Please Help!!

I am sure there are a million post regardingfleas on this forum and I'm very sorry if this is a repetitivequestion, but I couldn't find the information I was looking for when Iwas searching the forum.

I have a huge flea infestation in my house. I haven't reallyseen that its been a big problem with the bunnies (I have 3), but theyjump on us alllll the time. It has really become a hugeproblem in the last few days.

I don't know where they came from, whether they were on the two males Ijust perchaced from a pet store or if they are coming fromoutside.

I know there are certain things you can get to get rid of fleas onbunnies, but how in the world am I going to get them all out of myhouse, its really insane how many there are. Its like theyall popped up in a matter of a few days.

Please help... I appologize again if this is something that is alwaysasked... for I know how annoying that can be. If there is analready existing post with helpful information, I would love forsomeone to send me the link.

Sorry to bother everyone!

Thanks!
~Mandy

From what I understand, the only way to makesure they are all gone is to treat the whole house at once. I think oneof the best ways to do that is to set off flea bombs. You can buy themfrom the store or have a pest control company come out and do it foryou. But you have to leave and take your bunnies with you fior severalhours while it's done. You'll also have to treat the bunnies and anyother pets with something so that they don't bring fleas back into thehouse.

I think the bombs only kill the hatched adult fleas so you'll have totreat your furniture and floors (if they are carpet) with something tokill the eggs too. I think they have sprays and powders that you canuse.

I have 3 bunnies, two gerbils, and 1 mouse... so I don't have any pets that go outside.

I was wondering if the sprays and powders for the house would harm thebunnies, and if anyone knew of the names of any that are good.

Thanks
~Mandy

I really don't know the answer to this but I would rather be safe than sorry. Don't use anything until you can get the answers. I know that you can't use many chemicals on rabbits that are safe for other animals. I hope that someone here can help you. Also I'll try to look something up and see what I can find.

The flea bombs are effective, but they areDefinitely Very Harmful to all living creatures. Make sure you get allthe animals out of the house the day you bomb it. You'll have to do itonce, and then follow up again days after to get the eggs that haven'thatched.

Of course, you'll have to treat the animals as well. With the rabbits,you can use kitten flea powder. Just a small amount will do. If you puttoo much on, that can harm the rabbit as well.

Remove carpet and toys in the rabbit cages that a flea can get into - stuffed animals, etc.

It's crucial to get those fleas out of there as it can cause a lot ofserious health problems for your rabbits. Don't know what works for thegerbil and mouse as to what you can put on them to get rid of thefleas.

Unfortunately, the fleas won't go away unless you kill them. They multiply faster than rabbits.

-Carolyn

I have used the powders for carpet .our hardwarestore carries it.i get all the rabbits out of the room and vacuumthoughly before bunnnies are allowed back in.bluebird

I treat the animals (topical frontline plus) andfrequently steam clean the carpets as well. I did try thecarpet spray that is supposed to kill eggs/larvae, but it didn't seemto help. I've tried powders and otherbrands oftopical flea applications and found them to be veryineffective. Flea collars are also ineffective.

According to info I've read, vacuuming alone doesn't pick up all thelarvae clinging to carpet fibers, so I use my carpet scrubber and fillit with boiling hot water. Flea eggs can remain dormant forlong periods of time, so frequent carpet scrubbing and cleaning pet'sbedding can help to control flea populations.

Because of fish in the house and gas pilot lights on appliances (our furnace is hard to re-light), I don't use the bug bombs.



Pam

I cameacross a spray that works wonders on the animals. My Nadie was infestedwith fleas to the point he was digging sores into his body. Thisproduct is specifically for Rabbits, gerbils,hapsters, guine pigs, Miceand rats. its called eight in one Ultra Care flea &tick spray. there web addy is: http://www.eightinonepet.com/. I hopethat helps a little with getting rid of the flea problem that yourbuns, and rodents might have.

As for the house I would stronglyrecommend using flea bombs to kill the buggers in the rugs andfurniture. Im not sure where you are at, but all you really need to dois pray your critters and place them in a carrier bring them outside{if warm enough} if not put them in a running vehical. Run in leavingthe door open behind you for a quick escape, pull the pins on the bombsand take your babies for a long ride or go vistit family/friends for acouple hours. When you get back make sure you leave everyone outsideuntil you can get the house opened up and get the powder cleaned up. Ihope that help a little hun.

shadow10978 wrote:

Thisproduct is specifically for Rabbits, gerbils,hapsters, guine pigs, Miceand rats. its called eight in one Ultra Care flea &tick spray. there web addy is:http://www.eightinonepet.com/.I hope that helps a little with getting rid of the flea problem thatyour buns, and rodents might have.

Click to expand...

There have been warnings issued about the toxicity effects ofpermethrins (the active ingredient in the Ultra Care flea spray) onrabbits, so I do recommend doing some research before deciding to usethe product.

Personally, I have a permethrin sprayer in my barn and have used apermethrin spray a couple times on a rabbit -- but I do want people tobe aware of possible risks (as with any product). Mostrabbits will not have any ill effects from permethrin based products,but sinsitive individuals may have a reaction. Ifyour rabbit has a reaction to a permethrin product, immediately bathethe rabbit with a mild soap.

"Permethrin caused mild irritation of intact or abraded skin ofrabbits. It also caused conjunctivitis when it was applied to the eyes."

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/metiram-propoxur/permethrin-ext.html

Tech info on permethrins:

http://www.vspn.org/Library/misc/VSPN_M01289.htm

Flea control for rabbits:

http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/health/newflea.html

Med Alert on other topical products

http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/health/vet-talk/frontline.html



Pam

You will have to bomb 3 times......every 2 weeks. Then, once every month
until you know they are gone. One "bombing" will only kill the living fleas,
it will not get all the eggs. I had the same problem when I lived in Arkansas.
The heat & humidity causes them to breed like crazy. I used to have an
exterminator come in, every month.

Because you have to bomb, so many times, you will have to keep your buns
off your carpets. You can purchase a roll of craft paper or the brown packing
rolls (Staples) to cover the floors when they are hopping around.

You should have a professional come in and clean your carpets. They
have cleaners that are safe for the buns. Those cleaners have great
suction and will also "suck" up the majority of the eggs.

Charlotte

I would also like toadd that you can purchase alighted flea trap , It has asticky type fly paper , thefleas are attracted to thelight and warmth of the bulb ,get trapped in the stickyand stay there until you throw it away .

It wont get all the fleas inhte first few days butit certainly helps cut downsome of their numbers. I have one running 24/ 7here , I went through a snit of a fleainfestation during the summer , One likeI have never seen before . 4 Bombings and3 sets of sticky paper later Itseems they are at least for the timebeing under control .
I am not sure why but the light seemsto draw them off the Rabbits when it isplaced near their cages ? Ihavent had to use any sprays or powders on any bun. My hardest problem is my 2 cats Bothare allergic to any and all fleapreperations , and this seemed to be thebest solution to aflea problem .

http://www.pestdetour.com/detail.asp?product_id=4331889

This is the one I found tobe most effective. Hope it helps .

Wow, Thank you guys SOOO much. I amgoing to work on getting this house super clean tonight and i'm goingto go out and buy some flea powder for my carpets.

I will make sure to do one room at a time and make sure that the bunnies are not in the room when i do it.

Sounds like I may be making a triip to get some kitten fleapowder? Does advantage work on bunnies by any chance, or isit way more expensive. I am on a tight budget right now, butto be honest, I think I can splerge to get rid of thesesuckers. They are driving me insane!!!

As for the bombs, It would be a great hassle to try to get all thebunnies in the car and stay away for a few hours... I am really hopingthe carpet flea powder will work.

Thanks again EVERYONE!!:heart:

~Mandy
Bayle, Clo, and Shayze.

gypsy wrote:

I would also like to addthat you can purchase a lightedflea trap , It has a stickytype fly paper , the fleas are attractedto the light and warmth ofthe bulb , get trapped in thesticky and stay there until youthrow it away .

Click to expand...

You can make something like this yourself from stuff laying around thehouse. :} Get a white (or mostly white) plate,cover w/ water & a couple drops of dish soap (the soap breaksthe water tension so the fleas sink immediately), then positiondirectly under a light (a nightlight would probably work, but somethingbigger & brighter like an adjustable desklamp or industrialclamp lamp is better).

Not the prettiest solution in the world, and won't get rid of all the fleas, but it does help keep them under control.

My all-time favourite flea control, though, is Borax (inexpensive& easily available practically everywhere laundry detergent issold). Sprinkle liberally over carpet and/orfabric-upholstered furniture, grind in well (I use a broom).You can vacuum it up after a little while, but it's better, IMO, tojust leave it. There is a *slight* chance of adversereactions if ingested, but I used it for years w/ multiple cats w/ nosigns of a problem (I've never used it w/ bunnies just because we don'thave carpet in this house).

Also, get a cheap flea collar, cut it into pieces & stick thepieces in the vacuum bag before you vacuum. This helps killfleas even if you don't treat the carpet first (or if, like me, youdon't have carpet to treat ^_^ )