Hello! Please help, I am about at my wits' end!
It has been 15 years since I have had a dog with fleas, but somehow my Pyr has managed to get an infestation. We are now about 2-1/2 weeks since the first fleas were noticed on him. I am against chemicals in most cases so I tried to be a little conservative at first, starting with a flea bath and treating all the carpeted areas of the house with flea powder. Still scratching so I gave him a dose of Frontline in one area between his shoulderblades. Still itching so he had another flea bath and spot-treated places he was itching. All of these products are supposed to kill fleas for a week or ten days and interrupt the reproductive cycle! Still scratching so I knew I have to expand my efforts, gave him another dose of Frontline in several spots along his back. I also sprayed a pyrethrin-based insecticide in the outdoor areas where he spends his time and re-treated all the carpeting with a spray just today.
I don't know what to do next. Am I right in assuming the problem with the Frontline is his coat absorbing the stuff? I was very careful to expose his pink skin when I was putting it on him! I've seen a few fleas farther up on his coat, so I think they are hanging out away from his skin where the Frontline won't affect them and then going down to skin level to take a bite.
Any suggestions as to further treatments and/or product recommendations? Interestingly, throughout all this, I have not seen any actual evidence of fleas in the carpets or outdoor areas, and actually very few on him. It's not like they are jumping all over the place here! We just can't seem to get *rid* of them!
Thanks - Laurie & Bacchus