dog shampoo for LICE!

Nurses General Nursing

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My daughter got lice (oh joy) and we went thru the whole gammet. When I spoke to my neighbor she confessed to me she used dog 'flea and tick' shampoo on her 7 year old because it has the same strenghth ingredient and was only $5 instead of $20 for RID. She said it worked the same...no lice. She also didn't notify the school about her daughters lice, because she didn't want to be forced to buy RID. I've heard of animal meds being the same etc but I've never heard this. I told her to talk to her doctor cuz ya never know. I also told her she could use the mayo or oil treatment for two weeks straight, washing the bedding etc to achieve the same results without having to use dog shampoo. UGH, dog shampoo? Has anybody else heard of this one?

hmmm I never heard of using dog shampoo, but I don't see how that could get rid of lice when its designed for fleas and ticks. I had lice when I was young, and it took a lot...a LOT of effort on my moms part to get rid of them all. Lots of RID, lots of fine tooth combs, just lots of not fun. I hardly remember it, but it must have been pretty gross to have little bugs in my hair. Also, its best to notify the school so then parents know their children may have been exposed to lice. Seems like saving $15 really isn't worth it and may be bad for her child.

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.
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Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was some magic potion that just made the eggs fall out and lice go away?? That would truly be a perfect would. ? Unfortunately, as is true with most things in life, it's just a dream.

We've seen many children that have been treated with dog shampoo and believe me- it is made for dogs- not humans!! Why resort to such methods when there are far safer products on the market. Lice are not fleas and the use of such products on your child is not only damaging to their hair and scalp, it can be dangerous to their overall heath. Keep in mind that while some side effects happen immediately, others can take years to manifest themselves.

If it were my child, I'd spend the $20 and protect my child. The active ingredient may be the same but the percentages and strengths are probably not

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

The only way to find out is to read and compare the list of ingredients and strengths on the packages. If they are the same (and your neighbor's child isn't barking) why not?

sjoe said:
The only way to find out is to read and compare the list of ingredients and strengths on the packages. If they are the same (and your neighbor's child isn't barking) why not?

The ingredients are the same. I can't remember if it's 0.4% or 0.04%, but the RID box and dog shampoo have the same key ingredient, same strenghth. Weird.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

why go on the cheap for a KID???

sheesh some people.

get the stuff for CHILDREN for heavens' sake. there is a new and safer product out on the market, I read. Can't remember the name.....

I have dealt with lice a couple times w/my kids. I would never go cheap to do so...whatever is safest and most effective, no cost too high for my kids.

SmilingBluEyes said:
why go on the cheap for a KID???

sheesh some people.

get the stuff for CHILDREN for heavens' sake. there is a new and safer product out on the market, I read. Can't remember the name.....

I have dealt with lice a couple times w/my kids. I would never go cheap to do so...whatever is safest and most effective, no cost too high for my kids.

I didn't know about the kids version for RID. I'll keep my eyes open. As for my neighbor...some people can't afford the RID products. They have to buy it times how many people in the family. It personnally cost me $100.00 even. I agree that it would be way to scarry for me to use products ment for animals on my children, but I can afford the right products. As for the cost issue for my neighbor, I recommended she try the 'oil method' for removing nits and killing lice, bed washing etc.

I tend to agree, if it is the same strength and dose and multiple kids are involved, why not go cheap? $15 is a lot of money for some people. In fact, if it is really 100% comparable, I think the school nurse or doc should suggest it as an alternative.

I gave my dog human kaypectate at the vet's direction. Heck, if I could get all my meds at dog's prices, that is the way I would go!!

I might get some flames for this... but i havent been fried for a while so here goes...

I can understand that some families can not afford 100$ to pay for RID. Its expensive. there is a Walmart brand that is a lot less... but that is beside the point.

Many of these parents who can not afford to spend 20 bucks on their kids health come to the ER to get treatment. We cant treat them, so they just "dont" treat them. They send them back to school, and infest other children. This makes school life worse for kids that are already labelled as "poor" or low-class. These are the same parents that magically have the money to buy cigarettes, brand name soda and foods, while their children get put to the side with the trash. They have the money to buy DVDs, rent movies, eat at McDonalds, and wear expensive tennis shoes while their kids are barely clothed, holes in the socks and toes of their shoes. They can afford HBO, but can't afford generic motrin for their children temperatures.

And I am definately not talking about the parents that are broke-broke... that means NO perks for themselves OR their children. There are public agencies to help these families. I'm talking about the people that complain about been "so poor" yet can afford the finer things for themselves, but not for their children. It literally makes me want to vomit.

As far as using Dog Shampoo on your children. I dont care if the "active ingredient" is the same. There is technically roast beef in ALPO... but I am not going to feed it to a child. Its not graded safe for children. Not to mention it is not formulated for human hair oils.

I love my dog. She uses my shampoo (vet said that was ok) because it smells good and helps detangle her hair. She could eat my food if we were too poor to buy her her own... but Im not going to share her kibble and wormer pills. those are meant for her, not me, and definately not my child.

BrandyBSN:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

i agree 100% Brandy. Thank you.

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
BrandyBSN said:
I might get some flames for this... but I havent been fried for a while so here goes...

I can understand that some families can not afford 100$ to pay for RID. It's expensive. there is a Walmart brand that is a lot less... but that is beside the point.

Many of these parents who can not afford to spend 20 bucks on their kids health come to the ER to get treatment. We cant treat them, so they just "dont" treat them. They send them back to school, and infest other children. This makes school life worse for kids that are already labelled as "poor" or low-class. These are the same parents that magically have the money to buy cigarettes, brand name soda and foods, while their children get put to the side with the trash. They have the money to buy DVDs, rent movies, eat at McDonalds, and wear expensive tennis shoes while their kids are barely clothed, holes in the socks and toes of their shoes. They can afford HBO, but can't afford generic motrin for their children temperatures.

And I am definately not talking about the parents that are broke-broke... that means NO perks for themselves OR their children. There are public agencies to help these families. I'm talking about the people that complain about been "so poor" yet can afford the finer things for themselves, but not for their children. It literally makes me want to vomit.

As far as using Dog Shampoo on your children. I dont care if the "active ingredient" is the same. There is technically roast beef in ALPO... but I am not going to feed it to a child. It's not graded safe for children. Not to mention it is not formulated for human hair oils.

I love my dog. She uses my shampoo (vet said that was OK) because it smells good and helps detangle her hair. She could eat my food if we were too poor to buy her her own... but I'm not going to share her kibble and wormer pills. those are meant for her, not me, and definately not my child.

BrandyBSN:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

(off topic) Brandy-your hair looks cute !

I just went through this myself and stupid me I went out and bought special shampoo for my family and special shampoo for my animals. Man I coulda just used the stuff from the vets for all of us. LOL

Im with Brandy and Deb there is no way I would use the dogs shampoo on my kids.

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