Despite our best efforts, dogs sometimes end up with fleas and ticks. If your dog has an active flea or tick infestation, knowing what steps to take to get rid of the pests will make the whole ordeal less stressful for you both.
Choosing the best flea and tick shampoo for dogs will depend on your dog, whether you have other pets in the home, and your vet’s recommendation.
What To Do if Your Dog Has Fleas
If your dog is dealing with an active flea infestation, Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ, recommends a multi-tiered approach to rid your dog and your home of fleas.
“Treat your dog with a fast-acting flea product recommended by your veterinarian,” she says. “Wash bedding and soft furnishings in hot water, vacuum carpets and furniture daily for at least a week, and treat the home and yard if needed.”
Flea shampoos can be used during active flea infestations. Though flea & tick shampoos are effective, Dr. Wooten says that “ideally shampoos should be used as an emergency measure.” She doesn’t recommend using shampoos as the only form of flea and tick control for pets.
Dr. Wooten says that flea and tick shampoos can be used alongside flea and tick preventatives, but that pet parents should be sure to check the labels of both products and ask their veterinarians before using them together.
“Shampoos can strip oils from the coat and temporarily reduce the effectiveness of topical preventives,” she says.
Traits We Want in Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs
Active ingredients: Dog flea and tick shampoos work through a few different types of active ingredients: pyrethrins (insecticides), insect growth regulators, or essential oils.
“Look for shampoos that contain pyrethrins or permethrin for dogs, or insect growth regulators like methoprene,” Dr. Wooten says. “These kill adult fleas and help break the life cycle.”
Dr. Wooten recommends pyrethrin and permethrin shampoos for active infestations over essential oil shampoos. “Pyrethrin and permethrin shampoos are more effective and have been tested for safety in dogs when used correctly,” she says. “Essential oil shampoos may repel fleas but are far less effective and some oils can be irritating or toxic. Always check labels to ensure the product is safe for dogs.”
Dog vs. cat safe: Households with both dogs and cats should be aware that some dog flea and tick shampoo ingredients are toxic to cats. Namely, options with permethrin should be avoided for cat households. Always talk to your vet about flea shampoos before choosing the one that’s best for your pets, even if the label says that it’s safe for both dogs and cats.
“Year-round flea and tick prevention prescribed by your veterinarian is the most reliable way to prevent infestations,” says Dr. Wooten. “Combine that with regular vacuuming, washing pet bedding, and keeping the environment clean.”
Dr. Wooten also says that “Every pet in the household should be on prevention.”
That includes cats if you live in a multi-species household! Ensure you only give preventative flea and tick treatments developed for dogs to dogs, and preventative medication meant for cats to cats. Many flea and tick prevention medications can be toxic when given to different species.
The Best Fleas & Tick Shampoos for Dogs
| Whole Dog Journal Rating | Product and Maker | Price | Active Ingredients and Quantities | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor | $11 for 6 oz | Pyrethrins: 0.15%, S-Methoprene: 0.10%, Piperonyl Butoxide: 1.88% | One of Dr. Wooten’s top picks for flea & tick shampoos, this option contains pyrethrins which kill bugs on contact, as well as S-Methoprene, an insect growth regulator that stops young fleas and other pests from growing into adults and reproducing. |
 | Advantage Flea & Tick Treatment Shampoo for Dogs & Puppies | $15 for 8 oz | Pyrethrins: 0.15%, Piperonyl Butoxide: 0.30%,mgk 264: 0.479% | Advantage Flea & Tick Treatment Shampoo is one of the few unscented options on this list, which is great for dogs sensitive to strong smells. However, despite having insecticides, it doesn’t contain any IGR ingredients. |
| Biogroom Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs | $17 for 12 oz | Pyrethrins: 0.045%, Piperonyl Butoxide: 0.090%, N-Octyl Bicycloheptene Dicarboximide: 0.150% | The Biogroom Flea & Tick Shampoo has lower concentrations of its active pest control ingredients than other options on this list. It also contains coconut oil, protein, and lanolin that make for a soft, moisturized coat. |
| Wondercide Natural Flea & Tick Dog and Cat Shampoo | $20 for 12 oz | Cedarwood oil: 1%, Peppermint Oil: 1% | If your vet recommends a more natural flea and tick shampoo for your dog, Wondercide is a popular option with peppermint and cedarwood oils as the main active ingredients. |
| Vet's Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo | $16 for 16 oz | N/A | Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo isn’t a flea & tick-specific shampoo, but it can be used to remove fleas on dogs with sensitive skin in conjunction with other flea & tick control treatments. |
Best Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs: Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor
Dr. Wooten recommends that pet parents opt for veterinary-approved flea and tick shampoos, like Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor. This concentrated shampoo contains Pyrethrins, which kill live fleas and ticks on contact, as well as S-Methoprene, an insect growth regulator.
Insect growth regulators, or IGRs, are chemicals that prevent larvae from developing into reproductive adults, therefore stopping a flea infestation in its tracks.
Note that it’s recommended to use 1 1/3 teaspoons of this shampoo per 5 pounds of body weight, so it’s quite concentrated. Measuring out the shampoo before using it is key to ensure you don’t expose your pet to high levels of insecticides.
During testing, I discovered that this shampoo is also thicker than other options on this list. This makes it a good option for diluting in a dilution bottle with water to more evenly distribute it over your dog’s coat. Because it’s both thick and highly concentrated, it’s easy to use too much at once without noticing.
While testing, this shampoo left my dog’s coats feeling fairly soft and has a fresh, soapy scent.
Best Unscented Flea & Tick Shampoo: Advantage Flea & Tick Treatment Shampoo for Dogs & Puppies
Many flea and tick shampoos (especially those with essential oils as active ingredients) smell very strong, which can be off-putting for many dogs. If your dog is sensitive to certain scents, Advantage Flea & Tick Treatment Shampoo for Dogs & Puppies is a solid unscented flea & tick shampoo option.
Though this shampoo is mild and unscented and has a similar concentration of pyrethrins as the Adams Plus shampoo, we wish it contained an IGR ingredient to help stop infestations from recurring.
This shampoo is thinner and more watery than other options on this list, so it’s a little bit easier to distribute over your dog’s coat and lather up. It left my tester dogs’ coats feeling a little bit dry during testing, so it may not be great for dogs with dry skin/coat.
Best Moisturizing Flea & Tick Shampoo: Biogroom Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs
The Biogroom Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs contains slightly lower concentrations of its active insecticide ingredients than other options on this list, making it a good option for dogs who may be sensitive to these ingredients.
It can also be diluted with one part shampoo to four parts water, which I love, as it’s easier to evenly distribute diluted shampoo over a dog’s coat. Just grab a dilution bottle before use, and you’ll be good to go.
During testing, this shampoo left my tester dogs’ coats feeling the best after use. The protein, lanolin, and coconut oil in this option didn’t leave their coats or skin feeling dried out, and the scent was pleasant without being too overwhelming.
Best Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo: Wondercide Natural Flea & Tick Dog and Cat Shampoo
If you decide (under the guidance of your vet) to use a natural or essential oil-based flea and tick shampoo, Wondercide is a popular option. Wondercide Natural Flea & Tick Dog and Cat Shampoo works with peppermint and cedarwood oils as the active ingredients. It’s recommended for dogs and cats 4 months of age and over and should be used once per week as needed.
For pet owners who use other Wondercide flea & tick products like home and yard sprays, the brand’s flea and tick shampoo can be safely used at the same time.
Where many flea & tick shampoos tend to be drying to the coat and skin, during testing, Wondercide’s shampoo made my dog’s coats feel soft.
Though I didn’t find the essential oil scents to be overpowering, if your dog is sensitive to strong smells, they may not love this peppermint-scented option. During testing, this shampoo didn’t lather up as well as other options on this list, so it was hard to tell if it was evenly distributed.
Best Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs with Sensitive Skin: Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo
Though this isn’t specifically a flea and tick shampoo, Dr. Wooten recommends Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo for certain dogs when dealing with active flea or tick infestations.
“For sensitive dogs, gentle cleansing shampoos without insecticides can help wash fleas away but won’t provide lasting control,” she says. “A gentle cleansing shampoo like Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo can be used alongside preventives.”
During testing, this shampoo left my Rough Collie’s long coat feeling soft and conditioned, even without the use of additional conditioner.
This gentle shampoo doesn’t contain any insecticide ingredients, so won’t immediately kill fleas or ticks. However, it can help wash them away. If your dog has ticks and you opt for this shampoo, consider using a tick key or tweezers to carefully remove the tick.
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