Everything You Need To Know About Flea & Tick Shampoos

If you've noticed that your dog has been scratching a lot recently, it might have come home with a flea or tick infestation. These tiny parasites can make your dog uncomfortable and irritate its skin. To make matters worse, fleas can get inside your house and contaminate your living space. Ticks also carry diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever that can seriously compromise your dog's health. In other words, fleas and ticks aren't just a nuisance — they pose a threat to your family's health and well-being.

Flea sprays and collars can help you keep infestations under control. But if your dog keeps coming home with fleas and ticks, it might be time for more drastic measures. A flea bath could kill the fleas, eggs and larvae hiding in your dog's fur as well as ticks that might be attached to its skin. Giving your dog a flea bath is more time-consuming than putting on a flea collar, but it can kill fleas and ticks on virtually every part of its body. Here's what you need to know before you buy a bottle of flea and tick shampoo.

How Do I Use Flea and Tick Shampoo?

Using flea and tick shampoo isn't much different from giving your dog a bath with regular shampoo. The instructions might vary, but generally, you'll start by getting your dog wet and lathering the shampoo into its fur. Some products recommend letting the shampoo rest for several minutes. After that, you'll wash out the shampoo, dry your dog's fur and comb its fur to remove mats and tangles. The best flea and tick shampoo kills parasites and relieves irritation to make your dog feel more comfortable.

Do Flea Shampoos Work?

Flea and tick shampoos are an effective way to kill the parasites hiding in your dog's fur. While some treatments only target certain areas, a flea bath covers your dog's entire body. Flea and tick shampoo kills the fleas living in your dog's fur as well as larvae and eggs that could produce more fleas. This shampoo also kills ticks that might be hiding in your dog's fur. Even if you regularly check your dog for ticks, you could easily miss some. Some flea shampoos even kill and sterilize new fleas for up to thirty days after your dog's last flea bath.

Fleas and ticks can irritate your dog's skin and promote itching, flaking and redness. Some flea shampoos come with soothing ingredients like aloe vera or oatmeal to relieve itching and discomfort. These shampoos are also great for dogs that have sensitive skin. Just make sure that your dog isn't allergic to certain ingredients, like lanolin or coconut extract.

Flea shampoos aren't the most effective solution on the market. If your dog keeps coming home with fleas after multiple flea baths, you might want to try a more advanced treatment like medication or topicals. However, many pet owners find that giving their dogs a flea bath every one or two weeks kills parasites without the use of more expensive products.

How Often Can I Bathe My Dog With Flea Shampoo?

Typically, you shouldn't bathe your dog more than once a week. Some people give their dogs a flea bath once every two weeks. If you bathe your dog more often than that, you might end up drying out its skin. More baths aren't necessarily the best option for frequent infestations. If your dog keeps catching fleas, you might want to look at other treatment options.

What Is the Best Flea Shampoo for Dogs?

Every dog's needs are different, so you might have to experiment with a few different brands before you find the right fit. Some products have soothing ingredients that relieve itching, while others kill lice as well as fleas and ticks. Here are some of the best dog shampoos that you can find on the market.

Mycodex Flea and Tick Shampoo P3

Mycodex Flea and Tick Shampoo P3 is suitable for dogs and cats. This shampoo contains lanolin, aloe vera and coconut extract to soothe your dog's dry, irritated skin. In addition to killing fleas and ticks, this shampoo washes dirt out of your dog's fur and helps eliminate dandruff. Essentially, you'll kill fleas and give your dog a regular bath at the same time. To use, all you have to do is get your dog wet, lather the shampoo into its fur and let the shampoo sit for five minutes before you wash it out.

Sentry PRO Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies

Sentry PRO Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies kills existing fleas and ticks and prevents new infestations for up to two weeks. This shampoo also kills flea eggs for up to a month after use. For extra protection, this shampoo drives away mosquitoes for up to two weeks. The oatmeal in this product soothes dry skin and relieves constant itching. Like regular shampoos, this product cleans your dog's fur and removes odors at the same time.

EctoSoothe 3X Flea Shampoo

The active ingredients in EctoSoothe 3X Flea Shampoo kill fleas, lice and ticks that have infested your dog or cat's fur. You can use this shampoo on adult animals as well as puppies and kittens. To use, simply lather the shampoo into your dog's fur during its bath and let it sit for 10 minutes for maximum effectiveness. Your dog will be able to run around and play outside without bringing fleas and ticks into the house.

Most dogs love playing outside, but the outdoors comes with its fair share of ticks and parasites. Having flea shampoo on hand can help your dog enjoy the outdoors without getting infested.

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