Flea Shampoos

There are a variety of different active ingredients which are contained within different brands of flea shampoo; however, all of them are designed to do the same thing kill the live fleas. Some flea shampoos contain pesticides while others use a more natural approach. Some of the active ingredients which are commonly used within flea shampoos are pyrethrins, limonene, linalool, lavender oil and eucalyptus oil. Flea shampoos which contain one of the first two named ingredients are considered to be chemical based, whereas lavender and eucalyptus oil are natural treatments which can be used in flea shampoos as well. Although natural treatments are safer for pets and children, the chemical treatments tend to work better at eliminating fleas. 

     Pyrethrin based flea shampoos are made from dried chrysanthemums which contain a natural form of pesticide which is known to be quite effective at killing live fleas. This active ingredient can be lethal to cats and is typically used in flea shampoos which are marketed for dogs for this reason. These shampoos should not be used excessively as over exposure to pyrethrin can cause a reaction in both cats and dogs which can produce symptoms such as respiratory distress, excess drooling and can even be fatal in large doses. For this reason, many people choose to use flea shampoos which use a combination of linalool and limonene as a safe alternative to pyrethrin.

     Both linalool and limonene are citrus extracts which are proven to be effective at eliminating all stages of fleas including eggs, larvae, pupae and adults when used in combination with one another. Limonene is known to effectively treat and eliminate the adult and larvae fleas, while linalool is effective at killing flea eggs and preventing flea pupae from hatching into adult fleas. Although these ingredients are derived from citrus, they can be harmful to both pets and humans in large doses so it is imperative that you follow the directions for the shampoo which you are using to ensure that you are not overexposing your pet to these strong substances.

    Lavender oil is a natural alternative to some of the harsh chemical based flea shampoos which is known to both kill and repel fleasnaturally. Lavender oil can be added to a spray bottle and spritz onto your pet as a repellent or added into an all-natural pet shampoo as a way to eliminate live fleas which are currently on the pet. Although it is not going to work as well as many of the other flea shampoos on the market, with persistence this all natural alternative is a great way to rid your pet of fleas naturally and it also has healing properties which will sooth your pets’ irritated skin as well.

     Eucalyptus oil is another natural component which is used in all-natural flea shampoos with great results. Like lavender oil, eucalyptus oil can also be used as both a repellent as well as to eliminate live fleas when used within an all-natural shampoo on a regular basis. The distinct smell of eucalyptus is very unpleasant for fleas and they will steer clear of areas which are treated with this natural oil. For this reason it is a great natural alternative for flea shampoos as well as a preventative measure when applied to outdoor areas, bedding, carpets and furniture.