8 Best Flea Shampoos for Dogs in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

If you have a dog, you know that fleas are a major concern. Once established in a household, you have to deal with not only the fleas on all the animals but also the eggs in the environment that keep hatching, leading to the impression of fleas that keep coming back. Alongside other treatments, a good shampoo can be helpful, but there are so many different brands that it can be difficult to find the best one for your pet.

We’ve chosen several of the toughest brands against fleas to review for you so you can see the difference between them. We’ll give you the pros and cons of each one. We’ve even included a short buyer’s guide where we discuss what you should look for if you continue to shop so you can make an informed purchase.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 8 Best Flea Shampoos for Dogs

1. Warren London Neem Oil Itch Relieving Dog Shampoo – Best Overall

Warren London Neem Oil Shampoo is a gentle formula with no soaps, detergents, parabens, or synthetic chemical pesticides. The manufacturers advocate its use 1–2 times a week as it doesn’t strip the coat’s natural oils. Neem oil is a natural ingredient that kills and repels fleas. It won’t disrupt other flea preventatives that you might be using on your dog.

The oat proteins in this formula will help soothe your dog’s itchy skin and they will be left with a pleasant citrus scent. As with many flea shampoos, this won’t work wonders for severe flea infestations on its own. We recommend it as part of an overall plan to help your dog.

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2. Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Oatmeal Dog Shampoo – Best Value

Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Oatmeal Dog Shampoo is our pick as the best flea shampoo for dogs for the money. It uses oatmeal to help soothe the skin from itchy flea bites. It kills fleas and ticks on contact with Phenothrin, a powerful chemical insecticide. Unfortunately, this powerful ingredient can occasionally cause skin irritation. You want to keep this product away from cats and use it carefully according to the instructions on the bottle, which includes not using it on pups under 6 months.

We like that it comes with an ergonomic flea comb which helps with the bath, and it will also help you detect fleas faster in the future. Some consumers note that it has a bad odor, and the other downside is that the full ingredients list for this formula isn’t available.

Related Read: Hartz Dog Shampoo Review 

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3. Arava Dead Sea Pet Spa Flea & Ticks Botanical Adult Dog Shampoo – Premium Choice

A flea infestation is a frustrating and irritating experience for both dogs and humans. Arava Dead Sea Pet Spa Flea & Ticks Botanical Adult Dog Shampoo will make flea treatment a little more bearable and feel like a luxurious spa treatment for your dog. This plant-based shampoo is made with 100% natural active ingredients and omits chemical pesticides.

It acts as an insect repellent but we don’t recommend it as your only line of defense against fleas and ticks. It contains 26 Dead Sea essential minerals that nourish the skin and coat and prevent dryness.

This shampoo is also designed to have aromatherapeutic benefits that will leave your dog smelling fresh and clean. This option is more pricey than others on this list but it’s still a good choice for those wanting a natural formula.

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4. NaturVet Herbal Flea Dog & Cat Shampoo – Best Flea Shampoo for Puppies

NaturVet Herbal Flea Dog & Cat Shampoo is the best product for puppies as it can be used on dogs as young as 6 weeks! It’s another herbal formula without harsh chemicals but, as always, we recommend pairing it with other flea control measures as it mainly functions as a repellent. However, since it is quite gentle you can use it weekly or semi-weekly as needed.

Many customers noted that they enjoyed the smell of this product which was strong but not overpowering. Overall, it’s a reasonably priced option for any owner who wants to avoid synthetic pesticides.

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5. Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Flea & Tick Medicated Shampoo

Veterinary Formula is a well-known pet health and wellness brand that makes many high-quality products at relatively affordable prices. The Veterinary Formula Care Flea & Tick Medicated Shampoo has a fast-acting formula that kills fleas on contact when used according to the product instructions. It uses Pyrethrum which is a natural insecticide derived from flowers however, it does contain synthetic ingredients that increase the efficacy of the pesticide.

This shampoo has a pH-balanced formula that’s free of parabens, dyes, and soap. The formula also contains soothing ingredients, like aloe vera and lanolin, to moisturize the coat.

Before purchasing this shampoo, it’s important to note that it’s not designed to prevent further infestations. It will kill fleas on contact, but you’ll have to be extra vigilant with treating your home to prevent fleas from returning to your dog. The manufacturer recommends waiting one week after using the shampoo before using other flea treatments.

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6. Adams Plus Flea & Tick Aloe & Cucumber Scent Foaming Dog Shampoo

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Aloe & Cucumber Scent Foaming Dog Shampoo is another chemical-based formula that provides you with a gentle shampoo for your pet’s skin that is safe for puppies twelve weeks and older. It has an aloe and cucumber scent that shouldn’t bother pets or their owners, and it comes in an easy-to-use drip-free container.

The Adams brand effectively removes fleas and shouldn’t bother your pet’s skin. Still, the downside is that many people may be afraid of the chemical ingredients, especially when natural shampoos are available. Pyrethrins are the chemical component of pyrethrum, which is a natural product, however, there are synthetic chemicals in this shampoo.

That being said, if you aren’t using other chemical flea-control products this shampoo is effective at killing fleas eggs for 28 days to prevent re-infestation. The small bottle size will also be unsuitable for some larger dog breeds.

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7. Bio-Groom Flea & Tick Dog Shampoo

The Bio-Groom Flea & Tick Dog Shampoo comes in a one-gallon bottle, and you can also get a 2-gallon pack, so it’s one of the largest amounts on this list, making it a perfect choice for large breeds and homes with several dogs. It’s pH-balanced, so it shouldn’t bother your pet’s skin, and it promotes a soft and shiny coat.

The primary downside to this shampoo is that it uses both synthetic and natural chemicals which can cause some pet owners to avoid it.

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8. Sentry Flea & Tick Oatmeal Hawaiian Ginger Shampoo for Dogs

Sentry Flea & Tick Tropical Breeze Shampoo for Dogs uses the synthetic chemical permethrin which, while very good at killing fleas fast, is extremely toxic to cats. Even if your cat licks your dog after a wash, they could be at risk.

The shampoo has a lasting effect so could be a good option for dogs that aren’t receiving any other form of flea control. It can’t be used on puppies under 12 weeks of age.

The ingredients list is ambiguous but is advertised to clean and deodorize the coat, leaving a ginger scent. It contains oatmeal to soothe irritated flea bites and is pH-balanced. It can be used weekly.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Dog Shampoo for Fleas

Flea Dog Shampoo Ingredients

Safety

Check with your veterinarian before combining different kinds of flea treatments like different shampoos, or using shampoos alongside medications, collars, or other pesticide treatments. There is the potential to over treat your pet with insecticides which can be harmful.

Read all the label instructions before using a product on your pet. Ensure not to use any dog-only products on pet cats and do not use any permethrin products if you have a pet cat.

Natural vs Chemical Ingredients

Natural ingredients tend to be safer for your dog, but may not be as effective at killing fleas. Sometimes they can act only as a repellant for fleas. Chemical insecticides can kill fleas but they can also be harmful to your pet when used incorrectly.

Our personal preference is to use a more effective flea medication that will last longer, along with an all-natural shampoo with ingredients that will nourish your dog’s skin and coat.

Additional Properties

Some shampoos will contain additional ingredients to soothe the itchy skin that can come with fleas. Colloidal oatmeal for example has been proven to help with irritated skin and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Similarly, Aloe Vera is great for irritated skin.

The inner gel of Aloe Vera isn’t toxic to dogs the way the latex (skin) is, so it’s fine to use in dog shampoo.

Duration of Action

Some ingredients will last days or weeks, others will have no residual effects after washing, meaning fleas can just jump right back on your dog. Choosing a product that lasts longer is essential if you’re not using any other flea treatments.

Then again, if your dog takes a tablet or spot-on for flea prevention a more natural, short-acting product can be better.

Dog Shampoo Bottle Size

Once you choose your cleaning ingredient, your next step will likely determine bottle size. We recommend getting more than you think you need, especially if you choose a natural brand or one that uses essential oils because you will usually need to use more and may need to give the pet more than one bath.

Dog Shampoo Fragrance

Almost all shampoos seem to include some fragrance to help the dog smell better when you are finished bathing. You should check to make sure the fragrance isn’t something you don’t like the smell of.

Essential Steps For Getting Rid of Fleas

If your home is infested with fleas, they will get back on your pet after the bath, so it’s important to remove them from the home too. The fleas can live outside. Keeping the yard neat and trimmed will reduce hiding places for fleas. Underneath the house can also be a hotspot of fleas so you should block off your dog’s access to this area while you treat the fleas.

Washing any bedding your dog sleeps on and vacuuming frequently will help clean eggs from your dog’s environment. You can also hire pest control experts to treat flea burdens in the home. They will give you specific safety instructions for your pets during and after the treatment.

We highly recommend using a medication to kill fleas on all pets in the household. If one pet has fleas, they can all have fleas. Frontline is a good option for dogs. These medications help break the flea lifecycle and will work for longer than a shampoo can to achieve this.

Conclusion

When choosing your next flea shampoo for dogs, consider Warren London Neem Oil Shampoo which uses a natural insecticide to kill fleas and oatmeal to soothe the skin. Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Oatmeal Dog Shampoo is inexpensive and comes with a flea brush that will help you remove the fleas as you bathe and check your results later.

• Related Read: What Dog Shampoos Do Groomers Use? What Do They Recommend?

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Featured Image Credit: Masarik, Shutterstock