I started my quest for safe and effective flea shampoo about 8 years ago. I have been a parent for almost 30 years and a pet owner my entire life so I have more than a passing knowledge of parasites. Please dismiss any implication that pets or childrenare themselves parasites, I am speaking only of the parasites that are microscopic in nature.
It seemed the warnings on the labelof most bottles created concerns that fleas were not the only thing endangered by the product. I imagined that there had to be a product that effectively killed fleas, or treated equine rain rot without proving toxic to the bather. Possibly because I had a dream (never realized) that I could transfer the bathing responsibility to my offspring. I hated that my hands were visibly effected after using toxic products and I didn't even want to imagine what it was doing to my liver or my pet. It is known that anything you put on your skin is in your liver in under a minute. Our skin is an amazingly effective organ and it is very absorbent. Our pets are equally as subsceptible and studies on the long term effects of these toxins on our pets have not been effusively published. Not where the general public will stumble across them, anyway.
I began to study the flea onlineand through some experiments I conducted on site. I will confess, many fleas were harmed in the process. Although in the beginning, not as many as I would have liked. I studied how they develop, what they eat and how they move. Fleas have a natural tendency to migrate to the head of an animal, so the minute liquid is introduced they race to the part of the animal that will most likely remain above water. I wanted a product liquid enough to lather on contact so the neck could be covered and lathered before the animal was dampened. Always start with the neck and then use baby shampoo for around the eyes, as even natural shampoos can burn sensitive eyes.
I wanted a shampoo that had lots of natural oils and ingredients so the fleas would not become reistant as they do with chemicals and I wanted it to be safe for the bather. It is hard to really pick fleas off an animal wearing gloves so being able to wash the dog bare-handed was important. I wanted it to be as affordable as possible, and I wanted to try to keep it as "green" as possible. So if you order repeatedly you may find the bottle style or shape varies. When possible I use recycled bottles or the least expensive options. So consistency is found in the product but not always in the container. It is actually so safe it can be used as a regular shampoo. It contains several natural anti-inflamatory, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agents so some skin conditions can improve with regular use.
Initially I was only making the shampoos for myself and a few neighbors. Then a groomer got wind of it, loved it and it grew from a mission to a business. I have many groomers in Florida that have replaced flea dipping with my shampoo and some retail it to their customers. I devote a considerable amount of time to quality and distribution, but in real life I am a Certified Hypnotherapist. Because I work over 30 hours a week helping humans, new products are sometimes wedged in the pipeline for a while before they hit the market. But I am working on several products that will benefit our furry friends. I have tried to lobby for days to be lengthened by at least 2 hours, but all I hear is "tomorrow, tomorrow..." so for now I must accept the pace of my progress.
We hope your experience will be positive and your pets will be healthier for your efforts. If you desire to know more about fleas and how to manage them around the house naturally, check out our last page. I am devoting that page to flea education and am currently working on the content.
Thank you for reading my mind,
Tracy C.Ht.
