What Is a Dog’s Flea Shampoo? The Types

A dog’s flea shampoo is a special medicated shampoo developed to safely cleanse a dog’s fur. If the product is of high quality, it will kill fleas, ticks, and other pests, prevent the re-infestation, as well as heal the irritated skin of the pet. A nice scent is a pleasant bonus! For better results, it’s advised to use the product throughout the whole year as stated in the instructions.
Depending on several factors, such as your pet’s age, allergic nature, and the level of infestation, you can distinguish among three major types of flea shampoos. Here are them.

Chemical Flea Shampoos

Chemical shampoos are based on such flea pesticides as Pyrethrins, Pyrethroids or Methoprene.

• Pyrethrins have been used as insecticides for 100 years. These are natural extracts of chrysanthemum plants known for the power to affect the nervous system of insects. The toxicity level is very low, hence if a dog swallows it accidentally, he won’t have any problems with digestion. Shampoos with this ingredient can be safely used on dogs over 4-6 weeks of age.
• Pyrethroids are chemically derived from Pyrethrins. They are more potent and quick-acting, though. The system of operating is the same: the chemicals prevent the nervous system of insects from functioning properly, thus killing them. You’d better be cautious when using it as flea shampoo for dogs reviews show they can be allergic. So, if any allergic reactions occur, never repeat the treatment.
• The synthetic insect growth regulator Methoprene disrupts and impedes the life cycle of pests right in the stage of development when they are still in the egg. Not reaching adulthood, the pests can’t reproduce. So, flea shampoos based on Methoprene help to keep the population of these pests under control and prevent future infestations.

Natural Flea Shampoos

Natural flea shampoos are mainly based on natural ingredients such as limonene, lemongrass, rosemary oil, essential oils or citrus peel extract. They target the central nervous system of pests. Paralyzing them, the product makes the fleas and ticks fall off the pet’s coat into the drain. As a rule, natural shampoos are not allergic, yet that mostly depends on the share of active ingredients.

Organic Flea Shampoos

These are organic products, too. Having such natural ingredients as peppermint, cedar oil and clove, these products repel bugs and pests, while also soothing the irritated skin of the dogs. An organic non-toxic flea shampoo for dogs might be not as efficient as chemical ones that can be recognized by the presence of harsh chemicals and the bad odor, but it is the safest variant for both the dog and people around him. Organic shampoos have many benefits. They include interrupting fleas’ reproduction cycle, treating irritated skin, and making the pet’s coat smell good.

Buyers’ Guide

No dog owner would ever want to deal with ticks and fleas, yet this happens regardless, and once it does – it’s time for shopping for the right flea shampoo. Having a huge diversity of variants to choose from, it becomes difficult to distinguish. We hope this guide will help you. Here are the most critical points to base your selection on:

Ingredients

When looking for the best flea and tick shampoo for dogs, ingredients is by far the most essential factor to consider. There are chemical, natural and organic shampoos. If your pet has sensitive skin or is a puppy, you’d better avoid harsh chemicals that can be harmful to him. Try to find natural or organic shampoos based on exclusively natural ingredients. They have soothing properties. However, those shampoos which have pesticides, show quicker and better results. The best variants have formulas based on aloe or oatmeal to mitigate the effect of chemicals on the gentle skin of a dog.

Scent

The next important point is scent. Just like with human-grade shampoos, the odor quite often plays the determining factor when choosing one. And if your pet has the habit of going into the trash cans and other dirty places, or you live in a rural environment you simply can’t do without a good-smelling shampoo. Just make sure your pet has no allergy to scents. Additionally, the odor must be mild not to arise anxiety in your pooch.

What It Eradicates

Eradicating pests is the primary purpose of a shampoo. Depending on what types of pests your dog is infested with you need to obtain an appropriate product. Most common pests that bother our four-legged friends are fleas, ticks, and lice. Dandruff can also be controlled with a shampoo. Based on the chemical active ingredient, a shampoo can eradicate the pests when they are mature or when still in the egg, thus impeding their life cycle in the stage of development.

Effectiveness

How effective a flea shampoo is, depends on the pet. If one product can work wonders on one dog, it may appear inefficient on others. Therefore, when choosing one for your pooch, consider its breed, age, whether his skin is sensitive or not, and how infested he is. You may need several treatments to get a result. If the pet is full of fleas, ticks, and other pests, it’s also recommended to clean the whole house. Otherwise, no shampoo can appear effective.

How We Chose and Tested the Best Flea Shampoo for Dogs

To find the answer to “what is the best flea shampoo for dogs” question, we made an entire investigation. We studied the current market trends, had a talk with the experts and professionals of the concerned field, got information from pet owners. Then we summed up the data. As a result, we managed to pick up ten shampoos of different types and by different brands, yet developed for a single purpose – to rid our beloved pets of nasty pests. Then we passed to testing the shampoos. We bathed several pest-infested dogs of different breeds and ages with every shampoo reviewed. Then we checked how efficient each variant was, as well as how the dogs smelled and whether their skin was irritated by the chemical ingredients of the shampoos or not. That was not an easy job.

The Best Flea Shampoo for Dogs

Before we disclose which the best product on our list is, we have prepared ten flea and tick shampoo for dogs reviews. Each model was carefully tested and reviewed. We described every shampoo, shared our opinion on them, and stated all the pros and cons. Have a look and find out the best variant at the end of the article.

Safety Tips on Using Flea Shampoos

Using a flea shampoo for dogs, one must be utmost cautious. Here are several tips on how to use flea shampoo on dogs safely:

• read the label of ingredients of the shampoo before using it;
• if your pet is allergic, consult with a vet before using a new shampoo;
• after using a new shampoo for the first time, watch out for any symptoms of toxicity (tremors, salivation, seizures, fatigue, etc.) on your pet;
• adhere to the instructions on the product’s leaflet and use the exact amount as prescribed – if less than necessary is used, you might not see the positive result, while too much can harm the dog;
• always wash your hands before bathing your pet and use gloves so that to avoid infections;
• after the bath, make certain you have thoroughly dried your dog’s fur for him not to end up digesting more than allowed;
• if possible, try to avoid flea shampoos with carcinogenic ingredients.

Using a flea and tick shampoo on a dog is a highly responsible thing. Before trying this or that product, it’s crucial to have all your questions answered and worries settled. Get acquainted with our extended FAQ.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Today the market is filled with various flea and tick shampoos for dogs of different ages, breeds, and infestation levels. Depending on several factors we have already discussed, you need to choose the safest and the most effective product for your pooch. We’ve reviewed 10 best available products. We sincerely hope our reviews have helped you come to the right conclusion in choosing the best flea shampoo for dogs. Our top choice for that is Richard’s Organics Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs as it allows to repel parasites without the danger of harming a dog with chemicals. This choice was based on meticulous tests and observations. This is an inexpensive product. It contains no harsh chemicals (only organic ingredients), acts fast, and smells really nice and strong. Flea shampoo is the fastest way of bringing relief to an infested dog scratching and nipping at fleas. Be certain, your pooch will adore you for that!

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_flea

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-flea-advice

https://www.thisnthatwitholivia.com/diy-essential-oil-oatmeal-anti-itch-and-flea-tick-repellent-dog-shampoo-soap-bars/

Attention!

Robert Herrera

If you still have questions after reading the article, do not hesitate to ask questions.

Ask Question