How To Choose the Best Flea & Tick Shampoo for Your Dog

Getting the best dog shampoo for fleas and ticks is important for keeping your dog comfortable and pest-free. Many of the options for flea and tick control are safe to use weekly if necessary. These shampoos keep your dog clean as well as prevent scratching that can lead to painful irritation. We'll help you decide how to find the best shampoo to combat fleas and ticks on your dog.

Choosing the Best Option for Your Dog's Needs

Do flea and tick shampoos work? Even though we know the answer to this is yes, there is enough of a selection available that you might need to narrow down your choices. Does your dog have sensitive skin? Is the dog allergic to any ingredients in flea or tick products you've used in the past? You will want to make sure the shampoo you use helps your dog become pest-free and also helps protect the skin and coat. Some of the things you may want to think about when making your choice include:

• Is the dog sensitive to anything on the ingredients list?
• Can I use this shampoo relatively frequently if necessary?
• Are the ingredients in the shampoo beneficial for my dog's coat appearance?
• Is the shampoo scented, and does it smell reasonably pleasant?
• May I use this shampoo on puppies and adults?

Which Ingredients Are Safe and Effective and What To Avoid

What flea shampoo do vets use? The simple answer to this question is that it depends. You need to select a shampoo with ingredients that are healthy for your dog's skin and coat. Dogs that have had problems with fleas and ticks are likely to have sensitive, irritated skin. Aloe vera, lanolin and oatmeal can help soothe even the most irritated skin. Essential oils like coconut or cottonseed can restore moisture to aid the healing of irritated skin. Natural ingredients live clove oil or pyrethrin help kill pests effectively.

Avoid products containing dyes or fragrances, which are irritants to many dogs. If your dog has known allergies to any common shampoo or flea and tick product ingredients, you should avoid shampoos that contain these ingredients. In the event your dog is a breed prone to certain allergies, you should use caution when selecting flea and tick products.

Choosing the Right Natural Options for Your Dog

Some dogs are more likely to benefit from the use of natural ingredients. If you have a dog that has sensitive skin, a natural product may be the better overall option. Pets with sensitive skin are more likely to have reactions to ingredients in shampoos that they are allergic or sensitive to. A formula that provides better skin and coat conditioning will be more likely to produce satisfactory results.

The Best Dog Flea & Tick Shampoo Options

How do flea and tick shampoos work? These products work by killing fleas and ticks on contact, as well as destroying flea eggs. Here are some of our favorite products you may want to try:

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo With Precor: This is a shampoo gentle enough to use for routine cleansing, and it also contains PRECOR, which is effective at killing fleas, ticks and flea eggs. This shampoo provides up to 28 days of protection and helps restore natural coat luster.

Davis Pure Planet Flea & Tick Shampoo: This shampoo comes in a spray-on formula that is convenient and provides superior protection. Clove and cottonseed oil both help provide the protection your dog needs.

EctoSoothe 3X Flea Shampoo: A gentle option suitable for dogs and puppies 12 weeks or older, this shampoo effectively kills fleas. The formula is designed to help calm the irritation and itching common with flea infestations.

Sentry PRO Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs & Puppies: This shampoo, safe for all dogs and puppies over 12 weeks old, kills fleas for up to 15 days and their eggs for up to 30. One of the ingredients is oatmeal, to help soothe irritated skin, and the formula deeply conditions and deodorizes.

Vet-Kem Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs: The formula in this shampoo kills fleas and ticks at application, as well as prevents flea eggs from hatching for 28 days. This shampoo, which has a rich lather, contains aloe, coconut extract, lanolin and oatmeal. Your dog's coat will be softer and more manageable.

Final Thoughts on Choosing a Flea and Tick Shampoo

The best flea and tick shampoo for your dog is the one that is gentlest as well as most effective for your dog's needs. Avoid using anything with known allergens, and make sure you thoroughly rinse the shampoo. When you make the right choice, your dog will be much happier and pest-free.