Replied by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand)
Dear Liza: I have the same problem but was successful with controlling it. Therefore, you are not the only one with the extreme infestation. This has just happened here in Bangkok just this year and the climate is hot and humid, but it is a nightmare during the rainy season.
The problem of extreme infestation never did occured but these newer fleas, ticks and mites for some reason or another are what I sometimes called "superbugs" that are maybe part of genetic engineering that gotten out of hand or intentional, I do not know. This has never happened before hand seems this problem is worldwide now, and was non-existent only 1 or 2 years ago as of today (December 2007).
The only effective remedy that can best handle this grave problem is to buy a large tank of hydrogen peroxide and dilute them down to 3% usually mixed with saturated borax and spray this on the entire yard, trees, shrubs, house exterior and outside the house area, the surrounding house area and inside of the house is also sprayed. Insecticide seems almost useless. The borax and hydrogen peroxide seems to hold quite well in this instances.
The only useful way I have found is a termite spray be used in cracks and crevices where these fleas hide. I have found fleas and mites source to be coming from OUTSIDE of the house where these newer superbugs of fleas, mites and ticks to be able to live almost 6 months without any dog or anything. My own problem here is my neighbor owns a lumberyard adjoining my house and the come from that area feeding endless supply of fleas, ticks and mites.
The key to resolving this nightmare is that the dogs are quarantined inside the house that are sterile or fleas ticks and mites free, or in close confinement where the areas are controlled to prevent mites and fleas from lining up going in doors.
While a tub is effective in covering the area, the use of hydrogen peroxide will be a waste and costly one. Hence a small tub for the dog to dip in maybe useful and more economical and done only once a week dip. The shampooing and application of borax and peroxide use must be applied on the dog EVERYDAY for at least a week or two.
Finally when the dogs dried the use of DEET spray which are insect repellant must be applied on the dog at least twice a day, or every 12 hours. A more effective way is to apply it every 8 hours.
Once the DEET spray is on the dogs, fleas, ticks and mites won't find the dog and this is the key.
If I have any more tips that help stop this flea infestation, I will post more as newer information becomes available through my experiments. The problems about all these experiments is it divert me from answering all the emails that come from earthclinic, so that's one of those tradeoffs I have to make on a daily basis.
However, I have managed to successfully do deal with flea infestation, but even AFTER SUCH success, the dog must be taken a bath at LEAST twice a week, using borax and hydrogen peroxide plus DEET sprayed at least twice a day.
Therefore the key is: quarantine the dog away from outside and in a close confined area, where fleas and mites from outside are no longer accessible. Quarantine time is about 2 weeks. Daily hydrogen peroxide and borax treatment plus DEET after bath is used. A dip in a small tub for the dog can be performed once or twice a week, depending on the budget. After the quarantine period the DEET spray must be used at least twice a day.