I have fleas

[norsegirl]

This sucks. I think I have fleas. My dog came back form the kennel with a rashy, bare spot on her chest. We took her to the vet, but as her ears were also causing problems at the time, we figured we'd take it one issue at a time - bad idea. The vet did not suspect fleas. The vet suggested it may be allergies, bacterial or fungal, though we both agreed fungal and bacterial were highly unlikely (just didn't look like that). Turns out, after doing some online research, that pets who are really allergic to flea bites may lose fur - go figure >growl<.

Anyway, I have a couple little round itchy spots on my legs that may or may not be flea bites. I can't see any fleas on the dog, or any signs of fleas other than her itchiness and this bare patch, but I figure we assume the worst and go form there.

So, anyone else out there with pets, did you ever get fleas and how did you fix them? And no Em, moving is not an option ;)

Aaargh, and just when I was getting close to getting things in order! Stupid kennel and their stupid fleas and stupid me for not treating my dog BEFORE she went there.

Of course, as the furnace has just started up and we have no humidifier, it may just be dry skin. Please god let it just be dry skin. I don't wanna be infested!

~Eve

Comments

[hel_ana]

From what I remember, fleas don't live on people or pets.. they use them as transit and food.

So once you've treated your littl'un, you need to treat the carpeted areas and upolstered furnishings (including your bed if she sleeps there).

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

Beagle DOES NOT sleep on the human's bed. She gets up and fusses and pulls sheets around and has dreams and twitches a lot, not to mention the sleep whines and growls and barks - those are the funniest. I can't imagine how little sleep I'd get if she was up there with me :)

We're taking her to the vet to see if my diagnosis was good or crack.

[ashendari.livejournal.com]

You could try giving your pouch a bath, keep the suds low and see if little black flecks come off. Won't get rid of a lot of them , but them you'll know that you DO have them.

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

We're skipping the bath and going to the vet - though thanks for the suggestion.

[sionnach-sidhe.livejournal.com]

The best thing to do is what you're doing -- take her to the vet. Most likely they'll bathe her to get the fleas actually on her, and then give you some meds to take care that she doesn't get any others (the best stuff is a sort of oil that you put on the back of her neck [where she can't lick it off] which both makes her into a walking death-trap for fleas). As far as your carpets, etc, goes, again, see what the vet reccommends, but I think you'll have to get some sort of cleaner/insecticide. It's true that fleas don't live off humans, but that doesn't stop them from trying a taste or two of you, and your little leg-itchies sound like that's what's up, since the fleas would be jumping up at you from the carpet. Arrgh: poor you. Best of luck with the ickiness!