More About Fleas

We received some advice about dealing with fleas, but before that, this is how our home flea problem began.

Our bassett hound, Max, was acting more peculiar than usual. His howling, which is sort of normal, had taken on a tragic quality. He wandered up to different windows in the backyard to vocalize. Then he went into the far corner of the backyard and crawled into the dog house. The dog house had been hauled back there to be out of the way. He never goes into it.

Scooter became very concerned. She decided to take him to the vet the next morning. But before that, she brought him into the kitchen and tied his leash to the doorknob so she could comfort him while she continued her international business deals via the computer.

The vet determined Max had an "obstruction." It appeared to be a small baby's sock he had swallowed. Weird, really weird, since there aren't any babies around here. Anyway, it was extricated and Max felt like a whole new dog. How howling returned to normal.

Trouble is, the "quality time" he was afforded inside the house resulted in a virulent flea incursion. And, boy, can those suckers leap. We're talking Spiderman-like leaps.

The timing was awful. Soon thereafter, weekend guests (Scooter's brother and niece) arrived. We had set off several of those flea foggers beforehand, but they weren't entirely effective. The fleas, which suck the blood of warm-blooded mammmals, took a particular liking to the ankles of Scooter's niece, who phoned home to announce, "Aunt Scooter has fleas!"

We were mortified and called for professional help.

Hence, yesterday's news tip.

Now, a reader from out West (Huntington Beach, Calif.) wrote with some advice that could save you an exterminator's flea control fee. Here's the email:


"Hi, Scooter:

I have two cats and two dogs, so fleas have been a
problem. Here's the solution:

Use Sevin dust (Ortho makes it, but it's available
under other brands) and borax powder (usually found in
the laundry soap section of the store). Dust carpets
with Sevin & let it set for about 15 - 30 minutes,
then vacuum. This kills adult fleas.

Dust with borax powder, and work it into carpet w/ a
broom. This dessicates any eggs, and the residual
Sevin will kill any adult fleas. When done, give the
animals a flea bath, and that should do you for the
summer!

Caveat - you should test a hidden section of the
carpet for colorfastness with both the Sevin dust and
borax before applying to the entire carpet!

Lee Webber
Left-coast pet owner

;-) "