Determining if fleas are in the home if we don't own a pet but a dog visited
#1
08-23-17, 07:05 PM
Determining if fleas are in the home if we don't own a pet but a dog visited
The online help on flea infestations are based on observing your pet. We don't own any pets.
We did have a friend stay over with her dog in the guest room about a month ago.
Lat night the old lady was ad at me and slept in the guest room.
This afternoon she had some non-continuous bites on her leg that were irritating enough to send her to urgent care.
The general MD there said it appeared to be flea bites. (Note that in my experience, general practitioners aren't particularly adept at diagnosing skin conditions.)
How can I tell if the dog that was here a month ago caused a flea infestation in the guest room. I don't see any signs but then again I don't know what to look for.
We did have a friend stay over with her dog in the guest room about a month ago.
Lat night the old lady was ad at me and slept in the guest room.
This afternoon she had some non-continuous bites on her leg that were irritating enough to send her to urgent care.
The general MD there said it appeared to be flea bites. (Note that in my experience, general practitioners aren't particularly adept at diagnosing skin conditions.)
How can I tell if the dog that was here a month ago caused a flea infestation in the guest room. I don't see any signs but then again I don't know what to look for.
#2
08-23-17, 07:21 PM
Group Moderator
One easy way is to take a pie pan or cake pan, put some water and dish soap in the pan, just like you were going to wash dishes. Then set up a short light, like a reading light, piano light, etc... something that will hover directly over the pan of water... maybe 10-12" directly above the pan.
Put this in an open carpeted area where you suspect fleas, and turn it on after dark... leave it on all night in an area where its dark and all other lights are off. Do this in various areas of the house... for as long as you see fit. Its cheap and easy.
If doing this for several nights does not catch a single flea, then I doubt you have fleas.
The fleas like the heat and light, and will keep trying to launch themselves toward the light bulb, but will fall into the soapy water and drown. You can do this every night and count how many fleas you catch if any. If you have a flea infestation you will want to treat the carpet and furniture.
Continuing to use the pan every night will continue to attract and kill fleas and can also be a good indicator as to whether or not you are getting control of the flea problem. Every flea you kill is one less flea that will lay eggs that will later hatch.
And if you do have fleas, remember that the eggs your current fleas have laid have yet to hatch, so you will likely have yet another wave of fleas to treat / a few weeks after you might think that you have them under control.
Put this in an open carpeted area where you suspect fleas, and turn it on after dark... leave it on all night in an area where its dark and all other lights are off. Do this in various areas of the house... for as long as you see fit. Its cheap and easy.
If doing this for several nights does not catch a single flea, then I doubt you have fleas.
The fleas like the heat and light, and will keep trying to launch themselves toward the light bulb, but will fall into the soapy water and drown. You can do this every night and count how many fleas you catch if any. If you have a flea infestation you will want to treat the carpet and furniture.
Continuing to use the pan every night will continue to attract and kill fleas and can also be a good indicator as to whether or not you are getting control of the flea problem. Every flea you kill is one less flea that will lay eggs that will later hatch.
And if you do have fleas, remember that the eggs your current fleas have laid have yet to hatch, so you will likely have yet another wave of fleas to treat / a few weeks after you might think that you have them under control.
#4
08-24-17, 04:08 PM
Its certainly within the time frame of possibility, as far as the one month ago recent visit from the dog. Now that said, fleas are visible and are usually seen by the occupants, whether they are getting bit or not.
The flea trap that sleeper describes does work. Variations of it are sold commercially. They are simply a monitoring device; won’t aid much in control but is valuable in diagnosing a problem. Years ago I made a similar device using a light bulb over a glue trap. I thought our cat would be smart enough to avoid it; I was probably wrong about other things that day too...
At this point we still don’t know for sure what is causing the skin issue so I’d suggest holding off on a flea treatment until we see a compelling reason to treat. If/when fleas are involved they will show themselves shortly. Keep us posted.
The flea trap that sleeper describes does work. Variations of it are sold commercially. They are simply a monitoring device; won’t aid much in control but is valuable in diagnosing a problem. Years ago I made a similar device using a light bulb over a glue trap. I thought our cat would be smart enough to avoid it; I was probably wrong about other things that day too...
At this point we still don’t know for sure what is causing the skin issue so I’d suggest holding off on a flea treatment until we see a compelling reason to treat. If/when fleas are involved they will show themselves shortly. Keep us posted.
#5
08-25-17, 04:05 PM
Member
Boric acid is death on a great many insects, including ants, roaches and fleas. It's available in dried form (Roach-Prufe, Zap-a-Roach, etc) and liquid (Terro ant killer) but the powder form is better suited for indoor roaches and fleas.
