Never use dawn dish soap on rats

[SQ]

Dawn dish soap is used to remove oil from birds when there is an oil spill because it is an emergency situation and the chemicals will remove the oil.

People often recommend it as a solution when pets have fleas instead of safe effective medicine from a vet (ie revolution). But it should not be used a way to kill fleas as the chemicals it contains are toxic.

Please see https://holisticpetcare.com/holistic-pet-blog/dawn-dish-soap-for-fleas/

 

[TiffanyKei]

What a bunch of baloney. I hate it when people present propaganda from shopping sites as fact. Having studied chemistry in high school, I can assure you everything we see touch taste or smell is "filled with chemicals"
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/chemical-is-not-a-bad-word/
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/363-chemicals-everywhere

I don't know why anyone would reference extreme studies where dish soap was force fed to rats

 

[jorats]

There are chemicals that are harmful and some aren't. Further research is needed for sure and we shouldn't rely on just one article.

 

[Luna&Ralph]

Whether or not the chemicals in Dawn are safe for animals, only pet shampoo should be used on pets because anything else can alter the pH of their skin and cause problems.
And when it comes to fleas, the only flea treatments that are guaranteed to be effective and are safe in most cases should be purchased at a vet's office (for anyone who comes here looking for alternatives).