Many dog owners inquire if dawn dish soap is safe to use on puppies, as well as whether it has the ability to eliminate fleas. Let’s get into it.
Will Dawn Dish Soap Kill Fleas?
Online forums frequently recommend using Dawn dish soap to kill fleas instead of more expensive parasite preventatives. The answer to that is yes, but there is yet another catch.
Bathing your dog in Dawn should kill any adult fleas on their body. Fleas can usually float in water, but the chemical reaction caused by Dawn soap interferes with the flea’s exoskeleton, causing them to sink and drown. Veterinarians in animal shelters often use Dawn to kill fleas on puppies and kittens too young for other flea control medications.
However, Dawn does not offer any lasting defense or flea-repelling properties. Even if you completely remove all the fleas from your dog, fleas in their surroundings may cause them to become infected once more. Dawn is also ineffective against flea eggs or immature fleas. In order to completely eradicate fleas, the flea life cycle must be broken by obliterating these stages as well. We do not advise treating your dog’s flea issue by simply washing with dawn soap.
Once your dog is old enough, veterinarians advise using prescription flea and tick prevention year-round for more efficient flea control. There are numerous products available, and your veterinarian can assist you in selecting the one that will work best for your dog.
Why Is Dawn Dish Soap Bad for Dogs?
There are several reasons why Dawn dish soap is bad for dogs, but the majority have to do with how Dawn dish soap functions. You may have heard advertisements that claim Dawn dish soap is extremely gentle and effective.
Can You Use Dawn Dish Soap On Puppies?
The quick answer is no. Use of Dawn dish soap on puppies or adult dogs is not advised. Any dish soap can cause extremely dry skin, irritation, and in the worst cases, a skin infection when used as a bathing product.
Risius Family Veterinary Service explains that using dish soap on dogs is bad for two main reasons:
And I’ll add one more specific to puppies:
There is no denying that dish soap is a powerful cleaning agent. Due to the variety of chemicals that act as degreasers, breaking down dirt and grime while washing them away, it cleans so effectively.
The issue is that most of your puppy’s natural oils will be removed by these degreasers, if not all of them. And it’s these oils that initially protect your puppy.
Lack of natural oils will cause severe itchiness, irritation, and dryness. Your dog will soon start scratching and itching until they injure themselves or become infected. At which point, veterinary help will be needed.
But many continue to suggest it as a successful flea treatment. So let’s explain that below.
FAQ
Can I use Dawn on my puppy?
According to him, Dawn is not the best shampoo for dogs with bacterial skin infections because it is not intended for use on either dogs or cats. Instead, choose a product made especially for pets, advises Dr Reeder.
Can I bathe my 8 week old puppy in Dawn dish soap?
The short answer is no, washing your dog with dish soap is not safe. A skin infection is frequently caused by bathing in dish soap, according to the veterinarians at Risius Family Veterinary Service in Eldridge, Iowa. The veterinary clinic continues, “Pet skin infections can be extremely itchy and painful.
Can I bathe my 6 week old puppy with Dawn?
No, do not “wash” your 6-week old puppy. Instead, go to a cozy, warm place, preferably outside in the sunshine, with your puppy, a soft dry towel, “her washcloth” dampened with a very, very light mixture of puppy shampoo, and another washcloth that is dampened only with water.
What soap is safe for puppies?
Castile soap is a plant-based soap that doesn’t contain artificial ingredients or animal fats. It is natural, non-toxic, biodegradable and 100% safe for pets. In fact, you can wash your dog with it. Use the unscented variety only because some essential oils can irritate your dog’s skin.