Should I give my dog a bath before flea treatment?
The answer depends on your method of flea treatment, but is basically, yes. The trick is that, depending on the method of treatment, you may probably want to completely dry your dog before applying flea treatment so as not to dilute the medication when applied.
Although K9 Advantix® II kills fleas on your dog, there may still be fleas in your dogs environment that have since jumped on after treatment. Luckily, with K9 Advantix® II, new fleas are killed within 2 hours with protection against further infestation for at least 4 weeks. As fleas die they are no longer able to stay hidden against your dogs skin, and therefore you may also be seeing dying fleas coming to the surface of your dogs fur coat. Do not use K9 Advantix® II on cats.
Can I bathe my dog after applying K9 Advantix® II? Yes! However, we suggest bathing your dog before applying K9 Advantix® II. Just make sure your dog is thoroughly towel dried. If you choose to bathe your dog in between treatments, we recommend use of a general grooming shampoo for pets. Do not use K9 Advantix® II on cats.
A single application of K9 Advantix® II remains effective for four weeks. However, if the dog has a severe infestation, retreatment within a month may be necessary. Do not retreat more than once every seven days not to exceed weekly treatments. After flea control is attained, return to a monthly treatment schedule. Do not use K9 Advantix® II on cats.
Does Dawn dish soap kill fleas?
Fleas have exoskeletons that allow them to float in water, explains Dr. Reeder. “Dawn (and other soaps like it) creates a kind of surfactant, or surface tension, that will compromise the exoskeleton and make adult fleas sink,” he says. So essentially, the soap drowns the fleas.
1. Give Your Pet a Bath. Just lukewarm water, or water and a mild soap, can help get fleas off your pet’s fur and skin. If you’re thinking about using a flea shampoo or something similar, talk to your veterinarian first.