How to Shampoo Dogs for Fleas

Any dog can pick up fleas while walking or playing outdoors, and subsequently infest bedding, carpeting and drapes in the home. Fleas can make your dog miserable with incessant scratching and biting. There are many kinds of flea shampoos that can be purchased at pet stores or from your veterinarian. Most contain pyrethrin, an insecticide made from the chrysanthemum plant. You can also use a shampoo with natural ingredients such as eucalyptus, rosemary, geranium, juniper or citronella. This will kill the adult fleas, but you must use the shampoo a number of times to kill the eggs that will hatch later.

Things You'll Need

  • Flea shampoo
  • Water
  • Flea comb
  • Pure, sterile mineral oil
  • Cotton balls
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Instructions

    • 1

      Read the shampoo directions carefully.

    • 2

      Plug the dog's ears with cotton balls and dab a tiny bit of pure, sterile mineral oil into her eyes.

    • 3

      Wet the dog's fur thoroughly so you can work up a good lather.

    • 4

      Work the shampoo into your dog's fur, starting at the head. The fleas may begin to move to your dog's head, so apply the shampoo in a circle around the dog's head and neck first. Work up a good lather. You may need to add more water to get a good lather going.

    • 5

      Thoroughly work the suds through the dog's coat, separating the fur as much as possible as you allow the shampoo to get down to the skin. Use a flea comb to remove fleas as you go. Keep the shampoo out of the dog's eyes. Leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes.

    • 6

      Rinse thoroughly.

    • 7

      Repeat the process in 2 weeks to make sure you have gotten all the fleas.