After my last post regarding fleas I have been looking to try a different spot on and as a couple of people mentioned Advocate I have been looking at this.

Why is it prescription only?  I want to order on-line to get the best price.  I know my vet can give me a prescription (and charge me) but surely to do so I must have a consult as well.  If no consult is needed then why is it prescription only.  I don't really want to take my elderly cats down there just to be told they have fleas which I already know.

I've never been in this situation before and it is so frustrating, I have followed the advice of spraying my house but none of my local pet shops had the Acclaim which was recomended and the spray I've used has not made any difference. I now have Acclaim on order and my husband is going to start pulling up the carpet in the dog sleeping area.

I feel so dirty :(

It's prescription only because it's more potent than the over-the-counter stuff.

Re Acclaim you can get that on-line, not sure about RIP, but that one the Vets around here stock.

These will work as they stop the fleas beign able to complete their life cycle.  so ocne the adult fleas are dead no new fleas.

when i moved into our cottage it had been empty for months, i was unpacking my stuff in our bedroom and felt a tickle on my knee,i was wearing pale gray trousers.i looked down and oh my god i was covered in fleas,it was like out of a horror movie.i went to the vets straight away and paid a ridiculous price for a spray,and it worked.dont feel dirty hon,these things happen and will be sorted,i was going to call pest countrol if it did not work, i have not seen a flea since and that was 9 year ago
jo

If your vet has seen your animals on a regular basis they will be unlikely to want a consultation and you should be able to ask the receptionist to deal with it for you.

That is because the fleas hatch when they feel the presence of a meal.  If a place has been empty this happens in a rush.  The larva can lay dormant for months or even years.

> That is because the fleas hatch when they feel the presence of a meal.  If a place has been empty this happens in a rush.  The larva can lay dormant for months or even years

I so wish you hadn't told me that, I'll never go in an empty house again.

To OP, don't feel dirty, even the cleanest house can have fleas if animals are out and about - its usually our old moggy that brings them in. Remember to spray the flea killer inside your vacuum cleaner bag too if you have a reusable one.

> spray the flea killer inside your vacuum cleaner bag too if you have a reusable one.

What a good idea, thanks

> Re Acclaim you can get that on-line, not sure about RIP, but that one the Vets around here stock.
>
> These will work as they stop the fleas beign able to complete their life cycle so ocne the adult fleas are dead no new fleas.

This sounds promising :) the stuff I bought said it lasted a few weeks but it had no smell which made me think at the time that it wasn't going to work.

If the Advocate is more potent, I'll leave it as a last resort, my kitties are quite old and it may be too strong for them.

Thanks for all the advice, great as always.

Mel

I've found the best product for killing fleas is Stronghold, again its prescription only but it really does work. THe trouble is the stuff that is less potent doesn't tend to deal with the fleas and to be honest we have had quite a few reactions to bob martins type stuff that people buy in pet shops so i would tend to go for the good stuff from vets if you are going to treat for fleas. If the are old the last thing they need is a flea infestation.