Groom Professional Bye Bye Buzz Spray - 200ml

The Groom Professional Bye Bye Buzz Spray is the walk-time version -- citronella, tea tree, lavender and chrysanthemum oils misted onto the coat before you go out, for the midges and flies of a summer evening.

Key Features

• Plant oils: Citronella, tea tree, lavender and chrysanthemum, all traditional insect deterrents
• Spray before a walk: Designed to go on just before you go out rather than as a lasting treatment
• For outdoor time: Walks, hikes, the garden and anywhere near standing water
• Leaves a fresh scent: The lavender and tea tree are noticeable
• Easy to apply: A pump spray over the body coat
• Size: 200ml

What A Repellent Can And Cannot Do

Worth being clear about this, because it is the difference between a comfortable dog and a house full of fleas. A plant-oil repellent is a cosmetic product, not a licensed veterinary insecticide. It may help deter insects while it is fresh on the coat, and it may make bitten skin feel better. It will not clear an established flea infestation, and it will not protect against ticks.

Around 95 per cent of a flea population is not on the dog at all -- it is eggs, larvae and pupae in the carpet, the bedding and the gaps in the sofa. Clearing fleas properly means a licensed treatment from your vet for every animal in the house, plus washing bedding hot and vacuuming thoroughly for several weeks. No shampoo or spray does that job on its own.

Never On Cats

This one matters. Tea tree, citronella, lavender and chrysanthemum are all toxic to cats, and chrysanthemum oil is the plant source of pyrethrins, which cats handle particularly badly. Do not use this spray on a cat, a kitten, a rabbit or any other small animal, and keep cats away from a treated dog until the coat is completely dry -- a cat that grooms a dog, or sleeps pressed against one, can pick the oils up second hand. If it has already happened, ring your vet rather than waiting to see.

How To Use It

• Shake the bottle, then mist evenly over the body coat before going out.
• Keep it away from the face entirely. Do not spray near the eyes, nose or mouth.
• Reapply before each outing. Plant oils evaporate quickly, so yesterday's spray is doing nothing today.
• Let it dry before the dog settles on furniture or goes near a cat.

Who Makes It

Groom Professional launched in 2009 on the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland and is sold through the grooming trade supplier Christies Direct. The range was built for working salons rather than for the bathroom cupboard, which is why so much of it comes as a concentrate and in four-litre sizes. Groom Professional say the products are manufactured in the UK.

Good To Know

• This one is out of stock at the moment, so the page is here for reference while we wait on the next delivery.
• Groom Professional describe this as warding off fleas and insects without harmful chemicals. Essential oils are chemicals too, and this is a cosmetic deterrent rather than a licensed repellent or flea treatment.
• Dogs only. Never on cats, kittens, rabbits or other small animals.
• Not for puppies, or for a dog that is pregnant, unwell or has broken skin, unless your vet is happy with it.
• If your dog actually has fleas or ticks, get a licensed product from your vet. Ticks need removing properly and can carry disease.
• Keep it out of the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Rinse with clean water if any gets in.
• Keep it out of reach of children and store it somewhere cool and dry.