Tar soap for dogs. A panacea for fleas or another myth?

Tar soap is traditionally considered to be a natural and safe alternative to modern insecticidal preparations for ridding dogs of fleas. Yes, indeed, tar soap will not harm your pets, but it also has little benefit. In terms of its effectiveness, it is noticeably inferior to synthetic insecticides. It is not recommended to use it, just like laundry soap.

What it is?

Soap with tar is indeed successfully used as a cosmetic and medical product. It can treat dermatitis and skin rashes.

Under its influence, wounds, cracks and scratches on the skin heal faster - this happens because birch tar (the main component of soap) promotes epithelial regeneration . Hair washed with it begins to shine and falls out less. It is also indicated for pediculosis.

Yes, at first tar soap was considered as a remedy to relieve the itching from lice bites.
It did not work as a remedy against most pests. But the tradition of washing your hair with it when lice appear has created a myth about its healing properties , which has acquired new details: tar soap poisons not only lice, but also fleas and even destroys ticks!
To understand how true this information is, it is worth knowing how the components of tar soap affect parasites.

Degtyarnoe

It is based on birch tar. Thanks to him, this hygienic product not only heals wounds, but also smells bad. It also contains:

• sodium salts of animal fats;
• sodium salts of vegetable oils;
• water;
• thickeners;
• preservatives;
• salt.

Among the medicinal properties:

• drying;
• exfoliation of keratinized particles;
• disinfection;
• relieving irritation;
• getting rid of acne;
• reduction of eczema;
• fungus control.

Composition and effects

Tar soap looks like dark brown bars, opaque, with a sharp, tart odor. Many people find it unpleasant, but some people like it. Main components of soap:

1. Birch tar – soap can contain up to 10%. It is produced by squeezing the extract obtained from birch. It is this that gives the product its specific smell and is also famous for its medicinal properties. Tar is used to produce not only soap, but also a number of medicines, for example, Vishnevsky ointment for the treatment of wounds, burns and suppurations. This element can really help against fleas:
   Its very smell has a depressing effect on parasites - they rush to get away from it. Insects are sensitive to odors. Through them they find food and a mate for mating. The overly strong smell has a disorienting effect.
2. Tar contains benzene , which paralyzes the nerve centers of insects. They will not die, but will become lethargic and begin to move chaotically. This will make them easier to detect and comb out.
3. Sodium salts. They are beneficial for the skin because they normalize its water-salt balance and protect it from excessive evaporation of moisture. This property is also very important for the delicate skin of a dog.
4. Phenol and alkali. They affect insects, causing them direct harm - burns. However, they are not capable of destroying them: the bodies of lice and even their eggs are protected by a durable shell. But the microbes will die after such washing.

It may also contain citric acid, Diethylene Glycol (thickener), sodium chloride, palm oil and water. The composition of tar soap varies depending on the manufacturer , but this is not so important, because the main component - tar - remains unchanged.

IMPORTANT: Diethylene Glycol (thickener) can be harmful if ingested. Therefore, if you decide to wash your pet with tar soap, make sure that he does not swallow the foam.

Processing procedure

It is necessary to determine in advance where the procedure will be carried out - a basin, a bath.

1. Pour some warm water into a separate container, throw in a piece of soap, or grate it. Wait until it completely dissolves.
2. Wet your pet's fur with warm water and pour soapy water on top. Lather thoroughly. You need to lather carefully, making sure that the product does not get into your eyes, nose, or mouth.
3. It is up to the owner to decide what to do next. A small pet can be wrapped in a towel and held in your arms until the product takes effect. Large dogs are muzzled.

Treating a pet with tar soap
Tar against fleas in cats should act for at least 15 minutes. Leave tar soap for kittens against fleas for at least 10 minutes. Leave the dogs for at least half an hour. The maximum effect of the drug is 45 minutes. Exceeding the duration is not recommended.

Can it be used to protect against fleas?

Tar soap cannot be considered a complete insecticide. But it can still bring some benefit: it won’t kill, but it will repel fleas . At the same time, special products for animals will solve the problem faster and more reliably.

Whether or not to wash a dog with it is up to each animal owner to decide for himself. To make it easier for you to make this choice, we list the main advantages and disadvantages .

pros

• Tar soap boasts a natural composition , which most special shampoos do not have.
• Does not cause allergies , does not penetrate into the blood and milk. You can absolutely safely use it when washing puppies (after 1 week of life) and pregnant dogs.
• There are no side effects - no nausea, no vomiting, no loss of appetite or lethargy, no changes in behavior. You also don’t have to worry about rashes (which can’t be said about special shampoos).
• You can wash your dog with tar soap not only for small abrasions and scratches, but even for open wounds , eczema or dermatitis.
• Maintains normal salt-water balance of the skin, but special shampoos for dogs can dry out the skin.
• Can be used as often as needed without harming the dog's health.
• Inexpensive product (again, compared to special products).
• Safe for humans and convenient to use.

REFERENCE: allergies to tar almost never happen. Other components of the product - thickeners and preservatives - can cause irritation, but in this case it is enough to change the brand of soap.

Minuses

• As already mentioned, the main effect on insects is the unpleasant smell of tar . Fleeing from it, fleas will escape from the animal, including onto your floors, carpets, sofas and chairs. They will live well there for some time, and when the smell disappears, they will attack the dog again.
• An unpleasant odor affects more than just fleas. The owner and his pet will also have to endure a specific aroma. And you shouldn’t think that it’s enough to endure it once - to get rid of parasites you will have to spend a lot of time and effort . Significantly more than when using special means.
• Soap that gets into your pet's eyes and nose will also not add a pleasant feeling to him: it burns strongly .
• Well, the most important thing: tar soap has no effect on insect eggs . So, soon after the procedure, new parasites will hatch on the dog, which will ruin all your efforts.

So, tar soap will be a real salvation for dogs with allergies, babies, pregnant bitches and those individuals who can be harmed by a special shampoo containing more aggressive substances. It is absolutely harmless.

Should they wash an animal with it without parasites?

Soap can also be useful for those animals that do not have any problems with fleas. It is not for nothing that tar is used in shampoos, solving the following problems:

• reduces and even gets rid of dandruff;
• removes soreness of the skin under the hairline;
• reduces hair loss;
• accelerates growth and increases density.

Many women speak of this remedy as miraculous, helping when expensive shampoos have stopped working. Shampoo will have exactly the same effect on your pet’s fur, which is why even today many owners abandon professional dog products in favor of tar soap .

In addition to the positive aspects already described, long-haired breeds will find it easier to comb. And short-haired dogs will be able to boast that their coat becomes thicker and tougher. The most important thing here is not to dry out the coat and skin with too frequent use; otherwise, tar soap will make the dog healthier.

Briefly about the main thing

1. You cannot wash your dog with laundry soap;
2. Tar soap can be used as a disinfectant;
3. Baby shampoo is not useful for washing an animal, but can be used in an emergency;
4. After vaccination, it is better to stop bathing the animal for the quarantine period;
5. Coloring a dog's coat can cause illness;
6. Wool bleaching products must be used strictly according to the instructions;
7. There are special products for paw care;
8. You should wash your dog using only special products designed for animals.

How to bathe your pet?

To begin, prepare :

• leash;
• container for washing if the pet is small;
• bowl for foaming - soap does not foam well;
• flea comb;
• insect collection jar;
• towel.

HELP: tar soap also exists in liquid form, which will make bathing much easier.

Now that everything is ready, you can begin the process :

1. Place your pet in the bathtub and tie it to the faucet with a leash.
2. Spray your dog with water to get his fur wet. Then lather with a foam solution and rinse the fur, paying special attention to areas on the stomach, chest, and armpits. You definitely need to treat your head! Otherwise, the fleas will move onto it and safely wait out the procedure.
3. Rinse the animal. Some of the fleas will already be washed off.
4. Repeat the procedure with soaping. After this, the dog should stand for five minutes - during this time the pet should be calmed or entertained.
5. Comb out the fleas with a comb - they will make the task easier by jumping out on their own. It is better to collect them in a jar, otherwise they will spread throughout the apartment.
6. Rinse off the foam by rinsing your dog several times. The smell of tar will remain, but not for long.
7. Go through the fur on the face, behind the ears and on the chin. This way you will destroy a dozen more surviving fleas.
8. Dry the animal.
9. The procedure will need to be repeated every three days.

Contraindications

There are practically none - natural tar soap is safe even when licking wool after washing. But they, like any drug, should not be abused .

You can use this soap for dogs no more than twice a week; it is advisable not to get carried away with prevention and alternate with something else. Otherwise, the fur will lose its shine and become drier and unruly. In the future, you can even achieve shaggy and shabby hair.

This will also have a negative impact on the skin : there will be a feeling of tightness that will bother the animal.

When you decide to try tar soap on your pet, watch his reaction. If the dog expresses strong dissatisfaction with the smell, there is no need to force it; today there are many other means . If everything is fine, then using environmentally friendly soap will bring exceptional benefits to your pet.

Features of washing dogs

Experienced dog breeders advise not to go to extremes, but to stick to the golden mean. You should not wash your dog every day, nor should you bathe it twice a year. The frequency of water procedures depends on the breed of the dog, the length of its fur, and the characteristics of its maintenance. In order not to harm the pet, it is also necessary to take into account factors such as vaccination, estrus, and the postpartum period. It is not recommended to wash your dog after vaccination until the incubation period has passed. If you decide to wash your animal with tar soap, then first of all, familiarize yourself with the principle of its effect on fleas, as well as the basic rules for washing a dog with this product.