Need "Safe" Reference For Flea Shampoo!

[Matthias]

Hello there,

I tried the search and it froze on me twice and I don't have time to find out why, so I ask this question to you:

My baby girl, Princess(13yrs), has fleas! She hasn't had fleas in years and I just killed 3 on her today. I had placed the responsibility in someone else's hands to get some flea shampoo and what was purchased was Hartz Ultra Guard Flea & Tick Drops.

A quick internet search came up with some bad reports and even read one where a Yorkie got real sick... so I'm not putting it on my baby.

Could you please suggest a safe shampoo that I can use on her? She doesn't mind baths.

1.) I'm looking for one I can get from Walmart, Target or a pet supply store. If suggested a fancy one I have to order off the net, I don't want to wait.

2.) Shampoo preferred

3.) Any tips, hints or ideas on it's use would be appreciated

Thank you and I look forward in your replies.

Matthias

[BonBon]

I don't know of any flea SHAMPOOS that I would trust. There may be some good ones but I've certainly never heard of them.

I use and like Frontline Plus, the drops you put on just behind the dog's neck. Your local feed/ag supply store should carry it & I think Petsmart carries it now. I wish I knew of something completely safe, that actually worked but I haven't found anything like that yet.

[ArmaniMan]

When I have seen fleas I just wash mine in REGULAR dawn dish detergent, it is the BEST thing for killing fleas... I usually follow up with a good conditioner, just so I dont dry out their coat too much. (can obviously be bought in WalMart or any grocery store)

If you have a major flea problem you could give a capstar pill first, wait 30 minutes and then follow the above step. (Capstar is sold in PetCo)

For prevention I used Frontline Plus... without some type of preventative, they will keep coming back. (Frontline is also sold at PetCo)

Good Luck.

[BaxtersMommy]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

When I have seen fleas I just wash mine in REGULAR dawn dish detergent, it is the BEST thing for killing fleas... I usually follow up with a good conditioner, just so I dont dry out their coat too much. (can obviously be bought in WalMart or any grocery store)

If you have a major flea problem you could give a capstar pill first, wait 30 minutes and then follow the above step. (Capstar is sold in PetCo)

For prevention I used Frontline Plus... without some type of preventative, they will keep coming back. (Frontline is also sold at PetCo)

Good Luck.

I have always used Dawn for that. I put it on their dry body and massage it in for a good 5 minutes. Then, I start adding water. I then wash it another time. I make sure I leave it on for awhile to kill them all.

[jp4m2]

I have used Tropiclean Neem Oil Shampoo with very good results. It was at Petco or Petsmart. You have to leave it on for a good five minutes. It looks like this......

Amazon.com: Neem Shampoo - 20 oz: Kitchen &...
Petco has one by Only Natural the is also good......

Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Shampoo for Pets at PETCO

I ran out of my neem oil shampoo so I did a little experiment with regular pet shampoo. I left it on for 6 minutes and it killed the fleas...A couple of them where semi-conscious so I increased the time to 7 minutes the next time and that did the trick ......After trying that a few times I now know that in a pinch I can use regular shampoo and just leave it on longer and it will kill fleas......

[Matthias]

I did forget to mention baby girl will be getting her hair cut. After that I will go ahead with the baths without the flea shampoo treatment products for now.

After thinking about it, I do now notice I have not given her regular baths like I have in the past. Mainly due to laziness, but also because she gets chilled and...she's my baby. LOL! I'll fix that by putting on her one of her many Fido Fleece coats until she's fully dry. Maybe the lack of baths instigated the flea infestation?

Thank you very much for the replies. It makes me happy to know I have alternatives that are much safer than these other commercial products.

On an important note, if someone here buys this product, be sure to read the fine print and do a search because this product is NOT for cats.

Thanks,

Matthias

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by BaxtersMommy

I have always used Dawn for that. I put it on their dry body and massage it in for a good 5 minutes. Then, I start adding water. I then wash it another time. I make sure I leave it on for awhile to kill them all.

Yup, Dawn is the best and safest flea shampoo. It will kill the adult fleas that are on her, but as new ones hatch (they are probably in your rug at this point), she will just keep getting infested. You need to start her on a flea preventative from your vet. No Hartz, Biospot, etc. from the grocery or superstore. They are very dangerous.

[jp4m2]

I just noticed that your Princess is 13.....I would highly caution you on using flea products on an older pet. The old, young and ill are more prone to toxic reactions since these products are pestcides......This is from the EPA Office....

The cumulative and synergistic impacts of pesticides can take a heavy toll on animals. Dr. Jerry Blondell, of the US EPA Office of Pesticides, has indicated clearly “not to use pesticides on the old, the sick, or the young.” While some of the literature for the spot-on products does discourage this usage, many dog guardians and veterinarians overlook or disregard these written precautions.


You said you have never had this happen before so you have a good chance to get this under control by much safer ways......Vacuuming is a very good way to catch a lot of the problem, you don't need to resort to toxic chemicals......

Dutch journal Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata:
The old upright is not only lethal to adult bugs, but it completely wipes out their young. Scientists from Ohio State University had set out to determine what additional measures might be needed to kill a bunch of Hoovered-up fleas: burning, freezing, poisoning, maybe even a little good old fashioned stomping. But it turns out that getting sucked into a vacuum bag does the whole job.
The researchers were so surprised by the results, they repeated the study several times. In each experiment, they sprinkled a kitchen carpet with 100 cat fleas, either adults or juveniles. And they found that the vacuum snuffed out pretty much all of them.



When you have time to order from the internet this is good to spritz on to keep the fleas away.....

Natural Flea Control and Tick Remedy. Official TripleSure Site. Flea and Tick

Good luck......And I hope Princess is doing better.....

[Honeys Mama]

Definatly Dawn... I used it about every two days after I realized that my babies had fleas. The first time killed the adult fleas so no more eggs would be laid for a bit. Then the second to kill those that had just hatched and couldn't lay more eggs. As long as you don't get it in their eyes it's safe. And as stated above, use a good conditioner as to not dry their skin out. Hope this helps!