Rescue kittens, Dawn Dish Detergent, and Fleas

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! I am curious!
I got a call to get another group of kittens and these were tiny and in sad shape. They were anemic and you couldn't see the kittens for the fleas. Before I did anything else, I bathed them in Dawn Dish Detergent (it took repeated baths before I could even tell what color the kittens were).
Two of the kittens were to weak to even suckle, but one pulled through and has since been rehomed.
The question is, what is it in Dawn that kills fleas DEAD.
??
Lisa

 

[blueoval1]

I use it on my dogs sometimes. I have heard that it smothers the fleas.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Interesting! I didn't know it would do that. Do you just bathe them as if it is shampoo, or do you have to really goop it on them?

 

[redhen]

Good question! All i know is it works!

 

[redhen]

Quote:
just like shampoo..and let it sit for a minute..

 

[speckledhen]

Maybe it's just like you use dishwashing soap in natural sprays to kill aphids on roses? Good to know, though.

 

[taraann81]

ALL soaps and shampoos kills fleas. Baby shampoo, pet shampoo not formulated to kill fleas, pert plus...You name it it will kill fleas. The only thing is none of these have any residual effects. So the fleas will jump right back on them. I'm not sure what the ingredient is that does it but it's not just Dawn dish soap.

 

[ODS-n-ENS FARM]

Anyone know if it works on lice on goats?

 

[Cara]

I've heard it works on mites too, not sure how much truth there is to that. It's great for bathing show chickens too

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi!

ALL soaps and shampoos kills fleas

.
That may be true to some degree, but I've washed plenty of dogs in 'flea shampoo' and had to re-wash them to get all the fleas (and still didn't deter new fleas).
I'm curious what Dawn has, that kills fleas and is a flea deterrant. The ingredients say only 'biogradable anionic surfactants'. Hahaha, what IS that? A good surfactant would help suffocate a flea quickly, but I don't know what 'anionic' means.
So, why if all 'soap' would kill fleas are there flea shampoos get rid of fleas? Wouldn't just 'shampoos' suffice?
It's curious.

Lisa​