How to Solve the Battle of Fleas, Ticks, Lice, Mites, and Skin Conditions

If your puppy or dog has fleas, ticks, lice, mites, or skin and coat conditions such as flaky skin, mange, open sores, pus-filled sores, hair loss, shedding, or other allergies, non-food related skin problems, you want to work quickly to resolve them by using the best dog shampoo for their specific condition, not a generic dog shampoo or a natural dog shampoo alternative. A bacterial infection from just allergies alone (such as the ones from dog food, or certain dog shampoos for instance) can produce excessive itching, biting, and grooming which can manifest in hotspots or result in hair loss and open sores.

Does Your Puppy or Dog Have Fleas, Ticks, Lice, or Mites?

An infestation of parasites such as fleas, ticks, lice, and mites, is not only very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for your puppy or dog by causing certain types of anemia or bite allergies or mange, but will cost you at the vet’s office as well. If you have a puppy or dog that has parasites, what your puppy or dog needs is the best dog shampoo which is specifically made to kill fleas, ticks, lice, mites, and their offspring, and one that will start working immediately.

Dog shampoo is the preferred method of killing parasites quickly. Shampoo that is used liberally on the entire skin and coat instantly addresses all areas of parasitic infestation on your dog. Topical, spot flea treatments, or flea collars, only partially work and on limited areas of your dog. In addition topical, spot flea treatments, don’t work right away as they need to have time to have the chemicals absorbed into your dog’s skin, which is a less healthy alternative than a shampoo bath with a non-toxic based shampoo.

Why Not Use a Dog Shampoo Alternative?

Some well-meaning dog owners believe that using any dog shampoo to treat allergies, itching, shedding, mange, or fleas, ticks, mites, and lice is ok and “alternatives to dog shampoo” such as Dawn, Oatmeal, or Baby Shampoo will work to get rid of fleas and their eggs, fix skin conditions, get rid of mange, or deodorize their dog.

Actually, dog shampoo alternatives such as Dawn, Oatmeal, or Baby Shampoo can make your puppy’s or dog’s skin condition worse by not getting rid of fleas, ticks, lice, or mites and their eggs or offspring, or immediately and effectively treating the causes behind hotspots, dermatitis, or pyoderma. Dog shampoo alternatives do not have the ingredients to address parasitic or skin or coat conditions. In addition, if you use Dawn, Oatmeal, or Baby Shampoo be warned that those types of natural alternatives don’t cause relief, make skin conditions worse, and cause allergic reactions and excessive itching in some puppies and dogs.

Products for puppies and dogs that have healthy skin and coats:

• Recommended – Best Dog Shampoo For Dogs who Have Healthy Skin and Coats or Smell or Stink from Odors Such as Skunk: Mr. Greens Pet Wash

An economical dog shampoo that you can dilute, this dog shampoo contains natural eco-friendly ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for your dog’s skin while deodorizing your dog. It’s great for all kinds of skin types and keeps your puppy or dog’s coat detangled and smelling great. Works if your puppy or dog has tangled with a skunk. If you are worried about the possibility of irritating your puppy or dog’s skin but want to reduce the doggy smell of your companion, this shampoo will work for you. The best product out there for effectively getting rid of the odors, not just masking them. Economical – Can be diluted and works well for multiple dog and cat families.

• Recommended – Best Dog Shampoo (conditioner) (if you are looking to give shine and condition and reduce shedding or itching or both): Itchy Skin Solution Kit

If you are not sure why your dog is shedding and are looking to reduce shedding and to give your dog’s coat shine and volume, this combination of shampoo and supplements are for your dog. This shampoo address excessive itching which will reduce shedding and the vitamins will address hair breakage, which causes shedding in some breeds of dogs. This is a dog shampoo that will give your dog’s coat sheen and luster. Great for Goldens, Yorkies, Spaniels, and other types of dogs that have silky or long coats or dogs that have coarse, damaged, or tangled coats that are itching.

• Recommended – Best Dog Shampoo for Dogs with White or Dull Looking Coats:  Super White Dog Coat Brightener

If your dog loves to play in the dirt, gets really dirty, and subsequently has a yellow or dull coat color, this shampoo safely and effectively makes a dog’s coat brighter. It’s great for all dogs, especially ones like Huskies, Poms, show dogs, or any dog that has a dull, lifeless, or white coat.

Products for skin, coat, and fleas, ticks, lice, and mites in your puppy or dog:

• Recommended – Best Dog Shampoo for Dogs with Sensitive Skin (and have dry, flaky skin, or ringworm and need a natural coat conditioner): Miconazole Shampoo

If your dog is sensitive to other types of dog shampoos and has flaky or dry skin (which may be similar looking to dandruff), or red irritated skin from excessive scratching from flaky or dry skin, this dog shampoo is a good one to use. This dog shampoo contains Colloidal Oatmeal which both soothes and relieves irritations, dry skin, and promotes healthy skin regrowth which means the elimination of dryness and flakes. This shampoo also works on ringworm.

• Recommended – Best Dog Shampoo for Dogs (The shampoo is reported to work best) with Degreasing, Dandruff, Flaking, and problems associated with Seborrhea Dermatitis:  Sulfur Benz Shampoo (Dogs and Cats)

If your dog has a foul-smelling coat, dry flaky skin, greasy-feeling scaly skin, or both and the flakes are easy to lift off the skin or stick to the hair of your dog’s coat, you should be concerned.  If your dog has oily seborrhea where the flakes stick to the hair of your dog, the hair follicles can become infected or plugged and result in pustules, or drain, or crust over. Seborrhea dermatitis can affect the hocks, front of the neck down to the chest, and hair along the borders of the ears. The sulfur and salicylic acid contained in this dog shampoo work to degrease the coat and remove the scales allowing new skin to grow.

• Recommended – Best Dog Shampoo for dogs with Allergies, or Puss-Filled or Dry Sores and works on extreme cases: Maximum Chlorhexidine Shampoo or Spray

For dogs (and cats) that have allergies, follicle and fold infections, pyoderma (pyoderma is a bacterial infection of a cut or a wound that can be associated with scratching) or hotspots on the skin that are raw, puss-filled, or infected, the dog shampoo above will work best. One of the ingredients in this dog shampoo is Chlorhexidine, which is used as an antiseptic. In this case, the Chlorhexidine in the shampoo will work to prevent to control or reduce the infection that is on your dog’s skin by reducing or completely eliminating the growth of microorganisms, bacteria, or fungus that cause further decay or dead skin. This dog shampoo works by reducing or completely eliminating infections from the affected areas on your dog. The ingredients in the above shampoo also aid in healing by preventing further irritation. Dogs with pyoderma will also benefit from this dog shampoo.

Pyoderma Symptoms:

Pustules (puss)
Crusted Skin
Raised lesions
Loss of hair or skin
Dried discharge

• Recommended – Best Dog Shampoo for Dogs that have Mange: Lime Sulfur Dip

If your dog has been diagnosed with Sarcoptic Mange there is help. This dip works to quickly and effectively kill the mange parasites by using an antiparasitic and antimicrobial solution which will kill microorganisms on contact and promote healing by relieving dermatitis (inflammation of the skin).

• Recommended – Best Dog Shampoo for Dogs that Itch: Excessive Itching and Scratching and Sensitivity to Other Dog Shampoos +  (for less serious cases than the dog shampoo above): Itchy Dog Shampoo

Gentle but effective especially for those dogs who are highly sensitive to chemicals in their shampoos. Or have allergies. If your dog is constantly rubbing against things or itching or scratching constantly, this shampoo works by relieving the irritants on your dog’s skin that can make your dog scratch.

 It also will not dry out your dog’s skin. However, if your dog has deep, infected sores of any type, please use the shampoo above.

• Recommended – Best Dog Shampoo For Dogs and Cats That Have Fleas, Ticks, Lice, or Mites:   DeFlea Concentrated Shampoo and for your home Pure Defense

In order to kill fleas, mites, lice, and ticks, you need a gentle, safe, “acid” based solution that goes thru the skeleton of the fleas and kills mites, lice, and ticks by completely saturating the internal organs. That will kill them, their eggs, and their offspring. Don’t let the term “acid” scare you, as it only affects the pests and is perfectly safe for your puppy or dog. Remember fleas, mites, lice, and ticks are harmful to your puppy or dog and you want them rid of them, fast. Don’t forget about treating the rest of your house with this natural product.

Fleas, Mites, Lice, and Ticks  (puppies, over 12 weeks old, kittens over 12 weeks old, and cats and dogs)

Related: Dog Licking

When dealing with dog skin-related issues, coat issues, or fleas, ticks, mites, or lice, please do your research and use the best dog shampoo for your dog’s individual needs. You will save your dog from discomfort and yourself from possible vet bills, and a good deal of frustration.