5 Best Flea Dips for Dogs – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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Battling an outbreak of fleas can be a long and tiring fight for even the most dedicated dog owner. Fortunately, many products are available to help you kill off the pesky insects on your dog. Flea dips were one of the original weapons in the fight against these parasites. While various other flea control products are available, some dog owners may still prefer to use a dip. To help you shop for these items, we’ve collected reviews of the five best flea dips for dogs this year. Check out the description of these products and the accompanying buyer’s guide to help you pick the right option for your dog.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Adams Plus Flea and Tick Pyrethrin Pet Dip |
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Best Value
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Martin’s Flea, Tick, and Mange Dip |
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Check Price |
Premium Choice
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Happy Jack Dog Flea & Tick Treatment and Prevention |
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Check Price |
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Bio-Groom Flea and Tick Pest Control |
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Zodiac Flea and Tick Dip for Dogs and Cats |
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The 5 Best Flea Dips for Dogs
1. Adams Plus Flea and Tick Pyrethrin Pet Dip– Best Overall
| Repels: | Fleas, ticks, mosquitos, biting flies, chewing lice |
| Kills: | Fleas, ticks, biting flies, mosquitos, chewing lice |
| Lifestage: | Puppies older than 12 weeks, adult |
Our pick for the best overall flea dip for dogs is Adams Plus Flea and Tick Pyrethrin Pet Dip. This versatile dip repels and kills fleas and other parasites, including ticks and mosquitoes. It’s extremely concentrated, so one bottle goes a long way. The dip also contains ingredients designed to soothe your dog’s skin, which may be irritated from flea bites. Some flea dips can be quite smelly, but the Adams Dip is unscented. Although it’s labeled for use in cats, you should use caution because kitties are more sensitive than dogs to pyrethrin. After using this dip, mixed dog and cat households must be careful about letting the two species interact. It’s also not labeled for use on puppies younger than 12 weeks. Users caution that you must follow the directions carefully for the best results.
- Repels and kills other parasites in addition to fleas
- Cost-effective
- Unscented
- Contains skin-soothing ingredients
- Use with caution if you have cats in the household
- Not for puppies younger than 12 weeks
- Mixed effectiveness if not used as directed
2. Martin’s Flea, Tick, and Mange Dip– Best Value
| Repels: | Fleas, ticks, flies, lice |
| Kills: | Fleas, ticks, flies, lice |
| Lifestage: | Puppies older than 12 weeks, adult |
Our pick of the best flea dip for the money is Martin’s Flea, Tick, and Mange Dip. This concentrated product produces a full 8 gallons of dip per pint, making it a cost-effective option for your dog. Permethrin, the active ingredient, is not safe for cats, so use caution if you have a mixed-pet household. This flea dip is made in the USA and works against ticks, flies, and lice, but it can’t be used on puppies younger than 12 weeks.
After you dip your dog, Martin’s helps control fleas for up to 28 days. It can also treat bedding and surfaces as part of your overall flea control plan. Make sure to follow the directions carefully to make sure it works safely and effectively for your dog.
- Cost-effective
- Can also be used to treat bedding and surfaces
- Made in the USA
- Helps control fleas for up to 28 days
- Use caution if there are cats in the house
- Not for puppies younger than 12 weeks
3. Happy Jack Kennel Dip Dog Flea and Tick Treatment & Prevention– Premium Choice
| Repels: | Fleas, ticks, flies, lice, mites |
| Kills: | Fleas, ticks, flies, lice, mites |
| Lifestage: | Puppies older than 12 weeks, adult |
Happy Jack Kennel Dip Dog Flea and Tick Treatment and Prevention isn’t the most cost-effective option on our list, but it’s made by one of the most experienced companies. In business since 1946, Happy Jack products are made in the USA and approved by EPA for use on dogs. This dip can treat your dog, yard, or kennel, with up to 30 days of residual prevention.
It kills and prevents fleas, including eggs and larvae. Happy Jack also kills ticks, mites, flies, and lice. However, it can’t be used on puppies younger than 12 weeks. It’s not labeled for cats, so you should use caution if your dog shares space with feline friends. Most users reported good results with this product.
- Approved for use in dogs by the EPA
- Can be used to treat the yard and kennel as well
- Treats other parasites as well
- Up to 30 days of residual prevention
- Use caution if your dog interacts with cats
- Not for puppies younger than 12 weeks
- More expensive than some other options
4. Bio-Groom Flea and Tick Pest Control
| Repels: | Fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitos, lice, ear mites |
| Kills: | Fleas, ticks, lice, ear mites |
| Lifestage: | Puppies older than 12 weeks, adult |
Bio-Groom Flea and Tick Pest Control is the flea dip for those who prefer organic, cruelty-free products. It can be used on puppies older than 12 weeks. As always, follow the directions carefully to maximize safety and effectiveness. This dip is also labeled for cats and kittens, but remember what we mentioned earlier about feline sensitivity to pyrethrin. In addition to fleas, this dip is effective against other parasites, including ticks and ear mites. Bio-Groom is available in a cost-effective 1-gallon jug as well. It provides up to 2 weeks of preventative effect after use. Users thought this product worked as intended, although some reported mixed results.
- Organic and cruelty-free
- Available in a 1-gallon jug
- Also works against ticks and ear mites
- Not for puppies younger than 12 weeks
- Users reported mixed results
5. Zodiac Flea and Tick Dip for Dogs and Cats
| Repels: | Fleas, ticks, lice, ear mites |
| Kills: | Fleas, ticks, lice, ear mites |
| Lifestage: | Puppies older than 12 weeks, adult |
Zodiac Flea and Tick Dip contains moisturizing ingredients to keep your dog’s skin from drying out during use. In addition to fleas, this dip kills and repels ticks, lice, and ear mites. Like the other dips on our list, it can only be used on puppies older than 12 weeks. Because it’s also labeled for cats, it may be a safer option to use on dogs in mixed households, although you should still proceed cautiously. Users report that this dip has a very strong, unpleasant chemical smell but disappears when it dries. Some users also found the directions confusing.
- Also kills and repels ticks, lice, and ear mites
- May be a better choice for households with cats
- Strong smell
- The directions can be confusing
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Flea Dip for Your Dog
As you’re choosing flea control products, including dip, here are some key factors to consider.
How Old Is Your Dog?
Finding flea control products for puppies can be tough, but flea dips present the biggest issue. Many spot-on or oral flea preventatives can be used on puppies as young as 8 weeks. None of the dips on our list are labeled for those younger than 12 weeks. If you have a puppy with fleas, dips may not be the best product choice for you.
Do You Have a Cat?
Cats are much more sensitive than dogs to the active ingredients in most flea dips. Flea dips labeled exclusively for dogs should never be used on cats. In addition, it may not be safe for a cat to even interact with a dog who’s been treated with these dips. Even flea dips meant for use in cats should be used with caution. However, they’re likely a better choice for treating dogs who also share their homes with a kitty.
What’s Your Plan to Treat Fleas in the Environment?
Killing the fleas on your dog is just step one of your battle to destroy an infestation. If you don’t also attack the fleas living and reproducing in your dog’s living environment, they’ll just hop right back on your pup. Some of the dips on our list, like Happy Jack, can also be made into a spray for your yard or used to treat other surfaces. You need a product that kills all life cycles of the flea, not just adult fleas. In addition to applying a flea control product, you will need to take other steps to treat your home, including washing all your dog’s bedding in hot water and vacuuming frequently.
What’s Your Plan to Prevent Fleas?
The dips on our list provide varying levels of preventative protection after use. If you don’t want to be dipping your dog frequently, you’ll need to use a longer-lasting flea-preventative product. Topical and oral options are available, in addition to flea collars. Ask your vet to help you choose the right product for your dog. Keep in mind that not every product is safe to use with flea dips. Again, your vet can help with this issue.
Conclusion
As our best overall pick, Adams Plus Flea and Tick Dip provides cost-effective, unscented flea control for dogs. Our best value pick, Martin’s Flea, Tick, and Mange Dip, allows you to treat your dog and their home environment to control fleas and other parasites. Our premium pick is Martin’s Flea, Tick, and Mange Dip, which can also be used for bedding and surfaces. If flea dips are your parasite control of choice, our reviews of these five products can help guide your final decision. However, flea dips may not be the best choice for young puppies or households with cats. Talk to your veterinarian if you are still uncertain which flea products are best for your dog.
Featured Image Credit: Studio217, Shutterstock
