Rescue kittens, Dawn Dish Detergent, and Fleas

[taraann81]

Quote:
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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

Because, only flea shampoos have any residual effect. And the key word is ANY. I just thought it was an interesting fact, and over the years as a shelter volunteer I have seen it with many shampoos many times! Is dawn a flea deterrent as well?? Thats great to know.

 

[gypsy2621]

dawn dish soap and mayo will also kill head lice.
mix together and shampoo, let sit 10 minutes all lice dead , so yes it will work on gaots and other animals.
forgot to mention the mayo is to keep the dish soap from drying the hair out.

 

[breezy]

Professional groomer answering the question regarding fleas: the reason the detergent soaps kill fleas is that it dissolves the waxy coating off of their exoskeletons. Even Zest soap will do this. They simply drown without the protective waxy coating. These detergents WILL NOT deter fleas and as soon as the animal is exposed to the fleas they will be right back on. The reasons that sometimes flea shampoos dont work are:
1 shampoo improperly applied they have to be left on long enough to do the job
2 shampoo is out of date the stuff does have a shelf life
3 the shampoo isan IGR based killer which can take a few days to be effective
4 the fleas in your area have developed an immunity to whatever flea killer your using
By the way herbal shampoos and powders are deterrants not killers as a general rule meaning you have to kill the fleas first before you go herbal as a deterrant.
By and large IGR flea products are the safest and most effective way to go and if you live in an area with a heavy flea population and a long flea season dont forget to do zone control. Treat the yard , the pet, the house, the bedding, the dogs house ect all at the same time with similar products. Dont mix chemicals if you can avoid it since that can make you or your pet ill. Flea collars dont work at all and in fact can prove fatal to the smaller pets
hope this helps a bit

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

So, why if all 'soap' would kill fleas are there flea shampoos get rid of fleas? Wouldn't just 'shampoos' suffice?

There are "flea" shampoos becasue people will BUY them
They dont WANT you to know that ANY soap and water will drown the fleas.

Some of the "flea" shampoos MAY have a residual odor that will repel fleas for a while, but most simply drown them and do nothing more​

 

[breezy]

The residual that is left is not simply an odor it is a chemical that continues to kill fleas for 14 to 28 days depending on which chemical is being applied. Also the 2 most common killers being used currently are cholinasterase inhibitors and IGR's. One interrupts the chemical messager that is sent between nerve endings in the nervous system and the other interrupts the breedng cycle and life cycle of the fleas.

 

[beefy]

the surfactant. causes them to drown. does not deter fleas.

 

[ODS-n-ENS FARM]

Quote:
THANK YOU

 

[BorderKelpie]

I wish I read this before I went shopping today. I just bought a new bottle of flea soap I have a guest spending the weekend next week and she's bringing her dog (just picking it up from the breeder on her way in), so I'm hitting everyone with everything I got before she gets here. I'm powdering the carpets, the yard, bathing the dogs (SIX of them!) and the cat. I just don't want to take the chance of her (new) dog having/spreading fleas when she gets here.
At least the soap I bought smells nice and leaves Coulter's coat soft and shiny.
*sigh*
Great job with the kitty. Yuo're a sweetheart for dealing with that.

 

[ducks4you]

Quote:
DOUBLE THANKS!!! ALso I can attest that fleas LOVE to bite blondes (and redheads), but leave brunettes and black-haired people alone. My DH and 2 of my DD's are blonde (darker haired now, but towheads when they were younger), and one DD and me are brunette. We've been fighting fleas, but they won't bite two of us. They attack the other 3.
In addition, ONE dog is yellow lab mix and we've been applying topical healing balms, Nitrofurizone and another (can't remember the name) for horses and dogs to her. The other dog is long haired Husky mix with GS, so she is both "blonde" and black. She has NO sores from scratching and biting. I attribute this to both her long coat and to the black color.
Just food for thought, considering it's almost lunch time.

 

[NancyDz]

For years it was Joy Soap not Dawn... and it had to be the Lemon version.. it's only been on here in the last year that I've heard Dawn soap.


I thought it was something with the lemon ..... apparently not!

Nancy