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Comment by Ellyse on December 15, 2009 at 1:50pm

Beth, I totally agree---I don't like the fact that with Frontline, Molly still has fleas crawling on her (I don't believe they're biting her, but still!) and we use it religiously every month. I'm going to look into the other options available, such as Advantix and Comfortis. Although it's a plus to not have fleas biting and irritating Molly constantly, I don't want to use a product (such as Frontline) that won't prevent them from crawling on her...I want them eliminated. As for the yard, my husband and I may talk to our landlord in the spring to see what he thinks about treating the yard...however, I'm torn, because like you said Beth, it should be a last resort. I will try out my carpet powder as well and see how that does for me. I figure it'd be better to try and eradicate this problem in the winter time when the fleas are more dormant, than in the spring/summer when they're jumping around the house like grasshoppers. Jane, I'm going to look up Borax---I've heard of it, but don't know much about it. Thank you all for your input and advice! I feel more knowledgable on my flea problem now!

Comment by Jane Christensen on December 15, 2009 at 11:27am

I believe that you can use borax outside and that is much safer environmentally and it's not a pesticide! Does anyone here have experience with it? I use it to clean my toilets and in my laundry also! Would need to check it out to make sure!

Comment by Beth on December 15, 2009 at 7:07am

You will get some in the fur; as long as most is in the skin it shouldn't matter. We use Advantix. It's considerably better on ticks than Frontline, and ticks are a big deal around here. I agree with treating the carpet. I would only treat outside as an absolute last resort; your lawn is an entire ecosystem of critters, and often if you use insecticides you worsen problems in the long-run, since you tend to wipe out beneficial predator insects which are not nearly as numerous, and don't rebound as quickly, as the prey insects.

Anecdotally, it just seems to me that all the people who have posted here and say they are using a monthly preventative but still have a flea problem are using Frontline.

Comment by Joanna Kimball on December 15, 2009 at 12:39am

Frontline should be very effective and it doesn't really matter if it gets on her fur. It's made to spread quickly down the hair and over the skin. If the Frontline isn't working, you probably need to treat the house and the yard, as people said, and if there are still fleas I'd switch medications. Comfortis (it's a pill) is having some very good success in parts of the country where the fleas laugh at Frontline. I wouldn't use ProMeris or Revolution or Advantix, but I've been following the Comfortis studies and they're very encouraging. You can also use the active ingredient in Comfortis (spinosad) to spray the yard; it's an organic pesticide and very low-impact.

Comment by Ellyse on December 15, 2009 at 12:18am

Thanks everyone! Sam, I actually wet the fur a little bit around the area, so I could part it better (figured that would be alright since the medicine is waterproof), and then used a comb....never thought about using 2 combs, I'll have to try it! Alexis I totally agree...I'm almost positive that they're in the carpet, so I got some heavy duty flea killer from PetMeds.com for the carpet, and I'm going to try it out this week. And I understand what you mean about them controlling your life too---that's how I've been feeling! Thank you for the suggestions! I would have to speak to our landlord about flea killer for the grass---our big concern, since we live right on the water, is all of the ticks that seem to live here. Molly dragged those suckers in with her all summer. Jane, Molly actually sleeps with my husband and I in our bed (spoiled, I know!) and I wash and change the sheets every week or so. I also vacuum once a week too...and I agree also, I don't think I'm getting the eggs! I did post about Molly's sudden fright with household items...I never thought it could be related to fleas, that's a great point. I'm glad I'm not the only one that ends up getting the medicine in my dog's fur! It's difficult, even though my husband does help me...when I part the hair, it's never wide enough, and to no avail I always end up getting some on the fur.
Thanks again everyone for your advice and suggestions---I really appreciate it and hope you all have a great holiday season!

Comment by Sam Tsang on December 14, 2009 at 11:04pm

have you tried spread the fur with 2 combs?

Comment by Alexis Trujillo on December 14, 2009 at 9:54pm

I have used Frontline every when summer came around, and IT DOES WORK. But the problem may not just be your flea magnet =) jk...but it might be your carpet and where you take him potty time. This year it seemed as fleas where not only controlling my Kalvin's life but mine too! Until I went to Home Depot and I bought a safe and organic flea killer for my grass, and i went to Walmart to get a powder for my carpet. They have BOTH seemed to do the trick leaving me literally FLEA FREE, and they didn't cost a lot of money!

Comment by Jane Christensen on December 14, 2009 at 7:47pm

Have you washed all her bedding in hot water and other areas that she is in? Also vacumning is important ! I use frontline but only for a month or maybe 2 ....I believe that maybe you aren't getting the eggs??? Did you just post about Molly being more afraid of things??? I think I would check things out with your vet if she's got fleas and being more afraid. I also end up getting some in her fur....do you have someone that can help you part the fur???

Good luck!