Skip to Content

What Makes a Safe Flea Shampoo for Dogs?

Shaggy black and white dog wrapped in a towel standing in a bathtub

Fleas and ticks are unavoidable when you own a dog, but don’t let them bother you or your pet. Various dog-safe shampoos can be used for washing your pup to get rid of fleas. You may also prepare your flea shampoo at home using household components. Keep reading to know the details about a safe flea shampoo for dogs.

What’s the Best Natural Flea Shampoo for Dogs? Click here to find out.

Nontoxic Flea Shampoo for Dogs

Making your homemade flea shampoo allows you to precisely regulate the number of components you use while also knowing what goes into them. If your dog has sensitive skin, you may also make them hypoallergenic. There are countless possibilities, and you may experiment with different types of homemade dog shampoo without fearing that you’ll endanger your cherished pet.

You may experiment with various smells, components, and homemade dog shampoo recipes! You will rest easy knowing that you’re doing everything you can to assist your dog get rid of these pesky fleas. The following are some nontoxic flea shampoos for dogs that you can make at home.

Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

Apple cider vinegar against a wood grain surface

Take 2 cups of warm water, ¼ cup of nontoxic dish soap, and ½ cup of white vinegar. In a spray bottle, combine all the ingredients and shake to combine. Then, avoiding eyes, moisten your dog’s coat with warm water, and spray shampoo on it.

The coat should be given a thorough lathering with the shampoo. Even if you believe all traces of shampoo are gone, thoroughly rinse several times before allowing your dog to dry off.

Dish detergent works well at washing away oils that build up on your dog’s hair and skin. This is because it is designed to cut through grease and will make your dog’s coat clean and shiny. Just take care that the shampoo doesn’t find its way to the eyes of your pooch.

Dry Shampoo

corn starch spilling from a wooden spoon onto a piece of wood

Any dog that dislikes the water or is huge knows how difficult bath time can be if you own one. That is particularly challenging if you frequently bathe your dog to rid them of fleas; a homemade dry flea shampoo might be an alternative.

Take 1 Cup of Baking Soda, 1 Cup of Cornstarch, and 2 to 4 drops of Lavender or Lemon Essential Oil. First, combine the cornstarch and baking soda in a bowl. Mix them and add the essential oil to the mixture. Start with two drops of the essential oil of your choice and increase as necessary. Your dog’s nose is more sensitive than yours, so things that don’t smell strong to you may smell overwhelming to them.

If you use this dry shampoo instead of regular showers, your dog’s skin won’t be at risk of drying out. Fleas will be killed, while mosquitoes and flies will be repelled by the essential oils. Your dog will smell wonderful as a result of them.

Lemon Shampoo

whole and half lemons on a wooden surface

This all-natural lemon flea shampoo will remove fleas while leaving your dog feeling fresh. Additionally, it will help keep them out all season long! You probably already have all the ingredients in your home, and it is simple to make.

Take half a cup of Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice, 2 cups of Warm Water, and a ¼-½ cup of Baby Shampoo or Castile Soap. Mix the ingredients and wash your dog’s coat with this shampoo after getting them wet. Make sure to apply it to the skin, and don’t be hesitant to rinse it off and do it again. Allow it to rest for a while once you’ve massaged it into the coat. Make sure to thoroughly rinse it off before drying your dog with a towel.

Commercial Flea Shampoo for Dogs

person holding a bottle of Natural Care Flea and Tick Shampoo in front of a store shelf

When it comes time to bathe your pet, pick a shampoo depending on the ingredients and the age of your pet. Flea treatment should also be done in collaboration with your veterinarian since some pets are allergic to the active chemicals in some flea shampoos. While these shampoos can assist with an initial infestation, they work best when used with a flea prevention treatment to keep fleas at bay in the long run. Some of the best commercial flea shampoos for dogs that are safe and free of harmful chemicals are as follows.

Extra Strength Flea Shampoo from Good Fur

The pH-balanced composition of the Good Fur Extra Strength Flea & Tick Shampoo thoroughly cleans your dog’s coat without over-drying it. It contains five potent plant extracts that help kill and repel bothersome fleas and ticks. It is created without using any animal products, including Deet, pyrethrin, permethrin, parabens, sulfates (SLS), triclosan, synthetic colors, or formaldehyde.

Flea and Tick Shampoo from Adams

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor for Cats, Kittens, Dogs & Puppies Over 12 Weeks Of Age | Sensitive Skin Flea Treatment for Dogs & Cats Kills Adult Fleas, Flea Eggs, Ticks, and Lice | 12 Oz

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo (found here on Amazon) (paid link) works to eliminate fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae. To stop flea infestations and destroy them during their life cycle, it can be applied every 28 days. Oatmeal, lanolin, coconut extract, and aloe are ingredients in the mix that help hydrate and condition your dog’s skin and coat.

Make careful to thoroughly wet your pet before shampooing and lathering for three to five minutes. Although the product is safe for puppies as young as 12 weeks old, check with your veterinarian to be sure.

Need a flea bath for your dog, but don’t like using commercial brand flea soap? Check out our post “What is a Good Natural Flea Bath for Dogs?”.

Flea and Tick Shampoo from TropiClean

TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Maximum Strength Shampoo for Dogs, 20oz - Kills Fleas, Ticks, Larva, Eggs by Contact - Soap-Free Treatment for Pest Prevention - Made with Essential Oils - Made in USA

This TropiClean shampoo (found here on Amazon) (paid link) employs a combination of essential oils to eliminate bugs if you choose to go a more natural way when treating your dog for fleas. For up to seven days, the mixture remains on your dog’s skin to keep fleas, ticks, and their larvae and eggs away. The next step is to wash again or apply another flea repellent.

The shampoo smells faintly like lemon and also contains cocoa. It calms the skin that may be inflamed and irritable from scratching at fleas and ticks.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.