For example, if the bottom of your pet’s belly is about 1 foot (0. 30 m) off the ground, then you should fill the tub with about 1 foot (0. 30 m) of water. If you’re washing a smaller animal, such as a ferret, fill a large bucket with lukewarm water instead of a bathtub.
This is especially important for pets with thick fur, since it will take more water for them to get completely soaked.
Avoid getting any of the soap in your pet’s eyes or ears. Be gentle while scrubbing, but make sure you scrub deeply enough to get to the skin where the fleas will hide. If the pet cries, you’re scrubbing too roughly. If your pet’s coat is particularly thick, try using a pet brush to get the soap deep down into its fur.
For best results, use a flea comb to brush your pet’s fur as you rinse off the soap to make sure you’re removing as many fleas as possible. You may need to spray a lot of water in a single area in order to completely rinse off all of the dish soap. Be very cautious when washing around the eyes. If contact with the eyes occurs, rinse them with cool water and dry them with a towel.
You can also use a hair dryer on low heat to dry your pet, although it’s much safer to simply use a towel. To be extra safe, run a flea comb over your pet’s fur once they’re completely dry to check for any fleas you may have missed during the bath. A cat will likely be very tense from this experience and will probably run away from you immediately. Be careful as you dry it off to avoid getting scratched.
You may need to wash your pet 1 or 2 extra times, depending on the severity of their flea infestation. If you notice more fleas within a couple of days after bathing, simply repeat the process every couple of days, then use a flea medication to finish them off. You can either give your pet a flea collar or apply a topical flea solution like Frontline Plus to your furry friend. To make sure your home is completely rid of fleas, vacuum your flooring and upholstery frequently (at least once a day) to kill any fleas and flea eggs that survived your pet’s bath.
This method is particularly useful for cats, rabbits, or any other animals that generally don’t like being given baths. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can also simply mix warm water with some dish soap and use a flea comb dipped in this mixture to keep your pet’s fleas. However, this won’t be as effective as using a spray bottle to apply the mix.
Make sure your pet’s fur is completely soaked through before moving on to the next step. Be sure to avoid getting water in your pet’s eyes or ears, since this will irritate them.
Fleas typically live and lay their eggs close to an animal’s skin, so it’s important that you make sure the dish soap reaches all the way down to your pet’s skin to kill all of the fleas. If your pet has really thick fur, you may need to apply a bit more dish soap to make sure you’re reaching down to the skin.
Note that you may need to spray a lot of water on a single area in order to get all the soap off.
Don’t take this behavior personally; your furry friend will be back to normal soon, especially when the food gets put out!
