Will Giving My Puppy a Bath Get Rid of Ticks & Fleas?

Fleas and ticks not only annoy you and irritate your pet, they can cause serious health problems as well, especially in puppies. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses to dogs and humans alike, and fleas can give your puppy tapeworms if he swallows them as well as cause skin irritations due to flea allergies. Both of these parasites drink blood and can take enough blood from a puppy that he can die from it. Bathing your puppy can help in the fight against both fleas and ticks.

  1. Using the Shampoo

    • Choose a shampoo that contains a pesticide such as permethrin or pyrethrins to kill any fleas and ticks on your puppy. Dog flea treatments can kill cats, so keep cats away until your puppy is completely dry. To wash him, work up a good lather and then leave it on him for about 10 minutes to kill any pests. Rinse well when you̵7;re done. Follow the same procedure if you prefer to wash him with a mild dog shampoo without any harsh chemicals. This will kill the fleas, then you̵7;ll need to pick off any ticks that you find.

    Consider Size and Age

    • Not all products are safe for all puppies. Many flea and tick shampoos can̵7;t be used on puppies younger than 8 weeks of age. Always read the label to see if the shampoo you̵7;re considering is safe for your puppy. If he is very small or seems sick or weak, ask your veterinarian before giving the puppy a bath. Any shampoo with permethrin or other strong chemicals in it could harm your pet if it̵7;s not used properly.

    Combine with Combing

    • Use a flea comb on your puppy every day to help keep the flea population down without the need to bathe him again. Work the comb through his hair and drop any fleas you find into a cup of soapy water to drown them. If you notice an increase in the number of fleas on your puppy he may need another bath. The comb won̵7;t remove ticks; pick those off by hand using rubber gloves or tissue to handle them. Make sure the tick̵7;s head comes out when you pull the tick loose.

    Other Controls

    • Bathing your puppy will kill the fleas and ticks on him at the time of the bath, but new ones will jump on to take their place as soon as he̵7;s exposed to them. Treat your house, especially the puppy̵7;s bedding, to kill any pests lurking there. Also treat his favorite spots in your yard so he won̵7;t get reinfested every time he goes outside. Consider giving him a monthly spot treatment if he̵7;s old enough. Ask your vet for recommendations for products that work well in your area.