| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Fragrance Free Dog & Cat Shampoo |
| Best Budget | Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo |
| Best Fragranced | DermAllay Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs, Cats & Horses |
| Best Shampoo Bar | Wondercide Oatmeal & Honey Shea Butter Dog & Cat Shampoo Bar |
When it’s time to wash your dog, you may be tempted to use your shampoo. While your hair care products make your tresses look fabulous, they may actually irritate your pup’s skin. That’s because the potential hydrogen (pH) level of human skin is very different from dog skin.
In skincare, pH refers to the skin’s acidity level. A dog’s pH level is more neutral than a human’s, which is why using your shampoo on your pup may upset the pH balance of their skin, causing dryness, irritation, and flaking.
The best way to ensure that bathing your dog doesn’t cause skin problems is to use a dog shampoo that is formulated to match a dog’s pH level. Some of the best dog shampoos include colloidal oatmeal, a natural ingredient made by grinding oats into a fine powder. Colloidal oatmeal has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that will keep your dog’s skin healthy and hydrated.
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Specially formulated for dry, itchy, and sensitive skin
- Soap-free oatmeal and aloe formula
- Doesn't wash off topical flea applications
- Re-moisturize, heal, and soothe dry and scratched skin
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Formulated from high-quality natural ingredients
- The gentle formula nourishes dry, itchy skin
- No artificial fragrance added
- For dogs with sensitive skin
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Mild, soap-free therapeutic oatmeal shampoo
- Protect natural oils in your dog's hair
- Light, pleasant apple fragrance
- Essential fatty acids bond moisture to their skin
Check Chewy Check Amazon- A shampoo bar is easier to use on a wiggling pup
- Contains honey, a natural humectant
- Suitable for dogs with sensitive skin
- Great for all fur types
Top Picks: The Best Oatmeal Dog Shampoos Available Today
#1 Best Overall: Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Shampoo – Fragrance-Free
Our choice for the best overall oatmeal dog shampoo, Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Shampoo – Fragrance-Free, is specially formulated for dry, itchy, and sensitive skin. It will leave your dog smelling fresh without potentially irritating fragrances. Its soap-free colloidal oatmeal and organic aloe formula will moisturize and heal scratched skin while reducing itching, so she won’t be tempted to scratch more. And it won’t wash off topical flea applications!
This formula is 100% biodegradable, paraben, and phosphate-free. It’s perfect for pets with sensitivities or allergies as well as dogs and cats over six weeks old that need a moisturizing shampoo.
One disadvantage of this shampoo is that it contains coconut-based cleansers, which shouldn’t be used on dogs with coconut allergies.
Pros and Cons of Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Shampoo – Fragrance-Free
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This fragrance-free dog shampoo is also free from parabens and phosphates. Plus, it’s 100% biodegradable. | It contains coconut-based cleansers, so it shouldn’t be used on dogs with coconut allergies. |
| It contains soothing, moisturizing colloidal oatmeal and organic aloe vera to heal scratched skin while reducing itching. | |
| It’s suitable for pets with sensitivities or allergies and dogs and cats over six weeks old. | |
| It won’t wash off topical flea applications. |
- Specially formulated for dry, itchy, and sensitive skin
- Soap-free oatmeal and aloe formula
- Doesn't wash off topical flea applications
- Re-moisturize, heal, and soothe dry and scratched skin
2. Best Budget: Burt’s Bees for Dogs Natural Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs, Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey
Our choice for the best budget oatmeal dog shampoo, Burt’s Bees for Dogs Natural Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs, Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey, is pH balanced, fragrance-free, and formulated from high-quality natural ingredients. Plus, it’s eco-consciously packaged in 80% post-consumer recycled bottles.
This gentle formula nourishes dry, itchy skin with colloidal oatmeal so it can heal and maintain healthy skin. It also includes honey, which will boost her coat’s shine, and green tea extract for a clean that shows! This shampoo produces a light lather, which is typical of natural formulas, and has a pleasant, natural scent from the main ingredients since Burt’s Bees doesn’t add artificial fragrance to any of their products. And this tearless shampoo is safe for all dogs and puppies.
Reviews were overwhelmingly positive for this product, but a few users reported that their dogs still scratched after being bathed with this shampoo. A sole reviewer said that this shampoo stripped the natural oils from her canine’s fur after weekly baths it required as a therapy dog.
Pros and Cons of Burt’s Bees for Dogs Natural Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs, Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This budget oatmeal dog shampoo is pH balanced, fragrance-free, and made from high-quality natural ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, honey, and green tea extract. | It may not eliminate scratching in all dogs. |
| It has a pleasant, natural scent that comes from its ingredients, not from artificial fragrance. | It may strip natural oils from fur, particularly if used frequently. |
| This formula is safe for all dogs and puppies. | |
| It’s eco-consciously packaged in 80% post-consumer recycled bottles. |
- Formulated from high-quality natural ingredients
- The gentle formula nourishes dry, itchy skin
- No artificial fragrance added
- For dogs with sensitive skin
3. Best Fragranced: Dechra Dermallay Oatmeal Shampoo
Dechra Dermallay Oatmeal Shampoo is a mild, soap-free therapeutic oatmeal shampoo that’s formulated to soothe the skin as it cleans. In addition to colloidal oatmeal, which soothes and calms itchy, dry skin, it contains a ceramide complex to rebuild and maintain a strong, healthy skin barrier. This will help to prevent water loss that can lead to dry skin and to protect against allergens.
Dechra Dermallay Oatmeal Shampoo won’t strip your dog’s hair of its natural oils. It’s formulated to lather and rinse easily and it has a light, pleasant apple fragrance that will leave your pup smelling fresh and clean, not perfumy.
Plus, if you have cats and horses, you can use this healing shampoo on them, too.
Negative reviews were extremely hard to find. One pet parent reported that this shampoo stripped all the oils from their dog’s fur. Another said that it was too expensive and wasn’t impressed with its overall performance.
Pros and Cons of Dechra Dermallay Oatmeal Shampoo
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This mild, soap-free shampoo contains colloidal oatmeal to soothe and calm dry, itchy skin and a ceramide complex that will help restore your dog’s healthy skin barrier. | One reviewer said that it stripped the oils from their dog’s fur. |
| This therapeutic shampoo won’t strip your dog’s hair of its natural oils. | Another buyer was generally dissatisfied with this shampoo’s cost (too high) and performance (too low). |
| It lathers and rinses easily and has a light apple fragrance. | |
| This shampoo was formulated for dogs, cats, and horses. |
- Mild, soap-free therapeutic oatmeal shampoo
- Protect natural oils in your dog's hair
- Light, pleasant apple fragrance
- Essential fatty acids bond moisture to their skin
4. Best Shampoo Bar: Wondercide – Oatmeal Honey & Extra Moisturizing Pet Shampoo Bar for Dogs and Cats
Some dog owners find that a shampoo bar is easier to use on their wiggling pups than liquid shampoo, and our favorite is Wondercide – Oatmeal Honey & Extra Moisturizing Pet Shampoo Bar for Dogs and Cats. This soap-based shampoo bar glides on easily with one hand and washes out in half the time.
This vegan shampoo bar contains honey, a natural humectant, which means that it will attract and retain moisture to your dog’s skin. It is also an anti-irritant, making it suitable for canines with sensitive skin. Combined with aloe, the honey in this soap-based shampoo bar will keep your pet’s coat healthy, shiny, and conditioned.
It’s free from toxic chemicals, artificial colors, fragrances, dyes, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates, and it’s cruelty-free. Each bar is made in the US from natural essential oils and other plant-derived ingredients, lasts five times longer than a 16 ounce bottle of liquid shampoo, and there’s no plastic waste.
The primary complaint from verified reviewers is that this shampoo bar melts too quickly, though it’s unclear whether these customers stored the bar in the provided cedarwood holder, which is designed to keep the bar dry between uses.
Pros and Cons of Wondercide – Oatmeal Honey & Extra Moisturizing Pet Shampoo Bar for Dogs and Cats
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Bathing a dog with a shampoo bar can be easier than juggling a bottle of shampoo in one hand and holding a wet dog with the other. | Some customers reported that their bars melted too fast. |
| This vegan, soap-based shampoo bar contains honey, a natural humectant, to attract moisture to your dog’s skin. It also contains aloe and honey, both of which soothe and moisturize skin. | |
| Each bar is free from toxic chemicals, artificial colors, fragrances, dyes, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates, and it’s cruelty-free. | |
| These shampoo bars are made in the US from natural, plant-based ingredients, including essential oils, and are 100% vegan. | |
| Each bar lasts five times longer than a 16 ounce bottle of liquid dog shampoo and leaves no plastic waste. | |
| A natural cedarwood soap rack is included with each purchase. |
- A shampoo bar is easier to use on a wiggling pup
- Contains honey, a natural humectant
- Suitable for dogs with sensitive skin
- Great for all fur types
How to Choose the Right Oatmeal Shampoo for Your Dog
There are three main factors to consider when selecting the right oatmeal shampoo for your dog:
- Skin condition
- Allergies and sensitivities
- Convenience
Let’s examine these factors in detail.
Skin Condition
If your dog is prone to dry, itchy, irritated skin, an oatmeal shampoo will facilitate healing and maintain healthy skin. Other natural ingredients, such as honey and vitamin E, can also help promote healing. Also look for products that include a ceramide complex, which will lock moisture into your furry pal’s skin and help to protect her epidermis (outer layer of skin) from environmental damage.
Allergies and Sensitivities
It’s important to select a dog shampoo that doesn’t contain ingredients that will aggravate your pet’s allergies or sensitivities. When purchasing a dog shampoo online, read the ingredients carefully for potential allergens. Remember that companies sometimes change ingredients. So, when you receive the shampoo, read the label again to ensure that the formula didn’t change.
If your dog is sensitive to fragrance, be sure to select a shampoo that’s fragrance-free.
Convenience
Do you find opening a shampoo bottle and pouring its contents into your hand while trying to handle a wet dog to be difficult? If so, a dog shampoo bar may be just the solution that you’ve been looking for. Shampoo bars are easy to handle with one hand so you can keep your pup safely under control with the other.
Our Criteria and Experience: How We Chose the Best
When creating our list of the best oatmeal dog shampoos, we researched various ones on the market, consulted tests and reviews of the products, and narrowed down our choices to the four best. Here are some further details we wanted to share about the items:
- When it comes to any kind of product that comes into contact with skin, be it for dogs or humans, there should be some kind of guarantee in case there is an allergic reaction to a product. We love that our overall pick has a 100% money back guarantee on the product so, on the off-chance your dog can’t tolerate this particular shampoo, you won’t lose any money.
- Our #2 Burt’s Bees product is very popular with customers who used it and, as we should all know, it’s a high-caliber brand all around when it comes to creating quality, safe products. Some reviewers found that this shampoo healed up their senior dogs’ skin when other similar, more expensive products did not deliver.
- The #3 shampoo on our list is vet recommended. It works well even on dogs with thick, tough coats, softening their hair nicely. It does well for dogs that are highly allergic, and you can even use it on their paws after taking walks, as dogs can pick up airborne allergies in their paws.
- We find that the #4 Wondercide shampoo bar lathers very easily, is ultra-gentle on the skin of short-haired dogs, and reduces scratching from flea issues.
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| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Fragrance Free Dog & Cat Shampoo |
| Best Budget | Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo |
| Best Fragranced | DermAllay Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs, Cats & Horses |
| Best Shampoo Bar | Wondercide Oatmeal & Honey Shea Butter Dog & Cat Shampoo Bar |
The 4 Best Oatmeal Dog Shampoos: Reviewed and Ranked FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What’s so great about colloidal oatmeal?
Humans have used colloidal oatmeal for centuries. They used it to treat a wide variety of skin conditions, including dryness, redness, itchiness, and eczema. Now we understand the science behind this powerful natural ingredient, and we know that dogs can also benefit from its soothing and healing properties.
The right dog shampoo containing colloidal oatmeal can help calm and heal your pet’s irritated, itchy skin. With continued use, it will help to maintain healthy skin and a soft, shiny coat.
How often can I bathe my dog with oatmeal shampoo?
If your dog has healthy skin, you can bathe her once a month. More frequent baths can dry out her skin. If your pet currently has a skin condition, you may bathe her with oatmeal shampoo once or twice a week if your veterinarian advises you to do so.
Is oatmeal dog shampoo good for itchy skin?
Yes. Whether your dog’s skin is irritated from allergies, sensitivities, or insect bites, oatmeal dog shampoo can help relieve and heal her dry, itchy skin.
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