In this post, I’ve reviewed the best puppy shampoo for fleas. Puppies are just like newborn human babies: they are sweet but equally vulnerable. Your first task will be to feed, train, and groom your new visitor.
When finding the best puppy and dogs shampoo (either medicated and non-medicated) for flea bathing, you’ll need to appreciate the active ingredients and the benefits of the puppy shampoo.
Recently, I reviewed the best flea bombs for your flea-infested house and flea sprays for your yard.
[amazon bestseller=”Best Puppy Shampoo for Fleas” items=”2″ template=”table”]1. Our #1 Top Pick: Adams-Plus Flea Shampoo + Tick & Tick Collar
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Natural and Organic Puppy Shampoos? – Dog shampoo is a cleaning agent that is specially designed for dogs. Not all dog shampoos are made equally in terms of quality; however, they also serve different purposes.
Going natural or organic is trending these days in many aspects of life, including pet care. You and your furry friends will love natural or organic dog shampoos as they don’t feature harsh chemicals and are way gentler on the skin and coat.
You may also buy a shampoo according to your dog’s breed, for instance, the best puppy shampoo for labs or pit bulls. But natural shampoos leave a mild, nice, and natural scent, and don’t strip all-natural oils from your puppy’s skin and fur.
2. #2 Pick: Richard’s-Organics Tick & Flea Shampoo for Dogs
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Why use a Puppy Shampoo? – Bathing your dog is an indispensable part of proper general pet care. Whether your pet has rolled in something and giving off an olfactory smell, or you want to get rid of fleas, using harsh chemicals is not necessary.
If your puppy has healthy skin and coat, bathing serves to eliminate unpleasant odors or dirt. The vet can also recommend a specific shampoo to form part of your pet’s medical treatment for various medical conditions.
Some of the many reasons why it is essential to use a puppy shampoo include: Basic hygiene, Getting rid of germs and ticks, Maintaining skin pH; they contain a fragrance to help your dog smell fresh (vanilla, orange, lavender, chamomile, etc.), Easy lather, Helps remove loose hair, scale, and debris, Improve the dog’s hair coat shine and Ensures a healthy dog.
Remember: Avoid cheap shampoos or ones with intense perfume and fragrances as they can be too harsh on the little one’s sensitive skin. Also, stay away from medicated shampoos and first talk to your vet if you think your puppy needs one. Shampoos mostly made for puppies feature a no-tear formula that is easy on the eyes.
3. #3 Pick: SENTRY-Oatmeal Tick & Flea Shampoo for Dogs
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When to start bathing your puppy – If your puppy is less than six weeks old, it is un-advisable to bathe it, as it can damage their still sensitive skin. The best approach is to go for pet wipes early, especially when the mother is not around to care for its grooming.
How often should you bathe your puppy? Short answer: Only when necessary. Long answer: The frequency at which dogs ought to be bathed vastly depends on the type of dog and its specific needs.
Some of the notable instances when your dog will require a bath are: – It’s giving off an unpleasant odor – It has acquired mud or dirt. In the absence of any of the above scenarios, bathing is generally unnecessary.
Different bathing schedules may be required for dogs afflicted with skin conditions, and your vet will advise you as part of its treatment regimen. If your dog goes swimming at a regular frequency, bathing is not often required.
4. Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo for Puppy
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Earthbath® ultra-mild shampoo is specially formulated for your puppy’s gentle and sensitive skin – top on the list of the best puppy shampoo for fleas.
The shampoo won’t wash away other flea treatments and leave your puppy feeling and be looking fresh. The product has garnered a massive 2,314 glowing customer reviews and is widely used by dog owners and professionals.
Will not wash off topical flea applications. Soap, gluten, synthetic dyes/perfumes-free. DEA, enzymes, SLS/SLES, phthalates, and parabens-free. It’s Environment-friendly and checks the best drain cleaner.
The Good:
- Naturally tearless and pH-balanced
- Baby fresh, wild cherry-scented
- 100 percent natural.
- Biodegradable and cruelty-free
- Enjoys widespread use
The Bad:
- Some dogs can still be allergic (eyes)
5. Rocco & Roxie Dog Shampoos for All Dogs – Soothe Oatmeal Shampoo
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Finally, the best puppy shampoo for fleas is this Rocco & Roxie CALM that’s specially formulated with your little furry companion’s sensitive skin in mind.
The hypoallergenic shampoo features the highest quality natural ingredients.
It lies within the neutral pH range from 6-7.5, making them easy not only on the skin but also on the eyes. The product has received 210 reviews from highly satisfied dog owners.
The Good:
- No tears
- Cruelty-free
- No parabens or formaldehyde
- Zero artificial colors or dyes
- No mineral oil, isopropyl alcohol, or phthalates
The Bad:
- No known issues
6. Wahl Dog/Puppy PEG-80 Free Shampoo (Cornflower & aloe)
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Wahl puppy shampoo is formulated with aloe and cornflower to cleanse and protect your little companion’s skin and coat.
The product also contains natural plant-based ingredients to gently cleanse your puppy, making it a top choice for shoppers.
Some of the cleansing ingredients include: – Sodium Laureth Sulfate (From refined coconut oil), – Soyamide (From cultured soy), and – Cocoamidropyl Betamine (From coconut fatty acids).
The Good:
- Natural. Plant-derived
- PEG-80-free
- No-tears formula
- Widely used by pet owners and professionals
The Bad:
- The concentrate is not as thick as you might expect
7. 4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo – All Natural and Hypoallergenic
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It is an effective cleanser against odor and dirt and also serves to render healthy skin and coat. It contains Saponified organic jojoba, coconut, and olive oils. It also features the 4-Legger blend of lemongrass and rosemary natural essential oils.
The shampoo cleanses and conditions your puppy’s skin and coat and lends it a baby-fresh scent that lasts for a long time. The product has 550 glowing reviews from dog owners who attest to its effectiveness and pleasant smell.
8. Dog Shampoo For Dry Itchy Skin and Smelly Dogs with Conditioner
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Paws and Pals’ Natural dog shampoo and conditioner is an all-natural organic product that is easy on your puppy’s sensitive skin and coat yet effective to bring out the best shine.
The natural oils and extracts in the shampoo do not inflame or irritate you or your pet’s skin. The shampoo is specially formulated to cleanse and moisturize your furry friend’s dry, sensitive skin.
It also contains natural aloe, coconut, and jojoba oils to help relieve your puppy from the itchy and painful effects of fleas, dryness, and dander on you your dog’s skin.
The shampoo also features a sweet-smelling fragrance that endures even after rewashing. It has 1, 120 reviews from super-happy dog owners.
The Good:
- Tearless
- All-natural ingredients
- Gentle on human and pet skin
- Environment-friendly
- Certified Paraben-free
- Soapless
- Cruelty-free
- Leaves your furry friend with a lasting sweet scent
The Bad:
- Artificial color
- Artificial fragrance
Can you Use Human Shampoo on a Dog?
Short answer: NO – Long answer: Human and dog skin are different in many ways. The most notable difference is its pH balance.
- Bathing washes away the skin’s acid mantle, responsible for protecting the skin’s thin topmost layer (stratum corneum) from bacteria and viruses.
- For this reason, the vast majority of soaps and shampoos are formulated with ingredients that help protect and moisturize the skin while the acid mantle gets renewed. The human skin pH is 5.5-5.6, while dogs have 6.2-7.4.
- Dogs have more sensitive skin than humans. This, therefore, means that using human shampoo on your dog strips the acid mantle and exposes your dog to parasites, bacteria, and viruses.
It also has the effect of making the dog’s skin feel very dry and kind of flaky. It may also result in skin irritation.
In emergencies, when you definitely have to bathe your dog even in the absence of dog shampoo, only use human shampoo if it has ingredients such as aloe vera, natural colloidal oatmeal, and tea tree oil.
How to Select the Puppy Shampoos?
Just as you train your dog to know the do’s and don’ts around the house, it is also essential to bath-train it. To get it right: Start early to teach your puppy through patting and stroking to be at ease when being handled.
Provide rewards for the desired behavior whenever you touch it in all the areas you will contact when bathing them.
Continue to offer tips and praise when it’s time to clean and proceed slowly, ensuring that the puppy is comfortable and calm. If there are any obstacles, resort to practicing standing with it in a dry tub until it gets comfortable being in that space.
You can also try introducing a bath after having gone for a walk. This has the effect of calming the dog as it will have expanded so much energy already.
Tips to Bath, your Puppy
Your circumstances largely influence where you can bathe your dog. If you have a large dog and want to avoid heavy lifting or your dog often tries to jump out of the water, it is best to bathe it outdoors.
This way, you have the option of using a low-pressure garden hose. Make sure the water temperature is ideal before you can proceed; otherwise, you may need to resort to using buckets or waiting until the water cools down.
If your dog doesn’t act up when taking a bath, the indoors may be just fine. Use a bathtub or dog tub for bathing your dog. Make sure to leave the tub unplugged so that it doesn’t fill up with water. Test the water temperature and place a non-slip mat on the floor before you can proceed.
Preparing your Puppy for its First Bath
When you wish to bathe your dog, it is vital not to alarm it. Makes sure that all the tools that you will need are in place and strategically positioned. You need to access them with one hand while the other is holding on to the dog.
Use a calm, encouraging voice and some treats to get the dog into position, whether in the bathroom or backyard. Allow the dog to sniff the grooming tools and also slowly get accustomed to the sound of running water and a dryer.
It would help if you first brushed it thoroughly to get rid of mats and tangles. If you can untangle any parts, it may be best to snip them with scissors. Use tweezers to remove any ticks or foxtails. Remove the collar and use a muzzle if the dog tends to bite.
Conclusion
Shop today for the best smelling puppy shampoo and ensure that your little furry friend is clean and protected. There are many benefits to using hypoallergenic non-medicated or medicated shampoo for your puppy.
- Apart from being the best for your puppy, staying away from harmful chemicals also protects your family and the environment.
- You can find specific options to meet your dog’s particular needs, such as the best puppy shampoo for labs or the best puppy shampoo for itchy skin.
Talk to your vet if your puppy’s skin or coat is being adversely affected by the shampoo you are using. They are better placed to look into the issue and issue appropriate recommendations.