Pig Safe Flea Sprays?

[happyrain]

Hi everyone!

We have fleas at my house we put some anti flea drops on our cat, and my mom insists we spray something on the carpets (the fleas are seriously everywhere and jump on you as you walk around the house!)

Is there any piggy safe flea sprays? Powders? Anything? It won't go on them (or near them), just the corners of rooms (the guinea girls are in the living room)

If anyone knows any solutions, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks

 

[Siikibam]

I don’t know that there’s anything you can use safely I’m afraid. Is it an option to move them to another room for a couple of weeks?

Secondly, i think piggies don’t tend to get fleas - it’s not common. If they’re not species specific they won’t last long on them. I’ll tag @PigglePuggle @Piggies&buns

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m afraid I can’t help - never had to deal with fleas as I don’t have dogs or cats. I do know that cat and dog flea treatments are toxic to piggies (piggies don’t have a species specific flea so the fleas from your cat will not be interested in your piggies) but I don’t know anything about getting them out of carpets (other than vacuuming thoroughly)

 

[rp1993]

Could you look at steam cleaning all your furniture and carpets? Surely that would kill them!

 

[Pawz]

Could you look at steam cleaning all your furniture and carpets? Surely that would kill them!

If you don’t have a Steam cleaner at home they can often be rented out at local big box hardware stores.

 

[Free Ranger]

I've used an anti-insect spray called Insectrol on my skirting boards in the past but the active ingredient is Permethrin which is unfortunately highly toxic for cats - and quite specifically so - there are a shed load of other animals (including piggies) that have no problem at all, so that's really no help is it? Sorry - apart from saying avoid Permethrin sprays.
We need a cat owner here!

 

[alpacasqueak]

I’m a cat owner but not had a huge issue with fleas taking over thankfully, although my RB Rosie had flea allergy dermatitis that used to flare up so must have had the odd few around from when she was outside.
I did speak to one of my local vets about it years ago in regards to piglets and small furries and he said not to worry too much if only a few as they’ll aim for the cats/dogs as species specific and they died within 24hrs of biting the cat (if they’re up to date on flea treatments etc). Not sure about a large number though as wasn’t really discussed with us.
I was given a flea spray treatment for carpets etc years ago by another vets (can’t remember the name for the life of me as 10yrs ago plus!) but as it was toxic to fish I didn’t use it!
Sorry no help at all really other than make sure you’ve got good flea drops too and not cheaper ones from supermarkets etc as they’re often not strong enough!
(I use Advantage ones but not sure if you get them in the US?)

Hope you can get rid of them!

 

[Pawz]

I've used an anti-insect spray called Insectrol on my skirting boards in the past but the active ingredient is Permethrin which is unfortunately highly toxic for cats - and quite specifically so - there are a shed load of other animals (including piggies) that have no problem at all, so that's really no help is it? Sorry - apart from saying avoid Permethrin sprays.
We need a cat owner here!

I’m a cat owner but never had a flea infestation. My cat is an indoor kitty but back when I had outdoor cats I always used ”Frontline spot on” on the back of their necks during flea season.

I suppose it also helps that I have hardwood floors with rugs, blinds and not curtains. Wouldn’t be much of a flea condo here .

 

[alpacasqueak]

I’m a cat owner but never had a flea infestation. My cat is an indoor kitty but back when I had outdoor cats I always used ”Frontline spot on” on the back of their necks during flea season.

I suppose it also helps that I have hardwood floors with rugs, blinds and not curtains. Wouldn’t be much of a flea condo here .

Yes I used the Frontline for years, my local vets were apparently having issues with them though so changed to Advantage that they prescribed to people, so I followed suit! (Just bought online as so much cheaper!).
The Advantage ones have a strange smell to them compared to frontline but I’ve found them really good. And Daisy doesn’t run when she hears me opening them like the Frontline as she knew that evil clicky noise so well!

 

[happyrain]

Thanks everyone for all your help! I love this community. With all the responses, I think we'll try doing a deep vacuuming session and brush our cat every day haha

 

[lexi468]

Thanks everyone for all your help! I love this community. With all the responses, I think we'll try doing a deep vacuuming session and brush our cat every day haha

I’m sorry for being so late to this thread but you can use diatomaceous earth as well! Just make sure youre using food grade in case anybody ingests it. I’ve given it to my cats in their food during flea season and had great luck. It can definitely also be used on carpets etc.

 

[Jigsawmal]

Hi everyone!

We have fleas at my house we put some anti flea drops on our cat, and my mom insists we spray something on the carpets (the fleas are seriously everywhere and jump on you as you walk around the house!)

Is there any piggy safe flea sprays? Powders? Anything? It won't go on them (or near them), just the corners of rooms (the guinea girls are in the living room)

If anyone knows any solutions, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks

When I got my piggies from a local rescue centre the lady says she puts a drop of ivermectin behind the piggies ears once a month and it stops mites but the bottle says fleas also so that may help.
my daughter got her house fumigated when they moved in as their carpet was jumping with fleas yuk

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

When I got my piggies from a local rescue centre the lady says she puts a drop of ivermectin behind the piggies ears once a month and it stops mites but the bottle says fleas also so that may help.
my daughter got her house fumigated when they moved in as their carpet was jumping with fleas yuk

Hmm, not sure that mites can be prevented in that way, and over use risks building resistance. Especially if non prescription otc medicines whch are weaker than prescription ones are used. @PigglePuggle
Mange mites live in the skin and are suppressed by a working immune system, so to prevent them you keep your guinea in good health and stress free. Hay mites come in on hay , so you can't prevent them arriving with ivermectin drops and I don't know that it will clear them either. And as others have said, guineas don't get fleas so you'd be wasting your time and money putting drops on them against fleas.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Pet shop anti parasite treatments are far less effective (they are not prescription strength so can only suppress mites but unlikely to get rid of them completely). Its not recommended to give any spot on as a monthly preventative treatment as it can cause resistance to form, so if you really do need it then it is less effective/wont work
It’s best to only use an ivermectin product upon diagnosis and prescription by a vet for a confirmed case

 

[Jigsawmal]

So glad of the advice I was unsure of the efficacy my piggies are on washable puppy pads that absorb the wee brilliantly and their hay is dust extracted Timothy hay

 

[PigglePuggle]

Piggies cannot catch cat fleas, and many flea sprays are extremely toxic to guinea pigs and should not be used in the same room. If you do need to treat the carpet etc in the piggy room for cat fleas please move them to a different room and close the door, then open all the windows in the room where you sprayed and wait at least 24 hours before putting the piggies back.
Ivermectin spot-on is an effective treatment for clinical cases of luce or mites diagnosed by the vet, but only prescription strength treatments used at the appropriate dose for each piggies weight. Piggies dont need preventative treatments and using ivermectin regularly at a low dose is a sure way to breed resistant populations of mites that then cannot be killed by ivermectin if you have a clinically significant case- definitely a thing to avoid!