Homemade HBA for Pets

[jolly321]

I was told if you mix 2/3 mild dishsoap (joy, gain, ivory) to 1/3 alcohol you have a great doggie shampoo and it kills fleas.

Also, Avon Skin-So-Soft and Alcohol is a great bug spray for horses. We used this when we were kids.

Do you have any homemade ideas HBA items for your pets that you want to share?

[farmergirl]

I just use a small amount of dawn dishsoap (original) for dog/cat/ferret/chicken bathes. If you have a flea problem use about a 1/4 cup for a chi and proportionately larger amount for larger breeds. Kills fleas fine on it's own.

[Smee]

I will use plain original Dawn or Ivory liquid for a heavy flea infestation or extremely dirty or greasy animal. I prefer Dawn over any traditional flea shampoo with regard to safety and effectiveness. I would avoid antibacterial soaps and stuff like Gain which seems to be so heavily scented, and I would avoid mixing alcohol with straight dish soap. I do make a milder (than straight dish soap) shampoo with 22 oz. Ivory liquid, 2 oz. glycerin, and 2 cups of vinegar (credit goes to Barbara Bird). It has been my favorite for years. Super cheap, safe, and effective.

Here's a tip if you have a big and/or hairy dog to wash. You can use one of those Ortho dial sprayers (like for spraying chemicals on lawns). Just put your shampoo in the bottle, dial your preferred dilution (and really, just about any of it can be diluted-- just play around with it; you don't need super thick suds). If it's too cold to hook it to the hose outdoors, you can get a Y connector that hooks to your washing machine's hot and cold water and runs it to one hose. You'd just need enough length of hose to run through the house to the tub or shower you plan to use. It eliminates the need for pre-wetting, and the pressure wash really helps blow out dirt and loose coat without all the scrubbing. It's messy, but sooo much easier for thick-coated dogs than hand scrubbing. An Ortho sprayer costs around 10 bucks.

[CW&M Mom]

Move to Utah...no fleas...

[Smee]

I assume they still have dirt!

[CW&M Mom]

Yup...good dirt in Utah. Just no fleas!

[Smee]

But they do have foxtails and those giant mutant crickets and bitter cold and no coastline. No deal!

[CW&M Mom]

Foxtails???

no giant mutant crickets....smaller bugs in Utah...(no humidity) The giant crickets are in Kansas

bitter cold...compared to the south I guess...it isn't alaska...and southern Utah isn't too cold. Vegas like weather.

Yup No coastline...unless you count the great salt lake (which I don't).

But it does have this

Zion National Park | Utah.com
Bryce Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Capitol Reef National Park | Utah.com
Arches National Park | Utah.com
Canyonlands National Park | Utah.com

What is funny though...is they still sell the flea stuff in Utah...I had no idea..since I've never owned a dog...till my MIL mentioned that "we don't have Fleas in Utah". There is less of a problem with heartworm (used to have no problems with it). Probably because they have way less mosquitoes. Also ticks are not common unless you take the animals to an area where deer or sheep are..typically the mountains. But your regular suburb backyard is not going to have ticks. Where out here in Kansas..because we have lots of small animals scurrying about...it can be a huge problem.

You also don't have squirrels or raccoons unless your up in the mountains. No possums or armadillo's at all.

Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Alaska. parts of California don't have fleas either.

[Smee]

NO.



I thought of a couple of other cheapskate tips!

Corn starch can be used as a between-bath refresher and even light detangler. Just sprinkle lightly and brush through.

I get good coupon deals on Infusium leave in conditioner. You can mix it half and half with water in a spray bottle and use it for light detangling and static control as well. Just set the bottle to a fine mist and spray lightly as you brush. Mist a section and brush, mist and brush. No need to saturate. It'll be about dry when you're done brushing. It's great for Yorkie type coats or long fluffy ears and tails. And cheap with coupons!

[meggers]

Yup...good dirt in Utah. Just no fleas!

You say that like it's a bad thing.





stalking post #8