[migratory birds]

Certainly not a deal-breaker at all...just curious!

Are fleas a big problem for your pets (and homes!) in NZ?

Not such a problem here in the Upper Great Lakes region of North America b/c our winters can be bitter cold making it difficult for large numbers of eggs to remain viable but they were a major annoyance in the Pacific Northwest where winters were so mild it was easy for fleas to overwinter.

[kanatakiwi]

it's certainly mild enough here in the north island for fleas to overwinter. I dont have a pet here, but have noticed flea bites when visiting people with cats. also notice that head lice seems to be a problem at some schools.
There are lots of those flea kill programs for sale in auckland.

[KerryS]

When I got my kittens they were absolutely riddled with fleas. So much so, that I reported the seller to the SPCA as they were actually quite close to death according to my vet.
I treated them with Advantage and have never seen another flea since. I think it's definitely cold enough to kill them off during the winter time - even here in Auckland. (Or that could just be my house!)

[kanatakiwi]

Ha Kerry S.

two different answers from people both living in auckland! well probably we're both right.
G.

[Ana&Steve]

When I got my kittens they were absolutely riddled with fleas. So much so, that I reported the seller to the SPCA as they were actually quite close to death according to my vet.

How terrible! Glad you blew the whistle on the breeder!
Ana

[jubjub]

We use Advantage from the vet on our dog now, after using the supermarket stuff and him still getting the little blighters, in the UK the supermarket stuff did the trick every time.

Its a bit warmer so you just have to be a bit more vigilant with the treatment.

[Lupin]

We noticed fleas in our rental when we moved in in the summer, which surprised us as there are no carpets and it's supposed to be no pets! We used 'flea bombs' before our stuff arrived, which were very effective. Sometimes I hate renting!

[DMcG]

It depends strongly on the animal owner. My partner keeps our own cat clean of fleas and we flea-bomb every place we move to. We've never had any problems - and being allergic to anything that bites me - I'm a good indicator if there are fleas around :mad:

Dougie

[Howie]

I have 2 dogs and I give them Advantage every 2 months and have never seen a flea on them or in the house.

[Tia Maria]

Lupin 77 wrote:

We noticed fleas in our rental when we moved in in the summer, which surprised us as there are no carpets and it's supposed to be no pets! We used 'flea bombs' before our stuff arrived, which were very effective.

I was telling somone how I had put carpet in our bedroom and how much warmer it is when they told me they would only ever use rugs in Auckland because of fleas.

A friend of hers had recently bought a new property and then went away on holiday for a couple of weeks, when they returned they went to step into the hall when they noticed the carpet move in a wave like fashion - it was covered in fleas! They had to leave stright away and call in the exterminators.

I also know of several people who have rented and thought they were getting mozzie bites but it turned out to be fleas.

Kanatakiwi wrote:

also notice that head lice seems to be a problem at some schools.

There was an article in a local Auckland paper about the mothers who had secretly resorted to using pet treatments on their children as nothing else worked on headlice. Apparently it was very effective.

Cheers

Tia

[Carol]

We had the opposite problem with our rental - our tennants left us a nice little present of a flea infested house when they moved out.
We managed to get them onto our shoes and brought them back to our OWN house while sorting the rental out.
It became an absolute nightmare for about 2 months.
We had the exterminator out twice - after using LOADS of those bombs from the supermarket!
Even HE couldnt get rid of them 1st time around.

we did feel better though when he told us - it was a particularly bad year for them - and even the more "exclusive" houses in Whitby were infested.

Makes you feel much better when you know its not just you who is suffering.
lol:laugh

Seriously - we were all ill with bites.
We all looked like maps of the London Underground with all it's lights lit up!
:wah

[Lupin]

There was an article in a local Auckland paper about the mothers who had secretly resorted to using pet treatments on their children as nothing else worked on headlice. Apparently it was very effective.

I think weekly conditioner combing would surely be less risky!

[Carol]

I think weekly conditioner combing would surely be less risky!

Yep - and it works too!

That along with a Robi Comb zapper.
And it is SO rewarding to electrocute the little ********!:nice1

(that's the lice not the kids of course!) :D

[Tia Maria]

Lupin 77 wrote:

I think weekly conditioner combing would surely be less risky!

Too right! I think it was being put forward as a kind of 'secret shame', by those parents who felt they had no other option, as the problem was so bad in schools.

Cheers

Tia

[Myrkk]

We had the same problem here in the UK, the previous owners had died and their daughter assured me she had fumigated the house. 24hrs after moving in I had in excess of 36 bites.

Flea eggs can stay viable for approx. 1year so you have to make sure you use something that has a residual effect and if possible a growth inhibitor, it stops the larvae from getting to adulthood [basically they can't shed their skins...] Spray every area of your house including under the sofa pads, mattress, move the furniture instead of spraying around it etc. If the house is empty then the vibrations of you moving in and the excess heat etc will start them hatching so vaccuum thoroughly and remember to empty then spray your vaccuum, as it's a perfect breeding ground for the larvae..... vaccuuming regularly will help you get rid of them faster.

Re. your pet. Frontline or Advantage are brill and easy to apply. Any of the systemics are extremely effective.

The more people get central heating the more fleas will thrive.

[Ana&Steve]

If it's a carpeted house, you could try salt or Borax, you sprinkle it all around before you go to bed then vacuum it up the next day. (or if possible, wait 24 hours before vacuuming) Apparently the salt dehydrates them and the Borax suffocates them, and either are supposed to work on the eggs, as well. I've done both, and both seem effective.
Ana

[Debbie]

The vet told me I would have to be extra vigilant about fleas here as my dog is now a beach dog and beach fleas, (I'd never heard of beach fleas) are very partial to hopping on your dog for a vacation in a nice warm house.
Headlice are as bad here as they were in the UK. Combing the hair with a nit comb, tea tree oil and wearing long hair up at school has managed to keep us free of these little blighters so far.
Debbie

[migratory birds]

Many reports from NI locales (we were esp creeped out and thrilled in a sick sort of way about the carpet moving like a wave when humans returned from their home after two weeks away!!)

What about South Island? Esp southern half of SI?

[Pip]

Hmm.. nothing to report here, but am still treating cat with UK Frontline stuff that we shipped in the container. We know a few people with dogs/cats and no one seems to have a problem that I know of. Must be these chilly South Island winters...!

[Joanne100]

I rescued a stray kitten a couple of months ago, he was covered with fleas to the point u could see his fur moving, i did one application of advantage cleared it up straight away they didnt make their way onto the other cats or make home in my carpets! ( thank god ) i think i was very lucky. Awful things and usually so hard to get rid of.
Im always getting notes home from the school saying head lice has made its way into your childs class, i tell my kids NOT to wash their hair everyday and wen i get a note home i check them with conditioner and a fine toothed comb and i put a drop of tea tree oil behind the ears, Its worked for me so far.
Dont think its any worse here than in the Uk.

[DMcG]

If you want to clear a rental place before you move in. Visit a couple of days before and stomp around the whole place. The vibrations will start the eggs hatching. Then go back a day or two later and bomb the place, that way you'll catch all the eggs that hatched and kill everything off before you move in.

(this from my partner who trained as a vet)

Dougie