— Kiran Jonnalagadda’s Blog

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

This aging fellow is suffering from a bad flea infection. Regular shampooing and flea-killing powder isn’t helping. He spends all day scratching himself silly and looking at me mournfully. Does anyone know what can be done to help him?

maxaud — Jul 27, 2005 6:45:33 AM — # ↩

actually this is a home remedy and i have seen it working pretty effectively.

dip a piece of cloth in kerosene and apply it all over him. the first half an hour will be pretty uncomfortable for the fellow because the fleas themselves will be all uncomfortable.

word of advice: when applying the kerosene keep the fellow far from any living area. the fleas will be in a hurry to leave and the place wud be literally jumpin with those critters. do not apply on open wounds.
- Kiran Jonnalagadda — Jul 27, 2005 6:50:53 AM — # ↩
  
  How do you remove the kerosene after that?
  - maxaud — Jul 27, 2005 6:55:21 AM — # ↩
    
    once things settle down (say in an hour or so), you can give him a good shower, with a nice smelling shampoo. you should be seeing a much happier fellow. :). hope it works. dont worry of the kerosene leaves an after-smell. will wear off in a day.
    
    this from a guy who has never lived without atleast one canine in his house.
    - Kiran Jonnalagadda — Jul 27, 2005 12:48:02 PM — # ↩
      
      I checked with mom, and she says the problem is not with getting fleas off him. It’s getting them out of the house, from all the places they’re lurking and re-infecting him. How do you deal with that
      
      I think she’s right about the source: I frequently find them around the house. We got rid of a carpet that was previously a big source, but they’re still around.
      - maxaud — Jul 28, 2005 3:26:48 AM — # ↩
        
        now that seems a bit more difficult. when i said to take him away from any living area before applying the kerosene, it was for this very reason, so that the damn critters dont hide until its safe to get back in again.
        
        tried those flit things around the house? the problem with kerosene is that it is not potent enough to kill the devils. maybe baygon or something of that sort can do the job? i really dont know…
- arucard2 — Jul 27, 2005 9:50:33 AM — # ↩
  
  you have a similar concotion, the name of which I forget, manufactured by the company which makes the doggie shampoos (the blue plasticy bottle). B******* something goes the name :(
  
  you need to take care that he (the dog) doesn’t lick that medicine (or the kerosene). My dog licked it, and she had a severe case of indigestion for the next 2 days.
Anonymous — Jul 27, 2005 6:52:44 AM — # ↩

Use Bayticol.
ashokd — Jul 27, 2005 7:15:18 AM — # ↩

The vet usually suggests a pesticide(don’t remember the name) for ticks/fleas. The pesticide has to be applied after diluting in water. But the problem is you will have to prevent him from licking himself until it dries. Ticks can be more serious than one thinks. they can make the dog anaemic leading to other complications. Consulting a vet would be better.
bluesmoon — Jul 27, 2005 7:56:39 AM — # ↩

My dad uses something for our dogs and they haven’t had fleas in years. I’ll call him when the phone lines in bombay are back up.
achitnis — Jul 27, 2005 8:49:14 AM — # ↩

You might want to consider that the flea/tick infestation and the scratching are not completely related. We had a similar situation with one of by GSDs, and the guy had no ticks at all! Doc then figured out it was an allergy (common in Bangalore), put him on a few days of steroids, and all was well.

The other option is to take him to the vet hospital at Hebbal, and they can give him a de-infestation bath there. Better done there than at home.
- Kiran Jonnalagadda — Jul 27, 2005 8:54:40 AM — # ↩
  
  Do you have contact details for the hospital?
  
  He’s plainly covered with fleas. No ticks. The fleas he manages to lose remain on the sheets and get onto my legs. For some reason they never go for anything above ankle level.
  - achitnis — Jul 27, 2005 10:12:22 AM — # ↩
    
    I don’t have it with me here, but call our vet - Dr.Bhat @ 9448040925, tell him that I referred you (he may know me as Judo’s master), and get the details from him.
latelyontime — Jul 27, 2005 1:04:27 PM — # ↩

the doc’s no help? :(
- Kiran Jonnalagadda — Jul 27, 2005 1:08:29 PM — # ↩
  
  The doc insists he’s old and can live happily left alone. He thinks he doesn’t even need anti-rabies injections anymore.
aivalli — Jul 27, 2005 4:53:43 PM — # ↩

SO you get to scratch him in your fre time !(?)

-nerdy