Flea Bites

[just1gary]

Before my OHS, I was always seem to be the one in the family that got bitten by any and every flea in comparison to my wife (we're big dog lovers). Fleas just seemed to like my blood better or maybe I ran hotter but for what ever reason I would always seem to have a bite here and there no matter what.

After my OHS and subsequent medication of blood thinners I rarely get a bite. I'm not complaining but does a flea care or can it even tell if a person is on medication like coumadin? Has any body else ever notice a change when they went on anticoagulants? Just a observation that could be completely irreverent or an aberration but thought I'd throw it out there.........

 

[Freddie]

Funny how you would bring this up. I don't think I got bitten once last summer from a mosquito.
Although I don't think ticks care who you are.......so watch out for them.

 

[Philip B]

Bugs

Bugs

Mosquitos in my area of the Rocky Mountains don't seem to care if their food has coumadin in it or not.

-Philip

 

[Ross]

I get bit just as much as I always have. fleas, mosquitoes, the usual suspects. Doesn't bother them a bit.

Substitute the Tabsco sauce for Coumadin and this is my wish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VICaWgD-76w

 

[lance]

We have three dogs and I can't remember being bitten by a flea. We medicate the dogs with "Advantage" and it systemically eliminates parasites (fleas and worms). Maybe that would help your situation.

Mosquitos are another matter. Wouldn't it be nice if warfarin prevented the laying/hatching of eggs? Heaven indeed

 

[corrineinwa]

I've got 3 dogs and add garlic and brewers yeast to their diet.

Touch wood, I haven't had a problem with fleas which surprises me considering we live in the middle of a forest.

 

[Bina]

I guess our winters are good for something......we rarely have problems during that time.
My first 2 summers post op were during record breaking heat waves and we had a surplus of mites living in the hay bales that we feed our goats. I found that out after I was bitten from head to toe. It was torture! Showering often with Eucalyptus soap helped, as well as slathering on the Calamine lotion.
I also inspected my dogs regularly for any signs of fleas because once they are established in house pets they are hard to get rid of.
Mosquitoes do bite me with pleasure, but tend to flock around my husband, I told him it is because he "stinks" better.

 

[Ross]

We have three dogs and I can't remember being bitten by a flea. We medicate the dogs with "Advantage" and it systemically eliminates parasites (fleas and worms). Maybe that would help your situation.

Mosquitos are another matter. Wouldn't it be nice if warfarin prevented the laying/hatching of eggs? Heaven indeed

My cat was infested with fleas, infesting our house with them too. Advantage took care of that problem in pretty short order. I literally watched fleas fall off of her, dying on the floor about 12 hours after applying it. They new ones jumped on her and they too, suffered the same consequences, breaking the life cycle of those little blood suckers.

 

[lance]

Hello Ross,
The Advantage we use comes in "pill" form according to dog's weight and is given orally from May to November. It's equally effective against heartworms too.

You've seen fleas falling off dead and dieing?--that's impressive. Totally satisfying I'd say Lousy little things.

Now if only something would come along against the worst of all up here--blackflies. That is reaching for the moon though.

 

[Ross]

Hello Ross,
The Advantage we use comes in "pill" form according to dog's weight and is given orally from May to November. It's equally effective against heartworms too.

You've seen fleas falling off dead and dieing?--that's impressive. Totally satisfying I'd say Lousy little things.

Now if only something would come along against the worst of all up here--blackflies. That is reaching for the moon though.

Lance is it advantage or frontline? The advantage for cats comes in a small vial that you apply on their neck where they can't reach it. During cleaning, they rub the stuff all over themselves and yes, 12 hours later, I was watching them fall off of her. We've been flea free for a few years now. First sign of the things, the advantage goes on.

About Advantage Flea Killer for Cats

Advantage® is the fastest topical solution for your cat’s care, proven to stop fleas from biting within 3 to 5 minutes after application. Fast working, Advantage cat medicine kills 98-100 percent of fleas within 12 hours of initial application. In addition, one convenient treatment lasts for up to one month, which means you don’t have to worry about your cat’s health in between treatments.

Advantage is water-resistant, so it kills fleas even after shampooing, swimming or exposure to rain or sunlight. Make sure that you have this pet medicine in your cabinet so your cat can enjoy regular activities without worrying about fleas.


Features/Use/Recommendation

The active ingredient, imidacloprid, works in the flea’s bloodstream and nervous system, paralyzing and killing the existing population and breaking up the life cycle of the flea to avoid infestation.

 

[BigOwl]

The best flea/heart-worm preventive on the market for both dogs and cats now is Revolution, which acts systemically and isn't nearly as toxic to animals as other forms. Even my old cat with kidney disease tolerates it, and it rid her of fleas in two days.

Mosquito bites can infect dogs and cats with heartworm, and the Revolution (which comes in a little vial you squeeze onto the skin between the shoulder blades) takes care of that, too. If you buy a six-month supply, you get a seventh for free--and it's far cheaper than the alternatives (i.e. tapeworm medication, heartworm treatment, etc.).

 

[Bridgette]

Remember though that Advantage Multi and Revolution do not treat tapeworms - if you use either of those two products it's still advisable to give your animal a decent worming tablet (eg Drontal or Endoguard) once in a while, especially if your cat is a good hunter and catches plenty of birds and suchlike

Just a bit of advice from someone who works in a vet clinic

 

[BigOwl]

Thanks for the reminder Bridgette. If they've had fleas, they'll probably need to be de-wormed. But our cats are all indoors (our one indoor/outdoor guy died a couple of months ago of complications from FIV--which he contracted before we inherited him--and as a result I will never have another outdoor cat), so once the fleas are gone they'll stay gone. We have to treat the yard with beneficial nematodes to get rid of the larvae and holdovers (kind of expensive when you've got a half acre), but only once a year. This combination keeps the fleas off the dogs altogether, and they do spend lots of time out of doors (I do love the fact that border collies aren't really good at climbing fences!).

 

[catwoman]

I would not think that flea bites would cause a problem with warfarin. However, I would get rid of the fleas since those critters can transmit alll sorts of disease that might be a medical problem.

Two years ago, a cat returned from a friend's home where there were dogs and brought in some fleas. He was literally bouncing off the walls trying to escape the reactions.
Took him to our vet, got Advantage for all our cats and also some Capstar. The Capstar kills fleas within about 10-15 minutes, but is only for short-term use. The Advantage took care of the rest of the problem, and we haven't seen fleas since.

I carry some Capstar tablets in my show bag and if I suspect a problem based on other cats scratching, I treat my cat when I leave the show hall so I don't take fleas home. Capstar is an Rx, about $3-$5 a tablet. Well worth it.

 

[lance]

Hi Ross and others,
Just returned home from the vet. Product we use for canine flea control is Sentinal and it doesn't affect tapes.
My only excuse being I haven't used it since last fall
Sandra

 

[Ross]

Hi Ross and others,
Just returned home from the vet. Product we use for canine flea control is Sentinal and it doesn't affect tapes.
My only excuse being I haven't used it since last fall
Sandra

No problem. I knew Advantage is applied the same way on dogs and I'm not sure but I think Frontline is too, so I wondered.

 

[Bina]

Reminder/warning: Any product containing Ivermectin can't be used on the Collie or Herding breeds.
Rough coat collie
Border collie
Shetland sheepdog
Australian shepherd
Check with a veterinarian for the latest guidelines.

 

[BigOwl]

Reminder/warning: Any product containing Ivermectin can't be used on the Collie or Herding breeds.
Rough coat collie
Border collie
Shetland sheepdog
Australian shepherd
Check with a veterinarian for the latest guidelines.

Which is why my border mixes are on Revolution.

 

[zipper2]

It's tick season here seems just had it a year ago
Gotta watch these beggers too on animals.(and humans)
never had one and wouldn't want to find out what it's like
but ....they are here.

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[olefin]

Fleas, I haven't seen a flea in the last 65 years. Guess why.

Been bitten by ticks since moving to AR 11 years ago.