Doodles are some of the best companions anyone can have. Their lovable natures and energy-filled personalities make them ideal family pets. However, keeping a doodle free of ticks and other parasites can be difficult, and this isn’t helped by the presence of so many competing brands of treatments. Additionally, many tick and flea dog shampoos can aggravate dogs with sensitive skin or itchy skin, which is why it can be hard to find the best tick and flea shampoo.
But are tick and flea shampoos important for dogs? Dog shampoo and conditioner are essential for following a healthy grooming routine for your dog. Ticks and fleas can sometimes latch onto areas of a small dog that spot treatments or collars do not cover, which is why medicated shampoos are important to provide protection for these areas.
Are you trying to find the best shampoo for your doodle or Goldendoodle to kill and prevent ticks? Does your doodle have itchy skin problems resulting from tick shampoos? In this guide, we will address these questions and many more as we talk all about tick and flea dog shampoo. We will present you with several different tick shampoos to consider for your doodle along with a full review of each product.
Below are our top 8 choices for best dog tick and flea shampoo – read on to find out more!
- Veterinary Formula Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs
- Adams Flea and Tick Cleansing Shampoo
- Sentry Oatmeal Flea and Tick Shampoo
- Hartz UltraGuard Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs
- Arava Flea and Tick Control Shampoo for Dogs
- Advantage Flea and Tick Treatment Shampoo for Dogs
- Veterinary Formula Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Dog Shampoo
- TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs
What Is the Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles?
The best shampoos for Goldendoodles, doodles, and Cavapoos should be gentle on the skin but also powerful enough to kill and prevent ticks and fleas.
High-quality dog shampoos are great for your dog’s fur, but many brands of pet shampoo do not address ticks and fleas, which can be a particularly severe problem during the warmer months of the year.
We have analyzed and reviewed the very best shampoo options for ticks and fleas. All of these products are tailored to cover everything from skin conditions, tick and flea infestations in a dog’s fur, natural ingredients, and powerful shampoo choices.
Remember, however that you always choose the best shampoo corresponding to the special needs of your doodle. If you are unsure what shampoo your doodle may need, please check out some of our other guides:
- Best Antibacterial and Antifungal Dog Shampoo
- Best Anti-Itch Shampoos for Dogs
- Best Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo
- Best Shampoos for Poodles
- Best Shampoos for Goldendoodles
We tend to use dog flea and tick shampoo in the summer months on our Cavapoo Rosie as she is more susceptible to picking up these parasites at this time of year. Below are our top recommendations of the best dog tick shampoos to use on your doodle.
Veterinary Formula Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs (Top Pick Review)
No products found.Finding an effective treatment for ticks and fleas for doodles can take many expensive treatments and numerous bottles of ineffective tick and flea shampoo, with no end in sight to your pet’s discomfort. This is why there are always major benefits to choosing a shampoo that is specially formulated by veterinarians.
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Flea and Tick Shampoo contains up to 3 times more active ingredients than competitive or less expensive brands.
It is formulated with pyrethrum – a natural insecticide, to kill and control fleas and ticks on contact, soothe irritations from flea and tick bites, while also gently cleansing and exfoliating your doodle’s skin and coat. Your dog will be flea and tick-free with a soft and lustrous coat that smells fresh and clean.
The active ingredients are proven to kill and control fleas and ticks on contact. In order to promote the safety, wellbeing, and health of your doodle, this shampoo is paraben- and soap-free. It contains no harsh soaps or damaging detergents, only the gentlest naturally derived cleansers that are pH balanced for your pet’s skin.
For best results, follow instructions on the product packaging carefully and remember to wear rubber gloves when shampooing your dog, and avoid touching your eyes. Make sure that you use a cloth or sponge to shampoo around your dog’s eyes and thoroughly wet the entire coat with warm water before applying enough shampoo to make a lather and work thoroughly into the coat.
For maximum parasite control, allow the lather to remain in contact with your dogs skin for five to ten minutes before rinsing, since this will saturate the formula into your doodle’s skin. Do not reapply this product for at least 7 days.
What makes this shampoo so great is that the medication used to kill ticks and fleas is a natural derivative of pyrethroids, so you do not have to worry about applying topical insecticides to your dog’s skin.
Additionally, the formulation of the shampoo is tailored to prevent skin irritation, which is a problem we had with Rosie when she was younger.
It takes trial and error to find an effective yet gentle shampoo for doodles. This product is truly one of the best because it is incredibly effective at killing ticks and will not irritate the sensitive skin of a doodle.
Pros:
- Contains no harsh soaps or damaging detergents
- Contains powerful and safe pyrethrum
- Effective and affordable
- Soothes irritated skin
- Developed by veterinarians
Cons:
- It may be too powerful for some dogs
Adams Flea and Tick Cleansing Shampoo
No products found.The best way to break a tick cycle is to find a solution to all stages. Adams provides a solution for your yard, home, and pet. This product can completely eliminate the tick cycle by killing all live ticks on a doodle and then maintaining a residual effect on your dog’s skin to repel ticks afterwards.
Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo is a sensitive skin formula that contains deep conditioners to remove loose dandruff, dirt, and scales. Enriched with oatmeal, coconut extract, lanolin, and aloe, this pleasant scent also leaves the coat of your doodle soft, shiny, and manageable.
This product effectively kills ticks and even ticks eggs for 28 days to prevent re-infestation.
To use this product, thoroughly wet your doodle with warm water. Apply 1-2 tablespoons of shampoo to your pet’s fur and work the shampoo into a lather. Then let it remain on your doodle for 5 minutes to kill all of the ticks and fleas. Remember to rinse well with warm water before drying your pet off.
Repeat every 7-10 days or as needed.
Pros:
- Kills fleas, ticks, flea eggs, flea larvae, and lice
- Features sensitive skin formula with soothing aloe, lanolin, coconut extract, and oatmeal
- Contains an insect growth regulator (IGR) to kill and prevent ticks and fleas for up to 28 days
- Safe for use on all dogs
- Pleasant, fresh scent
Cons:
- Not as strong as some more advanced formulas
Sentry Oatmeal Flea and Tick Shampoo
No products found.Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo for dogs and puppies with oatmeal kill fleas and ticks for up to 10 days. It even kills the ticks that may carry Lyme Disease that can also pose a threat to you as well. This shampoo cleans, deodorizes, and conditions your doodle’s coat, and is pH balanced.
The formula contains oatmeal to soothe dry or sensitive skin, and can even be used on puppies over 12 weeks of age. Oatmeal dog shampoo is ideal for dogs with sensitive skin because the general and bland texture and composition of the oats are both soothing and cleansing.
One of the things we like most about this product is the gentle and non-overpowering fragrance it has which translates to your doodle’s coat as well with Hawaiian ginger fragrance.
In addition to these great skin-soothing benefits for your doodle, the compounds that kill ticks and fleas are strong but gentle enough on dog skin at the same time.
Pros:
- Thoroughly cleans and controls ticks
- Hawaiian ginger fragrance
- Kills all life stages of ticks
Cons:
- Some dogs may have allergic reactions to oatmeal dog shampoo
Hartz UltraGuard Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs
No products found.Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea and Tick Dog Shampoo provide your doodle with relief from fleas and brown dog ticks and is a trusted name in the industry of pet care.
Designed to wash away your dog’s troubles, this triple-action shampoo kills fleas and brown dog ticks through contact, while also preventing re-infestation by stopping flea eggs from hatching for up to four weeks.
Plus, it conditions your doodles’ coat and restores its shine. Made for dogs or puppies that are 12 weeks of age and older, you will need to wet your doodle’s coat thoroughly with water and rub shampoo into the coat, ensuring not to get suds into the eyes.
Massage from head to tail until the coat is completely covered with a foamy lather. Leave your dog to stand (if they can without shaking) or continue to massage for 5 minutes. Rinse and towel dry and remember to repeat the process weekly if necessary.
Hartz is always a go-to brand if you simply cannot decide between some of the more advanced formulations. Hartz will typically always get the job done.
Pros:
- Triple active shampoo kills fleas, flea eggs, and brown dog ticks plus prevents re-infestation for up to 4 weeks
- Trusted brand
- Conditions and restores shine
- Can be used weekly for preventative treatment, while cleaning and deodorizing
- Leaves doodle smelling clean and fresh for 5 days
Cons:
- Depending on the severity of tick and flea infestations on your dog’s coat, this brand may not be powerful enough to destroy large infestations
Arava Flea and Tick Control Shampoo for Dogs
No products found.Arava Dead Sea Spa flea and tick control dog shampoo is another great tick and flea shampoo for dogs with sensitive skin.
With a highly effective formula that features lemongrass, peppermint, cinnamon, thyme, clove, eastern red cedar, geranium, citronella, rosemary, castor, and soybean, and 26 Dead Sea minerals, this shampoo will quickly and effectively take care of all your doodles’ flea and tick issues. Not only that, but it will leave their skin and coat healthy and refreshed – almost as if they had visited a spa.
Most conventional flea and tick control puppy shampoos come with a massive downside: a strong, irritating scent. This shampoo, however, manages to keep insects and parasites away, and still has nothing more than a subtle, pleasant herbal smell to it.
With this in mind, essential oils are not always going to react well to certain dogs, and if your dog has allergies, then this shampoo is likely not a good option. But the added benefits of tick-killing ingredients and many common tick and flea repellents make this a product worthy of consideration.
Pros:
- Features 26 dead sea minerals
- Dual-acting tick filling and repellent
- Gentle and light, non-irritating scent
- Intensive bio care
Cons:
- Essential oils may irritate some dogs
Advantage Flea and Tick Treatment Shampoo for Dogs
No products found.Advantage Treatment Shampoo kills fleas and ticks on contact and is developed for use on dogs and puppies over the age of 12 weeks.
This is another popular and consistently used tick and flea shampoo and is most popular due to the gentle cleansing it provides to a dog’s skin and coat. The active ingredient in Advantage is pyrethroids and also peroxide which provides continued repellent properties after the shampoo kills all live ticks and fleas on a doodle.
If your doodle is a senior or pregnant, consult a veterinarian before using this product on debilitated, aged, pregnant, or nursing dogs and always make sure that you do not repeat treatment for 7 days.
Since flea and tick control on a dog is only part of the solution to the problem, Advantage recommends the inside of the house and the outdoor area used by your doodle must also be treated for complete control.
Pros:
- Kills ticks and fleas on contact
- Peroxide repels ticks for up to a month after use
- Gentle and non-irritating formula
Cons:
- Not good for severe tick infestations
Veterinary Formula Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Dog Shampoo
No products found.This medicated dog shampoo for dogs also by Veterinary Formula is an effective and affordable treatment for skin scaling caused by seborrhea, mange and other parasitic infections, and fungal infections.
With an easy treatment of shampooing 2-3 times per week initially and then less frequently, as skin improves, you can give your pet relief from symptoms including an inflamed scalp, greasy skin, rashes, and most important of all, complete safety from tick bites.
This type of dog shampoo is a bit less prone to causing irritation than what could be found with tick and flea shampoo. It can kill live ticks and fleas but would primarily work as a preventative for the parasites while soothing sensitive skin.
If your doodle has allergies or skin problems, consider using this formulation. The veterinary-grade ingredients in this shampoo for dogs help treat, hydrate, and relieve irritation caused by previous tick bites as well.
The main ingredient that applies to ticks in the product is Salicyclic acid, which will immediately seep into a tick’s skin once they attempt to bite your dog and cause severe allergic reactions that will lead to death.
When preventing ticks, it is important to have a strong and medicated shampoo to regularly bathe your dog, and this product fits that description and is also ideal because it doesn’t irritate a dog’s skin.
Pros:
- Gentle and healing
- Kills ticks on contact
- Fast-acting
- Veterinary recommended
- Effective
- Affordable
Cons:
- Has many uses that may not align with just tick control
TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs
No products found.If you are looking for 100% natural dog shampoo options for doodles and Goldendoodles, TropiClean Flea & Tick Shampoo Plus Soothing kills fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes by contact, while cocoa helps to soothe irritated skin.
This natural essential blended dog shampoo contains nature’s most powerful pest fighting ingredients, maximized with lemongrass and sesame oil for long-lasting effects. The natural formula is safe enough for routine doodle baths.
An aspect I really like is that TropiClean Pet Products are cruelty-free during the manufacturing process.
The combination of natural essential oils helps to effectively repel fleas, ticks, larvae, and eggs for up to 7 days when applied to dogs and puppies 12 weeks or older.
This brand uses no pyrethrin or permethrin and instead relies on natural ingredients to kill and repel ticks and fleas. 5 EPA-approved natural essential oils – clove oil, lemongrass oil, cedarwood oil, cinnamon oil, trace amounts of tea tree oil, and sesame seed oil, also provides for a pleasant citrus aroma to your doodle’s fur.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about washing away spot-on treatments since the natural compounds do not aggravate topical medications.
Essential oils may not always kill parasites outright, but the bathing process alone can drown any attached ticks or fleas.
Once the natural compounds rest on your dog’s skin surface, both ticks and fleas will jump or crawl away once the parasites come into contact with the oils.
Pros:
- 100% natural dog shampoo
- Kills and repels ticks and fleas for up to 7 days
- Fresh scent
Cons:
- Essential oils are great at repelling parasites but are not guaranteed to kill ticks and fleas immediately
How Do Dog Flea and Tick Shampoo Work?
The best dog shampoos for fleas and ticks will usually contain a safe and low-concentration of pesticides that can kill ticks and fleas on contact.
This may sound odd to think of your doodle walking around with insecticides on the fur, but pyrethroids are closely related to a plant called pyrethrum, which is largely where shampoo companies derive the chemicals that target fleas and ticks.
This differs greatly from the formulations of pyrethroids in insecticide products, which makes the chemicals safe to use as topical treatments for dogs.
Most tick and flea shampoo varieties are also ph balanced to ensure that the chemicals do not cause harm to your doodle’s skin.
Tick and flea shampoo works by killing any ticks, fleas, or flea eggs on contact as you are bathing your dog. The chemicals are also made into residuals in the best shampoo varieties which provides repellent protection on your dog’s skin for anywhere from 30 days to as little as 3 to 7 days for a shampoo that uses natural ingredients.
Dog Tick Collars for Goldendoodles and Similar Breeds vs. Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
In a perfect scenario, both dog shampoo and conditioner that treats and prevents ticks and flea and tick dog collars should be used for your doodle.
But this can be overkill, and more often than not, leads to skin issues.
In terms of ticks only, there are very few collars available that only treat ticks and this is a good thing since both fleas and ticks typically share the same season during the year.
If you only want to target ticks, you can use a product like Virbac Preventic that contains amitraz but you are strongly encouraged to check with your veterinarian first since this is a powerful chemical.
Otherwise, you can use a tick shampoo and conditioner that features a long residual on your doodle’s coat.
Apart from that, many of the best dog tick collars available will work to combat both types of parasites on your doodle. But you would also lose out on the penetrative effects of medicated tick and flea dog shampoo and conditioner.
In summary, using a tick and flea collar is a great idea since you can kill and repel the two most common pests that feed on the blood of dogs.
If you live in an area with out-of-control tick populations, you can ask your veterinarian about using a collar that contains amitraz.
Dog shampoo and conditioner that targets both ticks and fleas are also a great product to use since they use of dog shampoos can help relieve itchy skin or allergic reactions that can be caused by tick collars.
Consider using both.
Tick and Flea Prevention Tips for Doodles and Goldendoodles
Flea and tick prevention for dogs should include dog tick and flea collars as well as regular bathing with a medicated flea and tick shampoo as well as precautions during tick season.
To prevent fleas and ticks, make sure that the grass in your lawn or garden is kept very low since both fleas and ticks live and nest in tall grass. Additionally, for ticks, make sure that all areas in your yard that are shaded are treated with a tick pesticide and grass is kept trimmed and bushes are treated as well.
Always inspect your doodle if you walk in wooded areas and in places that frequently have a lot of dog activity, such as dog parks or local recreational parks.
Finally, be sure to frequently inspect your doodle’s coat for fleas and ticks and make sure to pay attention to the area between paws and behind the ears, since these areas are preferred feeding and hiding spots for ticks.
FAQs
Do Goldendoodles need a special shampoo?
The best shampoos for Goldendoodles should be made to address the thick coats of Goldendoodles and be light on harsh chemicals that could damage thick coats and cause your dog’s fur to lose luster.
Be sure to use a high-quality dog shampoo for Goldendoodles if you are seeking to kill and repel ticks and fleas. The quality of the shampoo should specifically list coat safety in the table of contents while still maintaining tick and flea-killing assurance.
Consider using oatmeal shampoo for Goldendoodles since the natural ingredients are largely soap-free.
What should I wash my Goldendoodle with?
Washing a Goldendoodle’s coat during bath time should be aimed at ensuring their coat maintains its illustrious shine and texture while also ensuring that ticks and fleas are killed and repelled.
Bathe your Goldendoodle with your preferred shampoo for their coat to get rid of any build-up of dirt and oil and to provide coat shine and detangling.
If you want to use flea and tick shampoo, you can always add this as a second layer. Be sure to use the tick and flea shampoo after any shampoo for your Goldendoodles coat since this will allow the chemicals to absorb into the coat and along the skin.
How often should you bathe a Goldendoodle?
Since Goldendoodles require lots of upkeep for their fur, it can become tricky when using a tick and flea shampoo. The best shampoo for a Goldendoodle will address all these concerns, and you may want to look into trying a shampoo that uses natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin but can also actively repel ticks and fleas.
Once you find the best shampoo that meets these requirements, you should bathe your dog’s coat once per week. This will keep your Goldendoodle looking and smelling fresh and free of ticks and fleas.
Is oatmeal dog shampoo a good choice to use?
Is oatmeal dog shampoo a good choice to use?
Oatmeal dog shampoo is one of the best shampoo choices because the natural ingredients in oatmeal shampoo can repel parasites while also keeping your dog’s fur shiny and healthy. Oatmeal shampoo is also one of the best shampoos for Goldendoodles for this specific reason.
Summary
The best shampoo for Goldendoodles or other doodle breeds should be strong enough to kill and repel parasites while also being gentle enough as not to cause allergic reactions or to irritate a doodle’s fragile skin.
Make sure you choose the best tick shampoo according to the severity of ticks and fleas in your yard or region. If you live in an area with minimal ticks and fleas, a natural shampoo may be all that you need to keep your doodle or Goldendoodle tick and flea safe throughout the warm months every year.