HOW TO GET RID OF DOG FLEAS
The weather is warming up which means fleas and ticks are about to be out in force again. Use Avon Skin So Soft to both harmlessly repel fleas & ticks as well as pamper your dogs skin and coat.
It is ideal to be prepared during the warmer months for flea infestation but fleas can still be a problem anytime of the year, so make sure you have some Skin So Soft on hand all year long just in case. I know this first hand because my indoor cat somehow got fleas this past Winter. The only thing I can think of is someone in my household came in contact with an infested pet somewhere and brought one home on their clothes. One flea is all it takes and if you don’t catch it right away, before you know it, you have a full blown infestation on your hands. Read on for more information and multiple methods you can use with Skin So Soft to repel fleas & ticks.
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DOES SKIN SO SOFT REALLY PREVENT FLEAS?
A study done at the University of Florida showed that Avon’s Skin So Soft Original bath oil is an effective flea repellent. Sponging dogs with Skin So Soft resulted in a 40 percent drop in flea infestation. This makes it easy to protect your dog and repel fleas in a safe and gentle way. Skin So Soft Original bath oil can be used to protect your pup from fleas, help with dry skin, make their fur extra soft and shiny, and as an added bonus, they will smell pretty good too!
It is important to note that only Skin So Soft Original scented bath oil will help with flea control. Other Skin So Soft scent variations will not work. There is something about the original fragrance that makes fleas and ticks run. Luckily, it smells clean and crisp to us humans.
Starting when it hit the market in the early 1960s, Avon’s Skin So Soft Original bath oil has maintained a long standing reputation for repelling ticks, fleas and other insects without the use of harsh chemicals. It’s important to note that Skin So Soft bath oil is approved by the FDA/CDA only as a bath oil. Avon does not endorse its use for anything other than a bath oil. However, an article in the Home & Garden section of the New York Times dated 6/16/1988 shows just how popular and wide spread this home remedy has been for decades.
HOW TO USE AVON SKIN SO SOFT TO REPEL FLEAS
The method you are going to want to use on your dog will be dependent on whether you are trying to prevent your dog from getting fleas or whether you are trying to get rid of the fleas they have already contracted. The steps below will guide you in both cases. If you end up needing to give your pupper a bath, check out my post 10 Bathroom Cleaning Hacks To Make Your Life Easier to help you clean up the possible bathroom disaster that might be left behind from your clumsy canine.
IS YOUR DOG ALREADY INFESTED WITH FLEAS?
Below are two great options to get you started when trying to get rid of fleas and ticks when your dog is already infested. One is for a shampoo using Skin So Soft and one is for a post-bath rinse. You don’t have to choose just one. Feel free to do both if you want to double up on the protection.
Flea Bath Option 1
To make a homemade flea shampoo using Skin So Soft Original bath oil
- Mix 1 cup of Skin So Soft bath oil with 1/2 a cup of dog shampoo or detergent.
- Wash your dog as usual and rinse well.
- *Optional: If desired, you could use the post shampoo rinse from Flea Bath Option 2 at this point to double up on the repelling power.
- Inspect your dog for fleas after six days. It has been tested and proven that Skin So Soft solution typically drives fleas away for six days. If fleas return, repeat the process.
Flea Bath Option 2
To make a post shampoo rinse using Skin So Soft Original bath oil
- Give your dog a bath using the flea shampoo of your choice or the shampoo recipe from above.
- Rinse your dog really good until no shampoo remains on their coat.
- Mix 1.5 ounces of Skin So Soft Original bath oil with 1 gallon of water.
- Use the mixture to rinse your dog after their shampooing.
- Inspect your dog for fleas after six days. It has been tested and proven that Skin So Soft solution typically drives fleas away for six days. If fleas return, repeat the process.
PREVENT YOUR DOG FROM GETTING FLEAS
Sponge Them Down
- Mix 1.5 ounces of Skin So Soft Original bath oil with 1 gallon of warm water.
- Using a sponge, firmly pat and dab the Skin So Soft solution into your dogs fur.
- Cover your dog from the top of their head to the tips of their paws to prevent fleas from congregating in an untreated area.
- Massage solution into their fur really well to get the oil down to their skin.
- Let their fur dry.
REPEL FLEAS & TICKS WHEN YOUR DOG IS OUTSIDE
Make A Spray
- Using an empty spray bottle, add 1 part Skin So Soft Original bath oil to 5 parts warm water.
- Shake the solution vigorously to combine.
- Spray your dog’s entire body with the solution and rub in to repel fleas.
- Keep a bottle of spray solution on you or in your car to use on both your dog and yourself whenever heading into a wooded or grassy area where you may encounter fleas or ticks.
- The spray solution can also be used as an easy way to follow up if the first application from the flea bath or sponge bath does not get rid of all the fleas.
ANOTHER FAST OPTION TO REPEL FLEAS & TICKS
Avon has a Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus line of products specifically meant for insect repelling. The Bug Guard line comes in aerosol, pump sprays, and lotion formulas for easy use on both humans and pets. These dog-safe products can easily be sprayed directly onto little Fido’s coat. The line offers the Bug Guard Plus IR3535 Expedition with SPF 28-30 and the Bug Guard Plus Picaridin. I recommend going with the Expedition version, or the green can. The silver can which has the picaridin may cause itchy skin for your pooch.
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Have you tried Skin So Soft on your dog? Let me know in the comments how it worked for you!