Fleas?

[CinnabunMom]

I know it has been awhile since I posted but I have a question.

About a month ago now Cinnabun and I moved back home to my mom’s house. My mom has a dog, a Westie. Despite our best efforts of flea baths, spray and applying topicals, the dog occassionaly brings in a flea or two. Cinnabun has a room all to herself and she and the dog have no contact. Cinnabun is allowed to roam the upstairs during the day and then again at night when the dog is put to bed. The dog, when she is out, has access to the whole house. The dog has contanct with me and my mom, obviously. This has been working out fine for a month excpet tonight I was on the floor with Cinnabun in her room and I saw something black zip across her foot. I reacted by more or les lunging at her foot which only caused the black thing to move deeper into her fur. i’m not an expert but I’m pretty sure it was a flea. She’s blowing her coat right now so I’ve been grooming her like crazy anyway but this was the first instance of a flea. I know there is never just one. I vacuum her room and the upstairs twice a week and wash all her sheets every week to try and prevent this. I feel pretty horrible. But Cinnabun isn’t acting like she has fleas, though I’m not sure if bunnies act the same way as dogs. She isn’t scratching herself constantly. She doesn’t act like she’s being eating alive. She acts exaclty like she always does. But I really have no idea what to do. Do I go to the vet? What can I use? What can I not use? Anything I can buy over the counter?

Apprecaite any advice. And since it has been awhile, here is a new pic of Cinnabun resting in her hidey-boxes.

 

[Roberta]

Take a deep breath and don’t panic… There are times when it can be a single invader which could be why you aren’t seeing scratching or other flea related behavior… My foster was riddled with lice when he came home and trust me they scratch just like a dog or a cat….

I would still treat for fleas as eggs might be laid before you can end the nasty little insect… Revolution Puppy and Kitten is the best and safest I have found, under no circumstances should you use frontline or comfortis… There is a product that is made by advantage that is a combo for kittens, small cats, ferrets and bunnies if you are unable to get revolution puppy and kitten (in the pack with the pink/lavender marking)

Unfortunately in the US it can only be purchased with a prescription in some states so it depends on what your laws are for the product. This should not be a major problem as your vet should be able to provide it if a prescription is required. If no prescritpion required you should be able to purchase it at Walmart, Pet Stores and over the counter at your vets.

Quick recap Revolution is good, Advantage is ok, frontline and comfortis is bad.

[jerseygirl]

Aww
she’s so pretty!

You can you use Advantage (for cats) to treat or prevent fleas.
In not sure if its OTC in the States.

[jerseygirl]

Ah yes, Revolution also.

Sorry Roberta , I didn’t see your post before.

[CinnabunMom]

Thanks Roberta and JG!
Here’s a rather silly question: how do I apply it? I know with dogs you put it in between their shoulder blades and gets on the rest of them by the dog rolling around but bunnies don’t do that.

[Roberta]

Bunnies being flexible I aim for the spot just above the neck and a bit below the ear crux. You will know on your own bun which area is hardest for grooming access. The good thing with revolution is even if they do ingest a little in error it’s not going to do permanent damage..

[CinnabunMom]

One more question.
I went to my local PetSmart tonight looking for Advantage or Revolution. Couldn’t find any. I did find “Ultra Care Small Pet Flea Spray” but I really nervous about buying it because I’d never heard of it and neither Roberta nor JG had said anything about it. Anyone heard of it? Anyone got any opinions of it?

[manic_muncher]

In most states in the US, Advantage (and probably Revolution) are sold at vet hospitals. I know some online places sell them, but they say you need a prescription from the vet to get them, though I’m not sure how they go about verifying that.

[jerseygirl]

Would you be able to purchase Revolution or Advantage from vet OTC? Without prescription?

CinnabunMom, I looked up ingredients of that spray.
0.06% pyrethrins, 0.6% piperonyl butoxide. Is that right?
The pyrethrin element is safe but I’m not certain about the other. There are some wormers containing piperazine but I’m uncertain about this form.
I think a spray like that would act as a preventative.

Carbaryl powder is apparently safe also. Maybe you could find that in a pet store.
If you don’t thnk there’s an infestation, would a flea comb do the trick??

[CinnabunMom]

I’m going to call the vet and ask if I can buy some Revolution or Advantage OTC from them. I’ve just know it’s really expensive.

I think those are the correct ingrediants in the spray, I didn’t buy it because I wasn’t sure if it was safe. If it’s a preventative then would it not kill any fleas she currently has?

I’ve been grooming her like mad and thus far no fleas have come off her in my grooming which makes me think that she only has one or two.

Also, what can I do to her room? I vacuum her room twice a week but I don’t know if that does anything. I’m afraid to put down any kind of substance.

[jerseygirl]

It sounds as if you’ve caught it early. You might not need to do a spot-on treatment yet.

HRS suggest using borax or diatomaceous earth (DE) on carpet.
This was linked by miaeih in another thread.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BX1KLE/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?ref_=cm_sw_su_dp

It’s a DE dusting powder for pets. You could use it in environment also. With DE, take care to only get the food-grade quality. It’s also very drying, so if used on or around a pet, be careful with their eyes.

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