Advice from a Super Vet, Dr. Baum:Is it safe to bathe an itchy kitten?

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Welcome to our series from the Wonderful Dr. Barry Baum, Chief of Staff at Center-Sinai Animal Hospital. If you have a question for our Virtuoso Vet, he'd love to see it. And he will answer all that he can. Just use the form that follows below, beneath the column. Please note: If you feel the condition of your pet is critical, Dr. Baum suggests you contact your local vet ASAP!

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Dear Dr. Baum --

Can small kittens (under 8 weeks) be bathed to rid of fleas? We have an infestation
and our kittens are miserable and too young to use flea products on. We bombed the affected part of the house but cats (2) are still crawling with the black fleas. Is there a proper way to bathe cats? Do the same principals apply as to dogs? Thanks! Center Sinai has been our vet for our dog - the kittens are new arrivals.

Kathleen
Los Angeles, CA

Dear Kathleen --

Never hesitate to use a flea shampoo on young kittens. Any toxic potential of the shampoo is negated because there is only a brief contact between the shampoo and the kitten. When the shampoo is rinsed off, the insecticide is also removed. Thus, a flea shampoo has no residual effect for keeping fleas off. Avoid flea dips, sprays or powders as prolonged contact with these products can result in enough absorption to overwhelm a very young kitten's ability to effectively remove it. I have used Advantage on kittens over four weeks when there are large infestations. Failure to control large flea infestations can result in enough blood loss in small kittens to necessitate therapeutic blood transfusions. I feel comfortable in using Advantage in kittens this young because this product is not absorbed in the body and thusly does not need an exit strategy.

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