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If you’ve got a dog with white fur, you probably know how hard it can be to keep their coat bright. Lots of things can contribute to a dog’s white coat staining or turning dull, including the obvious (romps in the mud) and the more subtle (drool). Whitening shampoos can help—but it’s not always easy to find the right one.
We consulted certified fear-free master groomer Katlin Primrose of Primpaws Grooming Academy for advice on what to look for when shopping for whitening shampoos. According to Katlin, there are three different types of whiteners used in dog shampoos:
- Purple or blue pigment
- Enzymes
- Optical brighteners
The ideal formula will contain a combination of these to clean and shine at the same time. She advises pet parents avoid any bleaches, as this will irritate skin and can permanently damage your dog’s coat, and read all directions carefully, since each product may have different directions for diluting and timing.
With Katlin’s help, we’ve rounded up our list of the best whitening shampoos for dogs. Not sure where to start? Hop down to our explainer on how whitening shampoos work for a primer.
Best for Big Lather: Wahl White Pear Brightening Shampoo for Pets
Katlin notes that Wahl brand grooming products are some of her favorites. Wahl’s whitening shampoo uses a color enhancer to bring out your dog’s white fur. Full of plant-derived ingredients like pear and coconut oil, Wahl’s whitening shampoo is a more natural alternative to chemical-laden whitening shampoos. It’s alcohol-free, paraben-free, and pH balanced.
This shampoo is highly concentrated, so pet parents only need to use a small amount to create a good lather. The shampoo rinses to leave a brighter coat—and if your dog has any color in their coat, it will enhance those colors too. This formula was designed for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies.
Key Features:
- Made in the USA
- Highly concentrated formula means a little bit goes a long way
- Allergy-friendly and safe for white dogs with sensitive skin
Best for Added Shine: Earthbath Brightening Shampoo
Earthbath is one of the brands Katlin most recommends. This formula blends optical brighteners with gentle cleansers and lavender oil to brighten, clean, and soften your dog’s coat. This product has no harsh chemicals, parabens, or alcohol, and it’s made in a cruelty-free environment. It uses all-natural ingredients and is safe for dogs six weeks and older.
Key Features:
- Uses optical brighteners and gentle cleansers
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- Contains no bleaching agents, harsh chemicals, or softening agents
Best for Silky Coats: BioSilk for Dogs Whitening Shampoo
BioSilk Silk Therapy shampoo for dogs uses a bluing formula and is made with natural silk proteins and vitamins that clean your dog’s white coat while keeping it moisture balanced. It’s specially designed to leave your dog with a soft and silky coat, which we think makes it a nice choice for long-haired breeds.
Like many whitening shampoos, BioSilk Silk Therapy is paraben- and sulfate-free and should still be safe for use if your dog is being treated for sensitive skin. This shampoo is formulated for dogs eight weeks and older.
Key Features:
- pH balanced specifically for dogs
- Contains no parabens or sulfates
- Reviewers love the light tropical scent
Best Odor Remover: Nature’s Miracle Whitening Shampoo and Conditioner
Like many whitening shampoos, Nature’s Miracle Whitening Shampoo and Conditioner uses a brightening agent to whiten coats—but unlike many whitening shampoos, it also helps to eliminate the post-bath “wet dog” smell. (We love their enzymatic laundry detergent for dog beds for precisely this reason.)
This particular product uses calendula extract, aloe vera, keratin, and coconut oil to soften, whiten, and reduce odors. It’s also safe for dogs with sensitive skin and for dogs over six weeks old.
Key Features:
- Natural ingredients are safe for your dog
- This formula cleans, whitens, deodorizes, and conditions
- Uses calendula, aloe vera, keratin, and coconut oil to whiten and protect sensitive skin
Best for Use With Topical Treatments: Veterinary Formula Solutions Snow White Shampoo for Dogs and Cats
Veterinary Formula Snow White Shampoo uses a combination of bluing and optical brighteners to eliminate the appearance of yellowing, dingy fur and brighten white coats. This shampoo is formulated with coconut oil cleansers, vitamin E, and green tea extract.
Katlin recommends using a whitening shampoo at most every three to four weeks, and this shampoo can provide a long-lasting bright coat. This formula contains no bleach or peroxide and is safe to use on skin that has been spot-treated.
Key Features:
- pH balanced for sensitive skin and will not wash away topical spot-on flea and tick treatments
- Uses natural ingredients: vitamin E, green tea extract, and coconut oil cleansers
- Manufacturers recommend following with a moisturizing conditioner
To Consider:
- This has a strong citrus scent that may be overwhelming for dogs with sensitive noses
Best Soap-Free: TropiClean Awapuhi and Coconut Whitening Dog Shampoo
TropiClean Whitening Shampoo uses enhancers to whiten and brighten coats and can remove staining. Its formula is derived from natural ingredients and produces a soft and silky coat. This shampoo is paraben-, dye-, and cruelty-free and is safe for dogs over 12 weeks old. Additionally, because this formula is also soap-free, it may be an especially good option for dogs with sensitive skin.
Key Features:
- Soap-free and safe for dogs with sensitive skin
- Paraben- and dye free
- Safe for dogs over 12 weeks old
Best for Moisturizing: Lillian Ruff Brightening Shampoo
This coconut brightening shampoo uses a brightening agent with aloe vera to help moisturize and soothe your dog’s skin. The gentle cleansers add shine while conditioning to help smooth tangles and fly-away hair—it’s especially popular for wire-haired breeds. This formula is paraben-, sulfate-, gluten-, and cruelty-free and safe for dogs with sensitive skin.
Key Features:
- 100% cruelty-free
- Aloe vera to moisturizes your dog’s skin, prevent itching and leaving their coat feeling soft and smooth
- Contains no parabens or sulfates
- pH balanced for dogs’ skin and hair
Best for Puppies: Bio-Groom Super Whitening Dog Shampoo
Bio-Groom Coat Brightener Shampoo uses brighteners to intensify lighter coats and an absorbable soy protein to produce a rich shine. In addition to moisturizing, this shampoo helps to create more body in your dog’s coat. This product is cruelty-free and, like a lot of whitening shampoos, makes liberal use of coconut oil. Bio-Groom is both paraben- and soap-free, which makes it an especially safe choice for puppies.
Key Features:
- Soap- and paraben-free
- Uses soy protein to enrich shine
- Moisturizing formula won’t dry out coat
- Safe for puppies
Best Long-Lasting: Chris Christensen White on White Shampoo
This whitening treatment shampoo is made for show dog handlers because of its super-brightening qualities. The manufacturer describes it as “an optic intensifying treatment within a shampoo,” formulated not just to clean, but to brighten your dog’s coat for up to four weeks. It removes yellow stains, makes white fur whiter, and can even brighten dog coats of other colors.
Key Features:
- Safe for all coat colors, but specially designed for white fur
- Lasts up to four weeks
- Contains no bleaching agents, harsh chemicals, or softening agents
To Consider:
- Manufacturer recommends a spot test in an inconspicuous area of the coat before applying all over
How Dog Whitening Shampoos Work
According to Katlin, when it comes to whitening shampoos for dogs, manufacturers use three formulas to help whiten and brighten.
First, there are bluing shampoos (such as the Veterinary Formula Snow White Shampoo above), which use a blue or purple pigment to reduce the appearance of yellow and brown staining.
Second, there are products that use enzymes for breaking down proteins caught in your dog’s coat (such as drool or urine). That might sound familiar if you’ve used enzymatic cleaners on pet stains around the house. These enzyme shampoos are designed to be safe for your pup’s skin—not your carpet.
Last, some products use optical brighteners, which enhance the visibility of white fur and reduce the visibility of stains or discolorations by using fluorescence, which converts invisible UV light into visible blue light.
Are Dog Whitening Shampoos Safe To Use?
Generally, dog whitening shampoos are safe—but you’ll want to take some basic precautions. According to Katlin, pet parents should use these products no more often than once every three to four weeks and always in combination with a conditioner.
If you’re using a bluing product, you should use it sparingly, as it can cause your dog’s coat to have a blue or purple tint. With all products, pet parents should use only the amount necessary to clean and brighten, and make sure to read all directions carefully, since some shampoos will call for diluting or require the shampoo to remain on the coat for a certain amount of time.
Never use bleaches or peroxides on any area of your dog’s coat, as this can irritate their skin and even cause permanent damage to their coat. Similarly, pet parents should not use whitening shampoos to remove tear stains, as they can irritate eyes. Instead, consider using special wipes or cleanser designed for tears and safe to be used near your dog’s eyes.
How We Chose
We selected the products featured here based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and an interview with Master Groomer Katlin Primrose, who runs a cooperative-care grooming service that asks animals to be a willing participant in experiences. Cooperative care grooming allows for pets to “opt out” of experiences that are stressful (the blow dryer, for example) using a non-aggressive cue and emphasizes building a pet’s self confidence in a low-stress environment.
We prioritized natural and safe ingredients that were developed in cruelty-free environments. 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.
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