Fleas

I've kept dogs for a long time and never had a flea problem. I now have a flea problem ! Each month for the last 4 I have treated . Ive used frontline, advantage, advocate and itch. Ive bathed the dogs too and they are still scratching constantly. Ive got flea bites now. I flea comb the cat and get a few but I cant get the comb through the dogs fur. Can you tell me what flea stuff works and if I can treat again with itch before the month period please? I'm also thinking of getting bombs for the house but I have a fish tank that will be hard to move . If i put sheets over it will the fish be ok ? Getting desparate to get rid of them now ! Thank you for any advice you could offer.

Hello - please go to your vets for a consultation.  Every year, people waste thousands of pounds on flea treatments - often from pet-shops and pharmacies with very official-looking packaging - that are never going to work in their particular situation.  If anything, this only serves to make fleas more resistant to the chemicals.  Usually, a multi-modal campaign is required that involves 1) hoovering all the carpets, changing bedding, doormats, treating the house and 2) treating all the pets at once with a product that will work, at the correct dose and 3) either choosing chemicals that will last long enough, or reapplying them.   This is usually expensive to get wrong, so a veterinary or nursing  appointment, which asssesses your particular household circumtances, will the best way to get on top of this unpleasant situation.  It may be worth explaining to the receptionist that you need to be seen as soon as possible.  Don't be worried about telling them - most people working at a vets have accidently let their cover slip and had a flea outbreak at home at some point.

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