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The 12 Best Dog Shampoos For Itchy Skin

Unless your dog is filthy, regular washing is typically unnecessary and, in fact, can damage your dog's coat by stripping it of its natural oils if done too regularly with the wrong sort of shampoo. Washing your dog, on the other hand, can be extremely useful or even required at times. For example, if your dog has itchy skin because of allergies or a bacterial infection, bathing them can help relieve the symptoms and make them feel better.

Of course, under these circumstances, any shampoo will not suffice, and you will need to use a shampoo specifically made for irritated skin and allergies. These shampoos often feature mild formulations designed to soothe your dog's skin and should be free of potential allergies. Scratching is typical in dogs, even if they don't have fleas or dry skin, but if you observe your dog scratching more than usual, they may want your assistance to find comfort.

There are several dog shampoos on the market, and you can't possibly try them all to find which one works best for your pup. BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has chosen 12 of the best dog shampoos for itchy skin in dogs, along with detailed reviews, to help you find the best way to help your dog's skin feel better.

Reviews

Best Overall: Soap-free Vetoquinol Aloe and Oatmeal Shampoo

  • Aloe, oatmeal are key elements.
  • 16 ounces
  • Fragrance: Coconut

Vetoquinol’s Aloe and Oatmeal Shampoo for Itchy Dry Skin is carefully created to treat itchy skin in dogs and cats and is our overall favorite. The shampoo contains soothing aloe and oatmeal, both of which have been shown to help calm irritated skin and reduce allergy symptoms, and it is soap-free.

The unique composition provides moisture and cleans deeply without disrupting your dog’s natural oils, and it has a faint, relaxing coconut aroma.

Our only complaint about this shampoo is that it contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which might cause irritation in certain dogs.

Pros

  • It contains calming oatmeal and aloe.
  • Formulated without soap
  • Veterinary recommendation
  • Natural oils in your dog’s coat will not be disturbed.
  • Aromatic coconut smell

Cons

  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate is present.

Premium Option: Virbac KetoChlor Medicated Dog and Cat Shampoo

  • Chlorhexidine gluconate, ketoconazole
  • 16 ounces
  • Fragrance: None

If you’re searching for a high-quality anti-itch shampoo for your dog, Virbac’s KetoChlor is an excellent choice. This shampoo is designed to treat fungal and bacterial skin problems by inhibiting microbe colonization on your dog’s skin.

It includes antiseptic chlorhexidine gluconate and antifungal ketoconazole to help soothe and stop skin irritation on your dog. The shampoo lathers and rinses well and has no discernible aroma, making it suitable for sensitive canines.

While it is pricey, it is one of the finest non-prescription shampoos for treating fungal and bacterial skin problems in your dog.

Pros

  • Specifically designed to treat fungal and bacterial skin problems.
  • Chlorhexidine gluconate and ketoconazole are present.
  • Antifungal and antiseptic properties
  • Fragrance-free
  • Veterinary recommendation
  • There is no prescription necessary.

Cons

  • Price

Best For Puppies: Hypoallergenic Gentle Coconut Puppy Shampoo TropiClean

  • Ingredients: Aloe, oats, and coconut
  • 20 ounces
  • Fragrance: Coconut

TropiClean Hypo-Allergenic Coconut Shampoo is a terrific anti-itch shampoo for your new puppy since it’s carefully created to be gentle on their growing, sensitive skin. It contains naturally soothing components like as aloe, oats, and coconut and is pH calibrated to be friendly on your pet.

This shampoo cleans, hydrates, and leaves your puppy’s coat looking wonderful with a lovely coconut scent. It is free of sops, parabens, and dyes.

Some consumers say the fragrance of this shampoo is a little too strong, especially for pups, and that it dried out their puppy’s coat after a few washes.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Puppy-specific formulation
  • Natural substances were used.
  • pH equilibrium
  • Soaps, parabens, and dyes are not present.

Cons

  • astringent odor
  • If used excessively, it may cause your puppy’s coat to dry out.

Dog & Cat Shampoo Douxo S3 CALM Soothing Skin

  • Ophytrium, chlorhexidine are key components.
  • Weight: 7 oz.
  • Fragrance: None

Douxo S3 CALM Soothing Dog Shampoo is designed to relieve irritated and itchy skin in dogs and cats. It includes ophytrium, which helps to strengthen your dog’s skin and restore the balance of delicate bacteria to alleviate discomfort, as well as chlorhexidine, an antiseptic that aids in the healing of any illness.

The shampoo also moisturizes and detangles your dog’s fur, leaving them with a lustrous and silky coat. It is also devoid of soaps, sulfates, parabens, colors, and nanoparticles, making it great for sensitive dogs.

Despite the fact that this shampoo is claimed to be fragrance-free, several consumers noted a weird coconut odor after using it.

Pros

  • Specifically designed to calm inflamed and itchy skin.
  • Ophytrium and chlorhexidine are present.
  • It aids with the moisturization and detangling of your dog’s fur.
  • Soaps, sulfates, parabens, colors, and nanoparticles are not present.
  • Veterinary recommendation

Cons

  • Unusual odor
  • Price

Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs with Colloidal Oat Flour and Honey

  • Ingredients: Oatmeal, honey, and beeswax
  • 16 ounces
  • Fragrance: Honey

Burt’s Bees has long been a renowned brand in dog shampoo, and their Oatmeal Shampoo is an excellent choice for itching dogs. It contains soothing components such as colloidal oat flour, which helps profoundly treat dry skin, honey, which promotes a healthy coat by regulating and keeping moisture in your dog’s hair follicles, and green tea extract, which helps strengthen the hair.

Is pH balanced, has 97 percent natural ingredients, and is devoid of artificial perfumes, chemicals, parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Finally, the shampoo is manufactured in the United States and comes in an 80 percent recyclable bottle.

Several users complained that this shampoo has a very watery quality and does not lather effectively, making it difficult to use.

Pros

  • The components are 97 percent natural.
  • Colloidal oatmeal is used to treat dry skin.
  • To strengthen hair follicles, honey and green tea extract were used.
  • pH equilibrium
  • Artificial scents and sodium lauryl sulfate are not present.

Cons

  • The consistency is watery.
  • It does not lather well.

MiconaHex+Triz Shampoo for Dogs and Cats by Dechra

  • Miconazole nitrate USP, chlorhexidine gluconate are the active components.
  • 16 ounces
  • Fragrance: None

Dechra’s MiconaHex+Triz Dog Shampoo is particularly developed with antimicrobial and antifungal qualities to maintain healthy skin in dogs. It contains the antifungal miconazole nitrate USP, as well as chlorhexidine, an antiseptic that can help treat bacterial infections on your dog’s skin.

Ceramides are also included to help moisturize, mend, and restore dry and damaged skin, as well as give your dog a lustrous, healthy coat. The shampoo is fragrance-free and produced in the United States.

A few buyers noted that different shampoos worked better for their dogs.

Pros

  • Specially designed to promote healthy skin in dogs.
  • characteristics antimicrobial and antifungal
  • Ceramides are present to support a healthy coat.
  • Made in the United States
  • Veterinary recommendation

Cons

  • Price
  • Some dogs were unable to use it.

Vet’s Recommended Itch Relief Shampoo for Dogs

  • Aloe, oats, and tea tree oil are the main constituents.
  • 16 ounces
  • Tea tree fragrance

Vet’s Best Allergy and Itch Relief Shampoo was developed by veterinarians to assist relieve itching in dogs. It contains exfoliating oatmeal to help exfoliate rough skin, soothing aloe, and d-limonene and tea tree to help strengthen and scent your dog’s coat.

It soothes itching while gently moisturizing, cleaning, and deodorizing your dog’s coat. Finally, it contains calming essential oils such as lavender, neem seed oil, and vitamin E, which work together to gently relieve your dog’s itching symptoms.

Some buyers complained that this shampoo did not relieve their dog’s dry skin and had a strong odor that lingered after washing. It also does not lather properly, making it difficult to use on larger dogs.

Pros

  • Veterinarian developed
  • Aloe, oats, and tea tree are all soothing ingredients.
  • It is safe to use in conjunction with topical tick and flea treatments.
  • Contains a relaxing essential oil combination

Cons

  • It did not work for some of our customers’ pets.
  • astringent odor
  • It does not lather well.

Medicated Sulfodene Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

  • Aloe, sulfur are important elements.
  • Weight: 12 oz.
  • Green apple fragrance

Ingredients in Sulfodene Medicated Dog Shampoo aid to relieve itching and flaking caused by allergies or skin illnesses. The shampoo contains genuine aloe to help soothe and moisturize your dog’s skin, as well as sulfur, which is known to be useful in treating various scaling skin disorders in dogs. It is efficient yet mild enough for daily use on dogs 12 weeks and older.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate and artificial colorants are among the components in this shampoo.

Pros

  • Aloe vera soothes the skin.
  • Sulfur was added.
  • Dogs 12 weeks and older are welcome.

Cons

  • The odor is really strong.
  • Colors are synthetic.
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate is present.

Buyer's Guide: How to Select the Best Dog Shampoo for Itchy Skin

While using a soothing shampoo to assist alleviate your dog’s irritating skin is beneficial, it is equally critical to address the underlying reason of your dog’s itching. Itching can be caused by fungal or bacterial diseases, as well as fleas, ticks, and allergies, and treating these causes is the first step in preventing itching in your dog. Once you’ve determined the cause, you can select the best shampoo for your dog. Depending on the severity of their condition, there are numerous options available, some of which are potent and may require a prescription from your veterinarian, and others that are far milder and gentler for sensitive pooches.

Ingredients

The most crucial aspect to consider when selecting an itch-relief shampoo for your dog is the ingredients. You’ll want the shampoo to have as many natural elements as possible while yet being effective enough to provide relief to your dog. Furthermore, the shampoo should preferably be free of artificial and possibly dangerous components such as Sodium Laureth Sulphate, as well as artificial perfumes and colorants. Here are some items that have been shown to comfort your dog and alleviate irritation caused by fungal or bacterial infections:

  • Aloe vera gel
  • Coconut
  • Oatmeal
  • The tea tree
  • Lavender
  • Sulfur
  • Honey
  • Diet

Reasons why your dog’s skin may be itchy

Skin disorders in dogs are regrettably rather frequent these days and can be caused by a variety of factors. If the itching is persistent and followed by peeling skin, blotches, or redness, consult your veterinarian; nevertheless, moderate symptoms can be alleviated with the correct shampoo. The following are some of the most common reasons of dry skin in dogs:

  • Skin that is parched

One of the most prevalent causes of itchy skin is dry skin, which is also one of the easiest to treat. Dry skin can be caused by severe weather, excessive washing, or using the incorrect shampoos, and it can even be a nutritional issue. If shampoo does not fix the problem, your dog’s nutrition may be the culprit.

While food allergies in dogs are uncommon, they can exist and can cause your dog’s skin to become irritated. Another difficulty is that food allergies can be difficult to detect, and you may need to follow an elimination diet or send your dog to the clinic for testing. Nutritional inadequacies can also result in dry skin, which causes itching. Make sure your dog is eating a comprehensive, balanced diet with plenty of vital omega fatty acids for skin health; this, together with the correct shampoo, may help fix the problem.

  • Allergies

Allergens in the environment are a typical cause of itchy skin in dogs. This is generally seasonal and caused by pollen or dust mites, but they might possibly be allergic to something in or around your house or yard. Again, this can be difficult to precisely identify, and you may need to visit a veterinarian for tests.

Conclusion

If your dog has itchy skin, any of the shampoos listed above can help, but the Aloe and Oatmeal Shampoo from Vetoquinol is our overall favorite. The shampoo has soothing aloe and oats, doesn’t have soap, is vet-approved, and has a light, relaxing coconut scent that will leave your pup smelling and feeling clean.

The Frisco Anti-Itch Shampoo from BestForPets (bestforpets.org) is the best dog shampoo for itchy skin for the money.It softly but completely cleans and deodorizes, and it includes aloe vera, coconut, and tea tree oil, as well as vitamins A and E and pro-vitamin B5 for coat and skin health.

If you’re searching for a high-quality best dog shampoo for itchy skin, Dechra-medicated KetoChlor’s shampoo is an excellent choice. It’s carefully created to help treat fungal and bacterial skin infections in your dog, including antiseptic chlorhexidine gluconate and antifungal ketoconazole to soothe and stop skin irritation.

To have the best chance of success, you must follow the shampooing instructions on the product. Some, for example, must be kept on for 10 minutes before being washed off.

Finally, if you are using topical flea and tick treatments, remember to examine the advice on when you may bathe or get your pet wet after you have applied them since this differs by parasite product.

Itchy skin may be aggravating for both you and your dog, and perhaps our in-depth evaluations have helped you discover a solution to help relieve your dog’s annoyance! Did any of the shampoos listed above help to relieve your dog’s itchy skin? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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Dr. Deborah Fletcher

Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.

Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher

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