Dog’s PerspectiveIf your dog has fleas he will be itchy. He will bite, lick, scratch, roll, and do whatever he can to relieve the itchiness. Sometimes his efforts will make the skin condition worse, by introducing bacterial infections, and fleas can also aggravate yeast and allergy conditions. Your dog will be one uncomfortable puppy! Relief in the form of a bath to remove fleas and soothe irritated skin is one of an arsenal of tools at your disposal to resolve your dog’s suffering.
Consider a homemade oatmeal shampoo for dogs to give Fido relief from the incessant itch. In regards to oatmeal, the most common homemade dog shampoo recipe is simple, yet effective. Take one cup of oatmeal and grind it in your food processor. After transferring the oatmeal to a bowl, add a half cup of baking soda and mix into a quart of warm water. Apply the concoction to your wet dog and let him relax as it soaks in. Rinse well and then gently towel dry. This will soothe the itch. Then you can move on to step two, using commercial vet-recommended shampoo, or try a homemade one.
Towel Step 1 Prepare to bathe Purchase a flea shampoo from your veterinarian. Read all instructions on the label to make cetain you understand the use and precautions. The vet will prescribe the correct dosage for your dogs size. Before putting your dog in the tub, wet your dogs neck and apply shampoo and lather around the neck. This prevents fleas from migrating up to the face when you put your dog in the water of the tub. Step 2 Apply shampoo Put your dog in the tub and wet his body by dumping water over him or by using a hand-held shower. Apply flea shampoo as directed all over the body, and massage down to the skin, working in well. Carefully check your dogs face for fleas, and apply shampoo with a facecloth or remove fleas manually with a flea comb. Step 3 Immerse and rinse If instructed to do so on the product information section, fill the bath up so the dog is completely immersed in water, drain and rinse your dog thoroughly to remove flea shampoo residue. Water should be warm, but not hot. Dogs do not tolerate water as warm as humans do. Step 4 Dry Towel and air dry, or blow dry your dog on a low setting. Use a flea comb to locate any live or dead fleas or eggs left in your dogs coat. Some pet owners like to finish the grooming session with the application of an essential oil dog spray. Do not use a spray on your dog without talking to your vet. There are some essential oils that are highly toxic to dogs and even with the use of safe essential oils, the correct dosage is critical to safety. Step 5 Further decontaminate the environment Vacuum your home, wash bedding, and apply topical flea medication or a flea collar to prevent re-infestation and remove fleas from the environment. Repeating the bath in several days is often necessary to get unhatched fleas or new fleas that your dog has become recontaminated with. If you are not sure of the efficacy of the procedure, consult the vet clinic.
Towel Step 1 Mix shampoo Make a homemade flea shampoo with 1-quart water, 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup baby shampoo or Dawn dish soap. For a small dog, use ½ cup water, ¼ cup vinegar, and ¼ cup baby shampoo or Dawn dish soap. Mix in a spray bottle. If you have discussed with the vet the use of essential oils on your dog, you can mix 10 ounces of water, 1 tablespoon of Castile soap, 2 drops of lavender essential oil, and 2 ounces of aloe vera gel. This is the recipe for an effective homemade dog shampoo with essential oils. Step 2 Apply Spray your dog, starting at the neck and working backward. Be very careful to not spray your dogs face. Vinegar, aloe vera gel, lavender oil, and Castile soap are all eye irritants. If your pet shows eye discomfort, rinse his eyes well before continuing. Step 3 Work in Massage and work the mixture you have chosen through your dogs coat thoroughly including under limbs, belly, and near the tail Wipe the mixture on the face, being careful to avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth. If your pet has a bad experience with the flea remedy bath the first time, he may not cooperate so well next session. Step 4 Bathe and rinse Leave on for 5 minutes. Immerse your dog in a bath of warm water, then rinse thoroughly to remove all residue, and wipe off the face with the wet cloth thoroughly. Do not leave any residue behind to irritate or dry the skin. Step 5 Dry and decontaminate Towel dry and air dry or blow dry your dog, then brush and comb to remove dead fleas and locate and remove eggs. Vacuum your home, wash bedding, and apply vet-prescribed topical flea medication or a flea collar to prevent re-infestation. Repeating the bath in several days is often necessary to treat unhatched eggs or additional fleas that your dog has become recontaminated with.
Do I need special medicated soap to get rid of fleas?
No, any regular skin-safe soap (or shampoo) will do!
How to Give a Puppy a Bath Video
I put together a quick video showing how to make the shampoo and bathe your puppy too!
Amazing way to bathe your dog well, get rid of fleas! Canine cleaning made EZ
Ugh, fleas. Why? Fleas are a nuisance, both to your dog and to your household. To combat them, you have a choice between commercial chemical products and natural remedies. If youâre dealing with a flea infestation, you should probably turn to the hard stuff. But if you want to prevent fleas from hitching a ride on your pet in the first place, here are some benefits of natural flea treatments for dogs â many of which you can mix up from ingredients you probably already in your kitchen.
Regardless of what breed they are or where they live, many dogs are afflicted by fleas. These tiny pests, whose bites provoke an itching sensation, irritate dogs no end, resulting in what seems like nonstop scratching. Scratching is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though. Dogs who are allergic to flea saliva can develop skin redness, welts and swelling, not to mention skin lesions from constant licking. Flea bites can also cause anemia, and â if fleas are ingested during the dogâs non-stop grooming â tapeworm infestations.
Then thereâs the housework. A dogâs constant scratching spreads loose hair and dead skin. Adding to the challenge, fleas lay eggs in inaccessible and difficult-to-clean areas of your home, including along baseboards, under furniture and in cracks in floorboards. Clearly, you need to fight back, both for your pupâs sanity and your own. Here are some home remedies to get rid of those pesky fleas.