Homemade Flea & Tick Shampoo Recipes for Your Dog

Washing your dog with flea and tick shampoo is one of many ways to deal with the pests that are bothering your poor pooch. There are, however, concerns with how your dog’s skin will react to the chemicals that some over-the-counter shampoos may contain. To avoid such concerns, you could consider making your own homemade shampoo with everyday household products.

Homemade Flea & Tick Shampoo Recipe #1

This specific flea and tick shampoo only require three ingredients: warm water, non-toxic dish soap, and white vinegar. Each ingredient serves a specific purpose. The dish soap will help wash away some of the oil that accumulates on the dog’s skin, and the vinegar may help repel the fleas and ticks that have already made themselves home on the dog’s skin.

We suggest mixing two cups of warm water, 1/4 cup of dish soap, and 1/2 cup of white vinegar to make the shampoo. Once combined, you can pour the mixture into a spray bottle to apply on the dog’s coat. Make sure to avoid the dog’s eye when you spray the shampoo.

Homemade Flea & Tick Shampoo Recipe #2

This makes a good homemade shampoo for dogs that are also suffering from dry and itchy skin. You will need 1 quart of water, 1 cup of non-toxic dish soap, 1 cup of white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel. Mix the ingredients well and apply it to your dog’s coat via a spray bottle. Work the shampoo into the dog’s coat before rinsing.

Aloe vera can make a great topical remedy on your dog’s fur as the effects of the aloe vera will soothe the itchy spots. You have to be careful, however, with the part of aloe vera you use on the dog as certain parts of the aloe vera leaf may lead to ill effects.

The part you need to pay special attention to when using aloe vera on dogs is the latex, which can cause issues with the digestion system such as diarrhea and stomach upsets. Make sure to prevent the dog from accidentally eating a large amount of aloe vera as it may lead to life-threatening conditions. Only use it as a topical solution.

Homemade Flea & Tick Shampoo Recipe #3

An alternative to aloe vera is to use oatmeal, which also has the soothing and moisturizing effect on the skin. You may have also noticed that oatmeal is already used in a lot of commercial grooming products, like dog grooming spray.

To make this shampoo, you will need one cup of uncooked oatmeal, half a cup of baking soda, and one quart of warm water. You will need to first grind the oatmeal into fine powder before the ingredients are mixed together. Lather your dog up with the oatmeal shampoo and make sure it is worked into his coat. Let the mixture sit on the dog’s coat for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

Homemade Flea & Tick Shampoo Recipe #4

If wet shampoo is not your dog’s cup of tea then you can also try homemade dry shampoo. This can be done using baking soda or food-grade diatomaceous earth. Sprinkle a very light mixture of the powder on your dog’s coat and massage it gently into the skin with your hands or a brush.

Powders like food grade diatomaceous earth can help eliminate the fleas and ticks by scraping against and piercing the insect’s exoskeleton. Try to keep the powder away from your dog’s face as it may lead to mild respiratory issue if your dog accidentally breathes in a huge amount of the powder.

Also note that the effects of food grade diatomaceous earth or baking soda will no longer be effective once they become damp.

Common Questions About Flea & Tick Shampoo

Here are some common questions that people have when it comes to using homemade flea and tick shampoo on your dog.

What’s the Safest Way to Bathe Your Dog?

First, make sure you apply the homemade shampoo on a small patch of your dog’s coat to check for any reactions. If your dog’s coat is perfectly fine after a few minutes then you can assume it’s safe to apply to the rest of your dog’s coat (although it doesn’t hurt to confirm with the vet).

When applying the shampoo, we suggest you start from the dog’s neck and work your way downwards. This will prevent any escaping fleas and ticks from crawling onto your dog’s face as you start to lather up their coat.

How Often Can I Use Flea Shampoo on My Dog?

Even if its homemade shampoo, we would suggest limiting the number of times you bathe your dog. We would suggest to only wash your dog once a month. If your dog has a serious flea and tick infestation then it is highly recommended that you take your furry pal to the vet for consultation.