Comments on: Fighting fleas the old-fashioned way

By: Dan Walsh

Dan Walsh — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:44:11 +0000

Hi.
If you vacuum (hoover) the fleas up, you should use a fibre vacuum bag, it normally has 5 layers of filtration to stop 99%+ of dust/hair and fleas getting back into the air. Bosch also do a bag that has a lid you close after you remove it and you can make sure the little blighters don’t escape !!

By: Krystle

Krystle — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:33:44 +0000

Hi there, found your blog through Google. I’m fortunate enough to live in the Sierra Nevadas at 7500 feet and I’ve been told all my life that you can bring adult fleas on your pet to this elevation but they cannot reproduce so eventually they’ll all die and problem solved. I’m starting to wonder about the accuracy of this claim now though. The last time I went to a flea area was July 1st and now today, August 11th they are still thriving. My poor dog must have been covered in them on the way home because I kill at least 15 per bath, brush out 5, pick off 5, and find 5 dead ones so about 20-30 are dying each week since then and yet they’re still hanging around!! I’ve steeped lemons an turned it into a spray, used Sentry natural essential oil flea drops, apple cider vinegar both internally and externally. Even ordered some diatomaceous earth which is supposed to work in the same manner as flea powder. Vacuumed and bleached the house multiple times. I don’t get it, these disgusting creatures are so strong!!What the heck am I doing wrong? I’m fearful because I’m taking the dog to college with me where fleas are rampant and don’t die because of the altitude and I can’t even maintain them here at home. I’m planning on trying nematodes for the yard where I’ll be living for school. What else can I do?

By: Melinda

Melinda — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:45:14 +0000

Why do I NOT have a love affair with my hardwood floors? What am I missing? Aside from being pretty to look during a few short hours post-mopping, my floors take 3 times the work to keep clean. Sweeping generally keeps the dog hair whirl winds under control. But with 4 indoor/outdoor dogs, only vaccuuming will get the serious grit picked up. And then I need to mop to get rid of the pawprint paths. Not to mention all the area rugs that need vacuuming/cleaning too. Sigh. There are days when I long for a darkish shade of wall-to-wall that only needs vacuuming and the periodic deep clean.

As for injuries, it hasn’t been an issue for us. Even Nicky No-Hips learned to scamper across our hardwood floors without wiping out. He’s also the best area rug surfer of all 4 dogs.

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:53:16 +0000

Even staff writers like Kim are getting snagged, so you’re in good company, Heather.

Comment by David S. Greene — July 19, 2010

Hey … *I* am getting snagged. Every comment.

WTF?

Be patient, gang. We’ll have the Black Dog kids look into it.

In the meantime, don’t repost a comment it it disappears. Just e-mail petconnection@gmail.com and we’ll liberate.

By: David S. Greene

David S. Greene — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:14:11 +0000

Although I didn’t see Heather’s excised comment, I’ve been keeping a very close eye on the spam filter recently, and Christie’s so very correct. The filter seems particularly hungry for certain regulars (Janeen, Marge, and yes, Heather), and I haven’t a clue why. Even staff writers like Kim are getting snagged, so you’re in good company, Heather.

By: Liz Palika

Liz Palika — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:19:04 +0000

We tore up the carpet, put down tile and throw rugs about ten years ago and love it! It’s better for my allergies, better for flea control, and for overall cleanliness of the house.

The dogs don’t have any trouble on it at all.

By: Christie Keith

Christie Keith — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:30:23 +0000

Our spam filter from time to time gets POSSESSED. There is no other word for it. Right now it’s grabbing comments, including from longtime regulars, and slamming them into the spam folder for no reason I can determine. I’m sure one of yours was the links and formatting — but that didn’t explain the others of yours, and of Janeen’s, and of other people’s, that I have liberated today.

Time to call the techies!

By: H. Houlahan

H. Houlahan — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:08:22 +0000

Retroactive spam filter?

I posted with some links to other Ikea products with the rubber backing, realized that it would likely not go through with so many links, it appeared, then disappeared. (I was actually checking back to find the link to one of the rugs so I could write down the name.)

Strange.

By: Kim Thornton

Kim Thornton — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:44:44 +0000

Oh, they have lots more choices in rugs/colors than brown and tan. It’s where I get all my rugs to put under the birdcage.

By: H. Houlahan

H. Houlahan — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:53:08 +0000

Tractor Supply
Harbor Freight
REI
LL Beane
Ikea

Question: What are stores where Houlie will shop without requiring a blow to the head beforehand?

Seriously, for some unfathomable reason, I luuurve Ikea.

Is it the lingonberry juice? The vats of fluffy sheepskins? My ongoing affair with a bookcase named Billy? Who can say?

But how can you not love a furniture/housewares store that sells these:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....s/60095321

Per their website, they now also have these runners:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....s/30144455

And this small rug in three colors:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....s/50138585