11 Best Puppy Shampoos For Dry Skin in 2025: Reviews & Top Picks

Puppies are messy, and it helps to have a reliable bottle of shampoo on hand. No one wants a smelly puppy! But sometimes, shopping for a good shampoo is challenging when your puppy has dry skin. You want to make sure that the shampoo you choose contains the right ingredients to help your puppy’s dry skin, not irritate it.

Every animal has unique needs, regardless if they share the same skin condition— especially young animals. The following puppy shampoo reviews will help shed light on the options available to you, so you can make the best purchase for yourself and your puppy.

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The 11 Best Puppy Shampoos For Dry Skin

1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall

Our choice for the best overall puppy shampoo for dry skin is Hepper’s Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. This shampoo is specially formulated with all-natural ingredients to not only fight pet odors, but to nourish dry patches, soothe irritated skin, and even lower shedding. This made-in-the-USA shampoo is free of soaps, dyes, sulfates, gluten, DEA, and phthalates making it safe for all puppies, dogs, and even kitties.

The colloidal oatmeal formula and Hepper’s pH-balanced ingredients work together to clean your pup, leaving it feeling and smelling fresh thanks to the aloe and cucumber scent. The nourishment it provides for dry skin works to hinder scratching post-bathing. You will especially love that the scent, and the nourishing skin relief, are long-lasting to give your new puppy relief from its skin irritations.

You won’t find many cons when it comes to this shampoo and puppies with dry skin. The only issue we could see could be that pets or their owners may not enjoy the scent, although we did.

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!

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2. Burt’s Bees Puppy 2-in-1 Shampoo

Burt’s Bees Puppy 2-in-1 Shampoo is the best for the money. Many dog owners use this shampoo for its affordability and great ingredients. This shampoo proves that you don’t have to sacrifice quality ingredients when your budget is tight. Although Burt’s Bees doesn’t market this shampoo for puppies with dry skin, the featured ingredient is buttermilk. Buttermilk has several beneficial properties for the skin that can help cleanse your puppy and nourish its skin at the same time.

The downside to this shampoo is that it’s challenging to lather, and some owners report that the soap is too watery. However, it’s a tearless shampoo and a 2-in-1 shampoo conditioner combo, so you won’t have to bathe your puppy for long.

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3. kin+kind Natural Oatmeal Dog & Cat Shampoo

Our third choice is Kin+kind’s Natural Oatmeal Dog and Cat Shampoo. Kin+kind designed this shampoo with sensitive skin in mind. This shampoo’s first ingredient is organic aloe, an excellent way to hydrate dry, flaky skin. With the organic olive and coconut oil combination and colloidal oatmeal, your pup receives extra hydration.

A con to this shampoo is that the product is smaller than most shampoos. Another con is that it doesn’t sud. Natural shampoo usually doesn’t sud, so this product may not be your favorite if you want the bubble bath lather. Nevertheless, it’s hypoallergenic and tearless, so you don’t have to worry about the product irritating your puppy’s eyes during bath time.

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4. Mad About Organics Oatmeal Shampoo

Mad About Organics oatmeal shampoo is the best option if you have a puppy younger than 6 weeks old that needs a bath. You can even use this shampoo on a pregnant dog if you have a mama dog. Most of the ingredients are all-natural, and there’s no harsh ingredients.

The downside to this shampoo is that you only get 4 fl oz, much less than a regular amount of pet shampoo. But you need to make a soapy solution to use this product, so it lasts about as long as a standard dog shampoo bottle. Plus, the solution makes for an easy rinse! Before applying it to your pet’s coat, ensure that everything is ready to go so bath time goes smoothly.

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5. Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog & Cat Shampoo

Earthbath’s Oatmeal and Aloe Dog and Cat Shampoo is another great option. This shampoo is a tried-and-true brand for several dog owners. The essential ingredients are at the top of the list. Colloidal oatmeal and organic aloe help hydrate your puppy’s dry skin, while the coconut cleansers gently clean any dirt and grime your puppy has in its coat.

If your puppy has a flea and ticks topical medicine, this shampoo will not wash off the medication as long as you follow the flea and tick bathing directions. When your puppy is six weeks old or older, you can use this shampoo.

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6. Dog Whisperer Hypoallergenic Coconut Bliss Puppy Shampoo

Dog Whisperer’s Hypoallergenic Puppy Shampoo is enriched with vitamin E and organic aloe vera to help cleanse your puppy without irritating its dry skin. The plastic bottle it comes in appears thin, but it’s protected with a layer of pulp paper to reduce plastic. This shampoo is cruelty-free, and the packaging is 100% recycled material.

This shampoo is dense and creamy. Some owners say that the bottle allows too much shampoo to come out at once, so be mindful when depositing the soap onto your puppy’s coat. Some owners report that the coconut smell is more pungent when the puppy is wet, but it mellows after its coat dries.

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7. 4-Legger Organic Hypo-Allergenic Lemongrass & Aloe Dog Shampoo

If your puppy struggles with additional skin issues like allergies and red splotches, this shampoo may help. 4-Legger Dog Shampoo isn’t marketed as a puppy shampoo, but it has several ingredients that help soothe dry, flaky skin while promoting healthy skin. Ingredients like organic aloe vera and several combinations of oils condition your puppy’s coat without stripping it of natural oils. The shampoo is non-toxic should your puppy decide to taste the soap during bath time.

Some pet owners loathe the smell, and some report that their dog smells funky after a few days. Other owners suggest using a conditioner with this shampoo if your puppy has severe skin allergies. The soap is on the watery side, so puppies with thick coats may need more shampoo.

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8. Rocco & Roxie Oatmeal Dog Shampoo

If your puppy has dry, sensitive skin, Rocco & Roxie Oatmeal Dog Shampoo is a great option. The ingredients in this shampoo are all-natural with no harmful chemicals whatsoever. It’s also a family-owned business if that’s important to you. Many owners enjoy the fragrance of this shampoo, while others report that it could be more robust and doesn’t last long.

The biggest downside to this shampoo is the thickness of the soap. It can be hard to get out of the bottle, prolonging bathtime. This soap could be a challenge if you’re bathing your puppy solo.

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9. Wahl Gentle Puppy Shampoo

The eighth shampoo on our list is Wahl Gentle Puppy Shampoo. This product is affordable for any budget, and you receive a larger quantity than most animal shampoos. It has no parabens and is alcohol-free, so you can bathe your puppy without irritating its skin.

The downside to this product is that the featured ingredients, cornflower and aloe, are at the bottom of the ingredient list, so they’re not the main ingredients. This soap also contains artificial coloring.

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10. TropiClean Hypoallergenic Gentle Coconut Puppy Shampoo

 

If you have a puppy and kitten, you can save more money! TropiClean’s Hypoallergenic Coconut Shampoo is number nine on our list. This shampoo is affordable, smells great, and is very gentle on puppy and kitten skin. The bottle comes in a larger quantity than standard animal shampoo bottle sizes.

This shampoo contains no soap, parabens, or dyes. It’s even pH balanced. Some owners don’t care for the coconut scent, but others love it! You must let the shampoo rest for three to five minutes on your pet’s coat, and it could be longer if your pet is receiving topical flea and tick medicine.

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11. The Spruce Waterless Pet Wash

The last shampoo on our list is The Spruce’s Waterless Pet Wash Shampoo. This waterless shampoo is nice for lightly cleansing your puppy, perfect for pups that don’t like taking baths. If you travel with your dog often, a waterless shampoo is great for easy packing. Unfortunately, there’s no fragrance-free option. This shampoo is oatmeal and mango, but there are two other scents. However, all ingredients are plant-derived, which is vital since the shampoo stays on your puppy’s skin.

As you can imagine, your puppy won’t receive a deep cleanse with any waterless shampoo. But this could be what you’re looking for if you need something on the go.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Puppy Shampoo For Dry Skin

How To Bathe A Puppy For The First Time

Bath time is a new experience for a puppy. It can be fun, but also scary! Getting your puppy acquainted with bath time early is essential for future grooming. The following video walks you through step-by-step how to bathe your baby pooch. Spoiler alert: the puppy is a pug. You might fall in love.

What To Look For In Puppy Shampoo

Animal shampoos work for different reasons. Before choosing a reliable shampoo, you must decide what your puppy needs first. In this case, you know your puppy needs a good cleanse without irritating its dry skin. To pick the right one for your puppy, ask yourself these questions:

If you’re unsure of which puppy shampoo to use, please contact your vet or a reputable groomer for a recommendation.

To talk to a vet online now, click on the image or button below:

Puppy Shampoo Ingredients To Avoid

Grooming supplies have changed drastically over the last twenty years. In the past, groomers used baby shampoo and Dawn dish soap. These products aren’t terrible. Some people still wash their pets this way. But now, there are better, more improved products!

Not every pet shampoo is the best shampoo. You should keep an eye out for specific ingredients that can do more harm than good. Those ingredients are:

These ingredients will cleanse your puppy’s coat, but they’ll dry its skin out simultaneously. Plus, they can be toxic. Read the labels on your pet’s shampoo before making a purchase. Take your time to find the best shampoo for your puppy’s delicate skin. You probably want the best product for your skin and hair. It helps to put forth the same effort for your pet.

Conclusion

Our choice for the best overall puppy shampoo is Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. It has all the essential ingredients to help your dog’s dry skin at the top of the list, plus you can use it safely on your puppies!

Kin+kind natural oatmeal shampoo is the best if you want to splurge on your puppy. Organic aloe vera is the first ingredient instead of coconut cleansers, making it an excellent option for dry, flaky skin. Go with Burt’s Bees if you’re on a tight budget and want natural ingredients.

See also:

• If I Have No Dog Shampoo, What Can I Use? 6 Options (With Pictures)
• 9 Best CBD Dog Shampoos: Reviews & Top Picks

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Featured Image Credit: ANUCHA PONGPATIMETH, Shutterstock