We adore our furry, four-legged friends, so seeing them with dry, itchy, or sensitive skin is painful. We can help our dogs with their sensitive skin in several ways, but one of the easiest and quickest ways is via a dog shampoo that’s been specially formulated to meet their needs. There’s no shortage of dog shampoos for sensitive skin, which means it may be a struggle to find the one that works best for your pet.

A fabulous way to get an idea of what could be a good fit is by checking out reviews, as reviews will give you a more honest look at a product than the brand’s description will. You don’t want to go through thousands of reviews on dozens of products, though, so we will save you time with this list of the best dog shampoos for sensitive skin. Read on and find exactly what you and your pup need!

A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2024

The 11 Best Dog Shampoos for Sensitive Skin

1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall

This Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is the best overall dog shampoo for sensitive skin because it has a powerful yet gentle cleansing formula. The formula is free of harsh chemicals, like soaps, dyes, sulfates, and phthalates. It contains colloidal oatmeal, which soothes itchy skin and nourishes dry skin.

The shampoo is pH-balanced, so it doesn’t irritate your dog’s skin, and the formula is safe for both cats and dogs. The shampoo lathers well, and it’s easy to massage it through your dog’s entire coat. It also rinses off without leaving a soapy residue, so bath time is quick and easy with this shampoo. Another benefit is its long-lasting aloe vera and cucumber scent to keep your dog smelling fresh in between baths.

While the shampoo has a nourishing formula, it may not be effective with particularly dry and flaking skin. It doesn’t have an accompanying conditioner, so you’ll have to purchase an unscented conditioner that won’t compete with the shampoo scent if you want to moisturize your dog’s skin and coat deeply.

At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

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2. Burt’s Bees Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo – Budget Buy

When you want the best dog shampoo for sensitive skin but are on a budget, our pick is Burt’s Bees Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo. You are probably already familiar with Burt’s Bees beauty and skin products they make for people, so you might know that Burt’s Bees uses almost entirely natural ingredients (97% of the ingredients in this are natural). Hypoallergenic shea butter moisturizes your pup’s skin, while honey provides a lustrous shine to their coat. Plus, this shampoo has been pH balanced specifically to meet canine needs.

Burt’s Bees products are made in the U.S. and are cruelty-free. They contain no fragrances, essential oils, or sulfates.

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3. Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Soothe Dog Shampoo

When you’re on the hunt for dog shampoo for sensitive skin, we recommend this one by Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Soothe Dog Shampoo. Whether your doggo has been playing hard at the dog park or romped through a mud puddle, this safe, natural shampoo promises that your pet will look good as new after their bath. Oat extract and olive oil soothe and nourish dry, itchy skin, while aloe vera calms down skin irritations. Shea butter provides moisture to your dog’s coat, improving the look and feel, and rosemary extract helps heal flaky skin.

This product is free of parabens, dyes, mineral oil, formaldehyde, and alcohol.

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4. Nature’s Miracle Odor Control Oatmeal Dog Shampoo

If you have a pup that’s not only suffering from dry, itchy skin but is also a stinky fur baby, this odor-control shampoo for sensitive skin will tackle it all. This soap-free shampoo offers four benefits—it controls odors, cleanses conditions, and relieves itchy skin. Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Oatmeal Dog Shampoo can also help reduce the amount of static electricity on your dog and make hair super soft.

Made in the USA, this paraben and dye-free shampoo can safely be used with spot-on tick and flea treatments and other topical products.

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5. TropiClean Medicated Oatmeal & Tea Tree Dog Shampoo

Give your favorite four-legged pal a taste of the tropics with the TropiClean Medicated Oatmeal & Tea Tree Dog Shampoo! Natural salicylic acid works to get rid of dandruff, flaky skin, and scaly skin resulting from seborrhea. Meanwhile, oatmeal, aloe vera, and tea tree oil soothe and moisturize skin. Plus, this soap-free shampoo is safe to use with spot-on tick and flea treatments. And with the fresh coconut and papaya scent, along with the quick lather and quick rinse functionality, your dog will end up loving bath time! Just be cautious with how much you use at a time due to the tea tree oil.

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6. Buddy Wash Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo

This Buddy Wash Original 2-in-1 Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner contains cosmetic-grade ingredients and essential oils that will leave your pet’s coat and skin soft and smooth. The lavender and mint smell provides a soothing atmosphere for a calmer bath time experience, while wheat protein works as a natural deodorizer, so your pup will smell fresh as a daisy. Plus, the aloe vera gel will work to soothe dry, itchy skin. Made in the USA, this product can also be safely used by humans!

One thing of note: always be careful when using products containing essential oils, as an overabundance can be harmful to your dog.

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7. Paws & Pals Oatmeal, Sweet Basil & Turmeric Dog Shampoo

Paws & Pals Oatmeal, Sweet Basil & Turmeric Shampoo for Dogs with sensitive skin isn’t only 100% all-natural and organic but also vegan. This shampoo is free of irritants and will work to detangle mats; plus, it’s tear-free, so you don’t need to worry about your pet’s eyes and nose being irritated either. Oatmeal, sweet basil, and turmeric work to smooth out and moisturize your dog’s coat, while coconut oil, aloe, and jojoba soothe dry, itchy skin.

While there are essential oils in this shampoo, the brand says the balance found within was recommended by a veterinarian foundation specifically for the care of a dog’s coat.

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8. Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo

Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Dogs with Sensitive Skin—as the name indicates—was formulated by veterinarians, so it should be perfectly safe for your pet. A blend of natural ingredients works to relieve sensitive and itchy skin and remove any allergens on your dog. This soap-free formula contains aloe vera and Vitamin E, designed to soothe skin irritation and repair dry, brittle coats. Plus, the lack of soap also means this shampoo is safe for topical tick and flea treatments.

Vet’s Best is not recommended for use with pregnant or nursing dogs.

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9. 4-Legger Hypo-Allergenic Lemongrass & Aloe Dog Shampoo

 

Keep your dog with sensitive skin clean with this all-natural, organic, cruelty-free, gluten-free, vegan shampoo! Created in a USDA-certified organic facility, this concentrated formula shampoo is easy to both lather and rinse. Lemongrass is a natural cleanser known for its antifungal and antibacterial properties, so it can help clear up any skin issues arising from fungus, yeast, and bacteria. Aloe vera soothes itchy skin, while the essential oil blend promotes healthier skin and coat. Non-toxic and eco-friendly, the 4-Legger Organic, Hypo-Allergenic, Lemongrass & Aloe Dog Shampoo is safe to use with topical tick and flea treatments.

As with all products containing essential oils, caution is advised.

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10. Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Fragrance-Free Dog Shampoo

Eliminate dry, itchy skin with the gentle Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Fragrance-Free Dog & Cat Shampoo! Organic aloe vera and oatmeal soothe irritated skin while also moisturizing and healing, while the fragrance-free formula makes this shampoo perfect for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies. Don’t be concerned that it being fragrance-free means it won’t make your pet smell better, though, as this shampoo works to deodorize and neutralize odors.

This shampoo is free of phosphates and parabens. It is suitable for dogs aged 6 weeks and up.

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11. DERMagic Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo Bar

 

Tired of wasting shampoo during bath times due to your pup knocking the bottle over? Try the DERMagic Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo Bar instead! It lathers up quickly and gets your dog just as clean. Made with rosemary essential oil, known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, this shampoo relieves itching and reduces the appearance of dandruff. Bonus: rosemary also promotes hair growth and leaves your dog smelling great!

Made with organic ingredients and without sulfates or chemicals, this shampoo bar is environmentally friendly, as for every 10 bars purchased, a tree is planted! As with all products containing essential oils, exercise caution when using them.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Shampoo for Sensitive Skin

Why Do Some Dogs Have Sensitive Skin?

There are a handful of reasons your dog may be dealing with sensitive skin. Most likely, it will be due to allergies or a skin condition, but it could also be something a bit more serious.

Skin Condition

While dry skin may be most common, other skin conditions could cause problems such as excessive scratching.

One of these is seborrhea, which occurs when your dog’s skin overproduces sebum. This can make skin either dry or oily but typically combines the two.

Some dog breeds are also just more prone to certain skin conditions. For example, Siberian Huskies are more likely to develop zinc-responsive dermatosis, which seems to be related to zinc deficiency. Symptoms include scaling and itchiness.

There’s also folliculitis (infection of the hair follicle) and impetigo (causes skin lesions), amongst others. If you think your dog may be suffering from a skin condition, you’ll want to consult your vet.

Allergies

Another common reason your dog may be suffering from dry, itchy, sensitive skin is because of allergies. These allergies could be environmental or food-related and can result in pruritus.

Excessive Licking

Sometimes, pets do odd things like licking one spot over and over again. If your pet is licking themselves excessively, it can cause irritated skin. It could also indicate that your pet is anxious or bored or may be because of an undiagnosed health problem.

Infection

There’s a chance your pup could be suffering from a yeast, fungal, or bacterial infection if they are dealing with sensitive skin. These infections could actually be a secondary problem to a larger health issue, so it’s important to take your dog’s dry and sensitive skin seriously. Some infections may even be passable to humans (like ringworm).

Parasite

If your dog has been excessively scratching, it might be dealing with a parasite. These could be fleas and ticks, lice, or even one of the parasites that cause mange.

What to Look for in a Dog Shampoo for Sensitive Skin

There are a few things to consider when searching for the perfect dog shampoo for sensitive skin.

Meets Your Dog’s Skin Needs

Most importantly, you want to ensure that a shampoo meets your dog’s skin needs. Most shampoos for sensitive skin will cover dryness and itchiness, but not all will be formulated for skin sensitive to things such as fragrance or certain ingredients. Make sure a shampoo does what you need while still getting your pet spotless but doesn’t contain ingredients that may irritate your pup’s skin.

Essential Oils

Speaking of ingredients, many shampoos for sensitive skin will contain essential oils. Essential oils are ingredients for which you need to practice caution. While they may offer some benefits to your dog, a few are downright harmful or toxic. Tea tree oil, in particular, can be detrimental to dogs in larger quantities, but you’ll find it’s quite common in small amounts in many shampoos for sensitive skin. Weigh whether it’s worth using one of these shampoos for your pet, even if they could be beneficial.

Price

While most dog shampoos for sensitive skin will be reasonably priced, there are a few costly ones out there. Besides simply looking at the price, it’s good to look at how long a shampoo will last. Shampoos that lather up well may last longer than the ones that are less sudsy.

Reviews

Checking reviews of the products you might be considering buying is vital. Other pet parents’ experiences can help you decide whether a particular shampoo is right for you and your dog.

Conclusion

When you want to get your dog the best overall shampoo for sensitive skin, we recommend Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo because of its natural ingredient list and pH balanced formula. For the best budget option, our pick is Burt’s Bees Hypoallergenic shampoo because it’s affordable and has mostly natural ingredients.

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Featured Image Credit: 135pixels, Shutterstock