Top Flea Shampoo for Dogs – Best Puppy Flea & Tick Shampoos Review 2019
When it comes to getting your doggy completely clean, you know that sometimes this can be a meticulous task when your fluffy friend has fleas. You can use a ton of medicated dog shampoos and even regular dog shampoos to no avail, and the fleas won’t all die. More importantly, even if you get rid of the fleas themselves, a lot of times, you won’t kill every single egg, and then in a matter of days you notice you’re back to square one! In this top list, we’re going to give you the best flea shampoos out there in order to get you the most bang for your buck. Not only that, but we want to make sure that when you choose a product, you get a product that will not only eliminate the fleas, but will actually do so effectively so you can get rid of your epidemic once and for all. With the right flea shampoos, you don’t have to worry about the harsh chemicals hurting your best friend either.
Top 5 Flea & Tick Shampoos for Dogs
How Do I Properly Bathe My Pet with Flea Shampoo?
One common mistake that a lot of people make when they’re bathing their pet or “flea dipping” them as some people call it, is that they end up giving them a regular wash down, and then immediately rinse their pet. This is probably the worst thing you can do, because it doesn’t actually end up killing the eggs. If you read the directions of most of the flea shampoos you’ll use, they tell you that you need to keep the product on your pet for at least 5 minutes in order to be truly effective. You don’t need to leave the product on your dog much longer than that (and it’s highly not recommended) because it can actually cause your dog to absorb too much of the flea shampoo into their skin usually.
How To Choose the Right Flea Shampoo
The best way to figure out what the right flea shampoo to buy for your pet, is to find out what is not only non-toxic for your dog, but also one that can’t make you sick. Therefore, there are plenty of natural alternatives which you can choose from that can help you with this. That is the sole reason we’ve provided you with this list to give you the safest and most reliable resources to choose from.
Best Flea Shampoo for Dogs List
① Richard’s Organics Flea & Tick Shampoo
Richard’s specially formulated organic flea and tick shampoo is made solely to get rid of ticks, fleas, and even mosquitoes on your pet without using the harsh chemicals that often are in popular brands of flea shampoos. It’s definitely the best safe alternative because the natural oils in the product can also help your dog by coating their skin and their fur, which can help them with contact dermatitis that can often result from flea treatments. The oils also smell great and natural, and the product contains no un-natural ingredients for scents.
The active ingredients are Peppermint oil, clove oil, cinnamon, rosemary oil, and cedarwood oil, as well as sodium lauryl sulfate. It also contains vitamin E, glycerin, sodium benzoate, and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose. We don’t recommend it, but it’s safe enough for humans to use (such as a beard wash for example), so why not buy this for your pooch?
Pros
Pros
- Completely organic natural ingredients.
- No harsh chemicals (non-toxic to humans and dogs alike).
- Natural oils are great for your pet’s coat and skin.
- Natural scents make this product one of a kind.
Cons
Cons
- Your dogs may not like the smell.
- This product may possibly cause your dog to get dandruff.
- The oils can cause irritation to scratched skin and open wounds.
- May not completely repel fleas.
② Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo w/ Precor
While this has a small amount of pyrethrins, it also has a tiny dose of S-Methoprene, and piperonyl butoxide (and almost 98% inactive ingredients, so it’s pretty safe for dogs, but it’s not as safe for humans. Be sure you wash your skin well before touching anything with food, just like you would other typical dog shampoos and you should be fine. The special combination of the pesticides is safe for dogs when used moderately as they’re supposed to.
Pros
Pros
- This strong formula is safe for dogs and cats over 12 weeks old.
- Can help kill flea eggs for 28 days so you can break the flea cycle.
- Great scent with this.
- Greatly conditions pet’s coat.
Cons
Cons
- May not be strong enough for heavy infestations on your pet.
- Doesn’t lather as well as it could.
- Not all pets are fond of this product, and it can cause skin irritation.
- Contains harsher chemicals and is not all-natural.
③ Sentry Flea & Tick Oatmeal Hawaiian Ginger Shampoo for Dogs
Tell your puppy aloha with this unique blend of special oatmeal and ginger scented dog shampoo. While this is pretty typical as it contains permethrin and piperonyl butoxide, it is a very useful flea shampoo. Simply lather and leave on your dog for about 5 minutes, then rinse off. If you need to, do more than one application if the infestation is bad enough just to ensure you get them all, and be sure to brush or comb your dog afterwards. Of course, since it does contain small amounts of permethrin, you may want to use gloves or wash your hands with regular soap and warm water thoroughly after you’re done. This product comes in an 18 oz. bottle or a much larger 64 oz. bottle, and is a very good price too!
Pros
Pros
- Aids in pH balancing your pet for skin health and a shiny coat.
- Kills ticks that can carry Lyme disease.
- Oatmeal is great for moisturizing and maintaining pet’s skin.
- Fragrance is light and refreshing.
Cons
Cons
- Can be used too much on your dog along with other pesticides.
- Harmful to humans. Special precautions need to be considered.
- Not safe for other animals (like felines) because it contains permethrin.
- Only for puppies that are 12 wks. or older.
④ Bio Spot Active Care *Best Flea & Tick Spray*
While it’s not a shampoo, this flea spray works for both dogs and cats. You can use it to kill all types of pests, including cockroaches, bedbugs, and other insects. This is more of a home treatment because it kills flea eggs and larvae, and it helps to keep your pet completely clean. This product should not be used without gloves, and you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. It contains S-Methoprene, Etofenprox, and Piperonyl Butoxide, all common topical flea killers for dogs and cats. It just doesn’t contain permethrin, which makes it safe for both species and the household. Once the product dries, and you should apply it approximately every couple weeks on literally everything (including your pet). Just keep the kids away for a bit.
Pros
Pros
- This spray can treat your pet and your entire home for a great price.
- Spray dries after about an hour and is safe to be around.
- Typical for all dogs above 12 weeks for each spray.
Cons
Cons
- This product is not a shampoo, but a flea treatment spray.
- Does not work with all extreme infestations.
- May be harmful to humans and other pets.
- Contains permethrin.
⑤ Adams d-Limonene Flea & Tick Pet Shampoo
Adams is a leading brand of flea & tick treatments for dogs, and this product which uses d-Limonene is no different. While it’s harmful to humans, it’s pretty easy to manage washing your hands after use before eating or consuming anything, and you should keep it away from children. The positive benefits are that it cleans, conditions, and gives your pet’s coat a nice citrus scent. It also contains lanolin and animal hair conditioners, and is a very useful non-alkaline solution to eliminate fleas and ticks from your furry friend.
Pros
Pros
- This shampoo has a unique citrus smell frequent in flea and tick sprays.
- No alkaloids in solution.
- Kills flea and ticks quick, and even their eggs.
- Can’t be used on puppies or kittens less than 12 weeks.
- Adams is a reputable brand.
Cons
Cons
- Very hazardous to humans, children, and possibly other animals.
- Not meant for puppies less than 12 weeks of age.
- Can cause eye irritation in your pet.
- Not natural ingredients.
⑥ Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Oatmeal Dog Shampoo (18-oz. bottle)
Hartz has been the leading flea and tick killer when it comes to budget pet shampoos.
You can literally buy this product almost anywhere that has pet products, including Wal-Mart and other retail stores. It uses Phenothrin as the primary flea and tick killer, but it can be very effective. Not only that, but it has blended oatmeal in it in order to help your pet’s itching. The insecticide in it can be harmful if ingested by humans, so be sure to wash your hands thoroughly as with some of the others in the list. You should use it on dogs that are no younger than 6 months, and while it kills fleas on contact, you need to leave it on for about 5 minutes. If your pet’s infestation is extreme, you may want to opt for an alternate product though, or just wash, rinse, brush, then repeat this process again for a couple days. After the fleas and ticks are gone, you can use it once a week.
Pros
Pros
- Hartz is an industry leading brand.
- Product works just as good as most other brands.
- Oatmeal in it soothes your pet’s itching skin and coat.
- Safe for older puppies and older dogs.
Cons
Cons
- Doesn’t always work the first time around to eliminate all fleas.
- May be harmful to other animals and aquatic life.
- Helps break the flea cycle.
- Not a complete solution.
- Contains insecticides.
And the Winner Is…
While many brands like Hartz works for some, it doesn’t work for literally everyone, as most of the time it’s user preference. The best that we’ve found however is the completely natural solution that is blended together to make Richard’s Organic Flea & Tick Shampoo (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE). Why? Because of the value, you get with such a great price. The fact that it’s completely safe for humans is pretty helpful to complement the enhanced formula of this product as well. Not only that, but you get a 12 fl. Oz. bottle for about 9 dollars, so it’s very worth the price as well.
While the others in this list do contain actual insecticides, it’s important to note that while they may be “harmful to humans”, some people just don’t like that they’re not all natural, but they’ve been proven to have the most positive results compared to other high-dollar versions of dog shampoos out there. That being said, makes them very efficient in removing fleas, and they can all help to kill flea eggs and break the life cycles of flea infestations that can terrorize your home.
Conclusion & What is the Best Flea Shampoo for Dogs
When it comes to the best products out there, this list has definitely proven that sometimes organics work just as well. While some people may have had issues with disrupting the flea life cycles, you have to realize that a lot of times, this is just because people think they can wash their dog and the fleas will go away themselves. This may be true for a regular small batch of fleas, but when it comes to more serious infestations, you may not even realize that they’re hiding in your furniture, your carpet, and even around the edges of your home. In these cases, it’s very important that you take into account other solutions to get rid of fleas for your home. One thing you can do in some extreme cases of fleas and ticks, is to use some of that hard earned money, and treat your entire home, with a spray, or evacuate for about 24 hours (pets too), close all upper cabinets (dish cabinets, etc.) and open all lower ones, then treat your home with a flea bomb or heavy-duty spray.
