How to Kill Fleas With Soap

In many regions, fleas on your pet are an inevitable problem that's annoying for pet and owner alike. On younger puppies and kittens, fleas are potentially dangerous because they can cause the animal to become anemic. Commercial flea treatments work fine, but they are dangerous for young animals and can pose a health risk to people too, especially children. Here is a way you can kill the fleas on your pet's body using nothing more dangerous than dish soap.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Warm water
• Dish detergent

1. Fill the tub or sink with warm water, and get the animal wet all over.

2. Take the animal out of the water and place him on a towel. Massage the dish detergent into all of his fur, working up a lather as you go.

3. Massage the detergent into the top of the animal's head and his face, being extremely careful not to get soap into his eyes or mouth. The fleas will escape to dry places, so it's important to get suds all over the animal.

4. Rinse the soap off your pet. If he's small enough and not too upset by the bath, submerge him in warm water up to his neck for a minute or two.

5. As you dry your pet, pinch off any remaining fleas with your fingers.

Tips & Warnings

• Dawn dish deteregent is gentle enough for kittens and puppies. If your animal has fleas, it's likely they will lay eggs in your house and yard. To help keep your pet flea-free, treat your whole living area, especially carpets, rugs, and moist, dark outside areas.

Resources

• Information about home flea control