Flea Season here. Ick!

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 8sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 8 months ago by Hedi.

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- 03/20/2007 at 12:36 AM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  So, I guess March is the beginning of flea season here in Northern California, and I hadn’t really had to worry about it much because when we were in San Francisco, our front yard was 15 steps down to the sidewalk, and our backyard was a fire escape.   But now that we have yards, and a stray cat we’re taking care of, (until we can find him a home) it looks like fleas have found their way to our bunnies.   I found one on Jack and another on Bailey. So I called the vet for their recommendations of what product to use, and the dosage for my different sized bunnies, and the cat.
  
  I have treated all three. and the cat according the vets recommendations
  
  But now Jack and Rucy have to be separated for 12 hours. And Jack is not liking it one bit! He  is very upset and mad at me.  He saw Rucy outside of the pen, and wanted to visit, I opened the pen to pet him only, but wouldn’t let him out. Well, he basically gave me the bird as he turned his back to me.
  
  The first thing he does is groom her when he sees her so I can’t chance it.
  
  Bailey is depressed because she is not getting her alloted time out. Now that I have to separate all three, their freedom now is divided by three.
  
  Ah well, it’s only for 12 hours.
  
  Anyone else ever have flea problems?
  
  I was also given a tip about how to kill the fleas you vacuum up.   Get a flea collar, and cut it up, and put a piece inside of the vacuum just before you sweep. Then when you vacuum, the fleas go in, but don’t come back out.    We have hardwood floors, so I wonder if fleas really stick around much except for on the area rugs. I haven’t had any bites, and flea bites really swell up with me. Some sort of allergic reaction,   So I don’t think they have gotten into the area rugs….yet! But I’m going to be a vacuuming mad woman for the next month.
  
  Though I have advised others and referred people to articles regarding fleas, dealing with fleas on my own animal companions is new to me. Anyone else ever have flea issues?
- 03/20/2007 at 12:09 PM
  MooBunnay
  Participant
  3087 posts
  My little girl-bun had fleas when I first got her, we think she got them from my carpet because the landlord brought her dog up to my apartment when I was first looking at it. She didn’t seem to mind them, actually, my BF and I thought it was funny because she seemed to like having the flea "friends" (haha, now her hus-bun Kramer is a teensy little flea of a bunny anyways).
  
  To get rid of them we first flea combed her to get any of those annyoing fleas out, if one got on the comb i would immediately DUNK it in a glass of soapy hot water, and make sure the flea went in. Step two was to spray her with a flea spray that I found specifically for bunnies ( I don’t remember the name, but I can post it online if you need it) I watched her for a looong time after I sprayed because even though they said it was bun-safe, I didn’t want her to lick it. Then step three was that Juli went in a carrier, and I flea sprayed all the carpet, and let it dry for a couple hours, then I vacuumed (and I threw out the carpet from Juli’s cage and got her a new one).
  
  I didn’t see any fleas after that…but Juli was lonely so we adopted Kramer, who we thought was about four months old, but he has not gotten one speck bigger in the past 5 months…
- 03/20/2007 at 1:44 PM
  skunklionshow
  Participant
  1257 posts
  I live in the Northeast and I HATE flea season! My cats all live indoors…they are never let out, not even on leashes. Last summer they all got fleas. The vet told me some pretty disturbing things…..
  
  1. Fleas can pass through open windows from squirrels or other animals crawling up the house walls. Our house is over 100 yrs old and I believe the windows are that old as well, so they definately have nooks and crannies.
  
  2. If squirrels or other animals live in the walls or attic crooks…fleas can be passed from these animals into your home as well.
  
  3. Fleas also easily pass through apartment buildings…even through cracks in the walls or hall rugs.
  
  I was pretty shocked by these things. I know w/ cats they can use advantage or revolution and that takes care of fleas & nits on the pet and within the home. I have no idea what you do w/ a bunny. Hopefully, I won’t have to learn anytime soon!
- 03/20/2007 at 2:14 PM
  Gravehearted
  Participant
  2428 posts
  I have heard that the flea sprays are really not good for buns. We’ve used kitten Advantage with good success, and one tube is enough to dose all three buns. My vet warned to only buy Advantage made in the USA, since the product from China is really inferior.
  
  I agree with Binky that it’s no fun seperating a bonded pair. I’ve generally dosed the at night before bed and although Viktor hates it, I think secretly that Pandora enjoys the peace.
- 03/20/2007 at 3:04 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Fleas can also come in on us! off of our shoes and clothing and socks and ICK!
  
  We are now officially flea free (keeping finger crossed as of now)
  
  Anyway, the vet also recommended advantage (for kittens and cats up to 9lbs) Since Jack is 9lbs they recommended using one tube, and then dividing a tube between the other two bunnies. My vet office has records of their most current weights and any health issues, and was able to tell me over the phone their dosage recommendation. So anyone wanting to use Advantage should be sure to check with your rabbit savvy vet first to get usage instructions, as it can be dangerous to give too much. (and I have also heard that Advantage is really the best and safest flea fighter for rabbits – accompanying your vets instructions)
  
  I was still a bit nervous as I have heard nightmare stories, so I wanted to at least try and give it to them during the day so I could watch them, but I couldn’t get to them until 6pm. I’m a pretty late night person anyway, so at least I’d be awake for the first 8 hours to make sure they were feeling okay.
  
  All is well.
- 03/20/2007 at 7:27 PM
  poopy
  Participant
  684 posts
  yup, medusa has used advantage too–it gets rid of fleas in like 24hrs or something and lasts for a month
- 03/20/2007 at 9:45 PM
  Hedi
  Participant
  969 posts
  I looked earlier and saw Jack and Rucy back together. Im not sure that they have left eachothers sides since you let them back together. lol Poor buns, they were having withdrawls from eachother! So sweet!
  
  We have our two buns and 2 hedgies. None of them ever go outside. I would luv for my buns to experience the outside but I know that if Carrera got dirty an actual bath is out of the question. She would probably eat me alive. So, when its nice we open the back sliding door and they lay by the back door and listen to the birds and watch the squirrels. I feel so guilty….
- 03/21/2007 at 11:40 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Yeah, for the first day back together, they have snuggled and snuggled and snuggled.
  
  So what is it like to have hedgies. We can’t have them legally here in California – same thing with ferrets.
  
  But I’ve always wanted to know what hedgies are like. What are their habits, how are they with humans etc etc etc. I’m just think they are soo cute.
- 03/23/2007 at 8:00 AM
  Hedi
  Participant
  969 posts
  It was so cute to see Jack and Rucy not want to leave eachothers sides…so sweet.
  
  Hedgies are very different. We have one thats a year old and one that 6months old. THe oldest one we did not get as a baby and shes just never a happy camper. Always grumpy, always hissing.
  
  The baby, Snuggles, is adorable. She was very nosey the first day we got her. I tried to take her to my moms house and she climbed out of her little hedgie sleeping bag trying to run around my car on the interstate! I just knew we were gonna wreck lol
  
  THey sleep all day long which is normal. They have blankies they hide in in their houses. When they "think" we have gone to bed they get out and run all nite long in a wheel. People who have measured say they run like 5miles a nite!
  
  I get them both out frequently and ive tried to put them together. They will cuddle and sleep together but no interest in "playing" together. I know some people have hedgies that will really play with them but whenever I get ours out they want to snuggle in a blankie and sleep. So thats what our interaction usually involves-holding a sleeping hedgie. 🙂
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