>Now that you have that long legged doggie thingie in the house, how are
>the fleas.
Surprisingly, not too bad. We have recently acquired wild rabbits which
are living in the neighborhood, and they carry fleas. So I've seen a
flea or two on ME while I'm outside. But I haven't had any get indoors
on Tesla (yet). I check him often, and since his fur is so thin and
light-colored, it's easy to see ANY bugs on him. He brings in occasional
ants, but so far, no fleas.
I got a product that's an organic flea fighter which is put on the yard.
It is small nematodes which eat flea larva living in the dirt. The
Bio-Flea-Halt kills the immature fleas, so they can't grow up to be
biting fleas which could ride inside. The stuff is available in pet
stores, and it's fully bird-safe. You put it down once a month with a
hose-end sprayer. I believe it has helped quite a bit in keeping the
yard flea population down.
>Bill has two dogs here; if they were mine I would shoot both of them to
>put them out of their missery.  One is practactically bald from flea
>bite dermititis and the German Shepard isn't much better.
Gee, this is really a topic for the dog echo.  But Bill should get
some of those lighted flea-traps to catch the adult fleas (they are sold
in many pet stores, and in pet product catalogs), some "Precor" (insect
growth inhibitor) for the carpets and furniture (to keep the eggs and
larva from growing up into more adults), a good pyrethrin-based flea
spritz to get the bugs off the animals, and some Oxyfresh Pet Gel for
the flea bite sores. If he loves his animals, he shouldn't make them
live in suffering without trying to do SOMETHING about the fleas.
>The feathered crew is still living in the RV but I am afraid the fleas
>are going to get to the birds. I need all the infomation I can get on
>Birds VS Fleas.
Odds are against the dog fleas bothering the birds. Fleas usually prefer
furry critters; if you DO see any fleas in the RV, get some pyrethrin
spritz and douse the floors. If you get pyrethrin powder, you can
actually put it on the birds' feathers if the fleas DO get on them. But
it's highly unlikely. I know several people who have had flea-ridden
critters and birds, and the birds were never bothered by the bugs.
The only mention of fleas in the RH&H book is p 1028:
"Non-host specific fleas are occasionally noted in companion and aviary
birds. If they cause clinical problems (eg, pruritis, anemia, poor
feather condition) they can be controlled with a light dusting of
pyrethrin powder. Mite protectors sold in most pet supply stores have no
effect on common external avian parasites and may cause liver disease.
The use of these products is discouraged."
(The book also discusses a "stick-tight" flea, but that's not the kind
of flea that normally tortures dogs, so I didn't quote the book.)
Hope this helps!
--Kathy
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