The 5 Best Pet Flea Shampoos

Andrea Cannon — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 09:31:19 +0000

Fleas can relentlessly bite your pets, leaving them itchy and irritated. Pet flea shampoo can kill these pesky critters to help improve your pet’s quality of life, while also cleansing their coat.

Many pet owners find that a natural homemade recipe made of liquid dish soap, vinegar, and warm water is enough to kill fleas, but it isn’t always effective enough. When you need something stronger, a good flea shampoo can do just the trick.

What is pet flea shampoo?

Pet flea shampoo is a special medicated shampoo that can safely cleanse your pet’s coat, while killing fleas and preventing them from returning. A quality flea shampoo can kill the adult fleas that are causing your dog's discomfort. However, you will need to continually shampoo your dog throughout the year to ensure it remains effective.

It’s important to treat infested areas as soon as you notice a problem to stop the flea life cycle. Flea shampoo can be used like regular pet shampoo, starting at the head and behind the ears and moving down toward the tail. Simply let the lather remain in the hair coat for five minutes to kill pesky insects. It can usually be used along with a topical spot treatment or flea collar for enhanced results.

Remember, it’s important to always use dog products on dogs and cat products on cats. They cannot be used interchangeably, even if you choose a natural product. However, if the bottle specifically states that it is safe for both cats and dogs, then you can use it on all of your furry pals. Even if a shampoo claims to be completely safe for your animal, each pet is different and yours may not react well. If you notice any problems after using a flea shampoo, contact your vet.

For quick cleanups, consider the Vet's Best 50 Count Flea + Tick Wipes. If you need further protection from fleas and ticks, consider something like the best-selling Vet's Best Flea & Tick Home Spray or the best-selling Vet's Best Flea & Tick Yard & Kennel Spray.

Top 5 pet flea shampoos

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo With Precor for Dogs and Cats

The Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor for Dogs and Cats is Amazon’s #1 best-seller in dog flea control shampoos, as well as the best seller in cat shampoos. You can count on it to kill fleas, ticks, and lice on contact. It also provides 28 days of control from flea eggs and flea larvae. It is gentle on the coat and skin, and can actually help remove loose dandruff, dirt, and scales to improve the coat’s condition, leaving it soft and shiny. It is enriched with oatmeal, coconut extract, lanolin, and soothing aloe, so it shouldn’t irritate your pet’s coat.

The concentrated lathering shampoo can be used on both dogs and cats 12 weeks of age and older. Most reviewers tend to love how well this lathers. It is one of the “most wished for” items on Amazon and has outstanding online reviews.

Currently $8.48 on Amazon

Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs With Oatmeal

The Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs with Oatmeal provides immediate relief from adult fleas and ticks, including deer ticks, which may carry Lyme disease. It contains Pyrethrins, which kills fleas and ticks that can carry diseases. It also contains oatmeal to cleanse, deodorize, and soothe your pet’s dry, itchy, or irritated skin. It has a light, fresh fragrance that reviewers tend to love.

The cleansing shampoo can be used on dogs six months of age and older. This is an Amazon best-seller, one of the “most wished for” items on Amazon, and has outstanding online reviews.

Currently $14.47 on Amazon

Vet’s Best Flea Itch Relief Shampoo

The Vet’s Best Flea Itch Relief Shampoo is a veterinarian-formulated shampoo that provides fast itch relief from flea bites and infestations. Some reviewers found that it works nearly instantly to kills fleas and ticks. Instead of relying on harsh chemicals, it uses powerful natural ingredients like micronized oatmeal, aloe vera, camomile, solvent-free orange and lemon peel oil, and neem oil to soothe discomfort, irritation, dryness, and itching. It will not affect topical flea and tick control products that you may be using at the same time.

This can be used on both dogs and puppies 12 weeks of age and older. Reviewers tend to like the mild natural scent. If you’re looking for something you can use on both your cats and dogs, consider the Vet’s Best Natural Anti-Flea Easy Spray Shampoo.

Currently $8.74 on Amazon

Natural Chemistry De Flea Pet Shampoo

The Natural Chemistry De Flea Pet Shampoo is pesticide free, chemical free, nontoxic, and safe for people and pets. It is guaranteed to instantly kill fleas, ticks, mites, and lice safely. It kills insects on contact without the use of Pyrethrins or Permethrins, and will not wash off any flea and tick spot treatments you may be using at the same time. The gentle yet powerful formula works on all stages of the insect's' life cycle.

The deep cleaning shampoo can be used on both dogs and cats 12 weeks of age and older. If this one doesn’t work for your pet, consider the best-selling Natural Chemistry Natural Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs.

Currently $6.99 on Amazon

Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo With Oatmeal

The Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo With Oatmeal quickly kills fleas, ticks, and flea eggs for up to 10 days, including the ticks that may carry Lyme disease. The effective flea and tick dog shampoo is PH balanced for your pet’s coat and contains oatmeal for deodorizing and cleansing. It also has a Hawaiian ginger scent that reviewers tend to love. After use, your dog’s coat should be shiny, soft, and smelling great.

This is intended for dogs only. It is an Amazon best-seller and has outstanding online reviews.

Currently $5.54 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best pet flea shampoos. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: