Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Tabitha Henson
Veterinarian, DVM
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Tabitha Henson
Veterinarian, DVM
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
As dog owners, we know how much our dogs love to spend time outdoors. We also know that keeping fleas and ticks off of our best friend is important. But did you know that flies can also be persistent pests to your dog?
Flies like to land on your dog and bite them. They are especially drawn to open wounds, laying their eggs in the wound and feeding on blood. To give your dog relief, a fly repellent is an easy solution.
With so many to choose from, though, it can be difficult to know which one is safe and effective for your dog. We created reviews of our favorite fly repellents to help you learn more about the products and find the one that you like the best. Once you’ve chosen one, you can give your dog relief from these annoying critters.
Disclaimer: Always use caution and care during application to avoid contact with your dog’s eyes, nose, and mouth. Do not allow your dog to lick or groom themselves after application as they could ingest the repellant. If you notice any changes with your dog after recent application, seek guidance from your vet.
A Glance at Our Top Picks in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Absorbine Ultrashield Green Fly Repellent
Eco-friendly formula
Leaves coats shiny
Repels several types of insects
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Best Value
Flys-Off Fly Repellent Dog & Horse
Long-lasting container
Ointment allows for more precise application
Keeps flies away from open wounds
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Premium Choice
Bio-Groom Repel-35 Insect Control Dog Spray
Effective against several types of insects
Safe for the environment
Light scent
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Pyranha Zero-Bite All-Natural Fly Spray
All-natural
Pleasant scent of essential oils
Non-greasy
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Nantucket Spider Natural Insect Repellent
Blend of essential oils
No harsh chemicals
Quality coverage
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The 5 Best Fly Repellents for Dogs
The Absorbine Ultrashield Green Fly Repellent Spray is safe for use on horses, ponies, and dogs. It’s good for multi-animal homes and will repel not only flies but also ticks, mosquitoes, and gnats. Its versatility makes it the best overall fly repellent for dogs.
Active ingredients: Citronella oil, clove oil, geraniol
Size: 32 ounce
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The formula is eco-friendly and contains seven essential oils. The botanical scent of these oils will last in your dog’s coat, so it’s important to make sure you can tolerate the smell. It leaves dogs’ coats soft and shiny.
For maximum effectiveness when spending long periods outdoors, reapply this spray every 2 hours to keep your dog fly-free. This formula is not concentrated, so it’s ready to go right from the spray bottle. This is a non-toxic option. While it’s not truly all-natural, it’s safe for use around people and animals.
Pros
Eco-friendly formula
Leaves coats shiny
Repels several types of insects
Cons
The scent may be overwhelming
The Flys-Off Fly Repellent Dog & Horse Ointment is the best fly repellent for dogs for the money. This tub lasts for a while because a little goes a long way. One perk of using an ointment instead of a spray is that you can carefully apply it around your dog’s nose and eyes without missing any spots.
Eco-friendly formula
Leaves coats shiny
Repels several types of insects
- Eco-friendly formula
- Leaves coats shiny
- Repels several types of insects
The scent may be overwhelming
- The scent may be overwhelming
Active ingredients: Pyrethrins
Size: 7 ounces
The ointment can also cover the areas around open wounds, keeping flies away from them so they have a chance to heal. It will stop your dog from scratching or biting at the wounds to remove the flies. It will also keep your dog calmer and more content outside.
The biggest issue with this ointment is the smell. It’s strong, but some dog owners don’t mind it because the product works. It’s safe for use on dogs over 12 weeks old.
Pros
Long-lasting container
Ointment allows for more precise application
Keeps flies away from open wounds
Cons
Strong odor
The easy-to-use Bio-Groom Repel-35 Insect Control Dog Spray is effective against flies, mosquitoes, and gnats. It offers protection against fleas and ticks. It can also be used on horses.
Long-lasting container
Ointment allows for more precise application
Keeps flies away from open wounds
- Long-lasting container
- Ointment allows for more precise application
- Keeps flies away from open wounds
Strong odor
- Strong odor
Active ingredients: Permethrin
Size: 16 ounces
The water-based formula is gentle on dogs with sensitive skin. It’s non-irritating and includes lanolin and aloe for nourishing moisture. This makes it safe for regular use. It has a light scent and offers 35 days of protection against insects.
Bio-Groom products are safe for animals and the environment. However, it is water-based and will need to be reapplied after the dog goes swimming or is out in the rain. Some dog owners noticed that the protection wore off after 14 days instead of 35.
Pros
Effective against several types of insects
Safe for the environment
Light scent
Cons
May need to be reapplied frequently
May not last for 35 days
4. Pyranha Zero-Bite All-Natural Fly Spray for Dogs
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Active ingredients: Clove and peppermint oil
Size: 32 ounces
The Pyranha Zero-Bite All-Natural Fly Spray can be used on dogs, cats, and other small animals. It repels various types of flies using natural ingredients, making it a safe alternative to harsh fly sprays that use strong chemicals. The spray also repels mosquitos, fleas, gnats, and lice.
Effective against several types of insects
Safe for the environment
Light scent
- Effective against several types of insects
- Safe for the environment
- Light scent
May need to be reapplied frequently
May not last for 35 days
- May need to be reapplied frequently
- May not last for 35 days
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Active ingredients: Clove and peppermint oil
Size: 32 ounces
The water-based formula combines clove and peppermint oil to repel insects, but it won’t leave your dog’s coat feeling oily or greasy. It dries quickly.
The smell of the essential oils can be overwhelming, but it fades over time. The product starts foamy when it’s sprayed. The foam then goes away as the liquid settles into the dog’s coat.
Pros
All-natural
Pleasant scent of essential oils
Non-greasy
Cons
Scent may be too strong for some dog owners
Messy application
- Nantucket Spider Natural Insect Repellent
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Active ingredients: Essential oils
Size: 8 ounces
The Nantucket Spider Natural Insect Repellent uses a blend of essential oils to repel flies, ticks, mosquitos, and other pests. Rosemary, thyme, peppermint, cedarwood, and geranium oils work to keep insects off your pup naturally without any harsh chemicals.
All-natural
Pleasant scent of essential oils
Non-greasy
- All-natural
- Pleasant scent of essential oils
- Non-greasy
Scent may be too strong for some dog owners
Messy application
- Scent may be too strong for some dog owners
- Messy application
Active ingredients: Essential oils
Size: 8 ounces
The fine mist sprayer offers quality coverage with every spray. Your dog won’t be soaking in this repellent, but it will form a nice barrier on their coats to ward off flies. This spray can also be used in kennels, dog houses, and dog beds to keep the insects away.
The smell can be overwhelming to some dog owners. If essential oils aren’t something that you enjoy, this won’t be the product for you.
Pros
Blend of essential oils
No harsh chemicals
Quality coverage
Cons
Overwhelming smell
Not ideal if you’re not a fan of essential oils
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Fly Repellent
What to Look For in Fly Repellents for Dogs
Blend of essential oils
No harsh chemicals
Quality coverage
- Blend of essential oils
- No harsh chemicals
- Quality coverage
Overwhelming smell
Not ideal if you’re not a fan of essential oils
- Overwhelming smell
- Not ideal if you’re not a fan of essential oils
Understanding what’s in fly repellents will help you choose one that will work for your dog’s needs.
Eco-friendly Repellents
Eco-friendly sprays tend to use natural ingredients like lemongrass and citronella. They’re non-toxic and safe to use around people and animals besides dogs. These sprays tend to leave behind a long-lasting scent that you may or not find pleasant.
Pesticides
Repellents that contain pesticides will repel and kill insects, but these are not ideal to use on dogs because they lick themselves. These products should not be used on dogs.
Ointment vs. Spray
If you want to give your dog a quick layer of protection before they spend time outdoors, sprays work well. Sprays don’t cover targeted areas, though, and they can’t be sprayed around the eyes or nose or on open wounds.
Ointments enable you to get close to your dog’s eyes and around their nose with more precision. You can put the product exactly where you want it to go. Ointments also last longer because they absorb into the skin. They are more effective at keeping flies away from open wounds.
Why Are Flies on My Dog?
Flies are drawn to dogs for various reasons. If your dog has a dirty coat or a bit of poop stuck in their hair, flies will be able to detect that in a second. Open wounds are also attractive to flies, so if your dog has a scratch or injury, make sure to keep the flies away. They will feed off the wound and lay their eggs in the tissue.
Some flies can bite your dog, which is not only painful for them but also could lead to infections. Flies can also transmit disease. They land on anything that they find, including piles of dog poop. They can then fly directly from the poop to your dog, spreading bacteria.
How Can I Keep Flies Away?
In addition to using repellents on your dog, you can use them around your yard. If you’re spraying pesticides around your home, be sure to keep all animals and children away from the area until the product is completely dry.
Remove anything that the flies are attracted to. Keep your yard clear of dog poop. Secure trash can lids. Pick up trash, and remove any piles of rotting organic matter. Standing water should be removed to keep flies and mosquitos away.
Flies may occasionally come into your yard, but if there’s nothing there for them to enjoy, they won’t stick around.
Conclusion
Our best overall choice of fly repellents for dogs is Absorbine Ultrashield Green Fly Repellent Spray. It’s eco-friendly and repels several insects, but the smell can be overwhelming. For a budget option, we like Flys-Off Fly Repellent Dog & Horse Ointment. It helps you apply the product with more precision around eyes, noses, and open wounds. We hope that our reviews have helped you decide on the fly repellent that’s right for your dog.
Featured Image Credit: mferman24, Pixabay
