The Best Flea Shampoo For Dogs in 2022

Fleas and ticks are undoubtedly some of the most annoying pet problems – and not only for you and your furniture, mind you, but for your furry friend as well. These stubborn bloodsucking critters lead to itchy skin, rashes and even skin sores if not dealt with on time. Worse yet, they can also cause serious diseases if left untreated, especially ticks which can cause Lyme disease. Fleas are no better as they can carry plague (yes, you read that right!). Luckily, there are many flea and tick treatments available, but one of the most effective ones are flea shampoos. A good flea and tick shampoo will not only kill all fleas and ticks but prevent future infestations as well – as long as they’re used regularly, of course. The only issue is, there are countless flea shampoos on the market at the moment, which can make the process of picking the right product for your pet a bit difficult. Are natural flea shampoos safer than chemical treatments? And if so, are they as effective as medicated/chemical shampoos?

To help you answer these and many more questions and pick the best flea shampoo for your dog, we’ve prepared this comprehensive buying guide. Here, we talk about the things you should look for in flea shampoos as well as things you should avoid, major benefits of using flea shampoos and common ingredients used in these formulations. We also answer some of the frequently asked questions about flea infestations and the effectiveness of flea shampoos, so make sure you check out that section as well. Being well-informed on this subject will not only help you purchase the right product for your dog and your wallet, but also prevent future flea and tick infestations.

To purchase the best flea shampoo for dogs, you need to know which ingredients to look for in a bottle, as well as which ones to avoid. The only problem is, there are no strict rules to follow here, as what ingredients will be good for your dog depends on your pet’s flea problem. For example, if your pet suffers from a serious flea and tick infestation, he is going to need a different product from a dog with a mild flea problem. Likewise, if your pet has a very sensitive skin, she will need a different shampoo from a dog with no skin issues. See where we’re going with this? There is no one and only best flea shampoo as what makes a treatment good or bad almost entirely depends on your pet’s condition.

To know which ingredients you should be looking for, let’s divide the “flea problem” in three categories.

• Flea and tick prevention

If you’ve noticed that your dog scratches more than usual but you cannot see any fleas or ticks, or if you know that she has recently had a serious flea problem that you’d like to avoid from repeating, a preventative bath could do the trick. In this case, you want natural/organic and mild flea shampoos as they’re strong enough to kill and repel fleas and ticks but at the same time they’re gentle on the skin. This means they can be used more often (every week, usually) as a preventative measure. Natural or organic flea shampoos are also recommended if your dog has sensitive skin. Most of these products use one or a combination of the following essential oils to fight parasites:

• Rosemary oil
• D-limonene
• Lavender oil
• Cedar oil
• Eucalyptus oil
• Clove oil

Mild flea and tick infestation

For mild flea and tick infestations, effective natural shampoos or gentle chemical shampoos are  both good. Depending on your pet’s skin, as well as the severity of the infestation, you may want to use natural/organic or chemical but soothing shampoos. Generally speaking, if the flea problem is not too serious, it’s best to stick to more natural formulations ad they’re less likely to irritate your pet’s skin. Plus, they’re safe to use frequently and most can be combined with a topical spot flea treatment or a dog flea collar as well.

• Severe flea and tick infestation

If you’re able to see hundreds of fleas and many ticks with your naked eye, your dog has a serious infestation. As you may have guessed, this type of a flea problem is the hardest to get rid of, however, it’s definitely not impossible. In this case, you want to focus on powerful anti-parasite active ingredients or chemical flea shampoos. The most commonly used insecticides in such formulations are Pyrethrins or Pyrethroids.

• Pyrethrins: these are naturally derived compounds from chrysanthemum flowers. They have been used for over a hundred years as they’re quite potent at killing insects by interfering with their nervous system. Although excellent at destroying pet parasites, they can be a bit irritating on dog skin.
• Pyrethroids: these are synthetic pyrethrin compounds that work in a similar way as Pyrethrins, albeit a bit slower. However, they are thought to have a longer effect on repelling fleas and ticks. Like their naturally extracted counterparts, they too can be irritating on the skin.

There are many insecticides that help kill fleas and ticks, as well as their eggs and larvae, so finding the right product for your dog may require a bit of experimentation. Luckily, most flea shampoos for pets are inexpensive so buying two or three different products shouldn't be that much of a problem. Whatever shampoo you choose, do make sure the formula is nicely balanced, meaning besides active ingredients, it contains at least one or two soothing ingredients as well. Oatmeal, aloe vera, glycerin and plant oils are some of the great options.

Bottom line? Natural and organic flea shampoos are safer and less harsh, but they’re usually less effective than the alternatives; use them as a preventative measure or in cases of mild flea problems. Chemical flea shampoos are super-powerful but they can be very irritating, even risky depending on your pet; use them in cases of serious flea and tick infestations.

A good flea shampoo is one of the safest and most efficient ways to treat your pet’s flea and tick problem. The best flea shampoo will not only kill the active fleas and ticks but disrupt the flea life cycle, ensuring long-term cleanliness. But besides this, flea shampoos have many other benefits, including:

• If used regularly, they help prevent future flea and tick problems
• They’re typically less harsh on the skin than most topical spot or oral treatments
• They help cleanse your dog’s skin and coat, making it healthier and shinier
• Some flea shampoos (natural types) also condition and moisturize your pet’s skin, which can help soothe dry and irritated skin
• Many flea shampoos also deodorize canine coat, helping improve your dog’s natural odor
• Most flea shampoos can be used on dogs of all breeds and sizes, making them budget-friendly and ideal for multiple-pet families (especially since certain shampoos can be used on both dogs and cats).

While flea shampoos have a number of benefits, it’s important to realize they’re far from being the only solution to the flea problem. In fact, sometimes, a flea shampoo may not be enough to treat a serious flea infestation. In such situations, a good-quality flea shampoo has to be combined with a topical spot on treatment or a flea collar. And if you want to get rid of fleas and other nasty parasites for good? You may need to also treat your entire home, yard and dog house if you own one. Why is this necessary, you ask? Female fleas lay eggs on dog’s skin, but since these eggs are not sticky like other parasites’ eggs, they tumble off of your pet’s coat, often rolling straight in your house and everywhere else your pet spends a lot of time. For this reason, it’s crucial to treat your house along with your dog.

Check out our guides on Flea Carpet Powders & Sprays and Dog Flea Combs.

As mentioned, most chemical flea shampoos use insecticides called Pyrethrins or Pyrethroids. The former ingredient is a naturally derived compound from chrysanthemum flowers while the latter one is a lab-made. Both work in a similar way – by disrupting the insect’s nervous system – but their effects are a bit different: Pyrethrins act faster but Pyrethroids have a longer-lasting effect.  Choose the ingredients based on your pet’s flea problem.

Besides these active ingredients or pesticides, chemical and natural flea shampoos also contain other ingredients, including surfactants, as well as conditioning and moisturizing ingredients and other useful chemicals. These are usually combined with a few soothing ingredients, such as oatmeal, aloe, glycerin and others.

What about the ingredients you should avoid? Generally speaking, it’s always best to stick to more natural formulations as they’re safer and gentler on the skin. However, if dealing with a particularly nasty flea infestation, pesticides may be necessary. Regardless of the type of the flea shampoo, avoid the following ingredients:

• Alcohols
• Artificial dyes
• Formaldehyde preservatives
• Parabens (safest of the bunch but you may want to avoid them if your dog has super-sensitive skin or endocrine problems).

While all the products featured on our Top 10 list are great shampoos, we believe the Wahl Flea and Tick Shampoo takes the crown. There are multiple reasons for this but the most important ones are:

• It’s a natural and gentle, yet effective: you won’t find any harsh chemical ingredients here, meaning it’s a perfectly safe, gentle shampoo that still manages to deliver a strong anti-flea punch. This is thanks to three essential oils it contains: rosemary, mint and cedar.
• It cleanses and conditions: thanks to surfactants and glycerin, the shampoo also thoroughly cleanses your dog’s skin and coat while conditioning it as well. Plus, unlike most flea shampoos for dogs, this one actually smells great.
• It can be used on dogs of all sizes and years: because this is a gentle product, it’s safe to use it on both senior and adult dogs, as well as puppies over 12 weeks of age.

All in all, it's a fantastic natural flea dog shampoo that's definitely worth checking out.