Dandruff, also known as seborrheic dermatitis, can affect dogs like humans. We all know the signs of dandruff—dry, flaky skin is the major giveaway. It can have various underlying causes from improper grooming to parasites, skin allergies and hormonal imbalances. The good news is that mild, occasional dandruff is usually easy to treat.
That said, if your dog is suffering from severe or persistent dandruff, you should always get them checked out by a vet to investigate the underlying cause and rule out more serious skin conditions. If your vet has recommended using a shampoo that helps with dry, flaky skin, check out our best dog shampoo for dandruff reviews to help you understand what’s on the market.
Note: If your dog is suffering from a skin issue, be sure to run any new shampoo you’re thinking of using by your vet to make sure it’s suitable for your dog.
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A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
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Best Overall
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Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo |
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John Paul Pet Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo |
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Vetnique Labs Medicated Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo |
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Earthbath Mild Cherry Puppy Shampoo |
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Hartz Groomer’s Anti-Dandruff Dog Shampoo |
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The 11 Best Dog Shampoos for Dandruff
1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall
| Brand: | Hepper |
| Volume: | 16 fl oz |
| Scent: | Aloe & Cucumber |
Leave dandruff in the dust with Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. This pH-balanced formula uses all-natural ingredients to nourish dry, irritated skin, leaving behind a healthy and hydrated coat. The gentle lather easily works into the fur down to the skin, lifting any excess dandruff and loose hair away and leaving your dog smelling light and fresh. The aloe and cucumber scent is long-lasting yet mild enough to not bother the most sensitive dog noses.
Once your dog’s dandruff is a thing of the past, you can safely continue to use this shampoo during bathtime to prevent future irritation, making this an all-in-one must-have product!
At Dogster.com, 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!
- All-natural, pet-safe formula
- Mild, long-lasting scent
- Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
- pH-balanced
- Great for all life stages
- Some pets may not like the scent
2. John Paul Pet Sensitive Skin Oatmeal Dog Shampoo
| Brand: | John Paul Pet |
| Volume: | 16 fl oz |
| Scent: | Almond |
John Paul Sensitive Skin Formula Oatmeal Dog Shampoo is our recommendation for the best dog dandruff shampoo for the money. This inexpensive shampoo is made with oatmeal, aloe vera, and almond oil, which leaves behind a light almond scent on your dog’s fur after use. It’s designed to get rid of dirt and build-up without being harsh on your dog’s skin.
This shampoo was chosen as our best value pick because it helps tackle dry skin at a very affordable price, is highly reviewed, and, best of all, is guaranteed cruelty-free! The only thing some may not like about this product is that the almond scent is pretty faint. That said, whether this bothers you depends on your preference.
- Inexpensive
- Eco and animal-friendly
- pH-balanced and skin-kind
- Professionally formulated
- Faint scent
3. Vetnique Labs Medicated Anti-Itch Oatmeal Shampoo
| Brand: | Vetnique Labs |
| Volume: | 16 fl oz |
| Scent: | Medicated |
Our third choice dog shampoo for dandruff is Vetnique Labs’ Dermabliss Anti-Itch & Allergy Relief Soothing Oatmeal shampoo. This vet-formulated shampoo is designed to cleanse without stripping your dog’s fur of healthy oils. For this, it utilizes a soap-free formula, and its key ingredients are safflower seed oil and oat extract.
While the soothing, hydrating properties of these ingredients get to work, pramoxine creates a numbing effect on your dog’s skin. This helps to relieve itching and irritation. Though this is a medicated shampoo, it does not smell strongly medicated. On the downside, this shampoo is pretty pricey for a 16-ounce bottle.
- Specially formulated to tackle skin issues
- Pramoxine helps alleviate itchy skin
- Vet-formulated
- Doesn’t strip healthy oils from the skin
- Expensive
4. Earthbath Ultra-Mild Cherry Puppy Shampoo
| Brand: | Earthbath |
| Volume: | 16 fl oz |
| Scent: | Cherry |
If you’re the proud parent of a gorgeous pup, you’ll no doubt be on the lookout for a shampoo that is safe for them. For puppies over 6 weeks, we recommend Earthbath’s Ultra-Mild Wild Cherry Puppy Shampoo. This cherry-scented shampoo is cruelty-free, soap-free, tearless, and infused with aloe vera to soothe irritated and dry skin.
We also love that this shampoo is paraben and phosphate-free, biodegradable, and safe to use with flea treatments. Its sweet cherry scent is something you’ll either love or hate, and it is a bit expensive compared to many of our other recommendations.
- Safe for puppies over 6 weeks old
- Aloe vera infused to soothe dry skin
- Refreshing cherry scent
- Eco-friendly and cruelty-free
- Expensive
5. Hartz Groomer’s Best Pro Anti-Dandruff Dog Shampoo
| Brand: | Hartz |
| Volume: | 32 fl oz |
| Scent: | Jasmine and citrus |
Hartz Groomer’s Best Professionals Anti-Dandruff Dog Shampoo is another good choice for the best dog shampoo for dandruff. This shampoo was professionally formulated to treat and soothe flaky, itchy skin in dogs. Its magic ingredient is salicylic acid—this helps remove dead skin cells and reduce redness and inflammation. It’s completely paraben-free, so it’s a great choice for dogs with itchy, sensitive skin.
This shampoo is easy to lather as it’s not too thick in consistency and works on softening your dog’s coat as well as tackling dandruff. Best of all—it comes in a 32-fluid-ounce bottle so that it will last for ages! On the downside, the bottle isn’t the sturdiest and is prone to leaking.
- Made with salicylic acid
- Professionally formulated
- Gentle on your dog’s skin
- Pleasant scent
- Easy to lather
- Bottle prone to leaking
6. Zesty Paws Itch Soother Oatmeal & Aloe Vera Dog Shampoo
| Brand: | Zesty Paws |
| Volume: | 16 fl oz |
| Scent: | Vanilla bean |
Aloe vera, oatmeal, vanilla, and vitamin E make up this anti-itch shampoo for dogs. The added vitamin E is a major bonus—it’s good for the skin and is a great moisturizer. Moisturization is crucial when it comes to helping to treat dandruff in dogs. As well as tackling itchy skin, Zesty Paws’ shampoo is designed to add softness and shine to your dog’s fur.
Another of Zesty Paws Itch Soother Dog Shampoo’s powers is that it helps to banish unpleasant smells. What we like about this shampoo is that it packs a lot of power into one bottle. On the downside, it may not be suitable for dogs with very sensitive skin or serious skin conditions.
- Vitamin E to moisturize
- Adds softness and shine
- Good for odor control
- Might not be suitable for dogs with especially sensitive skin
7. Pet MD Benzoyl Peroxide Dog Shampoo
| Brand: | Pet MD |
| Volume: | 16 fl oz |
| Scent: | Citrus |
PetMD is one of the most trusted sources of information about pet health conditions. It has also developed its own range of pet care products, including this vet-approved anti-itch shampoo. Pet MD’s Benzoyl Peroxide shampoo contains powerful ingredients to cleanse the skin and remove grease from the fur, it also helps relieve scale and itching from skin infections.
This shampoo utilizes benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and sulfur to soften dead skin and hydrate the skin. Benzoyl peroxide is an excellent antibacterial ingredient that also helps flush out blocked hair follicles. It has a fresh, non-chemical-like scent. On the downside, this shampoo can potentially cause dryness, and will not be suitable for all skin conditions. We recommend checking with your vet that this shampoo is suitable for your pup first.
- Vet-approved
- Fresh scent
- Designed to treat dandruff and clogged follicles
- Antibacterial action
- Can be drying
8. Vet’s Best Oatmeal Medicated Dog Shampoo
| Brand: | Vet’s Best |
| Volume: | 16 fl oz |
| Scent: | Tea tree |
Vet’s Best Oatmeal Medicated Dog Shampoo targets itchiness, dryness, and flakiness on your dog’s skin. It smells pleasant and doesn’t have that harsh chemical-like smell that some medicated shampoos do. It is made of a few simple but powerful ingredients—tea tree oil, salicylic acid, oatmeal, aloe vera, and vitamin B5—a great combination for skin care.
The only thing we’re not keen on with this shampoo is that it’s a little watery—this means that it’s not hard to lose some of it to the drain when applying it to your dog’s fur. On the bright side, you won’t have to worry about working up a decent lather!
- Oatmeal medicated
- Contains tea tree
- Smells fresh
- Targets dryness and itchiness
- A little watery
9. Veterinary Formula Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Dog Shampoo
| Brand: | Veterinary Formula Clinical Care |
| Volume: | 16 fl oz |
| Scent: | Coconut |
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care’s Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Dog Shampoo was made specifically for dogs with dandruff. Like many other dandruff shampoos, it’s made with oatmeal and salicylic acid, but it has an extra trick up its sleeve—coal tar. Coal tar is commonly used to treat skin conditions in humans, too, and is known for its ability to shed dead skin cells and soothe flakiness, scaliness, and even inflammation.
What we like most about this product is that it targets not only flakiness and itchiness but also helps to settle inflamed, red skin.
We advise you to check with your vet before using this product, though, as it’s not the gentlest dog shampoo and can even be harsh on some dogs’ skin. It may not suit some skin conditions and could worsen the signs.
- Designed to reduce inflammation and soreness
- Uses coal tar
- Targets a range of skin conditions
- Might not be suitable for some dogs
- Not the gentlest shampoo
10. TropiClean Medicated Oatmeal & Tea Tree Dog Shampoo
| Brand: | TropiClean |
| Volume: | 20 fl oz |
| Scent: | Fresh |
TropiClean’s Medicated Oatmeal & Tea Tree Dog Shampoo is a paraben-free, dye-free, and soap-free product for dogs with itchy skin. We love that this product is both eco-friendly and cruelty-free and comes in a 20-ounce bottle—more than the standard 16-ounce. This throws in a little extra value for money at a not-too-shabby price.
Its ingredients include oatmeal, tea tree, and papaya—a good combination for skin care and a fresh, tropical scent. Its naturally derived ingredients make it one of the least harsh choices of all our recommendations. Its magic ingredient is beta-hydroxy, commonly used in skincare products to unclog pores and exfoliate. One thing to watch out for with this shampoo is that it is prone to leakage, especially when delivered.
- Targets dryness and flakiness
- Infused with beta hydroxy for exfoliation
- Paraben, dye, and soap-free
- Cruelty-free
- Prone to leakage
11. Burt’s Bees Dog Oatmeal Shampoo
| Brand: | Burt’s Bees |
| Volume: | 16 fl oz |
| Scent: | Fragrance-free |
Infused with colloidal oat flour and honey, Burt’s Bees Dog Oatmeal Shampoo is an inexpensive, pH-balanced shampoo free of parabens, chemicals, and artificial fragrances. It is designed to moisturize skin and leave your dog feeling soft while the colloidal oat flour goes to town to soothing skin irritation. We like this shampoo’s very reasonable price, natural ingredient selection, and eco-friendliness—the bottle is made of 80% recycled material!
If you prefer scented shampoos, though, you might be disappointed, as Burt’s Bees shampoo is fragrance-free. Overall, it’s a gentle, inexpensive option unlikely to worsen your dog’s dandruff or skin condition. This shampoo is our bottom pick because, while there’s a lot to love about it, you may need to use a lot of product as it’s hard to lather. Also, it’s a little subjective on our part, but we do prefer shampoos that leave behind a nice smell!
- Cruelty-free and eco-friendly
- Good for sensitive skin
- Affordable
- Cruelty-free
- Unscented
- Need to use a lot of product
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Shampoo for Dandruff
Since there are so many dog dandruff shampoo options out there, it can be hard to decide which one would be best for your dog. First, we’d like to reiterate something we mentioned near the start of this article—if your dog has a skin condition, check any potential shampoos out with your vet before using them.
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However unlikely a product may be to cause a reaction or worsen your dog’s condition, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry. This is because, though certain shampoos are designed to treat and soothe dandruff and other skin conditions, some just simply might not be suitable for the type of condition your dog has.
If you’ve got the go-ahead to use an anti-dandruff shampoo on your dog, ask yourself these questions when picking one out:
- Do I need something for a puppy or an adult dog?
- Does my dog have a simple case of dandruff, or do they have another kind of skin condition?
- Which ingredients is this shampoo made of that can help with my dog’s specific skin condition?
- Are there any ingredients I want to avoid using on my dog?
- Do I want something scented or fragrance-free?
- Does my dog have any allergies or especially sensitive skin?
- How much product am I going to need?
- Is dandruff an occasional issue that can be reduced by using a good shampoo, or does my dog have an ongoing condition I should speak with my vet about?
- Is this shampoo professionally formulated, vet-approved, or at least have positive reviews?
- What’s my budget?
Our Selection Process for Dog Shampoo for Dogs
To create this buyer’s guide, our writing team and editorial staff checked customer reviews, brand reputation, and veterinary approval ratings to present the dog shampoos we think should be highlighted for our readers. In some cases, we conducted hands-on testing along with seeing how much our dogs liked the dog shampoos. All these factors were considered when selecting these listed dog shampoos to help you make the best purchase for your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Since 2004, Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online, which means we have a lot of experience with dog shampoos. We take pride in promoting the well-being of all dogs—from toy breeds to giant canines. Our in-house veterinarians, writers, and editors examine each product on our lists, ensuring its quality and reputation. As pet owners ourselves, we only want the best for our furry companions. At Dogster, we are transparent about the products we promote. The nutritional information, overall brand reputation, and customer reviews are all considered for these lists. We inform you how we want to be informed.
Conclusion
Our choice for the best overall dog shampoo for dandruff is Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. We particularly like the refreshing treatment you can give your dog for a reasonable price.
Our best value pick goes to John Paul’s eco-friendly shampoo designed with sensitive skin in mind. Finally, our premium choice is the pricey but gently cleansing Vetnique Labs Dermabliss Medicated Anti-Itch & Allergy Relief Soothing Oatmeal Shampoo.
We hope that our best dog shampoo for dandruff reviews have given you a good idea of what’s available to treat and soothe your dog’s flaky skin. Remember—when in doubt, talk to a vet. Good luck!
See Also:
- Does Dog Shampoo Expire? What You Need To Know
- Is Dawn Dish Soap Safe For Dogs? Is It Effective For Cleaning?
Featured Image Credit: Vershinin89, Shutterstock
