and spray the yard, etc... Y'all think that's really necessary, or should I hold off a little while and see what happens. It was just one flea after all.

 

[subprep]

bathe him in some regular dawn dishwashing soap

 

[rhodesbe]

With freezing weather settling in, I don't reckon it will be much of a problem one way, or the other. Just give the animal a bath.

 

[NikatKimber]

bathe him in some regular dawn dishwashing soap

Dawn works.

Just rub a ring around the neck, make sure it gets all the way down to the skin. Then wash the body. That makes sure the fleas can't just run to the head while you wash the body.

 

[R. Johnson]

Is it necessary to bug bomb the house?

 

[nofearfactor]

No fleas but I still found one really small tick on my dog a few days ago. He got a bath.

 

[nich018]

I wouldn't go nuclear, but if you use chemicals, read instructions for puppies.

 

[Perplexed]

Since you found the flea so soon, I wouldn't worry about the house. You might wash the dog's bedding and wherever he's been resting/sleeping, and vacuum the carpet. The bath suggestions are what I'd do also, though I use baby shampoo. Kills the fleas the same.

 

[surjimmy]

What they said, but if there is one flea there are others. You might get a bowl of soapy water and put a light above it and place it in the area where the puppy sleeps. In the mourning check the bowl and see if there are any fleas and that will help you to see if you have a problem.

 

[subprep]

Is it necessary to bug bomb the house?

I doubt it, I wouldn't bomb at all unless you see an actual flea on your skin. then yes I would bomb.

actually when I was a kid and we had an indoor outdoor cat and fleas sometimes hatched, my granny would sprinkle 7 dust all over the carpet and leave it on for 24 hours and sweep it up. no more fleas. Ive heard the same can be done with plain salt. Fleas want to stay on the puppy and one flea is not a horrible deal but def bathe the puppy in dawn <--regular ole dawn not fancy bleachy dawn etc. you will be able to see the fleas and tell if there are more than one.