Beach question for all you YorkieTalkers! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

GeorgiaGrits · 07-28-2008, 02:24 PM

We've been told (Pensacola Beach, FL) that there are fleas in the sand and if we take our dog to the beach he'll get them and then bring them back into the condo, which of course will have to be treated, thus the reason for keeping our pet deposit...but not so concerned about that part, mostly about the fleas. Is this true?! Are there really fleas in the sand? Elvis has never had fleas and I'd hate for him to get even one! And if he does get fleas, what do I do? I know about the Dawn dish detergent...is that enough? Thanks in advance for your input.

reeses · 07-28-2008, 02:45 PM

Hmm...I have heard of sand fleas but I dunno if our furbabies get them?? I havent ever heard of that. Maybe someone else will have a lil more and better info for ya!
Hope you have fun at the beach!!

margaritaville · 07-28-2008, 02:54 PM

In the area of Florida where we go they have sea lice signs posted. Needless to say I stayed out of the water (heaven only knows what those things are). I be afraid of sand fleas. Are they the same as fleas only they are telling you they are in the sand or something different?

IsabelsMom · 07-28-2008, 02:55 PM

It's makin me itch just reading about it! haha

lapi's yorkies · 07-28-2008, 02:59 PM

My daughter was badly bitten by sand fleas when we went to Vero Beach last year. She was out at night though, during the day we did not have a problem. She was covered in bites and of course she scratched the entire trip back home and they got infected. Our fur kids were with us and they did not get bitten. I really can't tell you if sand fleas affect dogs.

izzierj · 07-28-2008, 03:07 PM

My son went to bootcamp in South Carolina and they had to so sit ups in the flea infested sand...They were not allowed to scratch in case of infection....That's all I know about them...

bchgirl · 07-28-2008, 03:07 PM

You don't "get" sand fleas...like a dog gets fleas. He may be bitten, but he doesn't become infested. YOU, however, are a more likely target.

Sandfleas, No-See-Ums and Gnats in Beaufort

yorkiesmiles · 07-28-2008, 05:17 PM

we've been to the doggie beach on the gulf side and not had any problems. Of course, my dogs had flea preventive on them. Dog friendly beaches are fun - and if you can rinse your pup off really good down near the beach in a shower - I've even seen people bring the dog shampoo and everything with them to do it there.

missj2007 · 07-28-2008, 06:20 PM

I go to the Pensacola beach all the time and I don't think fleas were there, but I hope more people chime in and give you more info.

roxies_mom · 07-28-2008, 06:22 PM

I visited friends in Florida once a long time ago. They lived right next to the beach and had a dog. They had tons of fleas in their house it was nasty. That was in New Smyrna. My brother lives in Ft. Walton Beach Fl. and has 3 yorkie-poo's and they haven't ever had flea problems. He does spray his yard alot and doesn't have squirrels in his yard. They don't even use flea stuff on the dogs. Sister in law does groom dogs though so it could be that she just keeps them very clean or it's the shampoo she uses. I would put flea stuff on your dog and not take chances, it's not fun to get rid of them or have the dog being miserable because of bites.
Maybe the beaches on the gulf side are just cleaner since others have said they had no problem there.

LaurenThig · 07-28-2008, 07:49 PM

I don't think sand fleas at the beach are anything like a typical dog flea. They're bigger--my brother and sister and I used to dig in the sand and look for them when we were on vacation.

I just took Lily to the beach and she did fine... no problem with bites from anything!

bchgirl · 07-28-2008, 08:07 PM

There are sand fleas which are crustaceans that live in the sand. They do not bite. Those are the ones children dig up along the shoreline and play with.

And there are biting gnats which are also referred to as sand fleas.

Neither are the typical fleas animals get.

Mayas Mommy · 07-29-2008, 12:21 AM

WoW ... I did not know that ..... learned something new again ..... thanks guys !!!!

roxies_mom · 07-29-2008, 05:13 AM

I googled some info about them here's the link:

The Nasty and Deadly Breeding Method of Chigoe (Sand) Fleas - Flea Crawl

Here's your regular nasty flea info:
Ever-Present Enemy of the Human Species: Fleas - Flea Crawl

I think it's just better to be protected and not take a chance. The vet also said that if the dog injests a fea, they can get tape worms from it. Sounds absurd but that's what they said.

bchgirl · 07-29-2008, 05:30 AM

Yes, if animals ingest regular fleas they can get tapeworms.

07-28-2008, 02:24 PM	#1
GeorgiaGrits Elvis+Honey=My Heart Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Georgia Posts: 746	Beach question for all you YorkieTalkers! We've been told (Pensacola Beach, FL) that there are fleas in the sand and if we take our dog to the beach he'll get them and then bring them back into the condo, which of course will have to be treated, thus the reason for keeping our pet deposit...but not so concerned about that part, mostly about the fleas. Is this true?! Are there really fleas in the sand? Elvis has never had fleas and I'd hate for him to get even one! And if he does get fleas, what do I do? I know about the Dawn dish detergent...is that enough? Thanks in advance for your input. __________________ *Honey Willow, Pure and Sweet as Nectar* *Elvis Kisses Lift Me Higher & He Lights My Morning Sky* *Del Mom to Elvis and Honey Willow*

07-28-2008, 02:54 PM	#3
margaritaville Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: west long branch, n.j. Posts: 4,457	In the area of Florida where we go they have sea lice signs posted. Needless to say I stayed out of the water (heaven only knows what those things are). I be afraid of sand fleas. Are they the same as fleas only they are telling you they are in the sand or something different? __________________ Joan, Bubba and Sissy-BEWARE OF PUPPY MILLS breathe in, breathe out, move on -jb

07-28-2008, 02:55 PM	#4
IsabelsMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cumberland, MD, USA Posts: 238	It's makin me itch just reading about it! haha __________________ Marcy (a.k.a. Isabelsmom)

07-28-2008, 02:59 PM	#5
lapi's yorkies Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 186	My daughter was badly bitten by sand fleas when we went to Vero Beach last year. She was out at night though, during the day we did not have a problem. She was covered in bites and of course she scratched the entire trip back home and they got infected. Our fur kids were with us and they did not get bitten. I really can't tell you if sand fleas affect dogs. __________________ Lapi Proud mommy of Tyler Tiffany Chloe and my new baby Brody

07-28-2008, 03:07 PM	#6
izzierj YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 710	My son went to bootcamp in South Carolina and they had to so sit ups in the flea infested sand...They were not allowed to scratch in case of infection....That's all I know about them... __________________ Michelle ~ and the girls ~ Harlee and Izzie ~ and our boy ~ Cole

07-28-2008, 02:45 PM	#2
reeses My Lil Man! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,703 Blog Entries: 2	Hmm...I have heard of sand fleas but I dunno if our furbabies get them?? I havent ever heard of that. Maybe someone else will have a lil more and better info for ya! Hope you have fun at the beach!!

07-28-2008, 03:07 PM	#7
bchgirl Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: at da beach Posts: 15,444 Blog Entries: 2	You don't "get" sand fleas...like a dog gets fleas. He may be bitten, but he doesn't become infested. YOU, however, are a more likely target. Sandfleas, No-See-Ums and Gnats in Beaufort __________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com

07-28-2008, 05:17 PM	#8
yorkiesmiles Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,493	we've been to the doggie beach on the gulf side and not had any problems. Of course, my dogs had flea preventive on them. Dog friendly beaches are fun - and if you can rinse your pup off really good down near the beach in a shower - I've even seen people bring the dog shampoo and everything with them to do it there. __________________ yorkiesmiles Loved by Bubba & Roxy *Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come*

07-28-2008, 06:20 PM	#9
missj2007 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 698 Blog Entries: 11	I go to the Pensacola beach all the time and I don't think fleas were there, but I hope more people chime in and give you more info. __________________ I have lost my bestfriend, Poppy my angel,my protector March 29,2008-June 14,2009.

07-28-2008, 06:22 PM	#10
roxies_mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: central illinois Posts: 1,396 Blog Entries: 1	I visited friends in Florida once a long time ago. They lived right next to the beach and had a dog. They had tons of fleas in their house it was nasty. That was in New Smyrna. My brother lives in Ft. Walton Beach Fl. and has 3 yorkie-poo's and they haven't ever had flea problems. He does spray his yard alot and doesn't have squirrels in his yard. They don't even use flea stuff on the dogs. Sister in law does groom dogs though so it could be that she just keeps them very clean or it's the shampoo she uses. I would put flea stuff on your dog and not take chances, it's not fun to get rid of them or have the dog being miserable because of bites. Maybe the beaches on the gulf side are just cleaner since others have said they had no problem there. Last edited by roxies_mom; 07-28-2008 at 06:26 PM.

07-28-2008, 07:49 PM	#11
LaurenThig Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 159	I don't think sand fleas at the beach are anything like a typical dog flea. They're bigger--my brother and sister and I used to dig in the sand and look for them when we were on vacation. I just took Lily to the beach and she did fine... no problem with bites from anything! __________________ Lauren and Lily Lovin' my Lily PadProud Member of the Spoiled Rotten Club

07-28-2008, 08:07 PM	#12
bchgirl Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: at da beach Posts: 15,444 Blog Entries: 2	There are sand fleas which are crustaceans that live in the sand. They do not bite. Those are the ones children dig up along the shoreline and play with. And there are biting gnats which are also referred to as sand fleas. Neither are the typical fleas animals get. __________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com

07-29-2008, 12:21 AM	#13
Mayas Mommy ..... and BLAIR'S too ...... Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Posts: 3,190	WoW ... I did not know that ..... learned something new again ..... thanks guys !!!! __________________ I LOVE MY LIFE AS A MOMMY AND A WIFE

07-29-2008, 05:13 AM	#14
roxies_mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: central illinois Posts: 1,396 Blog Entries: 1	I googled some info about them here's the link: The Nasty and Deadly Breeding Method of Chigoe (Sand) Fleas - Flea Crawl Here's your regular nasty flea info: Ever-Present Enemy of the Human Species: Fleas - Flea Crawl I think it's just better to be protected and not take a chance. The vet also said that if the dog injests a fea, they can get tape worms from it. Sounds absurd but that's what they said. Last edited by roxies_mom; 07-29-2008 at 05:17 AM.

07-29-2008, 05:30 AM	#15
bchgirl Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: at da beach Posts: 15,444 Blog Entries: 2	Yes, if animals ingest regular fleas they can get tapeworms. __________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com