Hey Paul,
Great article! I am over-run with fleas. No, literally. Enter the grooming room and instantly there will be at least a dozen fleas on each of your legs. No lie. Here's what happened (prepare yourself for a saga)
Ok, so I lived in Colorado for 22 years. I show dogs. In 22 years, I had never even seen a flea. Had no idea what they looked like. Moved to Oklahoma. Have become very well acquainted with the little buggers. (get it? bug-gers? Killing myself over here) I have been great about keeping the dogs treated and bathed and bedding too. Not a flea in site! Yea me! Well, not so fast.
I have a bunch of cats - they are all treated for fleas, but here's the kicker. My stray, now tame and named, barn cats had about 15 kittens. I had the Momma's and babies my grooming room in the kennel, like a nursery. I didn't know about DE and I knew I couldn't treat the babies so I figured the Mommas were treated so we're good, right? WRONG!!! Holy jumping bugs batman! I am ashamed to admit that the fleas actually killed the weakest and littlest of the kittens. By the time I realized I had a BIG problem I had NO idea how big a problem I really had - and continue to have. The cats have all been treated and there is no longer an identifiable blood source in the room. Still fleas galore.
I had not read your article so I used a DE product with natural botanical oils called BUgRIght. I basically coated the entire room with it. Still completely over-run. I got desperate and used foggers every day for four days. No change. Literally, when I open the door the floor looks like it is moving!!! I am TOTALLY grossed out. HELP.
Ok - so here's the question. Is the BugRight stuff ok? Followed by; Have you ever heard of anyone using fine salt scattered on the floor to kill fleas? I really need to get a handle on this asap. Since I fogged, the fleas are not only NOT better in the Grooming Room, but they have migrated into the Shop where we store mowers, etc. It is basically a metal pole barn (30x40x12) that we have tools and storage. What is the blood source there?
HELP. Did I say that? Help. I need to get this under control to keep the damn things out of the kennel area. I have not seen ONE in there. Nor on the dogs. Thank GOD! That said, I am not able to use the grooming room and every time I go in there I am bombarded. A day or so later I have 30-40 bites. Major misery here.
So, lay it on me...what the heck do I do? 4 weeks is a long time to go without my grooming room. How on earth do I get the shop under control? Here is what I was wondering:
If I fill a couple of Frisbees with soapy water and leave the overhead lights will that help? Should I leave overhead lights on or off? Will the salt do anything? Right now, the floor and surfaces are coated - ie can't see the floor - in DE and BugRight. PS - BugRight says it is organic.
Ok, mighty one...I've rubbed the lamp and will anxiously await the Genie's reply!
Itching and scratching in Oklahoma,
Christina the Crazy Dog Lady
