The issue is that this way they keep their heads above the liquid and any parasites in the head can spread back into the body. The forced dipping is rough but more effective.
Can confirm, given a lot of homeless cats and dogs flea baths. They run for the head above water. Honestly I would start nitpicking them with my fingernails at that point, so I didn't have to freak the poor thing out with a full baptism.
Something that may help you if you give any future baths, I always start by rinsing the head first to get fleas to move downward then I do the neck. Then, before even getting the rest of the body wet, I wash their neck with an excess of flea shampoo or dawn to prevent them from moving back up. Then, go back to the bath as normal and manually comb off the stragglers who stayed above the neck
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u/Sydney2London 6h ago
The issue is that this way they keep their heads above the liquid and any parasites in the head can spread back into the body. The forced dipping is rough but more effective.