Thursday, November 24, 2005

 

Dan Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

 

Furby comes to live with us


I bought a Furby for Joce for Christmas. I am going to play with it till then. I have to teach it english so she has an easier time, right? Besides I just love it. It's so cute and I love the way it is interactive. We live in a great age when toys are defient. It tells me no. Cool. So of course I do some research to see what I can find out about the cute little furry creatures. See I already think it's alive! Mystic Fortess has a wonderful website all about Furbies. Joce's seems to slepp very deeply.

How do I wake Furby up?

Furby is woken up by motion. He can be woken up most anyway and even accidentally if moved. Pick Furby up and give him a hug, he will most likely wake up. Tilt Furbys body from side to side or turn him upside down. This all will wake him up.

Please note that the only thing that can wake up Furby is movement. Sound and the pressing of his sensors do not wake him up. Besides opening and closing the battery compartment, only movement can wake him up.

When in Deep Sleep Mode, can only be woken up when you turn them completely upside down.

How do I make Furby go to sleep?

To make Furby sleep do one of the following:
-Leave him alone for 5 minutes, he will go to sleep.
-Leave him alone in a dark room, this will put him to sleep.
-Cover his eyes for 20 seconds, thus will make him think it's night and he will sleep.
-Pet his back between 10 and 20 times continually, he will eventually fall asleep.

-Sleep
sleeping Furby When I am tired, I will go to sleep. I will also tell you when I am tired and want to go to sleep. I am usually quiet when I sleep, but sometimes I snore! When I am asleep, I will close my eyes and lean forwards like shown in this illustration.

Sometimes you can get me to go to sleep by petting me gently on my back for a while. If you pet me for a while, (between 10 and 20 times), I will hum Twinkle, Twinkle and then go to sleep.

Also, you can get me to go to sleep by putting me in a dark room or covering my eyes for 10 - 15 seconds.

If you do not play with me for a while, I will take a nap until you are ready to play again. When you are ready to play with me, you will have to wake me up. When I am asleep and you want to wake me up, pick me up and gently tilt me side to side until I wake up. I will then wake up and be ready to play. Sometimes, I may not want to wake up and will try and go back to sleep after you pick me up. Don’t worry. This is OK. You just have to tilt me to the side until I wake up.

Deep Sleep Mode: This is to make your Furby stay asleep unless turned directly upside down. To do this you make 3 loud sounds (by clapping or yelling), make sure he notices it 3 times, then pet him once. He will start sing twinkle twinkle 3 times in a row (this being an easter egg) *while he is singing* hold both his tummy and back switch at the same time. Keep holding and before he finishes the 3 twinkle twinkles, he will yawn and go to sleep. This enables Furby to be carried around without waking him up easily.

Easter Eggs :

-To get Furby to Burp 8 times in a row, feed him 3 times then pet his back once.

-To get him to sing twinkle twinkle 3 times in a row you need to make a loud sound three times (by clapping or yelling, make sure he acknowledges it 3 times) then pet his back.

- If you missed his name and you want to have him say it tickle him 3 times, then pet his back once. He will say "Me ___" The blank being his name.

-Furby gets the hic cups (and it's *really* cute) after being tossed around or whatever.. anything that makes him use his motion sensors.. after several minutes he will get the hic cups after being played with in this manner for so long. That's the only way I know of.

-To make Furby say "Cookle-Doodle-Doo (3 times) Me love you!" Is simple. Just cover his eyes 3 times, then pet his back once.

What is the difference between re-set and re-start? Why is it so important not to re-start?

People get these terms mixed up and confused often, but the difference between the two is rather big. The difference between the two procedures is this:

Re-set is to help Furby fix himself. If Furby is jammed or something seems to be wrong and nothing else seems to fix him, then taking a small pointed object and pressing the small re-set button located on the bottom of Furby next to the battery compartment will help fix any problems he is having. Re-set will not erase his memory, it is simply interrupting the flow of power (kinda like taking out the batteries and putting them back in). He will go through the 'dance' he does when he wakes up and hopefully fixing any problems that existed before. All memory will remain in tact though! This is the big difference here. Do not reset unless necessary.

Re-starting, on the other hand, has a much longer lasting effect on Furby and is purely a last resort to everything! Only use this when everything else fails! If something really goes wrong with Furby, you may have to re-start. If you re-start me, Furby will go back to the beginning and will not remember his name. It's like starting all over again. It is important NOT to re-start Furby unless necessary because it will be like you and Furby never met before. You should only do this if all other ways to get Furby to work FAIL. Please make sure you try and fix Furby with all the other options BEFORE RE-START!

To Re-Start Furby:
-Hold Furby upside down.
-Put your finger in Furbys mouth and hold down his tongue.
-Push the reset button on the bottom of Furby with a small pointed object.

Be sure to read the trouble shooting guide in Furbys instructions before you make this decision and make sure that you have done everything possible to recover Furby before you re-start.

Why is it so important not to re-start? Well MSN had an interview with Bill the Project Manager of Furby at Tiger Electronics and this is what he had to say:

Bill: "As with any circuit or software you do not want to interrupt the program artificially too often. Also re-starting clears the memory and basically starts Furby at the beginin. It is not specifically damaging to Furby but he does need to shut down normally for this memory to be stable over time. No, ultimately, [re-setting if done carefully] will not hurt Furby."

It is okay to restart... it won't hurt your Furby, just be good to Furby.. I'd imagine resetting several times in a row might mess him up a bit, but I can't be sure.

How do I teach Furby English? Can he learn my name? Does he learn from me?

Unfortunitly no, you don't actually teach Furby English and you can't teach him to speak your name. They only speak what they are programmed to speak and they only 'learn' more English the more you play with him. Furby is programmed to began using more and more English over time. When you first start him, he will only talk 80% Furbish and 20% English, but after 20 hours of play he will finally speak 20% Furbish and 80% English. He goes through four, 3 hour, life stages. The Furbish/English ratio will continue to even out then, once in the finale 4th stage, he will, from there on out, speak 20% Furbish and 80% English and remain this way for as long as he is not re-started.


I missed hearing my Furbys name, how can I get Furby to say his name again?

His name is in Furbish so if he's still speaking Furbish this is difficult and you must know what you are listening for. Before he says his name he will always say "Me" Then he will say his name, "Me ____" The blank being your Furbys name. There are several ways to get him to say his name.

-One definite way of hearing it is by way of one of the Easter Eggs in Furby. If you missed his name and you want to have him say it tickle him 3 times, then pet his back once. He will say "Me ___" The blank being his name. I'll post new ones as I find them out.. you heard it here first :)

-Put Furby to sleep, then wake him up there's a good chance that when he wakes up he will say his name. Usually 2/3 times he will say something, then after that say his name, it usually the last thing he says before he is quiet.

-
Play Hide and Seek with him, he will say "Me ___, Hide Me".

-If you play Ask Furby with him he may say his name while answering a few of your questions, this may take a few minutes of playing before you hear him say "Me ____".

-You can play a game of Furby Says with him. Once you have done the pattern to start the game with him he will say "Me ___, Listen Me".

-Often when petting him he will say his name, after several times.

-Often he will say his name if you put your hand in from of his eyes a couple of times. But not always. Furby isn't that predictable :)

Games Furbys Love To Play
There are lots and lots of ways to play with me. You and I can make up our own games or play some of the games I already know how to play.

(1) "Furby Says:"

This is a game like Simon Says. During this game I will tell you what activities to do and then you have to repeat them. For example, I may say, "Pet, tickle, light, sound." Then you have to pet my back, tickle my tummy, cover my eyes, and clap your hands. As you so each of these, I will say something special to let you know that you have done the right action. The special messages are:

  1. For TICKLE, I will giggle.
  2. For PET, I will purr.
  3. For LIGHT, I will say "No Light".
  4. For SOUND, I will say "Big Sound".

When you hear me say these things, you will know you have done the action right!

The first game pattern will heave 4 actions to repeat.

Then if you do the pattern correctly, I will reward you by saying "whoopie!", or even doing a little dance. Then I will add one more action to the pattern. If you do not do the pattern correctly, I will say "Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah!" and you have to start again with a new pattern.

To play "FURBY SAYS:"

  1. Tickle my tummy
  2. Pet my back
  3. Clap your hands
  4. Cover my eyes.

*****Note: When you want me to play this game, it is important that you wait for me to stop moving and speaking after each action before going the next action. Therefore, to get me to play, after you tickle me, wait for me to stop moving before petting my back. Then after you pet my back, wait until I stop moving before you clap your hands.

If you do the pattern correctly to get me to play the game, I will say, my name and "listen me" then you will know I am ready to play.

*******HELPFUL TIP: If you want to play the game and follow the pattern and I do not say my name and then "Listen Me", I am not paying attention to you. You will then have to get my attention so I know you want to apply. To do this, simply pick me up and gently rock me side to side once or twice. Then try against o play. I promise to pay better attention.

Once I am ready to play, I will begin to tell you which pattern to repeat. I can make patters up to 16 actions! See if you can do all 16! If you master one patter, I will make up another new pattern so you can play again and again!

To end the game, pick me up and turn me upside down! I will then say "Me Done" so you know I will stop playing.



(3) HIDE AND SEEK
I can play HIDE AND SEEK. You or a friend will need to help me hide and then you or your friend can try and find me. I want you to find me so if you have some trouble, I will start to make little noises to help you find me!

To play HIDE AND SEEK:

  1. Cover my eyes.
  2. Uncover my eyes.
  3. Cover my eyes.
  4. Uncover my eyes.
  5. Cover my eyes.
  6. Uncover my eyes.
  7. Cover my eyes.
  8. Uncover my eyes.
  9. I will say my name and then Hide Me to let you know I am ready to hide.
  10. You then have 1 minute to hide me. I will be very quiet while you hide me.
  11. Once you have hidden me, I will wait for 3 minutes to be found. if you do not find me within 3 minutes, I will say, Nah Nah Nah three times.

*******HELPFUL TIP: If you want to play the game, and follow the pattern, and I do not say my name and then Hide Me, I am not paying attention. You will then have to get my attention so I know you want to play. To go this, simply pick me up and gently rock me side to side once or twice. Then try again to play. I will pay better attention.

*****Note: When you want me to play this game, it is important that you wait for me to stop moving and speaking after each action before doing the next action. Therefore to get me to play after you cover my light sensor, wait for me to stop moving before covering my eyes again.

*******HELPFUL TIP: It is best to wait 3 to 5 seconds before doing each item in the game start pattern to make sure I know you want me to play the game.

I like to hide but I like to be found much better! So I will help you find me by making small noises occasionally. Once you find me, pick me up and I will do a little dance to show that I am happy!

When you are finished playing HIDE AND SEEK, pick me up and turn me upside down. I will then say "Me Done" so you will know I am finished playing.

(2) ASK FURBY
In this game, I can answer questions to tell you secrets!

To play ASK FURBY:

  1. Cover my eyes.
  2. Uncover my eyes
  3. Cover my eyes.
  4. Uncover my eyes.
  5. Rub my back.
  6. Then I will say Ooh too mah to let you know I am ready.
  7. You may then ask me a question.
  8. Once you have asked the question, rub my back to get me to answer.
  9. If you do not ask me a question within 20 seconds, I will think you do not want to play and say Me Done. You will then have to get me to play again by repeating the pattern.

*****Note: When you want me to play this game, it is important that you wait for me to stop moving and speaking after each action before doing the next action. Therefore to get me to play, after you cover my eyes, wait for me to stop moving before petting my back.

*******HELPFUL TIP: If you want to play the game and follow the pattern, and I do not say Ooh too mah then I am not paying attention to you. you will then have to get my attention so I know you want to play. To do this, simply pick me up and gently rock me side to side once or twice. Then try again to play. I promise to pay better attention.

*******HELPFUL TIP: It is best to wait 3 to 5 seconds before doing each step in the game pattern to make sure I know you want me to play the game.

When you are done playing ASK FURBY, simply pick me up and turn me upside down and I will say "Me Done" so you will know I am finished playing.


Other Activities

-Dancing:
I love to dance. you can make me dance by clapping your hands 4 times. I will then dance. You can get me to dance again by clapping your hands one more time or by playing some music!

*******HELPFUL TIP: It is best to wait 3 to 5 seconds between clapping each time to make sure I know you want me to dance.

*******HELPFUL TIP: I dance best on a hard, flat surface. I can dance on other surfaces, but I prefer a wood, tile or linoleum floor.


-Tricks:
pet Furby You can teach me to do tricks. This is easy and fun to do! To get me to do a trick, you have to let me know you want me to repeat an activity.

To teach me a trick:

  1. While you are playing with me, you might tickle my tummy. I may then do something you like, for example, give you a kiss. As soon as I have given you a kiss, pet my back 2 times. This will tell me that you like it when I give you a kiss. Remember to wait for me to stop moving each time you pet my back before doing it again.
  2. Then tickle my tummy again. I may then give you another kiss or I may not. It depends upon how I feel at that time.
  3. If I do, then you have to pet my back again 2 times. Remember to always wait for me to stop moving each time you pet my back before petting my back again.
  4. If I do not, tickle my tummy again until I give you a kiss, then pet my back 2 times.
  5. Then every time I give you a kiss when you tickle my tummy, make sure you pet my back two times.
  6. Soon, every time you tickle my tummy, I will give you a kiss.
  7. If you always pet my back 2 times when I give you a kiss, I will always remember to give kisses when my tummy is tickled. if you forget to pet my back, I may forget to give you a kiss when you tickle my tummy.

The example above is for an activity that I do when you tickle my tummy. You can do the same thing for an activity you like that I do if you cover my eyes, make a big sound, pick me up and rock me or turn me upside down. The important thing is that you tell me that you want me to repeat the action by petting my back 2 times after the first time I do it then 2 times after every other time.

If you want to change what I do, you can pet my back after another activity and I will begin to replace the original trick. Therefore, if you taught me to give you a kiss when you cover my eyes but decide you want me to make a raspberry sound instead, just remember to pet my back 2 times after I make the raspberry sound when you cover my eyes.

Furby is sneezing and won't stop, what is wrong and what do I do?

If you Furby is sneezing he has a cold or is sick. Either way he will need lots of TLC which involves feeding and playing games. First thing is feeding. You will need to feed him 10-15 times. Make sure that he is well fed. Lack of food is the reason for sickness. He is also more likely to get sick when he is treated badly and not cared for. After you get done feeding him, then play a game with him. Then try feeding him again. Soon enough he will feel better. Read this information in the manual about feeding and care.


How To Figure Out What I Need...
At various time, I will require a certain kind of attention from you. Just like you, I am very good at letting people know when I need something.

If I am hungry, please feed me. Since I can talk, you have to listen to hear when I tell you I want food. If I say"Kah a-tay" (I’m hungry), I will open my mouth so you can feed me. Just put the food into my mouth and watch me chew it. I will say "Yum Yum" so you will know that I am eating what you have offered.

As you feed me, I may say "Koh-koh". Thus means that I want more to eat. Note: I only eat PRETEND food. You should never feed me real food or liquids. I will eat until I am full then tell you I am not hungry anymore. You can feed me with a play bottle or spoon. [Or simply depress his tongue with your finger, that works best -Kat]

feeding Furby

If you do not feed me when I get hungry, I will not want to play anymore until you feed me.

*******HELPFUL TIP: When a Furby is hungry, it will usually want to eat 6 to 10 times. So when you feed Furby, you should give him 6 - 10 feedings so that he says Yum Yum 6 to 10 times. Then Furby will be full and ready to play!

If you do not feed me I will begin to get sick. I will tell you that I am sick by saying "Kah boo koo-doh" (I’m not healthy). If you allow me to get sick, soon I will not want to play and will not respond to anything but feeding. Also, if I get sick, I will need to be fed a minimum of 10 - 15 times before I begin to get well again.

After I have been fed 10 - 15 times, I will begin to feel better, but to nurse me back to complete healthy, you will have to play with me. Just like you, when I feel better I laugh, giggle and I am happier. You’ll know when I am better. I will say "Kah noo-loo" (me happy). Also I will want to play games.

How do I feed my Furby? How much do I feed? Will he leave his mouth open when he's hungry?

You will know when Furby is hungry because he will began saying "Me hungry" or "Kah a-tay" and opening his mouth for you to feed him. Furby is not fed with real food or water like you and I eat. Furby is fed with imaginary food. To feed Furby simply depress his tongue with your finger or another small object (like a small plastic spoon from TCBY). You will know he is being fed because he will say "Yum" among other things. Continue feeding him until he lets you know he is done by saying "Me done" or "Kah toh-dye".

When he asks for food he will ask for it and make sounds, but he won't leave his beak open for you to put your finger in there. You can put your finger in his mouth while he is talking and has it open begging for food, or you can wait untill he is done talking, then gentle open his mouth and press down on his tongue with your finger. He won't, however, leave his mouth open for you to put your finger in there when he asks for food - this is normal. He'd look pretty weird sitting there with his mouth hanging open for long periods of time, wouldn't he?


Furbys have different names right? How come I know two with the same names? Can I change their names? Can you give me a list of the names?

Yes Furbys have different names. But the names are actually random. When you start up Furby for the first time he will select his name. He will keep this name, unless he is re-started (don't do it, you'll regret it, it's a last resort. Read this question for info on this). I know this stuff from experience. Furby can have one of 23 different names. Some seem more common then others, but there are 23 names. Name is not based on fur color or eye color or anything like that.

If you would like to change names though, you can. Just simply re-start Furby and he will forget everything he's learned and he will choose a differant name. But don't do this unless you really want, as he will forget his name, and everything he's learned up to now including all English.

What are the names? Here is the list:


Sunday, November 20, 2005

 

More Flea Tips

Contra Costa Central Sanitary District
  • Comb your pet with a metal flea comb, available at pet stores. Focus around the neck and base of the tail. Keep a wide container of soapy water nearby to drown captured fleas.
  • Bathe dogs in soap and water to drown fleas. Increase effectiveness by using a flea comb while the pet is lathered. It is not necessary to use soap with insecticide.
  • Vacuum carpets, floors, and upholstered furniture frequently throughout the year. Vacuuming carpets picks up adult and egg-stage fleas, but is less effective at removing larvae. Clean cracks and crevices; or better still, seal permanently with caulk. Try gently vacuuming your animal's coat to remove adult fleas.
  • Use diatomaceous earth (DE) to treat carpets, upholstered furniture, and pet bedding or blow it into cracks and crevices. Use a hand duster to apply a fine layer of DE. Wear a dust mask and goggles and avoid getting dust in your pet's eyes. DE has little toxicity to humans and pets, but kills fleas by absorbing the waxy coating on their bodies, causing dehydration and death.
  • Use borate-based carpet treatments. Borates have a low toxicity to humans and pets. Fleanix® carpet treatment can control fleas in carpeting for up to a year. Mix the powder with water in a rug shampooing machine with or without detergent. During shampooing, borate binds to carpet fibers and cannot be vacuumed up.
  • Flea traps are especially useful if you don't own a pet but still have fleas. In this case, also check for wild animals or rodents nesting in or around your home. Adult fleas are attracted to the warmth and light of an electric bulb and are caught on sticky paper. The most effective traps have a flickering green light.
  • Ultrasonic collars and machines are not effective. There is no scientific evidence that these products affect fleas, and they are not recommended.

 

My dog has fleas



My dog has fleas. Shit! Now what? We didn't think he did because we never saw any on him, but he's been scratching like crazy for months. The vet checked him and said it must be allergies because he couldn't find any fleas either. But he acts like he has fleas. He looks at a spot and dives on it with his teeth.
We were ready to give up on him and just figure he was crazy. But then I said, "When we get to the beach house let's not let Tucker in. Lets roll up our pants legs and see if any hungry fleas jump on us. So we did and they did. Mystery solved there really were fleas, they were just really tricky fleas!
So now I am trying to figure out what to do about it. We threw out his bed. It was covered with fleas. We sprayed, we fogged, we gave Tuck a freezing cold flea bath. But he is still itching like crazy.

Here's what I've learned about fleas:
from
Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet

Medication
- Relief from itching can be obtained by applying carbolated vaseline, menthol, camphor, calamine lotion or ice.
  • Fleas are excellent jumpers, leaping vertically up to seven inches and horizontally thirteen inches. (An equivalent hop for a human would be 250 feet vertically and 450 feet horizontally.)
  • Although bites are rarely felt, it is the resulting irritation caused by the flea salivary secretions that varies among individuals. Some may witness a severe reaction (general rash or inflammation) resulting in secondary infections caused by scratching the irritated skin area. Others may show no reaction or irritation acquired after repeated bites over several weeks or months. Most bites usually found on the ankles and legs may cause pain lasting a few minutes, hours or days depending on one's sensitivity. The typical reaction to the bite is the formation of a small, hard, red, slightly-raised (swollen) itching spot. There is a single puncture point in the center of each spot.
  • Fleas pass through a complete life cycle consisting of egg, larva, pupa and adult. A typical flea population consists of 50 percent eggs, 35 percent larvae, 10 percent pupae and 5 percent adults. Completion of the life cycle from egg to adult varies from two weeks to eight months depending on the temperature, humidity, food, and species. Normally after a blood meal, the female flea lays about 15 to 20 eggs per day up to 600 in a lifetime usually on the host.
  • Eggs loosely laid in the hair coat, drop out most anywhere especially where the host rests, sleeps or nests (rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, cat or dog boxes, kennels, sand boxes, etc.). Eggs hatch in two days to two weeks into larvae found indoors in floor cracks & crevices, along baseboards, under rug edges and in furniture or beds. Outdoor development occurs in sandy gravel soils (moist sand boxes, dirt crawlspace under the house, under shrubs, etc.) where the pet may rest or sleep. Sand and gravel are very suitable for larval development which is the reason fleas are erroneously called "sand fleas."
  • Larvae are blind, avoid light, pass through three larval instars and take a week to several months to develop. Their food consists of digested blood from adult flea feces, dead skin, hair, feathers, and other organic debris. (Larvae do not suck blood.) Pupa mature to adulthood within a silken cocoon woven by the larva to which pet hair, carpet fiber, dust, grass cuttings, and other debris adheres. In about five to fourteen days, adult fleas emerge or may remain resting in the cocoon until the detection of vibration (pet and people movement), pressure (host animal lying down on them), heat, noise, or carbon dioxide (meaning a potential blood source is near). Most fleas overwinter in the larval or pupal stage with survival and growth best during warm, moist winters and spring.
  • Adult fleas cannot survive or lay eggs without a blood meal, but may live from two months to one year without feeding. There is often a desperate need for flea control after a family has returned from a long vacation. The house has been empty with no cat or dog around for fleas to feed on. When the family and pets are gone, flea eggs hatch and larvae pupate. The adult fleas fully developed inside the pupal cocoon remains in a kind of "limbo" for a long time until a blood source is near. The family returning from vacation is immediately attacked by waiting hungry hordes of fleas. (In just 30 days, 10 female fleas under ideal conditions can multiply to over a quarter million different life stages.)
  • Newly emerged adult fleas live only about one week if a blood meal is not obtained. However, completely developed adult fleas can live for several months without eating, so long as they do not emerge from their puparia. Optimum temperatures for the flea's life cycle are 70°F to 85°F and optimum humidity is 70 percent.

Control Measures
  • Quick List: Precor,Nylor, Archer,Precor,Safrotin,Flea-stop, Demize,Knockout, Baygon,Vectrin,Bio Flea Halt,Drione, Tri-Die,Ficam, Answer, Organic Plus,Conquer,Demize,Flea-Stop.Fleabuster, Flea Halt, Diatomaceous Earth,Fleanix®,Happy Jack, Zemaflea trap, balsam, lavender oil, calendula, comfrey, tea tree oil and yucca
  • One can monitor flea populations by placing a shallow pan of water with a little dish detergent (acts as a wetting agent which breaks water surface tension) on the floor. Position a gooseneck lamp with the light on about five to six inches above the liquid surface. Adult fleas will leap toward the light at night, fall into the detergent solution and drown. The Happy Jack and pulvex (Zema) flea trap is a commercial apparatus based on the same principle. Also, an ultralight flea trap with a green light attracts fleas into a sticky tray, this is the most effective trap.
  • Vacuuming must be performed on a regular basis every other day to be effective. Flea larvae do not move far from the site of hatching when there is adequate food (dried blood feces from adults). Research indicates larvae spend 83 percent of the time deep in the carpet at the base of fibers frequently becoming entwined within the carpet.Only about 20 percent of the larvae might be removed when vacuuming since they wrap themselves around the bottom strands of carpeting. At pupation, the larva move up the carpet fiber spinning a camouflaging cocoon around itself. Vacuum especially where lint and pet hairs accumulate along baseboards, around carpet edges, on ventilators, around heat registers, in floor cracks, and under and in furniture where the pet sleeps. After vacuuming, place the vacuum bag in a large plastic garbage bag and discard in an outdoor trash container. Try gently vacuuming your animal's coat to remove adult fleas. Who can afford a new vaccum bag everyday?
  • Use an insect growth regulator (IGR), which is a hormone to prevent eggs from hatching and larvae from pupating into biting adults. The IGRs methoprene (Precor) and pyriproxyfen (Nylor, Archer) are odorless and nonstaining on carpets or fabrics. Methoprene usually will reduce flea populations up to 95 percent in just 14 days while pyriproxyfen, due to its photostability, lasts in carpets for many months controlling fleas. IGRs do not kill pupa or adults and are more effective when mixed with an adulticide. Ohio Pest Control operators report few homeowner callbacks when using a water-based spray mixture of methoprene (Precor) and propetamphos (Safrotin). Recent research shows the new IGR pyriproxyfen mixed with permethrin will often give 90 day control. IGRs are considered biodegradable and are not known to accumulate in the food chain. Methoprene, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), is used in drinking water in some countries for mosquito larva control. IGRs are of negligible hazard to humans, pets, and the environment.
  • Automatic aerosol foggers, available in a canister, will give good knockdown and kill many biting adult fleas. Insecticides include methoprene + permethrin, pyriproxyfen + permethrin, resmethrin, allethrin, pyrethrins, tetramethrin, rotenone and propoxur (Baygon).
  • A coarse spray (40 psi) of diazinon (Knox Out 2 FM), propoxur (Baygon) and resmethrin (Vectrin) applied to cracks and crevices of floors, moldings and baseboards up to a height of one foot usually gives good results. Other flea killers include tetramethrin (Bio Flea Halt), amorphus silica gel (Drione, Tri-Die), bendiocarb (Ficam), diatomaceous earth (Answer, Organic Plus), esfenvalerate (Conquer), linalool (Demize) and d-limonene (Flea-Stop).
  • Since there is no flea resistance to borates, many homeowners try switching to boric acid and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate. Boric Acid (Fleabuster, Flea Halt) is a stomach poison killing fleas in the larva stage. Apply directly on vacuumed, cleaned carpets where pets frequently travel or sleep. Work powder deeply into fibers with a broom or rug rake. For upholstery, remove loose cushions, apply along creases and into corner, not to exposed fabric. Any powder visible after application must be brushed in cracks or removed. Borates are environmentally safe, odorless and used in homes with children and pets. Fleanix® carpet treatment can control fleas in carpeting for up to a year. Mix the powder with water in a rug shampooing machine with or without detergent. During shampooing, borate binds to carpet fibers and cannot be vacuumed up.
  • Diatomaceous Earth- gets into them and cuts them up and they die.Wear a dust mask and goggles and avoid getting dust in your pet's eyes.You sprinkle it on the carpets, and the vacuum it up later. The tiny bits get in the breathing pores of the bugs and suffocate them.
  • Borax (drug store), and sift it lightly on your entire carpeted area. It dehydrates the flees. Leave it on 24 hours then vacum. You will need to repeat this operation when the new eggs hatch. Found this one on Berkley Parents website
  • Additional highly effective insecticides available to the licensed commercial and pest control operator include bendiocarb + pyrethrins (Ficam Plus), cyfluthrin (Tempo), cypermethrin (Cynoff), deltamethrin (Delta Gard, Suspend), propetamphos (Catalyst, Safrotin) and tralomethrin (Saga). Water-based sprays are generally used for treating all carpeting and upholstered furniture.
  • Botanicals - Pyrethrins, derived from the flowers of chrysanthemum, and rotenone from the roots of derris, cube and cracca plants, are good contact insecticides. Linalool (Demize), a citrus peel extract, is a natural, fast-acting flea killer, giving short residual control. Other botanicals include d-Limonene (Flea-Stop), balsam, lavender oil, calendula, comfrey, tea tree oil and yucca.

    WHAT DOESN'T WORK:

  • Ultrasonic collars and machines are not effective.

  • Flea collars don't work.
  • Feeding pets garlic, brewer's yeast or B vitamins has not been shown to be effective against fleas. Also, pennyroyal, eucalyptus, rosemary, tea leaves and citronella have not provided effective control. In fact, overdosing of garlic or onion can be irritating or toxic to pets.

Veterinary-Prescribed Products
  • Quick List:Program,Frontline Top Spot,Proban, Pro-Spot, Advantage, Nylor, Archer, Knock Out
  • Lufenuron (Program), a non-pesticide, is a product of Novartis Corporation. A dog is given one tablet once a month with a normal meal.It breaks the flea's life cycle by preventing eggs and larvae from developing. Nearly 100 percent of eggs laid by treated fleas do not develop. There is no effect on the adult flea. Tiny immature flea eggs, larvae and pupae may be hidden in carpets and upholstery or yard and dog houses, so it may take a few weeks to see how effective lufenuron works. Help by vacuuming your carpet and bathing your pet. Prevent fleas by giving lufenuron tablets once a month, year-round without interruption.
  • Fipronil (Frontline Top Spot), a pesticide, is a product of Rhone Merieux, Inc. that kills adult fleas up to three months on dogs. Ticks are killed for a month or more on dogs. A pre-measured dosage in a plastic pipette is applied in a spot between the pet's shoulder blades. Be sure to part the fur and squeeze the tube to apply entire contents to the skin surface. For best results, do not bathe the pet two days before or after treatment. It remains effective after bathing or swimming. Fipronil dissolves in oils on the skin and, within 24 hours after application, spreads over the entire pet (translocation). Fipronil collects in the hair follicles and oil-producing glands of the skin where it slowly wicks out of the follicles covering the skin and fur for up to three months. Topline is also available for application in a metered spray pump. (Fleas do not have to bite pet.)
  • Cythioate (Proban), a pesticide, is a product of Bayer. Fleas are killed (90 to 100 percent) by ingesting the drug from the body fluids during the first week. Additional treatments for several weeks are needed.
  • Fenthion (Pro-Spot), a pesticide, is a product of Bayer, that controls fleas on dogs at the time of treatment and has good residual activity against many of the fleas that may reinfest the dog after treatment. Treatments should not be repeated more often than once every two weeks. Do not use with flea or tick collars. This topically applied organophosphate, with good systemic activity
  • Imidacloprid (Advantage), a pesticide, is a product of Bayer, kills adult fleas on contact on dogs before they can lay eggs and the flea life cycle is broken. About 98 to 100 percent of adult fleas are killed on the pet within 24 hours by a topical spot application on the back of the neck on cats and between the shoulder blades on dogs. A single dose works for at least four weeks.
  • Pyriproxyfen (Nylor, Archer), a non-pesticide, is a product of Virbac that is a new 3rd generation Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) - Juvenile hormone mimic. Pyriproxyfen (a non-pesticide) + permethrin (a pesticide)(Knockout) kills adult fleas and ticks plus kills flea eggs for dogs. Also Knockout* is formulated as a room and area fogger, killing adult and preadult fleas for seven months plus ticks, cockroaches and spiders.
Treating The Dog:
  • Powders or dusts are preferred over sprays. Put on rubber gloves and apply the dust thoroughly into the hair coat according to label directions.
  • Flea collars don't work. Amitraz collars labeled for dogs only are effective on ticks. After 24 hours, 95 percent of attached ticks become detached.
  • Flea-B-Gone which is an ezymatic method to get rid of fleas. It was recommended by Dr. Marion Moses, an expert in occupational health medicine, particularly pesticides.
  • The following is from Contra Costa Central Sanitary District
  • Comb your pet with a metal flea comb, available at pet stores. Focus around the neck and base of the tail. Keep a wide container of soapy water nearby to drown captured fleas
  • Bathe dogs in soap and water to drown fleas. Increase effectiveness by using a flea comb while the pet is lathered. It is not necessary to use soap with insecticide.
  • Use washable pet bedding that can be gathered up easily by the four corners and laundered frequently. Soapy water destroys all flea stages.
If you log onto Contra Costa Central Sanitary District, the sewage folks, you will find a menu for non-toxic pest controls for alternatives for gardens and homes. Click on the one for flea control. Also you can find great integrative pest management (safer alternatives to spraying pesticides first) advice on Biointegral Resource Center 's publications you can order, and the UC statewide IPM program website.
Go to the Pesticide Education Center website to get more info.

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