I have a German Shepherd that has to have baths due to a yeast situation on her coat, etc. I have to get her bathed and have it be efficient. I have tried bathing by putting shampoo on a dry coat. That never works. The next time, here is what I did. Keep in mind this recipe is for dogs:
I took a red Solo cup (like Toby Keith sings about) and I filled it up about an inch full in the bottom with blue Dawn dishwashing soap. Then I put a capful, not a cupful, a capful of tea tree oil, which you can get at the pharmacy. It is in a brown bottle and it is around 12 dollars. It kills cats so don't use it on them.
Then I fill the cup up with water and mix it with my hand. Then I set it aside in a safe place, and wet the dog with the shower. I really work the water into its coat. Then I pour the shampoo concoction on the coat of the very wet dog and rub it in. I keep putting more water into the cup and mixing it with my hand to get all of it out. I then massage this into the coat, deep down, like a wonderful massage.
I wish I could say I leave it on for ten minutes, but that never happens. The most I have been able to do is about two minutes. Then I rinse and get all the shampoo off, all the time telling Dutchess how good she is and massaging her. After this is off, I take a human shampoo, just a small amount and put it on the top of her coat, just a small amount. I don't work this in. I quickly rinse it off.
After I do this, I dry her off, since it is the winter here. Then I blow dry her and then I go in the car for a long drive in a very heated car, not so much as to be uncomfortable but nicely warm. This is a treat for taking a bath at all.
Anyway, I did this before I took her in for her vet's appointment. She usually comes out with prescription shampoo, to get rid of yeast, and also pills and all sorts of expensive stuff. The shampoo he gives me is expensive and it has to be used each week. When the vet saw her coat, he looked all over her and said she was in such good shape that she didn't need the pills or the shampoo at all.
He did say that the Comfortis is the best way to go for fleas now, because fleas are immune to the other topicals. With Comfortis, it doesn't matter if you get them wet, etc. So she is on this now. He said after Comfortis has been on the market for fifteen years, fleas will become immune to it also. Comfortis is a huge chewable tablet that they take like a treat and it is given once a month.
After I did this bath and for weeks after, I noticed she really seemed to be happy and not digging on herself, like she does when she gets that buildup from the yeast, etc. The yeast will show itself on the skin by looking like mold, or black trimming around the ears. The vet had showed me this before.
I had looked at her stomach a day or so after the bath and I could see where I actually missed. There were black dots on part of it where I couldn't see where I was massaging. The place the shampoo touched and was massaged in was perfectly clear of the yeast.
I was really impressed with this recipe which is also a lice remedy when combined with white vinegar. It makes her happy. I don't think any other form of shampoo would be such an anti-fungal as the tea tree oil and Dawn. Dawn has long been used on animals and such. As harsh as it sounds, it is actually very gentle, and I always use it because I know how much I always used it on my foster animals. I really never thought of using it on a full grown dog, such as mine, but I am so glad I did and so is she.
Remember to keep it off of cats. Also, never use oatmeal shampoo on dogs with a yeast problem because it only feeds the yeast and then they multiply faster.
By Robyn Fed from Tri-Cities, TN
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Looking for home remedy for pet with hot spots or best place to purchase tea tree oil shampoo.
BT from Gettysburg, PA
1800petmeds.com
jefferspet.com
i couldnt find a homeade recipe for it,sorry.
The best 'tea tree oil' you can find will be from Melaleuca.com. Through the website you can find a local person to buy from--Melaleuca Alternafolia is the purest tea tree oil out there--grown in a protected place in Aust.--and Melaleuca makes great products, all to help not only your dog, your shampoo, but also in cleaning agents for the household!
I use a shampoo from Sally's Beauty supply. It's paul mitchell's tea tree oil shampoo, but Sally's has a generic version, called Generic, haha. It's in a white bottle with a black cap. It should be close to the paul mitchell or in with all the other generics. The small bottle costs about 5 bucks, and the huge bottle is like 10 dollars. It lasts a long time. It also has peppermint in which soothes the skin.
Another perk is that I've found it lathers and rinses much easier than pet shampoo for skin, which felt more like dishwashing liquid than shampoo.
Hope that helps!
I buy my Tree Tea Oil Shampoo and Conditioner from http://www.Aloetherapy.com Very reasonable and a good Aloe Vera company. Aloe is in their products and it is very good for the skin. Very soothing and healing.
I agree with the 3rd posting, that Melaleuca has the best tea tree oil, there is no cancer causing agents, and all there product are healthier, safer for your family, pets, home and envirorment. If you would like more information on these products or have any questions, I would be happy to help you. Just e-mail me. Jpcasino17@aol.com
You can add about 10 drops of TTO to regular baby shampoo, or 10 drops of TTO to 8 OZ of warm water. Rinse the dogs with it after bathing, or mix in spray bottle.
I use tea tree oil in my Yorkies bath at least twice a month never has affected her I pour about a 1/4 a cup in her little green tub along with blue dawn and she soaks for about 5 minutes. Then the water is poured out and she is showered to rinse her well
Tea tree oil is toxic to dogs and cats. Don't use on them.
There are pet shampoo brands on the market that include tea tree oil. You should never use products that are not formulated for use by a dog or cat.
Do you scrub her or just let her stand in this mixture. I have a yorkie that I rescued and she smell terrible within 2 days of her bath, and on her back rubbing and digging her back and hips terrible. I have had yorkies forever and never had this problem. I did get some tree tree shampoo going to try it
On cats, absolutely. However, as long as it is properly diluted, it is safe for dogs.
How much tea tree oil do I dilute in water for fleas on dogs?
This site will give you the recipe for making a flea repellant for your dog using tea tree oil. www.completehomemaker.com/
You might also want to read the information at www.petmd.com/
before choosing this method of flea control.
Just put the oil in a spray bottle. No need to dilute it.
I've got one other (report here that's from one of the most reputable sites available) on TTO and dogs. I'm only posting this because I really understand the need to rid the fleas from your dog, but there are other ways to rid them that are specific and safe to treat your dog.
There are shampoos made specifically to rid fleas, and you'll need to treat (any carpeting) since fleas can live for weeks in a carpet or until a warm blooded mammal comes along, and hitches a ride on them, and then the cycle begins all over again.
avmajournals.avma.org/
This is about the carpeting, 83% of the fleas are in it (if you have carpeting).
My vet warned against tea tree and other essential oils. She has recommended other holistic treatments so she is not all about pushing pills and chemicals. She helped my Carmel Ann live very happily and healthily to a ripe old age of 17 1/2 so I trust her implicitly.
She said oils can be quite dangerous, especially with small dogs (which we have). I know some of the commercial brands of flea treatment are dangerous also, so it was a conundrum. We had very long talk with her when our Clarence ended up with fleas a few years ago.
What we finally decided worked best for us and him was to use a Seresto flea and tick collar. He also got oatmeal and mint baths (it was a store brand of shampoo that was recommended) and he was on a brief course of benadryl to help with the last of the itchies he had from the bites.
For the house we did a through cleaning and were fortunately that we caught it all before we had to do a bomb.
Outside we raked away all of the leaves and dead stuff that was around the house, we sprayed Dawn dish soap water (two tablespoons to a gallon of water) all around the perimeter of the house also.
Best wishes for getting rid of these nasty things. They are be so frustrating!
What are the side effects of spraying a small dog with bad case of fleas with diluted tea tree oil directly onto the coat?
By Kayann from Muswellbrook, NSW, Australia
Here is what I do when I see my dogs have fleas:
If it is a bad infestation, it is cheaper to get the shot at the vet that kills them all within less than a day. Then you can treat your house by vacuuming all the time and putting a flea collar in the vacuum bag and a plastic over the end of the hose, so the fleas don't get out.
I always sprinkle the rugs, under the bed sheets and etc with salt and just leave it for a few days. Fleas dislike salt. I use tea tree oil on my own hair for lice treatment if I ever find a live one in my hair. I use about 1/3 cup dawn and 1 1/2 teaspoon tea tree oil, it stinks a lot like Vicks, and then about two tablespoons of vinegar.
I put all this in my hair and leave for 15 minutes. This is great and it kills lice. Don't know if it will kill fleas or not, but never use on cats as tea tree oil can kill them.
If you have a really bad infested kitten with fleas, I would use baby shampoo and peroxide mixed up and leave it on the kitten for about 7 minutes and then rinse off. Keep the kitten warm, kittens get so stressed and feel hot and cold more than other animals so be sweet and loving and talking softly.
Hope this helps,
Robyn
I bought my little bottle of tea tree oil at Walgreens pharmacy.
When someone takes a bath who has athletes foot fungus I always put a little spritz of the oil in the back of the empty tub after they are done bathing or showering... and then rinse it downward with the shower head to the drain, it helps keep the fungus from spreading. Tea Tree Oil does smell, but it is not really a bad smell, just like Vicks vapor rub on steroids. LOL
Here are some natural flea remedies that some people swear by, it is at earthclinic.com...use your own judgement...
www.earthclinic.com/
I personally would try diluted Grapefruit seed extract. It is non toxic to humans & animals. Can be given internally or externally. www.nutriteam.com/
Remember Tea Tree Oil is extremely toxic to cats.
After doing much reading found grapefruit seed can cause seizures. My German Shepherd died. We have grapefruit trees and dog used fruits as chew toys.
Is it safe to use tea tree oil on my Pomeranian in his bathwater?
Though tea tree oil can be considered toxic for pets, it is considered safe at levels of 0.1% to 1%. I have to imagine that a few drops in the bathwater is well within the range. healthypets.mercola.com/
Can you use tee tree oil in a dog's ears?
By Laura N from Englehart, Ontario
You can use it for your dog according to VCA Animal Hospitals. Read it here:
www.vcahospitals.com/
No... It can cause them to hearing loss.
I used the Solo cup recipe, and it is working. Yay! The article said that you bathe the dog often. How often can I use the TTO shampoo recipe on my dog without overdoing it?
By L.P.
