How to get rid of fleas

[MarieE]

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Hi everyone, I'm new to this group and am hoping someone can give me some advice!

I've had a puppy for two days now, when we got him he was quite dirty, flakey skin and had fleas!

We estimate he is about 5 weeks old so he's unable to use the likes of Frontline etc for another few weeks.

Since ha arrived I've bathed, flea combed and manually removed as many fleas as I've been able but still they persist!

Does anyone have any ideas on how to treat the remaining fleas safely?

TIA

Marie (from the UK but living in Turkey)

 

[excuseme]

Frontline spray is perfectly safe for young puppies. It can be used on both poppies and kittens from 2 days of age.

Take care now that you may have used other treatments not to overload the amount of chemicals that you may have already put on this puppy.

Too much washing will also remove the natural oils from your puppies skin.

I would suggest that you see a vet for safe assistance.

 

[MarieE]

Frontline spray is perfectly safe for young puppies. It can be used on both poppies and kittens from 2 days of age.

Thanks for this, is it available online? We live in Turkey and when I had the puppy vet checked he said there was nothing he could give him for fleas until he was 8 weeks old

 

[excuseme]

Yes you can get it online but the spray needs a prescription from your vet. "Effipro" is the same product just a different name and used to be a little cheaper!

I find the spray if used correctly works very well.

.

Take care with non effective flea treatments that you can buy over the counter.

 

[JoanneF]

I am sure I read somewhere that bathing the dog in cider vinegar helps but I assume it's diluted in water - maybe a Google search would come up with something. You would need to soak him and keep him soaked for long enough for the fleas to drop off. Remember to thoroughly vacuum your house, and furniture, daily for a few weeks if he has been indoors at all And thoroughly wash his bedding and rugs as the fleas will have laid eggs which will hatch and keep reinfesting. If you can get it, Indorex spray treats your house. The puppy may also have a worm load, i believe Drontal is used for puppies.

At 5 weeks he has been separated from mum and the siblings early, as soon as you can, try to let him socialise with other (controlled) dogs.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[excuseme]

Yes I agree , "Drontol" puppy wormer is easy to use with puppies and very effective.

This can be safely used from a very young age starting at 2 weeks of age onwards.

Can be purchased online, NO prescription required !

 

[MarieE]

He

I am sure I read somewhere that bathing the dog in cider vinegar helps but I assume it's diluted in water - maybe a Google search would come up with something. You would need to soak him and keep him soaked for long enough for the fleas to drop off. Remember to thoroughly vacuum your house, and furniture, daily for a few weeks if he has been indoors at all And thoroughly wash his bedding and rugs as the fleas will have laid eggs which will hatch and keep reinfesting. If you can get it, Indorex spray treats your house. The puppy may also have a worm load, i believe Drontal is used for puppies.

At 5 weeks he has been separated from mum and the siblings early, as soon as you can, try to let him socialise with other (controlled) dogs.

Let us know how you get on!

Thanks for this JoanneF.

Perhaps I should have provided a little background as to why he came to us at such an early age. Our puppy (who we've named Baloo) came from a rescue centre in south west Turkey. His mother was killed when he was only 2 weeks old (we don't know the circumstances but assume she was hit by a car as dogs here are often left to roam the streets!). Three of his siblings also died, again not sure why but probably through neglect or inadequate knowledge on how to care for orphaned pups. He and his surviving brother were left at the shelter. We were looking for company for our cocker spaniel, whom we brought from the uk when we retired here in 2015, so couldn't turn our back on this little mite!!

The vet at the centre did check him over and gave him worming treatment and in all other respects he's quite healthy, (albeit underweight) considering what he's been through!! He's a happy little chap and is very sociable with humans and with our dog and cat. However disease in puppies is common here so we're keeping him away from other dogs until he has his injections. He's come on in leaps and bounds in the couple of days he's beeen with us and I'm sure he'll gain weight eventually with plenty good food and an abundance of love!

It's really just the fleas that concern us right now!

 

[JoanneF]

I really didn't mean anything to sound critical, I do hope you didn't think that. I saw you were in Turkey and assumed there was very good reason for him being separated from the litter so young. Poor little guy, what a tough start to life, but at least he has you now!

 

[arealhuman]

What a sad start in life. It sounds as though he's now found the right place to live a long and healthy life. What about a pic of the little mite?

 

[MarieE]

I really didn't mean anything to sound critical, I do hope you didn't think that. I saw you were in Turkey and assumed there was very good reason for him being separated from the litter so young. Poor little guy, what a tough start to life, but at least he has you now!

Hi Joanne, no I didn't think you critical at all, I just thought that a bit of background could be useful. He's had such a hard time in his short life bless him! It's very difficult in Turkey, as much as I love living here, it's heartbreaking sometimes - too many animals in need of a good home and not enough home to go round! Most of the rescue centres are set up by animal loving individuals that have a bit of land but little or no veterinary skills. They rely on kind hearted vets that will give up a few hours a week to work on a voluntary basis. It's times like this I wish I'd won the lottery lol.

 

[MarieE]

Here's Baloo and Brodie, no idea why it's upside down - I obviously need a bit of practice lol

 

[MarieE]

Still trying to upload a decent photo!p

 

[JoanneF]

They both are gorgeous, you know you will need to treat your other pets for fleas too? And actually that's good for your home because they then become flea killers!

 

[excuseme]

Fantastic !

 

[MarieE]

They both are gorgeous, you know you will need to treat your other pets for fleas too? And actually that's good for your home because they then become flea killers!

Yes, fleas are a huge problem here at this time of the year because of the heat, both Brodie and Marmalade (our 3 legged rescued street kitten) are Frontlined every three months. I dread to think what they'd be like without it lol

 

[arealhuman]

Thanks for posting up the pictures - they're great

 

[spanielmad]

Beautiful pics x