Looking for the best dog flea shampoos for your pup?
You’re in the right place!
In this guide we’ll be going over:
- What dog flea shampoo is and its effectiveness
- How to use dog flea shampoo
- What to look for when buying
- And our top picks
To see your dog with annoying fleas is the worst. It is unbearable to feel so hopeless after trying one product after another that promises relief but doesn’t deliver results.
And when we see them itching, scratching, and biting, we feel like doggie parent failures.
Are you ready to get into this guide?
Great! Let’s get started.
Ed has been working in the pest control industry for years helping 1,000's of homeowners navigate the world of insect and rodent management. He manages Pest Strategies now helping homeowners around the world!
Wondercide Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo
Features
- Comes in a bar form which is easy to apply and lather. No more spilled bottles and no plastic waste.
- 100% food-grade, natural ingredients
- Gentle enough to use multiple times per week without worry of harming your dog, or the planet!
Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo
Features
- Precor Insect Growth Regulator provides 28 days of control eggs and larvae
- Affordable and long-lasting supply
- Can be used full-strength or diluted with two parts water
Mycodex Flea & Tick Shampoo P3
Features
- Made for dogs with sensitive skin so great for dogs with flakiness or scales
- Has aloe, lanolin, and coconut extract for soothing flea-bitten skin
- Nice, subtle smell that doesn't remind you of medicine or chemicals
Sentry Oatmealï Flea and Tick Shampoo
Features
- Oatmeal-based so it's soothing for dogs with sensitive skin
- Bulk bottle comes with a pump for easy application in the bath
- Affordable bulk pricing makes it a good option for homes with multiple dogs
Natural Promise Fresh & Soothing
Features
- This is the best smelling shampoo for dogs with odor problems and the clean scent lingers for up to 10 days
- No harsh chemicals that you can't pronounce
- Environmentally friendly packing and made in the USA
Table Of Contents
Top 5 Best Dog Flea Shampoos
Short on time? Check out below our top flea shampoo for dogs of 2018. Continue reading if you want to learn more!
What is dog flea shampoo and is it effective?
Do we really need a special flea shampoo? Other than not wanting bugs on your dog, is there any harm in a couple of fleas hitch-hiking around on Spot?
Yes!
According to the Common Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), fleas can harbor bacteria and parasites, like tapeworms, that can be transferred to your dog and humans. Ever heard of the Plague? Yup, we can blame fleas for that, too. People who have hairy legs can also suffer from flea bites, itching, and dermatitis if there is an infestation in your home.
Dog flea shampoo is a medicated shampoo used during your pup’s regular baths to help get rid of fleas. It’s one of the first products people reach for when they see a little speck scurrying along their dog’s belly and hiding in their fur.
Flea shampoo is effective in killing most of the fleas on your dog. One of the telltale signs of success is how many of the dead buggers float in the bath after your dog’s spa treatment ends.
But flea shampoo is just one factor in your overall flea control game plan. It doesn’t do much good to clear your dog of fleas only to have them jump back on from the carpet or yard in a week or two.
Read More: What do fleas look like up close?
How do you use dog flea shampoo?
You might think “Hey, it’s not rocket science. Lather, rinse, repeat,” right?
But dog flea shampoos have very specific instructions depending on the formulations. A lot of shampoos have serious pesticides and powerful chemicals so, using too much, leaving the foam on too long, or not rinsing thoroughly can have real health implications for your pet. Read all the instructions and counter indications to make sure the shampoo will not harm your pet. Typically, the groomer needs to wear gloves for protection as well.
When bathing your dog….
- Don’t set your dog in a tub of water first thing as you don’t want the fleas heading for high ground in Fido’s ears. Instead, use a shower spray or several pitchers to pour the water over your dog.
- Start with the shampoo at your dog’s head, being careful to keep the suds out of his eyes. The hope here is that any fleas on the head will move down towards the body where you can see them better.
- Leave the suds on for 5-10 minutes, per the shampoo’s directions.
- After you have washed your dog and removed the fleas, you can fill up the bath for a thorough rinse.
Pro Tip
We recommend first using a product like Capstar to knockdown all fleas on your dog and then apply a shampoo to ensure all the dead fleas and remaining eggs are properly remove. When bathed, thoroughly clean the infested areas of your home and monitor to see the results.
What should you look for when buying dog flea shampoo?
Some things to consider when you buy a flea shampoo are how efficient it is, what the reviews say, and the price. If you know your dog has fleas, you will want a shampoo that will not only kill adult fleas but also the eggs. If you only want to repel fleas, find a repellent which typically has fewer chemicals. In other words, save the strong stuff for when you really need it.
When reading reviews, know that most people don’t understand the limitations of flea shampoo. They think it’s a “one and done” process, but shampoos really only work for a few days. That’s why it takes a multi-pronged approach for effective flea control.
While a good flea bath is a solid start in getting rid of a flea infestation, there are other tools you should use as well.
- A flea comb has teeth fine enough to remove small eggs and debris that shampoo may miss.
- A flea and tick spray repellent could be an option for spritzing your dog before they head outside.
- Any serious home or yard infestation may require sprays or bombs for full eradication.
If you catch a problem early enough, a bath with one of the following flea shampoos is hopefully all you need.
Dog Flea Shampoo Product Reviews
Now that we’ve covered some of the flea spray basics, let’s take a look at some of the best flea sprays on the market.
Related Articles
Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor
I recommend the Adams Flea shampoo with Precor first. This shampoo ranks number one for dogs who have active fleas because it kills fleas in all stages of their life cycle.
Adams is a favorite of groomers because the blue shampoo has a minty, fresh scent that lingers for about a week. The aloe, lanolin, coconut extract, and oatmeal make the coat soft and silky.
The Good And The Bad
- Precor Insect Growth Regulator provides 28 days of control eggs and larvae
- Affordable and long-lasting supply
- Can be used full-strength or diluted with two parts water
- Strong chemicals needed to kill fleas in all stages of the life cycle
- Not a “no tear” formula so need to be careful around the eyes
- Cannot use on puppies younger than 12 weeks
Wondercide Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo
The Wondercide brand is the best choice when you don’t want to use harsh chemicals. This company first appeared on Shark Tank in March of 2016. Their orders increased 2000% in that month!
People responded to their all-natural approach, but Wondercide had the data to show their methods really worked.
The Good And The Bad
- Comes in a bar form which is easy to apply and lather. No more spilled bottles and no plastic waste.
- 100% food-grade, natural ingredients
- Gentle enough to use multiple times per week without worry of harming your dog, or the planet!
- Some people might find the bar unusual vs. liquid shampoo
- Possibly not as effective as shampoos with harsh chemicals
- Some animals can still have allergic reactions to natural products like citronella
Mycodex Flea & Tick Shampoo P3
Mycodex is easy to suggest because it is considered an oldie but a goodie. It has been around for over 20 years and continues to be recommended by many veterinarians.
With a quick 3-5 minute lather, you will start to see dead fleas floating in the water. Some breeders swear by Mycodex and have been using it for years.
The Good And The Bad
- Made for dogs with sensitive skin so great for dogs with flakiness or scales
- Has aloe, lanolin, and coconut extract for soothing flea-bitten skin
- Nice, subtle smell that doesn’t remind you of medicine or chemicals
- May need to wash your dog a couple of times the first use to get the desired effect
- The active ingredient, pyrethrin, is a natural plant toxin that has been overused as a pesticide in agriculture. This has led to suspicion of flea resistance in some areas
- Still toxic so you must be very careful to follow directions and not overuse
Sentry Oatmeal Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs
This permethrin-based product is one of the top flea shampoos available. Permethrins are synthetic insecticides formulated to mimic the natural compounds of the chrysanthemum flower.
Permethrin causes paralysis and death in fleas because it’s toxic and they can’t metabolize it quickly enough. It is still toxic for humans and animals, but we can break it down faster so we don’t feel the effects.
The Good And The Bad
- Oatmeal-based so it’s soothing for dogs with sensitive skin
- Bulk bottle comes with a pump for easy application in the bath
- Affordable bulk pricing makes it a good option for homes with multiple dogs
- Some people are turned off by the chemical and having to wear gloves
- Permethrins are very toxic for bees and could affect our environment when it goes into the ground
- Can cause skin irritation for some dogs so it’s a good idea to spot test first
Naturel Promise Fresh & Soothing for All Breeds of Dogs
The all-natural combination of clove oil, lemongrass oil, cedarwood oil, and cinnamon oil is a powerful combo for primarily repelling fleas and killing small infestations on your dog. Lemongrass is a natural insecticide used in homemade and commercial formulations.
However, many animals have been harmed and have died from improper dosage of essential oils on their skin. The lemongrass plant can be toxic for dogs so you need to use a trusted formulation.
The Good And The Bad
- This is the best smelling shampoo for dogs with odor problems and the clean scent lingers for up to 10 days
- No harsh chemicals that you can’t pronounce
- Environmentally friendly packing and made in the USA
- Must watch dog after bathing for any sensitivities like vomiting or labored breathing
- Some complaints that it does not lather up very much
- Lather needs to stay on for 5-7 minutes so you may need to refresh and keep massaging