What to do when my dog and cats still have fleas after home remedies?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered
My dog has had fleas for 2 weeks. We have washed him twice with flea shampoo and once with dawn soap. We also treated him with hartz ultra guard flea stuff. We washed him 2 days after we put the treatment on because he still has severe fleas. The box did not say anything about not bathing him. We spread diatomaceous earth and sprayed our whole house. We also washed all our blankets and clothes with hot water. But now our two cats have fleas and the dog still has fleas. What do we do?
5 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 16th, 2017
Fleas can be very frustrating to deal with! In my experience, Hartz products and other over-the-counter options like flea shampoos, diatomaceous earth, etc. are not very effective. First, I would recommend getting good quality prescription flea medication from your vet for Darwin and your two cats - you won't have any luck getting rid of the fleas in the house until all of the animals area treated. Nexgard or Bravecto are the best choices for dogs, and Revolution or Advantage Multi would be best for the cats. Once that's done, you can treat your house and yard with a premises spray like Knock Off to get rid of the fleas and eggs in the environment. If the problem is severe, you may need to have an exterminator come and treat the environment professionally. Keeping all of your pets on a good quality flea control medication year-around in the future will help to prevent this from being an issue again.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on September 5th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Hartz is not a great product for fleas and flea collars don’t work at all. I would recommend talking to your vet about products they carry and recommend. They are better products and safer for cats. You need to treat all the pets in the home every 30 days for at least 3 months to kill the entire flea life cycle. I would also recommend treating your home with a flea spray. Spray all flooring, furniture, and under furniture. When it dries, vacuum well and throw out the bag or empty the canister. Wash all bedding in hot water. Doing the above and treating all the pets should take care of your problem. Good luck and kisses to Lilly!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on December 21st, 2018
I am afraid, Fenistil will not help. The only thing that will help is to get rid of fleas in your house and make sure your cat does not get bitten any more. Here is how to get rid of fleas once and for all: Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your pet when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae). Flea treatment: 1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian and apply monthly 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust., Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding, If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas. Flea products: Spot-ons and/or chews Advantage, Advantage Multi Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats, Simparica, Nexgard Revolution Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once) Collar: Seresto (ticks as well) House spray: Indorex
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on July 20th, 2019
Poor Sonny. I can give you a flea treatment program that has always worked for me. First, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. Best of luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on June 27th, 2018
Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your pet when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae). Flea treatment: 1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian and apply monthly 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust., Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding, If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas. Flea products: Spot-ons: Advantage, Advantix Advantage Multi (Advocate in the UK) Frontline (ticks as well) Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats Revolution (stronghold in the UK) Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once) Collar: Seresto (ticks as well) It is very important that you only use flea prevention licensed for cats as those for dogs can contain permethrin which is toxic to cats.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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