if my dog has dry skin and open sores from scratching...Is it safe to use a flea shampoo on them?

Question

I have dogs with extremly dry skin who may have fleas. They have had it for a while to where they have raw skin. Is it safe for me to give them a bath in flea shampoo with raw spots on there skin?

Answer 1

You would do better to give them a bath with Dawn dish soap, or Ivory bar soap. It will kill the fleas, if you leave it on for just a few minutes, and then brush them will as they dry..flea shampoos are quite toxic, and too much might be absorbed with really sore skin.. then use one of the spot-on flea preventatives from the vet's clinic to make sure fleas don't come back, such as Revolution (my favorite) or Frontline, or Advanix...Many vets give the first treatment of Advantix or Revolution for free, so it would be wise to call around and see if your vets do...Both clinics in my town do, and my friend in another state told me her vet gave the first Revolution free..

Answer 2

Well, it's "safe" in the sense that it won't make your dog sick. Assuming you rinse very well. I'd avoid putting any strong (organophosphate) dips directly on bleeding sores. But just the shampoo might irritate the sores and slow the healing slightly, at worst. Maybe you have some cortisone cream you can apply afterwards to really dry spots. You can put regular 1% hydrocortisone on small areas if they don't just lick it right off. I think you could just avoid rubbing the shampoo much around the raw parts and it'd be fine.

Hotspots on the skin are treated by scrubbing them pretty hard with antiseptic soap and it is actually good for them to get them clean - with the flea shampoo you just want to avoid getting a lot of insecticide on a sore and letting it sit for a long time because it'd be irritating. If I were you I'd wash the dogs with a gentle soap first if they are dirty, and then dilute some flea shampoo in water, soak them in it without rubbing (long enough for fleas to be killed) and then rinse very well.

If the fleas are really bad, always apply flea shampoo around the neck before washing the rest of the dog (otherwise fleas all run to the face where they are hard to kill).

Answer 3

You say you have dogs with the same problem, not just one of them??Correct? This alerts me to a possible problem that may not be "dry skin" or "fleas" alone. Since they all are having the problem. Certainly if one dog has fleas then they all probably do and it' definately been fleas season. I assume you have checked the coats carefully for fleas and flea eggs(look like black pepper).
Is "raw skin" red and inflammed, even puss. Are they chewing themselves constantly? Are bare areas spreading?

I am cautioning you to take at least the worse one to your vet to make sure this is not a mange or contagious skin condition!!! Or vitamen or food related allergy. We often are quick to blame any scratching and chewing on fleas and other serious conditions may be cause. A secondary infection can set up in the skin also.

I would caution against any shampooing until you know more. If skin is raw and dry that is not always typical of fleas although they may have fleas too. Adams fleas shampoo is one of best. They also make a fogger/spray to use on carpet, bedding that really works. Then use the tea tree/aloevera spray for irritated areas to heal those. That is best routine if fleas are bad. But I do urge a vet visit to make sure.

Best of luck with your furbabies.

Answer 4

I'm no vet but i give my dogs a bath with a mild antibacterial soap scrub the sores kinda really good i wouldn't use any flea shampoo they are a waste of money use advantage from the vet is is the best ever and works fast and for a good while kills fleas everywhere the dog lays i have five dogs we live in country and they love the grass and weeds no fleas or ticks at all this year i swear by the stuff

Answer 5

The best advise would come from your vet at this time. Your dog probably has a secondary infection by now (staph) and should be treated internally and externally for that before you use anything other than the once a month prescribed by your vet. After your pet is healed up you might use Dawn detergent (which only knocks the fleas out) then use a Q-tip with alcohol or tweezers to pick them off and put them in a small jar of alcohol with a lid so that it can be disposed of properly with out them waking up and jumping on everyone.

Some triple anti-biotic like neosporin is good to put on the sores while being treated internally.

You might also put a flea collar in your vaccum bag, vaccum everything and dispose of the bag. This will help rid your house of any that are hanging out.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Try washing your dogs with a baby shampoo first to try and help the skin a little. Never use flea shampoo on a dog that has open scratches or raw areas! This can make it worse and cause your dogs to bite themselves bloody. If that doesn't work try to use flea medicine on them for awhile before the flea bath to lessen the population first.

Answer 7

Most shampoos, for fleas, will warn on the label to not use in the case of open wounds on the skin. This could introduce the insecticide into the bloodstream and cause your dog some harm. Have you seen fleas? One flea bite can give a dog a really big reaction. This one may be best answered by your vet.

Answer 8

Sores From Scratching

Answer 9

Call your vet once again he can prescribe your pets w/a pill of Capstar which is a pill that works on getting rid of fleas in 30 minutes. w/in 4 hrs 90% of fleas are gone. Once thats accomplished then try using Frontline or Program. Program is an injectable once every 6 months flea protection. Its the birth control pill for fleas. Dont use to many differant flea agents for this could be toxic. Good luck and talk to your vet. since the dogs have a flea infestation you might want to stool samples into your vet to check for worms. Also make sure there are no ear mites. You might have more then one problem here and would be best to advise w/your vet. Frontline can be bought online or pet stores. You dont need to get it from the vet. Try www.valleyvet.com

Answer 10

It shouldn't hurt them. But on another note, I've never seen a flea shampoo that really worked well. Try using Advantage or something similar from your vet. Flea dip would be a good second choice but I'm not sure about putting on open sores. Good Luck!