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Your dog’s constant itching can them uncomfortable and make the issue ultimately worse. Anti-itch shampoos can help soothe irritated and itchy skin, giving it time to heal without itching. Our favorite dog shampoo for itchy skin is without a doubt Oliver’s Choice Dog Shampoo with Oatmeal and Aloe.
Check out some of the best dog shampoos for itchy skin that you can purchase right now.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 12oz |
| Scent | Oatmeal cookie |
| Active Ingredients |
Oatmeal aloe and shea butter |
| Conditions Treated |
Itchy skin dry skin irritation |
Oliver’s Choice Oatmeal and Aloe dog shampoo is specially formulated to work miracles on your dog’s skin and coat. Though it’s a bit expensive compared to other shampoos in this size range, it’s got the quality to match. This pet shampoo works well for dogs and puppies and is labeled hypoallergenic.
Together, the oatmeal and aloe ingredients help keep your dog’s skin moisturized and reduce dandruff. This shampoo is free of harmful parabens and is made entirely cruelty and tear-free for even the most sensitive dogs.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 17oz |
| Scent | Cherry |
| Active Ingredients |
Oatmeal Aloe Almond Oil |
| Conditions Treated |
Allergies Dry Itchy Skin |
Pro Pet Works’ Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is a 2-in-1 product that acts as both a shampoo and a conditioner. This product is meant for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies, including flea, grass, and food allergies. The scent is a strong cherry scent that may have a medicinal cough syrup smell to it, so it may not be for everyone.
However, this shampoo doesn’t have any dyes, sulfates, alcohols, soaps, or harsh chemicals. Instead, it uses oatmeal and aloe to help your dog feel better. It’s a tear-free blend that works on dogs that are extremely sensitive to other shampoos and products. This shampoo has suffered from some quality control issues in the past, so be aware of the possibility of a bad batch before ordering.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 12oz |
| Scent | Natural |
| Active Ingredients |
Argan oil aloe shea butter bentonite clay |
| Conditions Treated |
Dry skin itchy skin dandruff |
Moosh’s Natural Dog Shampoo is one of the best natural cleaners when it comes to dog shampoos. This is because it contains bentonite clay. This is a natural cleanser that rarely shows up in dog shampoos but works very well to lift dirt off of your dog’s skin and out of his fur. Together with argan oil, aloe, and shea butter, this ingredient helps leave your dog clean and moisturized.
It also contains essential oils, and that’s what gives this shampoo its unique but nondescript scent. All of the ingredients in this shampoo are natural and organic, so it’s great for dog owners who are concerned with using organic products. It will leave your dog feeling smooth and silky while moisturizing their skin and reducing dandruff and other itchy skin problems.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 16oz |
| Scent | unscented |
| Active Ingredients | Aloe |
| Conditions Treated | Allergy and sensitive skin |
Earthbath has multiple different formulas that work well for different pet issues and skin conditions. This version, their hypo-allergenic shampoo, can still work on all of your pets. It works just as well on your cats with allergies as it will on your dogs. It’s completely fragrance-free so you don’t have to worry about artificial fragrances or other harmful ingredients.
Every ingredient in this shampoo is natural. There are no harmful ingredients. Your pet is safe in Earthbath’s hands! The only drawback is the shipping method, as it may result in broken or leaking bottles. This shampoo is also safe for use with topical flea treatments!
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 16oz |
| Scent | Cucumber Melon |
| Active Ingredients | Oatmeal and aloe |
| Conditions Treated |
Dry flaky skin and allergies |
This hypoallergenic shampoo by K9 Pro is specially formulated by veterinarians to help itchy dogs with allergies and dandruff. It’s a gentle formula that uses oatmeal and aloe to soothe dry, itchy skin to help you and your dog feel better. The cucumber melon scent is refreshing if a little heavy-handed.
One of the features that sets this shampoo apart is the liposome technology. This formula contains liposomes that help penetrate your dog’s skin, delivering moisture to the places where your dog needs it most. These special ingredients are unique to this formula and can help stop your dog’s itching and flaking.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 16oz |
| Scent | Honey |
| Active Ingredients |
Honeysuckle oatmeal honey beeswax |
| Conditions Treated |
Dry itchy skin |
Burt’s Bees takes a step away from traditional anti-itch dog shampoos by using natural ingredients such as honey, beeswax, and honeysuckle to help soothe and repair itchy skin. This is great for some dogs, but it may not work on all of them. It isn’t an aggressive treatment by any means, so dogs with particularly severe cases may need to use medicated shampoos instead.
Still, you can get this shampoo in several ways, including 6-packs and 32-ounce bottles. If you have a kennel and several dogs with itchy skin, this shampoo can be the perfect solution to try. Chances are, it will appeal to a larger range of dogs due to its hypoallergenic properties. An unscented formula may be a better choice for a dog with sensitive skin but may not be as appealing to dog owners who like their dog to emerge from the bath smelling sweeter.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 10oz |
| Scent | Green apple |
| Active Ingredients |
Oatmeal aloe vera tea tree oil lavender oil chamomile |
| Conditions Treated |
Mange hot spots itchy and dry skin |
Bobbi Panter is another brand that has a long line of dog shampoos and conditioners, each with its properties and ingredients to help specific skin conditions. Their anti-itch shampoo works well to reduce inflammation and irritation, but it also contains ingredients like sulfates that strip natural oils out of your dog’s skin and coat.
However, if your dog is not particularly sensitive there is nothing to worry about. Itchy Dog Natural Shampoo may not be 100% natural, but it smells great. The green apple smell is appealing and not overwhelming. When it lingers on your dog, you’re sure to love the way that it smells on their fur.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 8oz |
| Scent | Lavender Oatmeal |
| Active Ingredients |
Oatmeal lavender jojoba |
| Conditions Treated |
Dry itchy skin irritation deodorizing |
The natural ingredients in Pet Pleasant’s Lavender Oatmeal shampoo work overtime to provide a great scent and soothe your dog’s dry skin and fur. The lavender scent is pleasant but not overpowering, and many users have praised this shampoo for getting just the right balance of fragrance and function.
This shampoo can help your dog’s itchy skin in most cases, but be aware that some of the ingredients have been known to cause allergic reactions in dogs. Most dogs will come away from their bath with this shampoo feeling soft and itching less. It’s a tear-free, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free formula made with a lot of natural ingredients.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 16oz |
| Scent | Clean |
| Active Ingredients |
Oatmeal pramoxine |
| Conditions Treated |
Dermatological infections irritation itching flaking |
Strawfield’s Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo also doubles as a conditioner. It uses a powerfully medicated formula to deliver results on most skin conditions. Pramoxine is an ingredient found in many topical solutions for dry skin, and it shines here as well. The handy pump dispenser makes it easy to get the product you need without fumbling around with the bottle.
The liposome technology in this shampoo and conditioner combo allows hydration to penetrate deep, distributing to where your dog needs it most. Their coat will feel softer and cleaner. The pramoxine helps relieve itchiness to prevent your dog from further harming themselves as they itch. The Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo works on dogs, cats, and horses, and works to soothe allergies, dermatitis, mange, hot spots, and other skin conditions that lead to itching.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 24oz |
| Scent | Coconut lime verbena |
| Active Ingredients | Oatmeal and coconut |
| Conditions Treated |
Dry skin itchy skin |
Wahl’s Dry Skin & Itch Relief Pet Shampoo formula uses oatmeal and coconut to give your dog relief from constant itching. The coconut lime verbena scent is refreshing during the wash, though it may not linger long afterward. Still, it’s lovely when it does stick around. The shampoo lathers well so you don’t have to use as much as you would with some other shampoos. Paired with its inexpensive price and large bottle size, this shampoo is a great bargain.
A little goes a long way with this effective shampoo. There are no parabens, alcohols, or PEG-80 ingredients, and it is pH balanced to work with your dog’s skin and coat without irritation. These ingredients work together to create a shampoo that cleans well, moisturizes dry and itchy skin, and smells great while doing it.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 3.5oz |
| Scent | Citrus |
| Active Ingredients | Tea tree oil |
| Conditions Treated |
Sensitive irritated and itchy skin |
WashBar is very different from the other dog shampoos on our list. It comes in a bar rather than a liquid like the other soaps on our list, but that works out better. The bars (though they are only 3.5oz) are equivalent to about 40 ounces of liquid soap. That means you get more washes out of these bars. However, the trade-off is that they are much more expensive.
However, it is easier to use these than it is to use a bottle of liquid shampoo, and less is more. It lathers well and works to keep itchy spots from getting bad enough that your dog has to scratch them constantly. Also, you can use this shampoo on rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses, and many other animal species if you run a multi-pet household.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 16oz |
| Scent | Cucumber melon |
| Active Ingredients |
Chlorhexidine ketoconazole |
| Conditions Treated |
Yeast bacterial and fungal infections |
Curaseb’s Chlorhexidine Shampoo can be a wonderful solution if you know (via vet diagnosis) that your dog has a yeast, bacterial, or fungal infection. The medication in this shampoo is strong enough to gently cleanse the offending infection and leave your dog feeling relieved and soft. However, it is not recommended for use on dogs that are dealing with allergies or itchy skin. In this way, it’s a very specialized formula.
Be mindful of this before purchasing. However, if you need a medicated shampoo to help reduce the discomfort and constant itching of these types of infections and conditions, Curaseb can help. It doesn’t just moisturize – it actively fights very specific infections. For dogs undergoing treatment for these conditions, it doesn’t get much better than Curaseb.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 16oz |
| Scent | Lavender |
| Active Ingredients |
Oatmeal aloe and baking soda |
| Conditions Treated |
Itching moisture-sensitive dry skin |
MightyPetz 2-in-1 All Natural Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner is made with organic oatmeal and aloe vera to help take the itch out of your dog’s skin, leaving their coat more moisturized than ever before. It’s pH balanced and contains baking soda to gently clean and deodorize without being too harsh. There are no parabens, alcohols, or artificial colors in this shampoo.
The light lavender scent is not overwhelming. It’s a pleasant scent that lingers long after your dog’s bathtime is over. All of the organic ingredients used in this shampoo are certified organic, and it doesn’t get much more natural than that. This gentle shampoo can help even your dogs with the worst allergies feel better after the first wash.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 16oz |
| Scent | Herbal |
| Active Ingredients |
Aloe Tea tree oil Lavender |
| Conditions Treated | Itchy skin and allergies |
This formula by Vet’s Best is specifically formulated to deal with itching related to seasonal allergies and other environmental irritants. It works to moisturize your dog’s skin and bring them relief from the discomfort associated with constant itching. It calms irritated skin and works immediately to bring your dog comfort.
However, it is probably wise to test this shampoo on your dog before bathing them with it. Though this is a shampoo specifically formulated for allergies, it sometimes produces an allergic reaction in dogs that are sensitive to some of the ingredients. Make sure to read the label carefully before making your purchase.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Size | 16oz |
| Scent | Citrus |
| Active Ingredients |
Lidocaine colloidal oatmeal hydrocortisone |
| Conditions Treated |
Hot spots itchy skin |
Veterinary Formula’s Clinical Care Shampoo comes in several varieties for all types of issues, but the hot spot and itch relief shampoo is one of the few we’ve seen that contains actual itch relief medication. While this shampoo is paraben and soap-free, it doesn’t claim to be natural. That’s because it contains analgesic ingredients such as lidocaine and hydrocortisone for intense itching cases. Lidocaine is actually a local anesthetic to help immediately numb the areas of discomfort and stop the itching.
Beware, this is not for a dog who casually itches. It is very strong and may not work as desired on dogs with less severe problems. However, if your dog has a huge problem with hot spots and incessant itching (to the point where itching is becoming damaging), reach for this shampoo to help immediately.
| Product Name | Best for | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Oliver’s Choice Dog Shampoo with Oatmeal and Aloe | Best Overall | 8 |
| Moosh Natural Dog Shampoo | Best Organic | 9 |
| WashBar Natural Dog Shampoo | Most Versatile | 7 |
| Bexley Labs Curaseb Chlorhexidine Shampoo | Best Medicated | 8 |
| Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot & Itch Relief Shampoo | Best for Hot Spots | 7 |
Your dog’s itchy skin can be extremely uncomfortable for both of you, especially when you’re worried about what it might mean for your dog. Thankfully, shampoos for itchy skin can help relieve at least some of the discomfort associated with your dog’s itching. Here, we’ll take a look at the best ingredients you can choose, what might be causing your dog’s itchy skin, and how shampoos may be able to help.
Several things may be causing your dog’s itchy skin. Itchy skin can be caused by dry skin, dandruff, and a variety of other problems, but most of those issues are symptoms. The root causes of these symptoms can be more difficult to identify and treat.
A small list of things that may be affecting your dog’s skin are:
There are other causes for your dog’s itchy skin, but these are just a few that may help you narrow down why your dog is itching so badly. Keep in mind that a vet’s recommendation or diagnosis is the only way to know for sure what is causing your dog’s itchy skin. However, these are some of the things you can identify and recognize on your own.
Of course, you want to help your dog avoid the discomfort associated with itchy skin. There are a few topical ingredients that can help your dog find relief from itchy skin, even if you don’t know what the specific cause of the irritation is. Keep a lookout for the following helpful ingredients.
These are just a few of the ingredients that might help relieve your dog’s itchy skin. Every one of these ingredients works to moisturize and soothe dry skin that is prone to dandruff, irritation, and more. If your dog frequently has allergic reactions, chamomile and oatmeal products can help soothe those reactions and make them manageable.
While there are a lot of good ingredients to be found in anti-itch dog shampoos, there are equally as many that aren’t great for you or your dog. Avoid the following ingredients.
Read labels and try to stay ahead of the harmful ingredients you don’t want around your dog. For anti-itch shampoos especially, avoid these ingredients whenever possible.
While there are some conditions that you can diagnose on your own based on context clues (as well as what you’ve recently changed in your dog’s diet or routine), you don’t know what might be going on beneath the surface. We always recommend getting a veterinarian’s diagnosis if you think there might be something wrong. You can take the opportunity to discuss with them new skincare products or treatments, especially medicated products.
This way, you can avoid further irritation. You’ll also avoid wasting money on treatments that aren’t going to work for your dog’s specific problems. For yeast infections, bacterial infections, and certain severe cases of dermatitis, getting the right treatment is necessary to avoid making the problem worse. Before making a dog shampoo purchase, make sure you understand the underlying cause of your pet’s itchy skin.
After taking all of our previous concerns into consideration, there are still a few things to look at. Here are the last few things you should take into account before purchasing a dog shampoo for itchy skin.
Size:
How much of the product are you getting? Before purchasing a shampoo, weigh the price against how big the bottle is. Consider how often you’ll need to repurchase the shampoo when you buy smaller amounts. Choosing the largest bottle at the lowest price is the most cost-effective way to purchase dog shampoos.
Keep in mind that not all shampoos will work for your dog, so if you are trying out a shampoo for the first time and you aren’t sure about it, purchase the smallest available size just to be sure.
Scent
What the shampoo smells like is important when considering the ingredients, but it is also important in other ways. Make sure that you choose a scent that you and your dog will be able to stand using. If you choose a fragrance that ends up making your head hurt or making your dog uncomfortable, you’re going to regret it. Many shampoo scents will linger long after the bath, so take this into serious consideration.
Active Ingredients
The active ingredients in a shampoo help it achieve the properties that it boasts. An anti-itch shampoo should have active ingredients that match up to the important ingredients discussed above. Oatmeal, aloe, lavender, and tea tree oil are all very moisturizing ingredients and should show up first on the label of many anti-itch shampoos. Keep this in mind when you’re reading the ingredients label.
Conditions Treated
Make sure that you’re purchasing a shampoo that will treat the specific problem that your dog is having. For example, it would be unwise to purchase a shampoo with anti-fungal properties if your dog doesn’t have a fungal infection. Exposing your dog to chemicals that aren’t useful for the problem that they are having may lead to more problems, so pay attention to the conditions that the shampoo says it treats.
Target Species
If you have more than one pet (of more than one species), choosing a shampoo that works for multiple species may be important to you. Why spend money on a shampoo that will only clean one of your pets, when others work fine on all of them? Some dog shampoos may also work well on cats, horses, guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits, and more. Check the label to make sure that the shampoo is safe for your pet.
