Hi everyone -

I apparently have a flea issue with my dog. He's a miniature schnauzer, and doesn't really hang out with other dogs... but somehow managed to get fleas. I treated him once already with Frontline and had to do it again today because they came back - and the only place I could think of would be the backyard. I already scheduled for Equity to come out and flea bomb the house, but does anyone have any experience spraying their yards for fleas? What product do you suggest?

I just have the creepy crawly feeling right now... my house is always very clean (one of the luxuries of no kids and the husband deployed! ;) ) and ever since I found that flea, I'm freakin' out! lol 

Fort Lewis has a VERY VERY bad flea problem, so your dog can get them from the grass..our vet said that Lewis has brought him the worst cases of flea infestations and infections he has EVER seen.....I treat my dog with Comfortis, which is a little more$$ but flea are becoming immune to frontline and advantage, which is why they don't seem to work long, or as well...comfortis is a pill my dog swallows and he never got fleas :) 

I once had a neighbor tell me that I shouldn't worry about treating our dog for fleas because they don't live in this part of WA (we lived on post at the time). She had a bunch of cats and dogs that practically lived outdoors (but had free access to the house as well). I'm sure there were all sorts of creatures being carried into her house by her animals and the thought alone makes me queasy!

We use Triflexis. It's a once-a-month pill that prevents fleas and kills/prevents worms. It's only available by prescription. 

Ew. I hate fleas. There was a huge sand flea problem at ft Polk at the first place I lived. Flea bombed regularly, treated our pets, but they kept coming back. Never had that issue at the next house. No fleas here yet, either! Crossing my fingers :) my dog loves laying outside, and I am happy to put her there lol, I don't like only letting her out to potty. 

I had gotten Comfortis as well, from the Pet Doctor, I bought one for 19 dollars but it is also sold in "bulk" for six months. It worked AMAZING for our dog. Pretty much instantly the fleas started coming to the tips of his fur, died and then fell right off. The vet I go to now gives me CapStar that lasts 2-3 days to kill all fleas, and afterward you should give your pet flea medication/collar to last the rest of the month, just in case.

Also, Adams pet spray works well. I had gotten it from Walmart and you can do it pretty often. It is very strong so it has to be sprayed in a well ventilated area 

I once had a neighbor tell me that I shouldn't worry about treating our dog for fleas because they don't live in this part of WA


I have had several people tell me that and that ( we have only been here about a month) and they said there no ticks here either. I looked it up and I found it to be false.

I still use Frontline Plus and Heartworm meds too. 

Thanks for the input, everyone - I'm definitely going to go and get the pill medication at the vet tomorrow. Has anyone tried any of the products out there to spray your yard? I just can't stand knowing that they're out there... it makes my skin crawl, lol 

@ColoradoNative, We have used the outside sprays before they worked pretty well for us kept down quite a few different kinds of bugs, and spiders. Its been a while since we used it so I don't remember the name of it sorry, but it was worth it. 

Diatomaceous Earth

safe and natural. good for use outside.

I won't use flea collars on my animals. if it gets too close to the skin, under the fur, it causes nasty chemical burns.

Frontline is still working for my pets. Capstar is meant to be used as a booster, to give your long term flea meds a head start.

I also spray inside my house with natural and child safe flea repellents. 

After 2 groomer visits and 3 times to the vet in 1 week, there could be a possible solution to our Pug's problem. He has been acting funny, whining constantly and rubbing his back on anything that he can, which caused a sore. His glands are filling up faster than they should too.
Vet said he doesn't have fleas, but one could have bitten him and caused allergic reaction. The only place he could have gotten that is from our back yard. Since this product has been suggested, I am looking into it.

Is this stuff what I should be using outside? 

He can have allergies which caused a hot spot. My old dog that passed last year would get them every single year around this time. I also would recommend you put only ointment and the cone of shame unless it gets infected because all the pricey vet visits we paid for usually ended up in doing this. Also give Benadryl while the spot heals. 

I sprinkled a whole box of 20 Mule Borax on my lawn2 years ago, and I haven't had a flea problem since. Borax, or salt, will kill a flea on contact. A friend of mine sprinkles her carpeted areas in her house with salt at night once in a while, and will vacuum it up the following morning. 

Also, regarding the skin issues listed:

I work for a vet hospital. This last winter was horrendous for skin allergies surprisingly, and I imagine it will only get worse as it gets warmer.

About 70% of animal skin problems stem from fleas. MANY animals are allergic to flea bites. Regular monthly flea treatment will prevent your animals from their skin getting awful. Mites is another possibility (requiring special medication). Ringworm, another. Simple allergies, yet another. Benadryl is safe to use on most dogs for allergies, but for a doctor to give you a proper dosage for your pet, you'd have to make an appointment for. Very rarely, an animal's skin upset is due to food allergies. But really, this is only 20% of the time. It is always a good idea, however, to feed your pet with limited ingredient, high quality foods.

Just some enlightenment for your evening. :) 

Thanks for all the help. Our boy is about 7 years old and never had this problem.
We thought it could be his glands since it was about time and had them expressed. He was still being bothered so husband took him back to make sure they did it since he had full groom it could have been forgotten. He still was acting up so took him to the vet and they expressed them properly. Still, didn't help. They checked them again and they were empty. I am not there so I wasn't sure what the problem was till I found out the red spot was on his back, under his tail by his buns. Told husband to get him looked at again, properly. It had only been a few days but his glands were building up again and vet gave antibiotic. He is on Benadryl and I told my husband to keep the spot clean. He uses Bactine since it is supposed to help with itching and Neosporin to help heal.

As for the food allergies, being a pug with rear end problems we always feed higher end stuff to avoid the farts of death. Think my husband had just bought him some grain free stuff.

I was looking into the yard treatment I linked earlier and it says it can kill bees. I like all the other things it works on but killing bees is not something I want to do. Will look into the Borax and going to start the dogs on flea meds again when I visit at the end of next week. 

Someone here told me about the salt which I put on the carpet and it didn't work! I tried that with flea bath, capstar, and frontline while spraying inside and out all within a couple of days and nothing. It was ridiculous how they scratched even in the middle of the night it woke us up. I had to bomb the house while I had them flea bathed and given capstar (even the cat!) which helped greatly. And this all happened in winter which I found odd. Fleas are relentless. Good luck! 

Sandra, was your pet's skin already irritated when you tried the salt? Is it possible that you mistakened fleas for an already agitated skin issue, or did you continue to physically see fleas even after trying all of those methods?

If so, it sounds like your house was pretty infested! My boss tells many of our clients that a company called Flea Busters of WA are very good (he says his brother used them, and was very satisfied with their service). Costs $250 if memory serves me correctly, but they guarantee your home will be flea-free for 1 year. Here's the link: Flea Busters of WA 

The one dog that would get the hot spots due to fleas had already passed. When we had the infestation there was no irritation on the dogs and they both had fleas(visible!) I did come on here to ask for help as it shows here . It's still not completely gone but much better. 

My husband called at around 11pm and said he found a flea on the dog. He rushed to the store and bought all sorts of flea things, will get Frontline tomorrow morning.

I am reading up on Borax. It says harmful if ingested. Our big dog likes to graze on the grass. I am worried that if we sprinkle it in the yard he will end up eating some and get sick. 

MASC, then naturally I wouldn't recommend it for your home. 

HAHA! Good idea. ;)

I thought about doing just the front yard with Borax, but then remembered our big guy got out of the yard the other day. My husband found him grazing a couple houses over.
Guess I will go back to searching. :)