10/09/2025
I have a few pets a week coming in with fleas! Just a reminder that I don’t treat fleas in the shop. A thick dog or cat safe shampoo might be used to suffocate them so I can complete the bathing process but prescription strength products from your vet are what you need to treat them effectively.
If your vet recommends a different product for your pet, that is fine, but I don’t use any flea killing products on your pet in the shop for a multitude of reasons, the possibility for over-treating is not the least of them- some people can’t remember what or when they may have used another product and I don’t use anything other than the usual gentle, skin nourishing shampoos and conditioners on your pet.
If you use flea shampoos, the fleas just jump back on in the car and when they go around the house.
Fleas will hide in body orifices and emerge after the bath. The eggs and nymphs will remain in your car, carpet, hard floor cracks, and furniture. Waiting for your pet to return home and then jump on at their earliest opportunity
The fleas life cycle involves the ping-pong ball-like eggs falling into the environment to hatch into crawlies that then seek out a dog or cat or mouse. People can get bitten by fleas but fleas do not live on us because of body temperature differences and such. Seresto collars are ok if they’re used properly and not counterfeit, which has been a big issue with Amazon purchase and even Chewy discovered they were selling fakes. (They remedied the issue supposedly)
I don’t waste your money or risk your pet’s health treating fleas in the shop. I’ll tell you what works… I’ve done animal rescue since I was a teenager. I’ve seen a flea or two in my day. If your pet has fleas, your vet may also recommend testing for tapeworm. I leave parasite control up to the vets.
If I know your pet has fleas I’ll send you to the vet first for effective treatment since so many treatments rely on your pets natural oils to distribute. We don’t want to clean those off until the fleas are gone. If I discover the fleas in the bath, I’ll finish up what’s important and complete everything inside the bathtub to contain jumpers…. Then we’ll reschedule after the fleas are treated or if the pet’s in decent shape they can just come to their next appointment as scheduled. Your vet will give you the best treatment advice for your particular pet’s species and health. I’m just the bath and haircut guy. 😬
I see tons of pets with fleas who have been treated with over-the-counter products. I never use these on my own pets. If I’m going to put a medicine on my pet I want the most stringently tested and most effective with the smallest dose possible- and that’s going to be prescription products purchased directly from the vet. Don’t ever use essential oils or home remedies.
