[Felvtalk] Flea Prevention....
Amani Oakley
aoakley at oakleylegal.com
Wed Aug 31 10:51:19 CDT 2016
Robert
In my experience, it certainly takes a lot more than a few fleas to start a problem. Having animals pass on the porch is unlikely to cause your cats any problems. I take my cats out with us when my husband and I are out gardening, and we have a large garden which is frequented by the usual squirrels, chipmunks, voles, mice, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, the occasional fox, etc. We have never had a flea in this house (this is not the house I described in my first post on this subject!). I think using the occasional natural flea repellant is likely good enough, though I share your skepticism as to the effectiveness of these. Nonetheless, I suspect that in your circumstances, it might well be enough to ward off the occasional flea. I agree that it is sure a lot easier to prevent an infestation than to deal with one, once it gets established. That was the reason for my annoyance at how the infestation in my first house came to be. I had always been very careful to isolate any new strays in a tiled bathroom until I bathed them and ensured any fleas were removed. I stupidly trusted another person who claimed to rescue cats as well, that her cats were also deflea-ed. My bad.
Amani
-----Original Message-----
From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-bounces at felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of ROBERT CHAPEL
Sent: August-31-16 12:20 AM
To: felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
Cc: felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Flea Prevention....
This discussion raises a question that I have wondered about for a while.... my cats do not go outside but do go out on an upstairs porch for a few minutes from time to time ( they love to sit in the sun).... They are not exposed directly to any other animals but I suppose that it is possible that other animals that have fleas and might have passed over the porch might have left eggs or an errant flea or 3.... I don't like the idea of using chemicals with these Kitties unless it's for something that they absolutely need.... I spray them from time to time with " natural " Flea repellant ( containing the usual herbs and spices claimed to be insect repellant...which don't work all that well on me but I like to think it's helping them at least a little bit : ) Is it wise to use anything proactively that is a bit stronger..... it is generally a lot easier to prevent infestation than to get rid of it once it's taken hold..... Again... I have no reason to expect that it WILL happen but I am a frequent shelter volunteer and there is no telling what I might bring into the house by accident...
BTW... for Karen.... PLEASE do your best to rest more easy about your other Kitties.... from what you write you don't have any immediate life threatening emergency that precludes your morning cole
On Tue, Aug 30, 2016 at 08:36 PM, felvtalk-request at felineleukemia.org
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> 1. Re: Urgent help with flea treatment question
> (dlgegg at windstream.net)
> 2. Re: Urgent help with flea treatment question (Margo)
> 3. Re: Urgent help with flea treatment question (Sandy)
> 4. Re: Urgent help with flea treatment question (Kelley S)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2016 15:03:28 -0500
> From: To: felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Urgent help with flea treatment question
> Message-ID: <20160830160328.OTWNN.22850.root at pamxwww05-z01>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> I stopped usiong any flea drops, collars when one of my cats began
> loosing hair around the sit of applicatio. They all had physical
> adverse signs so I stopped using them. I now have lemon grass and
> catnip which repels fleas and ticks and have not had a problem for the
> last 5 years.
>
> ---- Amani Oakley wrote:
>> Hi Karen
>>
>> While I don?t have any reason to believe there is a link between use
>> of the Frontline Flea treatment and Cole?s problems, it is probably
>> wise to be cautious with a medication which is absorbed internally
>> and probably processed through the liver, etc. Just hypothetically,
>> it might be possible that cats with FeLV which is in abeyance (their
>> body has managed to hold off on the worst of the problems) may have
>> the balance tipped to the negative by something that might stress
>> their body and which might, in other cats, not cause a problem.
>>
>> However, I definitely agree you MUST control the fleas for Ash. As
>> you know, one of the worst effects of the FeLV virus is to cause an
>> anemia, and a flea infestation will no doubt hasten or worsen that
>> problem. Fleas also often pass on the Bartonella parasite, which
>> infects and destroys red cells in the host animal and causes other
>> problems. If Ash is doing okay, you don?t want to tip that scale.
>>
>> I recently picked up 3 stray kittens who had fleas. They were very
>> small (3-4 weeks old) so I didn?t trust any of the absorbed
>> treatments since I figured their little livers may well be damaged by
>> such early exposure. I therefore purchased a flea spray which was
>> supposed to remain on them, but again, I didn?t want to do that. I
>> didn?t want that type of exposure. I simply bathed them, sprayed them
>> with the flea spray, killed the fleas by hand as they leapt off into
>> the sink, and combed out the rest, and then I washed the kittens
>> completely off with organic shampoo. Despite washing them off, I
>> found a few remaining fleas for the next day or so but they were all
>> dead or dying. When I go home tonight, I will get the name of the
>> product for you, but I suspect you can do this with any of the spray
>> on flea products.
>>
>> One thing I did years ago when we got a very bad flea infestation
>> (thanks to a woman who insisted the cats I was taking from her to
>> adopt out were defleaed already!), was that once I washed each cat, I
>> had previously made arrangements for friends to take one of them for
>> a few weeks. My husband and I were doing some heavy duty fostering at
>> the time, so we had about 25 cats in the house. One by one or two by
>> two, I cleaned them off, bundled them off to friends I had
>> prearranged with, and then when the whole house was empty, we washed
>> whatever we could, and we used some heavy duty flea killer on
>> carpets, etc. and my husband and I spent a few nights at a motel
>> room. We never had any more flea problems after that.
>>
>> You only have one cat so if the problem is bad enough, I suggest
>> something along the lines of what we did. Find a friend or a relative
>> who will take Ash for a week or so, when he?s out, wash everything in
>> sight, and buy some high powered flea stuff and spray the house.
>> Leave for a few days.
>>
>> Hopefully, it works as well for you as it did for us.
>>
>> Amani
>>
>> From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-bounces at felineleukemia.org] On Behalf
>> Of Karen Harshbarger
>> Sent: August-30-16 3:24 PM
>> To: Felvtalk
>> Subject: [Felvtalk] Urgent help with flea treatment question
>>
>> As most of you know, we lost our Cole to feline leukemia and liver
>> complications this month. I don't have time to morn my dear sweet
>> Cole as I am struggling to save his brother Ash. Ash tested positive
>> again this month (4 years ago tested positive once and then negative
>> twice). However his blood work shows everything in the normal range
>> and he is eating and playing and going to the bathroom and seems
>> healthy, so the vet has recommended no treatment or preventatives at
>> this time. They only suggest another blood work check in one to 4
>> months and flea treatment.
>>
>> Ash and his brother have fleas. I know I must treat but that seems
>> like when Cole started going downhill----when I treated for fleas
>> with Frontline twice.
>> Frontline did nothing for the fleas, even though I threw away all
>> beds and blankets and cleaned their living quarters. I fear that the
>> fleas or treatment or both did something to Cole to take his life.
>> But I know I have to treat fleas too. I have tried combing everyday,
>> but that does not work either.
>>
>> Has anyone used Vectra flea treatment for cats. It has worked well
>> for me for other cats, but I fear that it might be too strong for our
>> Ash with the feline leukemia. As I said I used Frontline originally
>> cause I was told it was safer because it could be used on young
>> kittens even. Ash is 4 1/2 years old and I know I have to do
>> something about the fleas. Please let me know if you have used
>> Vectra flea treatment. Or if you use something else successfully or
>> don't use flea treatment at all with feline leukemia. Ash never goes
>> outside, so I don't know where they got the fleas unless at vet or we
>> brought the fleas in from outside on shoes, etc.
>>
>> Please Help----this is urgent as I feel I must do something to get
>> rid of fleas that already seem out of hand since 2 treatments of
>> Frontline did not work, and I am so worried about anything with Ash
>> with his positive on the feline leukemia test at the vet and after
>> loosing Cole. My heart just cant loose another of my fur babies.
>> Please Help!!!
>>
>> Thank you, Karen and kitties Ash and BJ and angle Cole
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2016 17:33:53 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
> From: Margo To: Karen Harshbarger ,
> felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Urgent help with flea treatment question
> Message-ID:
>
> <2193318.1472592833546.JavaMail.wam at elwamui-milano.atl.sa.earthlink.ne
> t>
>
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> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
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>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2016 23:39:03 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Sandy To: Margo , felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Urgent help with flea treatment question
> Message-ID:
> <514596993.9645511.1472600343709.JavaMail.zimbra at comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Use Deamateous Earth _ FOOD GRADE - think the spelling may be off - I
> believe it's available from Home Depot or order online Sandy W
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Margo" To: "Karen Harshbarger" , felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
> Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2016 5:33:53 PM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk]
> Urgent help with flea treatment question
>
> I'm having flea issues, as well. Mako went to a specialist (for
> non-FeLV related problems) and they recommended Comfortis. I had to
> order from Valley Vet, and gave it to him 8/26. So far so good. It
> seems to have done the job, but I also use flea traps, and treated the
> other cats as well. For most of the year, I was okay using (generic)
> Capstar and flea traps.
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Karen Harshbarger Sent: Aug 30, 2016
> 3:23 PM To: Felvtalk Subject: [Felvtalk] Urgent help with flea
> treatment question As most of you know, we lost our Cole to feline
> leukemia and liver complications this month. I don't have time to morn
> my dear sweet Cole as I am struggling to save his brother Ash. Ash
> tested positive again this month (4 years ago tested positive once and
> then negative twice).
> However his blood work shows everything in the normal range and he is
> eating and playing and going to the bathroom and seems healthy, so the
> vet has recommended no treatment or preventatives at this time. They
> only suggest another blood work check in one to 4 months and flea
> treatment.
> Ash and his brother have fleas. I know I must treat but that seems
> like when Cole started going downhill----when I treated for fleas with
> Frontline twice. Frontline did nothing for the fleas, even though I
> threw away all beds and blankets and cleaned their living quarters. I
> fear that the fleas or treatment or both did something to Cole to take
> his life. But I know I have to treat fleas too. I have tried combing
> everyday, but that does not work either.
> Has anyone used Vectra flea treatment for cats. It has worked well for
> me for other cats, but I fear that it might be too strong for our Ash
> with the feline leukemia. As I said I used Frontline originally cause
> I was told it was safer because it could be used on young kittens
> even. Ash is 4 1/2 years old and I know I have to do something about
> the fleas. Please let me know if you have used Vectra flea treatment.
> Or if you use something else successfully or don't use flea treatment
> at all with feline leukemia. Ash never goes outside, so I don't know
> where they got the fleas unless at vet or we brought the fleas in from
> outside on shoes, etc.
> Please Help----this is urgent as I feel I must do something to get rid
> of fleas that already seem out of hand since 2 treatments of Frontline
> did not work, and I am so worried about anything with Ash with his
> positive on the feline leukemia test at the vet and after loosing
> Cole. My heart just cant loose another of my fur babies. Please
> Help!!!
> Thank you, Karen and kitties Ash and BJ and angle Cole
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list
> Felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
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>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2016 19:35:44 -0500
> From: Kelley S To: felvtalk Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Urgent help with
> flea treatment question
> Message-ID:
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Timmy's Dirty Flea Soap is the best. http://www.dirtyflea.com/
>
> On Tue, Aug 30, 2016 at 6:39 PM, Sandy wrote:
>
>> Use Deamateous Earth _ FOOD GRADE - think the spelling may be off -
>> I
>> believe it's available from Home Depot or order online
>> Sandy W
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From: *"Margo" *To: *"Karen Harshbarger" ,
>> felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
>> *Sent: *Tuesday, August 30, 2016 5:33:53 PM
>> *Subject: *Re: [Felvtalk] Urgent help with flea treatment question
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm having flea issues, as well. Mako went to a specialist (for
>> non-FeLV
>> related problems) and they recommended Comfortis. I had to order from
>> Valley Vet, and gave it to him 8/26. So far so good. It seems to have
>> done
>> the job, but I also use flea traps, and treated the other cats as
>> well. For
>> most of the year, I was okay using (generic) Capstar and flea traps.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Karen Harshbarger
>> Sent: Aug 30, 2016 3:23 PM
>> To: Felvtalk
>> Subject: [Felvtalk] Urgent help with flea treatment question
>>
>> As most of you know, we lost our Cole to feline leukemia and liver
>> complications this month. I don't have time to morn my dear sweet
>> Cole as
>> I am struggling to save his brother Ash. Ash tested positive again
>> this
>> month (4 years ago tested positive once and then negative twice).
>> However
>> his blood work shows everything in the normal range and he is eating
>> and
>> playing and going to the bathroom and seems healthy, so the vet has
>> recommended no treatment or preventatives at this time. They only
>> suggest
>> another blood work check in one to 4 months and flea treatment.
>>
>> Ash and his brother have fleas. I know I must treat but that seems
>> like
>> when Cole started going downhill----when I treated for fleas with
>> Frontline
>> twice.
>> Frontline did nothing for the fleas, even though I threw away all
>> beds and
>> blankets and cleaned their living quarters. I fear that the fleas or
>> treatment or both did something to Cole to take his life. But I know
>> I
>> have to treat fleas too. I have tried combing everyday, but that
>> does not
>> work either.
>>
>> Has anyone used Vectra flea treatment for cats. It has worked well
>> for me
>> for other cats, but I fear that it might be too strong for our Ash
>> with the
>> feline leukemia. As I said I used Frontline originally cause I was
>> told it
>> was safer because it could be used on young kittens even. Ash is 4
>> 1/2
>> years old and I know I have to do something about the fleas. Please
>> let me
>> know if you have used Vectra flea treatment. Or if you use something
>> else
>> successfully or don't use flea treatment at all with feline leukemia.
>> Ash
>> never goes outside, so I don't know where they got the fleas unless
>> at vet
>> or we brought the fleas in from outside on shoes, etc.
>>
>> Please Help----this is urgent as I feel I must do something to get
>> rid of
>> fleas that already seem out of hand since 2 treatments of Frontline
>> did not
>> work, and I am so worried about anything with Ash with his positive
>> on the
>> feline leukemia test at the vet and after loosing Cole. My heart
>> just cant
>> loose another of my fur babies. Please Help!!!
>>
>> Thank you, Karen and kitties Ash and BJ and angle Cole
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Felvtalk mailing list
>> Felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
>>
>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Felvtalk mailing list
>> Felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
>>
>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
>>
>>
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