Is your dog suffering from itchy skin? Is he going bald, constantly rolling on his back, nibbling at his paws and legs, and just being miserable? Have you tried changing his diet but in vain? Have you tried giving him fish oil supplements but still, there is a lot of dry skin coming off?
If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time to switch to oatmeal dog shampoo.
Why?
Dr. Sara Ochoa, a veterinarian at the Whitehouse Veterinary Hospital, Texas, says, “oatmeal baths are great for dogs having dry, itchy skin or who suffer from allergies. They are very gentle on the skin and help repair the natural skin barrier.”
Adding to that, Dr. Jim D. Carlson, a notable veterinarian, and owner of Riverside Animal Clinic and Holistic Center, says, “not only are oatmeal baths for dogs soothing, they also work to really clean a dog’s skin. Oatmeal baths are beneficial for cleansing the skin and removing harmful toxins that collect on the skin or are secreted through the pores.”
Let’s explore the 7 best oatmeal dog shampoos that are backed by certified vets.
K9 Pro Oatmeal Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Water, Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate—drying and irritating for skin and scalp agent, lauramine Oxide, Aloe Vera Gel, and Oatmeal Extract
Scent: Cucumber and melon
Best Against: Dry flaky itchy skin, skin irritation, skin allergies, food intolerance
Required Time For Best Action: 5 to 10 mins
What Is Good?
- Will not lighten the dark color of your dog, but it surely whitens and brightens the white dogs
- All-natural, soap-free, and vet-developed formula
- Brings out the natural hair color of dogs and is great for fine or coarse coats
- Low maintenance grooming
- Has a whitening effect on white dogs
- Effectively eliminates odor
- Lathers well
What Is Not So Good?
- Not a “tear-free” shampoo
- The smell doesn’t last more than 2 to 3 days
- If your dog has sensitive skin and gets hives from shampooing, you have to rinse his coat thoroughly after baths to get the shampoo out completely to prevent any issues
- Not for soy allergic dogs
Vet’s Best Medicated Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, tea tree oil, vitamin B5, salicylic acid
Scent: Tea tree oil
Best Against: Dandruff, scaling, flaky and dry skin
Required Time For Best Action: 3 – 5 minutes
What Is Good?
- Doesn’t affect topical flea and tick control products
- Clears and tightens pores
- This shampoo calms and moisturizes the itchy, dry, flaky skin of your dog
- It’s a good mix between the exfoliating ingredients and the soothing ingredients, which don’t over-dry the skin of your dog
- Washes out easily
What Is Not So Good?
- This shampoo has a watery viscosity, which makes it difficult to use
- It’s strong tea tree scent doesn’t smell very nice
- You’d require to put a fair amount to produce a thick lather
Veterinary Formula Solutions Ultra Oatmeal Moisturizing Shampoo For Dogs
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Deionized water, cetrimonium chloride, natural colloidal oatmeal, jojoba oil, glycerine, silk protein, shea butter, pomegranate extract, fragrance
Scent: Raspberry tea and pomegranate
Best Against: Dry, itchy, and red skin
Required Time For Best Action: 15 mins
What Is Good?
- Perfect for sensitive skins of senior dogs
- Doesn’t wash away topical spot-on flea and tick ointments
- Contains silk protein that soothes the itchiness and penetrates the coat deeply to add strength and shine
- Potent humectants and moisturizers leave the coat soft, silky and shiny.
- It is sulfate-free
- Not too pricey
- Its smell last longer
What Is Not So Good?
- Its consistency is not thick, which means you’d have to use a good amount to produce suds
- Its smell is super strong
- It’s not tearless
Warren London Oatmeal Dog Shampoo
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Deionized water, glycerin, almond oil, glyceryl stearate, wheat germ glycerides, FDC approved color, hydrolyzed oat proteins
Scent: Cherry
Best Against: Itchy, dry, flaky, and sensitive skin
Required Time For Best Action: 5 to 10 mins
What Is Good?
- It’s paraben- and cruelty-free
- No soap or detergents
- Creates a rich lather
- It removes dirt and grime without stripping your dog coat’s natural oils
- Its formula won’t disrupt topical flea preventives
- Because of its amazing mild smell, dogs love it too
- Its gentle formula is good for dogs of all ages
- This shampoo helps prevent itching and dandruff
What Is Not So Good?
- It contains artificial dye yellow #5, though it’s approved by Food and Drug Administration
- The smell doesn’t last longer
- Although pricey, it is worth the money
- Not good for a dog with soy allergies
Pro Pet Works Natural Organic 5 In 1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo + Conditioner
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Organic almond oil, oatmeal, aloe vera gel, deionized water, wheat germ glycerides
Scent: Mild cherry
Best For: Allergies and sensitive, itchy, dry skin
Required Time For Best Action: 5 mins
What Is Good?
- It’s free of parabens, harsh chemicals, sulfate, and soap
- De-sheds and detangles your dog’s coat for a healthy coat
- Helps eliminate wet dog smell
- Can be used with any treatments such as topical fleas and ticks
- Protects the skin from UV damage
- Comprises fatty acids that help skin retain moisture and can heal chapped, irritated skin
- Aloe Gel in this shampoo deeply moisturizes and hydrates dog’s coat
- Continuous use will give your pet a long-lasting, beautiful coat while preventing dog shedding problems
What Is Not So Good?
- It’s pricey, but not too much
- It contains glycerin that might not be good for dogs with grain allergy
Jungle Pet Aloe & Oatmeal Shampoo For Dogs
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Water, aloe leaf juice, fragrance, citric acid, sodium chloride, wheat germ oil
Scent: Piña colada
Best For: Dry, itchy, scaling, and flaky skin
Required Time For Best Action: 5 to 10 mins
What Is Good?
- It will not wash off topical flea and tick ointments
- Works best for all hair types
- Vet-approved
- Smells wonderfully clean and fresh
- This shampoo is great for skin health
- Effectively soothes, moisturizes, and nourishes dog’s coat
- Brings soothing relief to dry, itchy, and flaky skin
- Its gentle formula works wonders on the highly sensitive skin of dogs
What Is Not So Good?
- Contains sulfates and chemicals, but the formula is veterinary proved
- May be itchy on your hands if you have sensitive skin
Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief Oatmeal Dog Shampoo for Dogs
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Purified water, cleanser from refined coconut oil, coco glucoside, pearlizing agent, cleanser from coconut fatty acids, vegetable glycerin, decolorized aloe vera, oatmeal
Scent: Coconut & Lime Verbena
Best Against: Allergies and itchy and dry skin
Required Time For Best Action: 10 to 15 mins
What Is Good?
- Gently cleanses, moisturizes, & protects your dog’s delicate skin by providing itch relief
- It’s pH-balanced and is free of alcohol, paraben, and PEG-80—an allergen and toxicant
- Provides a rich lather that’s easy to rinse off
- Lasts for a long time
- Leaves your dog’s coat clean and healthy while soothing the skin
- It’s based on tear-free formula
What Is Not So Good?
- It’s pricey
- Doesn’t prevent fleas
- Not good to use if your dog’s skin has wounds or scratches