Fleas are a common problem that every dog owner dreads. While they are unpleasant for us to get rid of, just imagine how your dog feels—all that itching. They can also cause infections and other skin complications.
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Our Top Pick
One of the most effective ways to deal with fleas is by using dog flea shampoo. In this article, we look at some of the best dog flea shampoos on the market. We especially recommend Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo With Precor as it is perfect for virtually all dogs and can keep your furry friend protected for up to one month!
The Best Dog Flea Shampoos Reviewed
Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor – Best Overall
Topping our list of best dog shampoo for fleas is Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor. This shampoo ticks all the boxes that define the best dog flea shampoo. It can kill all types of pests and contains soothing aloes to keep your pet comfortable.
Key Features
- 12-ounce bottle
- Active ingredients: Pyrethrins, Piperonyl Butoxide, and Methoprene
- Also suitable for cats
- 28 days of protection
This shampoo can exterminate fleas, lice, and ticks on contact. It also ensures your pet is protected from flea eggs and flea larvae for about 28 days. What’s more, it is easy on the coat and skin.
It is effective in removing loose dandruff, scales, and dirt to improve the condition of your dog’s coat, leaving it soft and shiny. This dog flea shampoo also contains lanolin, coconut extract, oatmeal, and soothing aloe.
That means it won’t irritate your dog’s skin. You can use this concentrated lathering shampoo on pets at least 12 weeks old. Don’t ignore this age recommendation as it contains strong chemicals that may be unhealthy for younger pups.
Pros
- Cost-effective and available in bulk
- Precor Insect Growth regulator offers one month of larvae and eggs control
- Can be used concentrated or diluted with two parts water depending on your needs
Cons
- Strong chemicals
- “No tear” formula—easy on the eyes
- Not recommended for puppies under 12 weeks
Overall, Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor is a powerful and reliable dog flea shampoo. It will kill any dirty little parasites and maintain the health of your pet’s skin and coat and is reasonably priced.
Overall Rating – 4.9/5.0
Vet-Kem Ovitrol Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo – Best for Fast Action
If you’re looking for fast relief for your pooch from dog fleas and ticks, consider trying Vet-Kem Ovitrol Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo. This shampoo can kill ticks and fleas on contact, thanks to the powerful active ingredients such as pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide.
Key Features
- Active ingredients: Methoprene, Pyrethrins, and Piperonyl Butoxide
- Rich, creamy formula cleans and conditions
- Baby fresh scent
- Kills ticks, fleas, and lice
- 28 days of protection
This medicated wash is formulated to cleanse and condition your pet’s skin and coat, leaving it shiny and healthy-looking. After killing active pests, it also works to further prevents flea eggs from hatching for 28 days, thanks to its Precor insect growth regulator.
Something else that sets this shampoo apart from its competitors is a pleasant baby fresh scent. However, keep in mind it’s not for babies—it contains certain chemical ingredients that may be harmful to puppies under 12 weeks.
Pros
- Two powerful active ingredients
- Ability to clean and condition
- Kills pests on contact
- Baby fresh scent
Cons
- Has chemical ingredients that may be unsuitable for pets under 12 weeks
Vet-Kem Ovitrol Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo is an excellent option for dog owners looking to eliminate ticks and fleas fast without hurting their wallets. Users love it not only for its effectiveness but also for its great smell.
Overall Rating – 4.8/5.0
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Anti-parasitic and Anti-seborrheic Medicated Shampoo
If you are looking for a fast-acting, versatile dog flea shampoo that won’t break the bank, you might also want to consider Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Anti-parasitic and Anti-seborrheic Medicated Shampoo.
Key Features
- Veterinary-grade ingredients
- Free of parabens, soap, and dyes
- Treats dermatitis, fleas, bacterial infections, etc.
- Soothes dry skin, inflammation, and rash
This dog flea shampoo contains coal tar, micronized sulfur, and salicylic acid. This combination of ingredients is effective in not only killing fleas but also treating skin conditions in dogs such as:
- Dermatitis
- Mange
- Seborrhea
- Bacterial and fungal skin infection
It is also enriched with allantoin and oatmeal, which help in soothing irritation, inflammation, and rashes. Once you shampoo your furry friend with this formula, they will feel instant relief from dry skin and itching. The major disadvantage of this formula is that it doesn’t have conditioning effects.
Pros
- No parabens, perfumes, or dyes
- Ability to treat various skin issues
- Cleans and nourishes your pet’s skin and coat
Cons
- You may need to buy a separate conditioner for your dog
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Anti-parasitic and Anti-seborrheic Medicated Shampoo is an excellent option if you want a shampoo that will kill fleas and help other skin issues. With its veterinary-grade ingredients, it will be safe for your pup, while leaving them feeling clean and revitalized.
Overall Rating – 4.7/5.0
Sentry Pet Care Flea & Tick Shampoo – Best Smelling Dog Flea Shampoo
Boasting a Hawaiian Ginger scent, Sentry Pet Care Flea & Tick Shampoo is one of the best-smelling dog flea shampoos on the market. It is a great alternative to the typical pungent-smelling flea soaps.
Key Features
- Active ingredients: Permethrin and Piperonyl Butoxide
- pH balanced
- 18 and 63.5-ounce bottles
- Hawaiian ginger scent
- Ten days of protection
This shampoo is formulated with powerful ingredients that can kill and repel adult fleas and ticks as well as their eggs. It can further protect your pup from pests for the next ten days. Moreover, it is pH balanced and enriched with oatmeal.
That makes it effective in soothing and nourishing your pet’s skin after suffering flea bites. Despite its great attributes, this Sentry flea shampoo is affordable and can meet the budget of any dog owner. On the downside, though, it only offers 10-days protection, which is quite short.
Pros
- Kills fleas, ticks, and eggs on contact
- Pleasant aroma
- Soothes dry and irritated skin
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Short-lived protection
Sentry Pet Care Flea & Tick Shampoo stands out among its competitors for its pleasant Hawaiian Ginger scent and ability to kill pests on contact. It is very affordable and can be an excellent option for puppies over 12 weeks.
Overall Rating – 4.7/5.0
Wahl Flea and Tick Repelling Pet Shampoo – Best Natural Dog Flea Shampoo
Wahl Flea & Tick Repelling Shampoo is one of the best dog shampoo for fleas formulated with natural ingredients. It can keep parasites at bay for up to 7 days.
Key Features
- Active ingredients: Mint, Rosemary, and Cedar Oil
- Rosemary and mint-scented
- pH balanced
- Repels up to 7 days
- Alcohol-free
- 24 and 64-ounce bottles
The fact that this shampoo is formulated only with natural ingredients and doesn’t contain any toxic components is a major plus point as it’s safe for even young puppies.
Wahl Flea & Tick shampoo also boasts a high concentrate of coconut extracted sodding agent. That means you only need a little shampoo to get a rich lather and you won’t have a hard time rinsing off.
What we don’t like about this shampoo, though, is that its effect lasts only seven days. It also doesn’t kill the pests. It just makes sticking around a lot less pleasant.
Pros
- Natural ingredients
- Protects against ticks and fleas
- No harsh chemicals
- Pleasant smell
Cons
- Doesn’t kill insects
- Only effective for seven days
Overall, Wahl Flea & Tick Repelling Shampoo is an excellent option for pet owners looking for a shampoo that doesn’t contain harsh chemicals. This shampoo utilizes only naturally derived ingredients to keep fleas and ticks at bay. While it is affordable, it may not be a great choice if you’re looking to kill the parasites.
Overall Rating – 4.5/5.0
Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Shampoo – Best Budget Dog Flea Shampoo
Closing our list of best dog shampoo for fleas is Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Shampoo. This is perhaps the cheapest yet most powerful shampoo you can find on the market.
Key Features
- Active ingredient: Phenothrin
- Eliminates flea and ticks
- Ideal for adult dogs and puppies over six months old
The active ingredient in this shampoo, phenothrin, is effective in killing a wide variety of parasites and bugs, including fleas, mites, and ticks. It is enriched with oatmeal, which helps in soothing the skin and accelerating recovery from bites.
You can use this shampoo on dogs over six months old without worrying about any negative effects. It has a mild smell and doesn’t affect the pet’s eyes, is easy on your hands, and doesn’t leave you with rashes after washing your dog. However, it contains some chemical ingredients that could be unhealthy for pups under six months.
Pros
- Contains oatmeal for soothing skin
- Kills fleas, mites, and ticks
- Ideal for dogs over six months of age
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Some chemical ingredients not recommended for dogs under six months old
Overall, Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Shampoo is one of the cheapest dog flea shampoos you can buy. Nonetheless, it is as effective as most of its higher-priced counterparts. It can be a cost-effective option if you bathe your dog quite often.
Overall Rating – 4.5/5.0
Buying Guide – How to Choose the Best Dog Flea Shampoo
There are several factors to consider when shopping for the best dog flea shampoo. Here are the major factors:
Effectiveness of the Shampoo
The main purpose of a dog flea shampoo is to exterminate the fleas, ticks, lice, and other bugs from your pet’s skin and provide relief from the irritation and itching.
You want to choose a shampoo that will not only kill the bugs but also destroy their entire lifecycle. This ensures there’ll be no further reproduction. Also, keep in mind that some fleas and parasites are resistant to certain products.
Do your research, so you don’t end up spending money on an ineffective product.
It would be a good idea to choose shampoos that keep fleas at bay for at least 28 days. Not only is this easier on you but bathing your dog more than once a month is hard on their skin and coat.
Soothing Ingredients
Flea infestations normally leave dogs with inflamed and irritated skin. You should go for shampoos that have skin-rejuvenating ingredients. These ingredients may include Aloe Vera, coconut extract, and oatmeal.
Conditioning Effect
If your dog has long or curly hair, you should consider purchasing a dog flea shampoo with built-in conditioner. This will save you money and time as you won’t have to buy a conditioner separately.
Package Size
It is important to check the size of the bottle and the price. You want a package that offers the best value for your money. For example, bottle X costs a few dollars more than bottle Y, but bottle X is double the size of bottle Y. That means bottle X offers more value for your money.
Scent
Different dog flea shampoos have different scents, ranging from fruity or floral, to medicinal. It may be difficult to tell whether a shampoo smells nice for you unless you give it a whiff, but you can rely on reviews from previous users to make a decision.
Final Thoughts
Using a flea shampoo on your dog is one of the most effective ways to get these pesky guests. This also helps to keep your dog clean and well-groomed and condition their coat.
There are many types of dog shampoos on the market to choose from. As a dog owner, it is important to understand the ingredients, active components, as well as nature and functions of various shampoos to choose the best one.
The six shampoos we’ve reviewed above are some of the best you can buy for your dog. We hope one of them stops your buddy’s itching.
Still undecided? Want to see more shampoo options? Here are our thoughts about dry dog shampoos and our best picks.
