Are you looking for the best flea and tick shampoo for your dog? There are many products out there, but how do you know which is the right one for your needs? This article will give you a buyer’s guide to help pick the right shampoo. We will also look at ten different flea and tick shampoos, specifically with detailed reviews for each one.
What to Look For The Best Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs
When buying products, you will look at two main factors: usefulness and price. You can divide the shampoo into three main types: preventative, repellent, and treatment (for those already infested). Let’s go through each type one by one.
Preventative Shampoo
Preventative shampoos are designed to kill fleas before they get on the dog. They do this through chemicals like fipronil or permethrin that typically stay on the coat for around 12 hours (or longer if you use monthly treatments). If you find that your dog is often getting fleas, a preventative shampoo might be the best option for you.
Repellent Shampoo
Repellent shampoos work to keep fleas and ticks away from the dog. These typically use ingredients like citronella or eucalyptus oil which mask the dog’s scent. This can be helpful if your dog likes to roam around outside or if you live in an area with a lot of ticks.
Treatment Shampoo
If your dog has already been infested with fleas or ticks, you will need a treatment shampoo. These work to kill the parasites on the dog’s coat and typically contain ingredients like pyrethrins or permethrins. If you find that your dog already has some kind of infestation, the best shampoo for you is a treatment shampoo.
Another thing you might want to consider is the pH balance of the shampoo. Most shampoos are designed to be alkaline, but dogs have naturally acidic skin. Using an alkaline shampoo can make your dog’s skin dry and itchy. If you are having problems with your dog’s skin, you might want to try a shampoo that has a more acidic pH balance.
Finally, you will want to consider the price of the shampoo. Shampoos range from $5 to $50, so you will want to find one that fits your budget.
The 10 Best Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs
Now that we know what to look for in a shampoo let’s check out the reviews.
Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo
Let us start with this flea and tick shampoo by Adams. This is actually a two-in-one product that can be used as both a preventative and treatment shampoo (which is excellent if you are looking for something that can do both). This shampoo kills adult fleas and ticks while also repelling new ones.
The product is made of permethrin and fipronil, which help to repel and kill ticks and fleas that try to get on your dog’s coat. It does this all without damaging your dog’s skin (since it has a pH balance of 5.5). You can use this on dogs and cats, and it even has a light scent.
Pros:
- Kills adult fleas and ticks
- Repels new ones
- pH balanced for dogs’ skin
- Can be used on cats
Cons:
- It- A bit pricier than some other shampoos
- KILLS ADULT FLEAS & FLEA EGGS - Provides flea treatment, killing adult fleas and flea eggs on your dog or cat to prevent reinfestation
- KILLS TICKS - Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo With Precor kills ticks on contact
Sergeant’s Skip-Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs, Clean Cotton, 18 oz
This next shampoo comes from Sergeant’s, a company known for its high-quality pet care products. This shampoo is designed to kill fleas, ticks, and lice on contact. It also contains aloe vera, which helps to soothe and protect your dog’s skin.
The shampoo uses pyrethrins as its active ingredient, which comes from chrysanthemums. It has a pH balance of 7.4, which helps to protect your dog’s skin (and is the standard for most shampoos). This shampoo should be used once every two weeks or as needed.
Pros:
- Kills fleas and ticks on contact
- Soothes dry, itchy skin with aloe vera
- pH balanced
Cons:
- Needs to be used every two weeks
- Country Of Origin : United States
- The Package Height Of The Product Is 3.46 Inches
Hartz UltraGuard Triple Active Shampoo
This next shampoo is also from Hartz, a company that is well-known for its pet care products. This shampoo is designed to kill fleas, ticks, and lice. It washes away cleanly and contains aloe vera to help soothe and protect your dog’s skin.
This shampoo uses permethrin as its active ingredient, which comes from chrysanthemums. The dermatologists at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine recommend this shampoo to their clients who have dogs with sensitive skin. It has a pH balance of 6.5, which is closer to the natural pH of your dog’s skin.
Pros:
- It kills fleas and ticks on contact
- It contains aloe vera to soothe and protect skin
- Dermatologists recommend it for dogs with sensitive skin
- pH balanced
Cons:
- It needs to be used every two weeks
- Triple active shampoo kills fleas, flea eggs and brown dog ticks plus prevents re-infestation for up to 4 weeks
- Includes one, 18 fluid ounce bottle
Pet MD Oatmeal Shampoo Moisturizer
This shampoo comes from the company Pet MD. It is designed for dogs with sensitive skin and can help to relieve dryness, itching, redness, and inflammation. It is made of natural ingredients, including oatmeal which provides anti-inflammatory benefits, aloe vera, which helps to moisturize the skin, Vitamin E, which protects your dog’s skin; and pomegranate seed oil which has anti-inflammatory properties.
The shampoo uses oatmeal as its active ingredient (which is what provides the anti-inflammatory benefits for your dog). It also contains natural ingredients like lavender oil, chamomile extract, and rosemary oil which work together to help relieve dryness, itching, redness, and inflammation. It has a pH balance of 6.5, which is closer to the natural pH of your dog’s skin.
Pros:
- Made of natural ingredients
- Specially designed for dogs with sensitive skin
- Contains oatmeal to relieve dryness and itching
- pH balanced
Cons:
- Some users have reported that this shampoo doesn’t work as well for ticks (compared to other Dog Shampoos)
- Safe and Effective Anti Itching Treatment for Pets Relieves Skin Irritation, Promotes Healing and Remoisturizing Sensitive and Dry Itchy Skin.
- Soap and Alcohol Free Formula so it's Safe to Use with Topical Flea and Tick Medications. Leave Your Pet Clean, Smooth and Shiny. Can be Used as Often as Necessary and Will Not Strip Your Pet's Coat.
Earthbath Natural Shampoo Oatmeal Aloe
This next shampoo comes from the company, Earthbath. It is designed to be safe for dogs with sensitive skin. It also offers all of the natural benefits that oatmeal provides, like anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and soothing effects.
This shampoo uses oatmeal as its active ingredient (which is what provides the anti-inflammatory benefits for your dog). It’s non-drying and has a pH balance of 7.0.
Pros:
- Made of natural ingredients
- Specially designed for dogs with sensitive skin
- Contains oatmeal to relieve dryness and itching
- pH balanced
Cons:
- It has a shorter lather time than some of the other shampoos on this list.
- It is also a little more expensive than some of the other shampoos on this list.
- BRILLIANTLY CLEAN & SOFT - This luxurious shampoo is soap free & pH-balanced to clean & deodorize safely & thoroughly, leaving your pet's coat & skin plush & smelling better than ever before
- NATURAL & ORGANIC INGREDIENTS - Blended with only the finest ingredients, like renewable plant-derived cleansers & conditioners, colloidal oatmeal, organic shea butter, & organic aloe vera
Seresto Flea Collar 8 Month Prevention
This product is designed to be placed on your dog’s skin (and fur) near the neck and shoulders to protect them from fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, sand flies, stable flies, lice, and mites. It works by repelling these parasites once they come in contact with it.
Pros:
- Protects your dog for six weeks
- It contains deltamethrin as its active ingredient
- designed to be placed on your dog’s skin near the neck and shoulders
- Repels parasites
Cons:
- Some users have complained that this product doesn’t work as well against ticks
- It can be a little messy.
- Vet-recommended, premium flea & tick protection for dogs & puppies without the price tag
- Long-lasting flea and tick collar kills & repels fleas for 8 continuous months
Hartz UltraGuard Reflective Collar Puppies
This next shampoo comes from the company Hartz. It’s designed to kill fleas, ticks, and lice on contact. And like the Adams Plus shampoo, it also contains a pre-treatment that helps to prevent future infestations.
This shampoo uses pyrethrins as its active ingredient, which comes from the Chrysanthemum flower. It also contains piperonyl butoxide and permethrin, which are meant to kill adult fleas, eggs, and lice on contact. The vet techs at a veterinary clinic tested this shampoo to see how effective it is for killing fleas and ticks. They found that it killed 100% of the adult fleas, eggs, and lice after a 25-minute exposure.
It has a pH balance of 7.0, which is closer to the natural pH of your dog’s skin.
Pros:
- It kills fleas, eggs, and lice on contact.
- It contains pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide, and permethrin as its active ingredients.
- Vet techs tested this shampoo to see how effective it is at killing fleas and ticks. They found that it killed 100% of the adult fleas, eggs, and lice after a 25-minute exposure.
- pH balanced
Cons:
- The only con reported by vets was that this shampoo didn’t work as well against ticks.
- Fresh scented
- Kills and repels fleas and ticks for 7 months. Can be worn simultaneously with your dog's regular collar
Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Waterless Bath Foam for Dog
The following product is a waterless dog shampoo that you can use to kill fleas and ticks on contact. It comes from the company, Vet’s best.
It has an active ingredient of Pyrethrins which are also known as pyrethrum or chrysanthemum extract. They come from the Chrysanthemum flower and are known to kill adult fleas, eggs, and lice on contact.
It’s also pH balanced, which helps to maintain the natural pH of your dog’s skin.
Pros:
- It kills fleas, eggs, and lice on contact
- Pyrethrins are active ingredients
- pH balanced
Cons:
- It can be a little messy
- DRY FLEA SHAMPOO FOR DOGS: Our dry shampoo kills fleas, flea eggs, ticks on contact and even repels mosquitoes; keep your furry friend safe and protected from pesky parasites with our effective and natural formula
- CERTIFIED NATURAL: Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to natural flea and tick prevention for dogs; our dry shampoo is made with natural ingredients like peppermint oil and eugenol, ensuring a gentle yet effective flea and tick fighting solution
Shengkou Flea Collar for Dogs, Tick Collar
This product has an active ingredient of Imidacloprid which is a highly effective insecticide that kills both adult fleas and ticks on contact.
It also contains Allethrin as well as Tetramethrin which are other insecticides that help to eliminate existing infestations of fleas and ticks. This product claims to kill 100% of all existing fleas within 24 hours and 100% of all current ticks within 48 hours.
This 3-month topical is designed to be worn around your dog’s neck and works by continuously transferring its active ingredients into their natural oils along their skin to keep them protected for three months after initial application.
Pros:
- It kills adult fleas and ticks on contact
- Contains Imidacloprid as well as Allethrin and Tetramethrin
- Claims to kill 100% of all existing fleas within 24 hours and 100% of all existing ticks within 48 hours
- 3-month topical
Cons:
- It was a little expensive.
- EFFECTIVENESS: The collar not only eliminates existing fleas, but also repels new ones to prevent re-infestation. Each collar offers protection for six months, so two collars will provide a full year of coverage, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
- SAFETY: Made from natural ingredients and safe materials, the collar is endorsed by some veterinarians. Although rare, allergic reactions can occur, so it's not recommended for pets that are already sick to ensure their comfort.
DeFlea Ready to Use Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies
The following product is a ready-to-use flea and tick shampoo from the company DeFlea. It’s designed to kill both adult fleas and ticks on contact.
It has an active ingredient of Pyrethrins which come from the Chrysanthemum flower. They are known to kill adult fleas, eggs, and lice on contact.
It’s also pH balanced, which helps to maintain the natural pH of your dog’s skin.
Pros:
- It kills adult fleas and ticks on contact
- Pyrethrins are active ingredients
- pH balanced
Cons:
- It can be a little messy.
- Not a very popular product on the market.
- It Does not work with large dogs.
- De Flea Pet Shampoo kills fleas on contact without the use of pyrethrin based pesticides
- Will not wash out spot-on flea and tick control products
Conclusion
The best and most effective way to prevent and combat fleas and ticks is always topical. It’s the only product that uses an active ingredient mixed in with your dog’s natural oils along their skin, where it can stay and circulate for three months.
For best results, make sure you continue using the product throughout the entire tick season, which goes from April to September.
Using a waterless shampoo can be an effective way of killing existing pests on contact. An example of a waterless shampoo is vet best flea and tick waterless bath foam for the dog. Ensure you don’t get any of the products in your dog’s eyes, ears, or mouth while bathing them. And always follow up a bath with a good flea.
