Originally Posted by Angelmerritt
In order to combat the flea, you should know a little about them. The flea life cycle roughly goes like this: Adult flea goes on your pet to EAT ONLY (they don't live on your pet), the adult flea jumps off the pet into your yard (or home) and lays about 1,000 at a time and they hatch in 2-3 weeks. Then you have 1,000 hungry fleas ready to jump on your pet (and/or you) to eat, jump off, lay eggs and that is how they seem to just multiply overnight into a million. So you can either treat the fleas food source (chemicals on your pet such as Advantage/Frontline) or their living environment (spread chemicals in your yard/house).
So shampooing your pet will only get the ones who are currently feasting, which is a tiny fraction compared to the amount in your home and yard. You can use ANY soap/shampoo to kill fleas AS LONG AS YOU KEEP IT SUDSING FOR AT LEAST 5+ minutes. Even tearless puppy/kitten shampoo works. I swear. I was a professional groomer for a dozen years and did animal rescue too.
For outdoor pets: You don't have to call an exterminator if you cannot afford it (besides, you can do the same things yourself). Get some yard and kennel spray or any lawn bug granules (Ortho, Spectracide, Bug-B-Gone, Bayer, etc) and spread in your yard and treat your ENTIRE yard. Repeat in 3 weeks. Then keep up with this every 5-6 weeks (changing your brand/active ingredient each time so they don't become resistant). This will even protect against fleas that hop off your local squirrel, neighbor cat, or other wildlife. If you are lucky enough to have a hard ground freeze in the winter, begin yard treatment 3-4 weeks after the last freeze.
For indoor pets: Get Zodiac brand house foggers (they have an IGR or Insect Growth Regulator. This means that it will (1) kill all adult fleas in your home for 7 months, (2) sterilize any eggs in your home for 7 months, and any larve that hatch into adult fleas will then be killed under statement (1). These foggers come in a 3 pack that cover 2250 sq ft and last for 7 months and cost about $16 (found online or at large pet stores). For major infestations, use one fogger per room of your home. If you have a large area of vinyl or tile in your house, buy some flea dip concentrate or original pine-sol to put in your your mop water and mop your floors with it on a regular basis.
Zodiac has an 800 number that is wonderful for answering questions and they will guarantee satisfaction if you used their products as directed. I've had a few foggers that had a faulty nozzle and they sent me new ones. I finally convinced a friend of mine to use them and when they didn't work she called to complain. Come to find out, she didn't use enough foggers for her house, but they gladly sent her a new box of foggers to do it again. I've used their products for many years (since I learned to professionally groom in the late 80's) and never a problem nor a flea.
PS - I don't use any of those topical flea treatments (Advantage/Frontline) on my pets until we go on vacation (as I am not about to fog hotel rooms).
Also, I can bring home a sick/injured pet loaded with fleas and not worry about bathing them right away. I am confident that those fleas will die within 24 hours of hitting my house as they jump off the rescued pet into my treated house.
Are they messy? Nope. You will not see or smell ANY residue at all. It is a water-based mist and safe enough to let an infant crawl on the carpet just hours after fogging (as per their commercial from 20 years ago).
BTW, I don't work for Zodiac, just a long time satisfied customer!