Fleas and ticks are tiny parasites that can create serious health problems for dogs. Fleas may transmit tapeworms and cause itchy skin, while ticks can spread diseases such as Lyme disease. The best flea shampoo for dogs is one tool you can use to combat these pesky parasites. These shampoos contain active ingredients like chemical insecticides and natural essential oils that kill and repel fleas and ticks. Some formulas also treat lice.
To better understand how flea control shampoos work and what to look for in a formula, I consulted with two veterinarians. I then evaluated dozens of products based on their ingredients and duration of effectiveness. My top pick is Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor, which kills fleas, ticks, and lice on contact while providing protection for up to 28 days.
Shampoos can be an effective first line of defense against fleas and ticks, especially when a dog has a heavy flea infestation. However, they don’t last as long as topical or oral treatments, so year-round protection from one of the best flea and tick treatments for dogs is essential, says Dr. Breanna Green, a veterinarian at Veterans Memorial Drive Animal Hospital. It’s also important to note that many treatments are unsafe for puppies younger than 12 weeks. To treat younger dogs, we recommend checking out the options in our guide to the best flea and tick protection for puppies.
Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.
Our top picks for the best flea shampoo for dogs
Best overall: Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor – See at Chewy
Best fast-acting: Zodiac Oatmeal Conditioning Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies – See at Chewy
Best long-lasting: Sergeant’s Guardian Pro Shampoo for Dogs – See at Chewy
Best with essential oils: Richard’s Organics Flea and Tick Shampoo – See at Chewy
Best unscented: Advantage Treatment Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies – See at Chewy
Best overall
Flea and tick bites can be extremely itchy, causing dogs to scratch so much that their skin becomes red, raw, and irritated. “Flea and tick shampoo can help provide immediate relief for an uncomfortable pet,” Green says.
Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor is the best flea shampoo for dogs overall. It kills fleas at all life stages, ticks, and lice on contact and provides protection for up to 28 days. The shampoo has a light coconut scent and contains skin-soothing ingredients like oatmeal. Green recommends oatmeal-based shampoos to reduce the itching and skin inflammation caused by these bites.
Adams Plus contains two insecticides: pyrethrins and S-methoprene. (manufactured under the brand name Precor). Pyrethrins kill adult fleas by disrupting their nervous system, while S-methoprene is an insect growth regulator that prevents flea eggs from developing into adults. The formula also contains piperonyl butoxide, which boosts the effectiveness of the insecticides.
The shampoo should be left on the skin for five minutes before rinsing it out. While it remains effective for up to 28 days, the manufacturer recommends bathing every seven to ten days if a dog has a heavy flea infestation.
Best fast-acting
If your dog has an active flea infestation, you’ll want a shampoo that works quickly. “Fast-acting flea and tick shampoos may help kill existing fleas and ticks and resolve infestations quickly,” says Dr. Tierra Price, a veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group.
Zodiac Oatmeal Conditioning Flea and Tick Shampoo kills fleas, ticks, and lice on contact and works for up to 28 days. The shampoo’s active ingredients are pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide, and (S)-methoprene as its active ingredients. It also contains skin-soothing ingredients such as lanolin and coconut extract.
The shampoo should be left on the skin for three to five minutes before rinsing out. If your dog has an especially heavy flea infestation, you can repeat bathing every seven to ten days.
Best long-lasting
While many flea shampoos for dogs provide protection for up to 10 days, Sergeant’s Guardian Pro Shampoo stands out by killing adult fleas, flea eggs, and ticks for up to 30 days. However, it doesn’t kill flea larvae, so it may not be as effective at breaking the flea life cycle as other flea and tick shampoos.
“Long-lasting flea and tick shampoos can repel fleas and ticks, but their effectiveness can be impacted by factors like swimming, bathing, and sunlight exposure,” Price says.
The shampoo has a refreshing freesia scent and contains permethrin (a synthetic version of pyrethrins), pyriproxyfen (an insect growth regulator that prevents flea eggs and larvae from reaching adulthood), and piperonyl butoxide. The shampoo should be left on the skin for five minutes before rinsing.
Best with essential oil
Richard’s Organics Flea and Tick Shampoo is free of insecticides and uses a blend of essential oils to kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes for up to seven days. It contains peppermint oil, a natural insecticide, and rosemary oil, which can reportedly repel parasites.
The shampoo also contains sodium lauryl sulfate to help the essential oils mix with water during a bath. It should remain on the skin for several minutes before being rinsed out.
The essential oils in flea and tick shampoos for dogs are highly diluted. However, Green cautions that they may irritate a pet’s skin, so make sure to observe your dog for signs of irritation. Additionally, weekly bathing with even the best dog shampoos can dry out a dog’s skin, so this shampoo is only a short-term solution.
Best unscented
“Pets can be allergic to flea bites, which can cause severe skin irritation and infection,” Green says. She also notes that for dogs with sensitive skin, any added fragrances in flea and tick shampoos may exacerbate skin irritation.
Advantage Treatment Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies is unscented and kills adult fleas and ticks on contact for up to seven days. Its main active ingredient is pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide and N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide enhance the effectiveness of the pyrethrins. The shampoo should remain on the skin for five minutes before rinsing.
Keep in mind that an over-the-counter shampoo may not be enough if a dog’s skin is severely irritated and infected. “In these cases, I will prescribe a medicated antimicrobial shampoo,” Green says. You can find excellent options in our guide to the best medicated dog shampoos.
What to look for in a flea and tick shampoo for dogs
Our experts helped us determine our criteria for selecting the best flea shampoo for dogs. You can use the following advice to choose the right shampoo for your dog.
Number of parasites treated: Some flea and tick shampoos for dogs target just those two parasites, other flea and tick shampoos also kill lice and mosquitoes. Lice and mosquitoes can also make the skin feel extremely itchy. Mosquitoes can transmit diseases like heartworm, so flea and tick shampoos that treat lice and mosquitoes provide extra parasite control.
Parasites treated: Some flea and tick shampoos for dogs target only fleas and ticks, while others also kill lice and mosquitoes. Flea and tick shampoos that also treat lice and mosquitoes offer additional protection against parasites. Lice and mosquitoes can cause significant itchiness, and mosquitoes can transmit diseases like heartworm.
Flea life stage: The best flea shampoo for dogs will eliminate all life stages of fleas, from eggs to adults. This helps treat an active infestation of adult fleas and break the flea life cycle.
Active ingredients: Flea and tick shampoos use chemical insecticides or natural essential oils to kill fleas and ticks. Common insecticides in these shampoos include pyrethrins, permethrin, and (S)-methoprene. Pyrethrins and permethrin target adult fleas, disrupting their nervous system, while (S)-methoprene is an insect growth regulator that prevents flea eggs from maturing into adults. Some shampoos also contain piperonyl butoxide, which enhances the effectiveness of the insecticides.
Essential oils, such as cinnamon oil and peppermint oil, are the natural ingredients most commonly found in flea and tick shampoos. They don’t work nearly as well as chemical insecticides but may appeal to pet owners who want to avoid chemicals in their pet care routine.
Minimum age: Many flea and tick shampoos are only safe for dogs over 12 weeks old. If your puppy is younger than 12 weeks, consider other treatments, like Capstar, an oral flea treatment that targets adult fleas and is safe for puppies as young as 4 weeks old. Your veterinarian can guide you in choosing the safest and most effective flea and tick treatment for your young puppy.
Instructions for use: Luckily, these shampoos are simple to use. Apply the shampoo to a rich lather, starting from the head and moving toward the tail. This helps prevent fleas from jumping up your dog’s back during a bath. Additionally, the shampoo should be left on the skin for several minutes before rinsing to give the active ingredients time to work.
Duration of effectiveness: The best flea shampoos for dogs differ in how long they remain effective. Many flea and tick shampoos are effective for 7 to 10 days, while others work for up to 28 or 30 days. Even with long-lasting shampoos, the manufacturer may recommend more frequent bathing to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Scent: Flea and tick shampoos may include artificial fragrances or essential oils to create a pleasant smell. However, these ingredients can irritate sensitive skin. Additionally, shampoos with strong scents may be unpleasant for both dogs and their owners.
Skin-soothing ingredients: Flea and tick bites can be extremely irritating to the skin, and constant scratching and licking of bite areas can make the irritation worse. When choosing a flea and tick shampoo for your dog, look for soothing ingredients like aloe vera and oatmeal to help calm irritated skin.
Other pets in your home: Pyrethrins and permethrin are highly toxic to cats. Exposure to these insecticides can cause symptoms such as tremors, twitching, and vomiting. If you have a cat, choose a flea and tick shampoo for your dog that does not contain pyrethrins or permethrin.
How we selected the best flea shampoo for dogs
I spoke with two veterinarians about flea and tick shampoos. Their insights helped us select our top choices, but they did not endorse or recommend specific products.
Dr. Breanna Green is an associate veterinarian at Veterans Memorial Animal Hospital in Houston, Texas. She shared insights on flea and tick shampoos that contain essential oils and those that are ideal for sensitive skin and itch relief.
Dr. Tierra Price is an emergency veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group in Atlanta, Georgia. She provided her expert insight on budget flea and tick shampoos and shampoos marketed as long-lasting and fast-acting.
I also consulted the Merck Veterinary Manual for general information about insecticides and reviewed guidelines on flea and tick control from the Companion Animal Parasite Council.
Dog flea and tick shampoo FAQs
What is the most effective flea and tick shampoo for dogs?
There is no single most effective shampoo. The best flea and tick shampoos for dogs typically contain insecticides like pyrethrin, which tend to work better than those with essential oils as their active ingredients. However, our experts agree that these shampoos are less effective than other flea and tick treatments, and pet guardians should not use them as the only form of flea and tick control.
Does flea and tick shampoo really work?
The best flea shampoo for dogs can be a good first line of defense against fleas and ticks, especially for active flea infestations. However, they don’t work nearly as well or last as long as oral and topical flea and tick treatments. A common issue with these shampoos is that fleas can quickly reinfest a dog after a bath. “The effects of flea and tick shampoos are short-lasting. If we do not also treat the environment and get a dog on adequate flea prevention, the adult fleas will jump back on the dog in a matter of days,” Green says.
Is there a dog shampoo that kills fleas?
Many dog shampoos kill fleas using insecticides like pyrethrins or highly diluted essential oils. With so many options available, it is best to talk with your veterinarian to determine which shampoo may be most effective for your dog. If your dog has a heavy flea infestation, you may also need to bathe them more than once.
What is the best thing to wash a dog to kill fleas?
The best option is a shampoo formulated to kill fleas. You can opt for a flea shampoo that contains insecticides or essential oils as active ingredients. Be sure to follow the product instructions carefully to ensure safe and effective use.
