How to get rid of fleas in your house, on your pets, and how to stay rid of them once they're gone – a step-by-step guide to flea control.

Using Flea Shampoo on Your Dog



fleas shampoo for dogsUsing a high-quality flea shampoo can be an effective way to control fleas on your dog. A good flea shampoo will kill both adult fleas, as well as flea eggs and larva. When shopping for a flea shampoo, be sure to choose one that contains both an insecticide and an insect growth regulator.

It’s worth spending a little extra money to buy a good quality dog flea shampoo. The shampoo should contain both pyrethrins or some other insecticide, and an insect growth regulator (IGR).

As always, you should consult your veterinarian before using an insecticide on your dog. Although pyrethrins are usually quite effective and harmless to dogs, the breed, size and overall health of your dog should be considered first.

Some dog flea shampoos may also contain natural ingredients, such as tea tree and lemon oil, which act as insect repellants. Also, be aware that insecticides such as pyrethrins can dry your dog’s coat, so using a flea shampoo that contains a coat conditioner might not be a bad idea.

When bathing your dog, start by thoroughly wetting the neck, and lathering the area well. This will create a barrier to prevent the fleas from traveling from other areas of your dog’s body to the head.

Once the dog’s neck is lathered, wet and lather the rest of his body, particularly above the base of the tail, and any other areas where you’ve noticed him scratching or licking.

Finally, rinse the dog thoroughly so that there’s no residual flea shampoo left in his coat that he might ingest while grooming himself.

It’s best not to rely on flea shampoo alone. It’s still important to treat both the dog and his living environment, including your home and yard, in order to prevent further infestation. But, flea shampoo can be a great first step to controlling fleas, especially when followed by treatment with Frontline or another topical flea treatment.

If you want to try a flea shampoo treatment on your dog, the following are good options.

adams flea shampooAdams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with IGR is a good option, and also contains an insect growth regulator (IGR) to prevent any flea eggs or larva on your pet from hatching and becoming adult fleas.


hartz ultraguard shampooHartz UltraGuard Rid Flea & Tick Shampoo contains pyrethrins to kill adult fleas and ticks, as well as oatmeal to soothe your dog’s itchy bites. It can be used on dogs over six months of age, and provides immediate relief from fleas, cleans your dog’s coat, and smells pretty good too.


Or, if you’d like to try the homemade approach, check out this video on making a flea shampoo yourself. It might not be as effective as a shampoo with insecticides, but it could be worth a try first, or as a regular preventative measure.



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