The 11 Best Shampoos for Dogs With Allergies, Itches, and Sensitive Skin

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Considering a dog shampoo for skin allergies for your itchy pooch? Dogs, like humans, can suffer from allergies of all sorts, including skin allergies. In fact, you and your dog may be allergic to the same things: pollen, animal dander, plants, and insects are some of the most common irritants for dogs.

Ongoing allergies—and the associated scratching—can lead to atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin inflammation that’s common in dogs. Treatment for more serious cases can include desensitization injections, corticosteroids, antihistamines, and regular baths with anti-itch shampoos.

Milder cases can sometimes be managed with a good dog shampoo for skin allergies—though it’s important to check with your vet before starting treatment.

We spoke with Dr. Sabrina Kong, DVM, a senior veterinary contributor at WeLoveDoodles, and Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, a vet contributor at Hound Games, to learn more about what to look for when choosing the best shampoo for dogs with allergies, itches, and skin issues. With their feedback, we compiled a list of our favorite soothing shampoos to help provide your pup with much-needed relief.

Best for Sensitive Skin: The Natural Dog Company Sensitive Skin Shampoo

If your dog tends to have sensitive skin, whether due to allergies, dry skin, or a mix, you’ll want a shampoo formulated with soothing ingredients to help calm their skin. “The Natural Dog Company Sensitive Skin Shampoo, for instance, is an organic choice that’s great for dogs with sensitive skin, containing ingredients like oatmeal and Manuka honey,” recommends Dr. Kong.

This fragrance-free and hypoallergenic shampoo also includes additional plant-based ingredients, like aloe vera, argan oil, and chamomile, to further help soothe irritated skin.

Key Features:

• Cleanses and provides relief from itching
• Made in the USA
• Good for dogs of all ages and breeds

Best Fragrance-Free: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hypoallergenic Shampoo

“For dogs prone to allergies, the Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hypoallergenic Shampoo, which is enriched with vitamin E, and free from fragrances, is a safe bet,” says Dr. Kong. This tear-free shampoo also includes allantoin, which is another ingredient that helps to further soothe and calm irritated skin, and mild, coconut-based cleansers, which help provide a gentle and effective cleanse for sensitive skin.

Key Features:

• Good for dogs and cats
• Free from sulfates, parabens, dyes, fragrances, and soap
• pH-balanced for pet’s skin

Best Soap-Free: TropiClean Gentle Coconut Hypoallergenic Shampoo

Sometimes soap can dry skin out even more, which is why soap-free shampoos are often a good choice for pups suffering from a dry and itchy coat. “TropiClean Gentle Coconut Hypoallergenic Shampoo is another excellent choice for pets with allergies, using naturally derived ingredients and being soap-free,” advises Dr. Kong.

This shampoo both cleanses and moisturizes your dog’s skin by using gentle ingredients like oatmeal, aloe extract, and coconut. On top of being soothing, it also leaves behind a tropical scent while being free from dyes and parabens.

Key Features:

• Good for dogs and cats 12 weeks and older
• Good for seasonal allergies and skin irritations
• Cruelty-free

Best for Dry and Itchy Skin: Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Dogs 

This soap-free shampoo helps provide relief for pups suffering from itchy, dry skin. “Dry skin leads to flaky, itchy skin from things like dry air or too many baths,” says Dr. Ochoa. This gentle formula helps to remove allergens from your dog’s skin and coat, without being overly drying thanks to calming ingredients like allantoin, vitamin E, and aloe.

“Every dog is different, so it’s vital to observe how your dog reacts to a new shampoo and adjust the routine as needed,” said Dr. Kong. When in doubt, if you have questions or concerns, or if your dog’s skin condition worsens, it’s best to make an appointment with your vet.

Key Features:

• Veterinarian formulated shampoo
• Safe to use with topical flea and tick treatments
• Good for allergies and sensitive skin

Best for Rashes: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Medicated Dog Shampoo

Skin rashes can pop up on dogs for a medley of reasons, including dermatitis, food and environmental allergies, mange, fleas, infections, and more. While it’s best to check with your vet to determine the root cause of a rash and a treatment plan, this medicated dog shampoo is an excellent choice when dealing with irritated skin issues.

“Dogs with rashes or skin conditions might benefit from the Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Medicated Dog Shampoo, featuring coal tar and salicylic acid,” said Dr. Kong. The coal tar helps shed dead skin cells while the salicylic acid helps to further exfoliate your pup’s skin while providing softening benefits.

Key Features:

• Free from parabens, dyes, and soap
• Made with oatmeal and allantoin to help soothe and heal
• Leave on dog’s coat for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash out

Best for Allergies: Vet’s Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo for Dogs

Ideal for dogs that suffer from seasonal allergies and sensitive skin, this all-natural shampoo will leave your dog’s skin smelling fresh. “Allergies happen when something touches the dog’s skin and makes their immune system freak out—like pollen or fleabites,” said Dr. Ochoa. “You’ll see red, mad skin.”

The shampoo is formulated by veterinarians and includes naturally soothing ingredients like oatmeal, vitamin E, and tea tree oils.

Key Features:

• Good for seasonal allergies and flea bites
• Cleans and deodorizes
• Leave on dog’s coat for 3-5 minutes and then rinse

Best Scented: K9 Pro Aloe and Oatmeal Cucumber Melon Dog Shampoo for Allergies

This hypoallergenic, vet-developed shampoo features nanoliposome technology, which the company says helps the ingredients penetrate the skin more effectively for itching relief. “For gentle cleansing, I suggest hypoallergenic doggie shampoos with soothing ingredients like oatmeal, aloe, and oils,” says Dr. Ochoa. “These can hydrate, calm inflammation, and have natural antimicrobial superpowers.”

It’s made in the U.S. and doesn’t contain soap, which can be too harsh for some pets. Also, it has a 100% money-back guarantee if you or your pet aren’t fans.

Key Features:

• Tear-free shampoo
• Good for odor-control
• Leave on the dog’s coat for 5-10 minutes and then rinse

Best All-Natural: Pets Are Kids Too Premium Oatmeal Dog Shampoo for Skin Allergies

Created as a natural alternative to the harsh chemicals in some shampoos, Pets Are Kids Too uses all-natural ingredients to calm your dog’s skin. The shampoo’s itch-relieving ingredients include organic oatmeal, baking soda, and aloe vera. And perhaps best of all, pets may end up smelling a bit like oatmeal cookies after a bath.

As a reminder, even though a shampoo is made with all-natural and soothing ingredients, doesn’t mean it’s a fit for all dogs. “Every dog is different, so it’s vital to observe how your dog reacts to a new shampoo and adjust the routine as needed,” cautions Dr. Kong.

Key Features:

• Free from alcohol and detergents
• Moisturizes and deodorizes
• Made using coconut-based cleanser

Best Organic: 4-Legger Organic Dog Shampoo for Skin Allergies

This is a 100% USDA-certified organic dog shampoo with no artificial or synthetic ingredients. It moisturizes your dog’s itchy skin while leaving them with a pleasant citrusy scent, thanks to aloe and lemongrass. Biodegradable and made of sustainable ingredients, this shampoo is also gentle on the earth. Lemongrass not your thing? It’s also available in a variety of other scents, as well as unscented.

Key Features:

• Cruelty-free, vegan, and gluten-free
• No artificial thickeners, detergents, parabens, sulfates or synthetic preservatives
• Made in small batches in a USDA-certified organic facility

Best Lather: Wahl Dry Skin and Itch Relief Shampoo

This oatmeal-lime shampoo is designed to moisturize your dog’s itchy skin to provide fast relief. This shampoo is a high-sudsing formula, which means that you don’t need to use a lot to achieve a soft and clean coat. “When selecting a shampoo, it’s important to consider the dog’s specific skin condition and the product’s ingredients,” advises Dr. Kong.

Specifically designed for dogs with allergies, this formula is free from alcohol and parabens. It contains calming ingredients like oatmeal, coconut, lime, aloe, and lemon verbena, that help to soothe irritated skin and provide itch relief.

Key Features:

• Moisturizes
• Coconut lime verbena scented 
• Good for all hair types

Best for Shiny Coats: Burts Bees Hypoallergenic Shampoo

This shampoo cleans your dog’s coat without drying out their skin. Burts Bees contains shine-boosting honey and moisturizing shea butter, and is pH balanced for puppies and dogs alike. Veterinarians recommend this shampoo in part because it contains no harmful additives.

As with any other shampoo, especially when it comes to dogs with dry and irritated skin, it’s best not to over-bath them, which can cause more skin issues. “Bathe pups with sensitive skin every 4-6 weeks to avoid drying their skin out,” says Dr. Ochoa. Dr. Kong agrees with this sentiment, adding, “Overbathing can dry out their skin and worsen their condition, so once a month or as recommended by a vet is typically sufficient.”

Key Features:

• Made in the USA
• Free of fragrances, sulfates, and colorants
• Good for dogs of all ages

How We Chose

The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts, including Dr. Sabrina Kong, DVM, a senior veterinary contributor at WeLoveDoodles, and Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, a vet contributor at Hound Games. We prioritized gentle and moisturizing qualities. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading

• The 9 Best Dog Towels for Bath Time, Wet Walks, and Muddy Paws
• The 9 Best Shampoos for Dogs With Dandruff
• Our Favorite Treatments for Dry Dog Skin: Butters, Salves, and Oils