Why buy expensive dog shampoos at PetSmart to bathe your dog? My vet suggested I use any baby shampoo, so now I buy $1.00 generic baby shampoos at the Dollar Store and I have a dog that smells as good as a freshly bathed baby for a fraction of the cost.
By Cipora Auslander from Miami, FL
Fleas are exoskeletal -- exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton (endoskeleton) of, for example, human. So any soap will affect the flea if not immediately, it will die. Consistency is the key once you get the problem down. I used to "dip" the dogs at the vets but it was extremely hard on them.
The fact that shampoo strips the oils from the fleas is what kills them - their skeletons are exposed and they will dry out and die rather quickly. I'm not sure if it's effective on eggs but I bounce around with products and seem to have the worst luck with store bought products 'cos I expect them to be easier to use and less time consuming - which means I don't always give them enough time to work.
So remember, you need to let the soap sit on the coat for at least 5 to 10 minutes and come back and rinse, rinse, rinse. Fleas will always head for higher ground so the minute you put that product on your pet's back, they're heading for the head or any other open orifice so put lots of lathery soap around the neck lune, under the chin, open privates and base of ears. Otherwise I've noticed they really do just hang out there until bath time is over. They may not be smart, but they sure can jump!
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Johnson Baby Shampoo will kill fleas on your dog. We had a real bad flea outbreak this week, I had no idea how badly my male was infested out in the kennel.
