Here are the best anti itch dog shampoo we’ll be covering:
- Paws & Pals Natural Oatmeal Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
- NuLife Oatmeal Shampoo With Soothing Aloe Vera
- Burt’s Bees for Dogs Natural Calming Shampoo
- Vital Pet Life Dog Shampoo
- John Paul Pet Oatmeal Shampoo
Whether it’s caused by allergies, dry skin or pests, dogs can develop itchy skin. Dog shampoos can help calm the itch and prevent constant scratching and licking, but it can be difficult to decide which one is right for your dog. So, we’ve done the research for you and answered some questions you may have about how to best care for your dog if they are dealing with itchy skin.
What can I bathe my dog in to stop itching?
The best way to get your dog to stop itching is to use an anti itch dog shampoo. These products are meant to calm their skin and help them heal. Giving your dog a bath when they are itchy helps remove any irritants that may be on the surface of your dog’s skin. Most dog shampoos also contain ingredients that are meant to soothe their itchy skin and help them relax.
It’s important to use a shampoo that is made to help itchy skin because many chemicals found in ordinary dog shampoo can actually make their itching worse. Many ordinary dog shampoos are made with perfumes to help your dog smell better. But they can make your dog’s itching worse because they are harsh on their skin.
So, always remember to use shampoo specifically made for itchy dogs when dealing with excessive scratching.
How often should I bathe my dog if he is itchy?
It is generally recommended that you bathe your itchy dog one to two times a week. Depending on the shampoo that you buy, they may suggest bathing more or less often based off of their unique formula. So, read the bottle carefully before setting up a routine.
It’s a common misconception that bathing your dog more often in their anti itch shampoo can only help them. That isn’t true. While it may seem like using soothing shampoo more often will help, it can actually be harmful to their skin.
It’s important to allow their skin time to heal between baths, otherwise you can dry out their skin even more. So, make sure you are only bathing one to two times a week or as recommended by the shampoo manufacturer.
Our recommendation for the best anti itch dog shampoo
- PH level – having the correct PH level is vital for healthy skin. So, you always want to look for a shampoo that is PH balanced because otherwise it may dry out your dog’s skin more.
- Hypoallergenic – This means that the product that you are using contains little to no ingredients that are likely to cause a reaction.
- No fragrance/alcohol – Like discussed above, these can be very damaging to your dog’s skin
- “Natural” doesn’t always mean better – There are natural ingredients that can still be harmful to your dog’s skin. So, make sure to always check the ingredients.
Paws & Pals Natural Oatmeal Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
This shampoo and conditioner combo is a vegan option which includes oatmeal to help dry or itchy skin. It also contains aloe and pro-vitamin B5 which help hydrate your dog’s skin. The conditioner contains shea butter which will also help relieve dry, itchy skin.
They use a tear-free formula that will not irritate your dog’s eyes. So, if your dog tends to get a little wild at bath time, then this will help prevent pain or irritation if it gets in their eyes. It is naturally scented, so you don’t have to worry about harsh perfumes. This product is paraben and cruelty free.
This is a cleansing combo to promote a healthy coat rather than to relieve itchiness. It is not listed as hypoallergenic. Though there are ingredients that help soothe your dog’s skin, your dog may require something a little stronger than this shampoo and conditioner to help tackle severe itching. However, this would make a great preventative combination.
NuLife Oatmeal Shampoo With Soothing Aloe Vera
This shampoo is made to help with dry, itchy skin. It combines aloe and oatmeal to create a soothing, healing formula to help your itchy dog. This product is hypoallergenic and soap-free to prevent any further drying or itching. It is scented with melon and cucumber to prevent the use of perfumes.
This shampoo is made for repeated use and will not dry out your dog’s skin with frequent baths. It is recommended for maximum relief to leave the shampoo on your dog for five to ten minutes before rinsing. So, you’ll need to find a way to keep your dog busy for that long to help the shampoo be more effective.
This product smells fresh, but because it is not perfumed, the fresh smell may not last as long as other shampoos. If your dog is prone to knots, then NuLife recommends adding their detangling conditioner. Despite the formula being soap-free, this shampoo still lathers well.
Burt’s Bees for Dogs Natural Calming Shampoo
Burt’s Bees took a more natural approach with this shampoo. It features lavender and green tea to help your dog relax. This shampoo is PH balanced for your dog, so it won’t dry out their skin even more. It’s made cruelty free, and it doesn’t have sulfates or fragrances which tend to make itching worse.
Because the fragrance is more natural, it may not be as strong as you are used to with dog shampoos, but it is better for their skin. Since there are no artificial chemicals, it may not have a strong lather. This shampoo will not wash off any tick or flea prevention treatments, and it is safe to use on dogs and puppies.
If you normally have trouble with you dog staying calm during baths, then this shampoo will help you out at bath time because of the calming ingredients. It will make their coat shiny and help them relax and stop scratching.
Vital Pet Life Dog Shampoo
This shampoo is made with oatmeal, aloe, chamomile and jojoba oil which are anti-inflammatory and help soothe dry, itchy skin. It is hypoallergenic and PH balanced to ensure that it doesn’t make your dog’s skin any more itchy. This shampoo is cruelty-free and is gentle on hot spots.
Like other natural shampoos, Vital dog shampoo is not going to be scented as strongly as other shampoos with perfumes and alcohol. It will leave your dog’s coat shiny without irritating hot spots. It also has ingredients to help with dandruff. So, if your dog has naturally dry skin, this is a great option.
This product contains many ingredients to relieve dry, itchy skin, but that’s not all. It also has chamomile to help your dog be able to relax during bath time and stop scratching long after.
John Paul Pet Oatmeal Shampoo
This shampoo is cruelty-free and contains no parabens. It is made with oatmeal which helps calm itching without irritating hot spots.
This combo is made with all natural ingredients. It is naturally scented, which may mean that it is not as heavily scented as some other products. However, you don’t have to worry about perfumes or alcohol drying out their skin even more.
This product also contains aloe vera gel and sweet almond oil to help relieve itching and give them a nice shiny coat when finished. When using this shampoo, make sure you leave it in for five minutes to allow for maximum relief.
My dog is scratching but has no fleas: What’s wrong?
There could be many different things that cause your dog to have itchy skin besides just fleas. They get allergies, just like we do. However, for dogs it is more commonly spotted through their itchy and irritated skin. Don’t be afraid to try to manage their symptoms on your own, but if it continues or gets worse, then be sure to consult a vet.
What can I do for my dog that is constantly itching?
If your dog is scratching often, then there could be multiple causes. Dog allergies are a lot more common that many people think. Trying a new shampoo to help with itching can help, but if that isn’t enough to stop the severe scratching, then it may be time to see your vet.
Dogs can be allergic to so many different things like their food, shampoo, treats, fabrics, plants or even just the weather changing. So, trying to find the exact cause can be a bit of a headache, but don’t be afraid to take them to the vet if it doesn’t get better.
How do I stop my dog’s excessive licking?
The best way to deter excessive licking is to watch them 24/7, but we all know that isn’t realistic. It’s important to find out why they are licking. It can be caused by itching or even stress.
Since our dogs can’t talk to us, we have to just focus on finding ways to stop it. There are lick-deterrent sprays to prevent licking hot spots and you can also get them a cone for temporary relief. Also, a great way to stop them from licking is to distract them. Make sure they aren’t bored, which can also be a cause.
What can I add to my dog’s food to help with itchy skin?
Fish Oil: Because of the Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, it will help your dog stop itching. It is naturally anti-inflammatory which will help with hot spots and irritation.
Coconut Oil: This can actually help a lot of skin issues with dogs including dry, itchy skin.
Anti-itch Medications: Some medications that help with excessive scratching can be put in your dog’s food. Be sure to ask your vet before giving your dog any medication, but it may be a quick way to get them some relief.
New Food: Your dog’s food could actually be part of the problem. When my Minnie developed bad allergies, changing to a hypoallergenic food helped her so much. This isn’t going to be the case with every dog though. So, check with your vet to see if that’s the problem for your dog and what they recommend to help fix it.
We all love our furry friends, and we don’t want them to be itchy and irritated. If you notice your dog is excessively scratching, then try out some alternate shampoo options, like the ones we provided above.
Remember to stay away from alcohol and perfumes, and look for something that is PH balanced and hypoallergenic. Itchy skin can be caused by so many different factors. So, try out a shampoo and see if it works for your dog. It just might give them the relief that they need.
