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Does your dog constantly scratch?

maybe his hair is thinning or bald in areas?

Did you see a flaky skin or Redness of the Skin? If yes, then your dog probably has dandruff

and you can get rid of dandruff by using best dog shampoo for dandruff However, dog dandruff shampoo isn’t all perfect.

Some of the shampoos can be a hoax, and you don’t want to throw away your hard earned cash! 

The following is a list of the top 10 dog dandruff shampoos that can help you to free your dog from dandruff illnesses:

BEST Dog Dandruff Shampoo 2022

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Our Pick
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care
  • PH balanced specifically for dogs
  • Free of parabens, dye, and soap
  • Veterinary Recommended
Click For PriceBuy On Chewy
Runner-up
Curabenz Benzoyl Peroxide
Curabenz Benzoyl Peroxide
  • Relieves Itching and Scaling from Dandruff
  • Deodorizes and Gently Flushes Hair Follicles 
  • Soap and Paraben Free
Click For Price
Vet Recommended
Vet’s Best Oatmeal
Vet’s Best Oatmeal
  • Designed to soothe and moisturize itchy
  • Veterinarian formulated with a key blend of natural ingredients
  • Includes colloidal oatmeal, tea tree oil
Click For PriceBuy On Chewy
Best for Itching
Petmd Benzoyl Peroxide
Petmd Benzoyl Peroxide
  • Relief of Scaling and Itching from Dermatitis
  • Medicated Shampoo for Relieving Dry Itchy and Irritated Skin
  • Soap and Paraben Free
Click For PriceBuy On Chewy
Earthbath All Natural PetEarthbath All Natural Pet
  • Natural & Organic Ingredients
  • Cruelty Free
  • Helps Relieve Itching & Dry Skin
Click For PriceBuy On Chewy
Pet MD Oatmeal DogPet MD Oatmeal Dog
  • Soap-free and alcohol-free
  • Contains a unique blend of vitamins, Aloe Vera
  • Effective anti-itching cleanser relieves skin irritation
Click For PriceBuy On Chewy
MooshMoosh
  • 100% all-natural
  • Aloe vera leaves skin soothed and moisturized
  • Deep-cleaning bentonite clay naturally binds with bacteria
Click For PriceBuy On Chewy
Fresh Clean Skin & CoatFresh Clean Skin & Coat
  • Nourishes dry, flaking skin
  • Helps to eliminate dandruff and dermatitis
  • Rooibos Tea extract helps calm and relieve the skin
Click For Price
Zesty Paws Oatmeal Anti-ItchZesty Paws Oatmeal Anti-Itch
  • Nourishing Anti-itch Blend
  • Clean & Tangle-free Results 
  • Great For All Ages & Breeds
Click For PriceBuy On Chewy
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Why Dogs Get Dandruff

Your dog is also susceptible to dandruff, just as you are. 

In dogs the disease can be caused by a number of factors. Some of these factors include

  • Dry Skin

If your dog has a dry coat, it will be very clear when he has dandruff.

On the other hand, if your dog has a light fur coat, it is hard to determine whether he has dandruff or not.

dog has dandruff

So you should pay close attention to it when you are bathing the dog.

Dry skin can make the dog very itchy, excessive scratching can lead to redness and even bleed.

  • Cold Weather

If dandruff seems to be a seasonal problem, it is likely due to cold temperatures and dry air.

Home heating can cause everyone’s skin to dry out. A humidifier can help with this in the winter.

  • Low Humidity

Low humidity in the air causing dry skin can result in dandruff in dogs.

 If you live in a place with extremely dry air, consider using a humidifier in the room where your dog sleeps.

  • Poor Diet

If your dog lacks certain vital minerals such as vitamins that are essential for healthy skin he may start developing dandruff.

  • Inadequate Exercise

Regular exercise boosts the immune system of a dog. Dogs with a healthy and strong immune system usually have healthy skin.

  • Hormonal Imbalances

such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism may be an underlying cause of the problem.

  • walking dandruff

If your dog has a lot of dandruff over her neck and along the back, watch carefully to see if dandruff moves.

If it does, your dog probably has a case of “walking dandruff” (aka Cheyletiella mange) – an infestation of the Cheyletiella mites.

The movement is caused by the mites walking around under the scales of skin.

What Does Dog Dandruff Look Like

Dandruff consists of flakes of dead skin cells. The flakes are thin, lightweight, and peel off in irregular shapes

Dog Dandruff Symptoms

flaky skin is the main symptom but it’s not the only one, there also other problems may also be present.

  • Scratching and Chewing

Some dogs will scratch or chew on their coat. Some will rub their body against a surface or roll on the carpet or ground.

they are trying to relieve the itchy sensation they are feeling.

  • Redness and Inflammation of the Skin

If the dog continues to scratch or irritate areas on his body, you may notice redness.

  • Coat thinning

constant scratching can lead to hair loss

  • Body Odor

if flaking wasn’t bad enough, the excess oil produced by the sebaceous glands can have a distinctive unpleasant odor.

In general dandruff in dogs has two main forms; either dry or oily. Certain breeds of dogs are prone to each one.

Breeds prone to Oily Dandruff

  • Cocker Spaniels
  • English Springer Spaniels
  • Basset Hounds
  • Labrador Retrievers
  • Sharp-Peis​
  • West Highland White Terriers

Breeds Prone to Dry Dandruff

  • Dobermans
  • Dachshunds
  • irish Setters
  • German Shepherds

Easy Treatment And Remedy For Dandruff In Dogs

While bathing is the obvious treatment option for treating dandruff, you can do other things along with a proper dandruff shampoo routine.

  • Switch to a healthy diet

Sometimes what your dog eats can have a direct effect on their coat.

You might be able to help limit the amount of dandruff on your dog by changing their diet so they get the proper amount of nutrients to give them healthy skin and fur.

The best way to do that is to find a food brand that offers everything in one.

  • Regular Grooming

your dog must have regular baths and a regular brush down.

This will help keep him clean, remove any potential contaminants, and stimulate oil production in your dog’s skin that gives his coat that pretty gleam.

  • Use a Humidifier in Your Home

Humidity levels play a very big role in the cause of dandruff in dogs, so a humidifier can help mitigate the effects of low humidity.

This is especially helpful if you live in a very dry area, and is also helpful in the winter when humidity levels are naturally low.

  • Exercices

Walk and exercise your dog regularly, as exercise supports overall health, including immune system health.

Ingredients In Dog Shampoos You Should Avoid

While looking at ingredient labels, there are certain things that you should avoid like:

  • Added dyes or colorants: synthetic color additives for cosmetics are linked to cancers and other serious health problems. Examples are D&C Blue No. 4, or D&C Yellow No.
  • Added fragrance or perfumes derived from chemicals. Artificial fragrances are linked to allergies, headaches, nausea and other serious health problems.
  • Parabens are inexpensive and used by many cosmetic manufacturers as a preservative. Parabens mimic estrogen hormones and have been linked to breast cancer.
  • Stearalkonium chloride is used in shampoos and conditioners as an antimicrobial and surfactant.
  • Sodium laureth sulfate and sodium laurel sulphate are commonly used in cosmetic products as detergents. 

How Often Can You Use Dog Dandruff Shampoo?

The frequency of regular bathing is usually up to you as the owner.

Use your best judgment based on how they look, smell, and how their fur feels 

“There are some dogs who never get bathed and do just fine”

Susan Nelson

a general rule of thumb is no more than once a week for most dogs, however, when dealing with dandruff or other skin conditions, this rule can be broken.

Most dandruff shampoos will have their own recommendations on frequency of use suggesting weekly use to combat the condition properly.

You might also find that once the initial dandruff is treated, you’ll have to keep up with a set bathing and grooming routine to prevent the reoccurrence of it.

Can You Use Human Shampoo On Dogs (Head & Shoulders)

 YES,

you can use human shampoo on dogs, BUT you should for a fact know that bathing them with a dog shampoo

is much more beneficial to their skin and to their overall health and well-being than bathing them with a human shampoo.

Scientific testing of 45 human shampoos and 60 pet shampoos, PH pets and Human Shampoo by Barbara Bird, CMG,

 showed that the main difference of shampoo for dogs is a that a dog’s skin has a higher pH level than humans, and human shampoo contains more acidity, while the dogs needs a more alkaline shampoo.

You can see here in this chart that the shampoo on the market has a pH of canine and human with the same range 6-6.5, you really shouldn’t be doing this on a consistent and regular basis

because it can lead to terrible health problems with your dog over time if done more than it should be done.

Is Dog Dandruff Contagious To Humans

No, dog dandruff is not contagious or infectious, however, walking dandruff can be contagious to humans.

Our Top 10 Best Dog Shampoo For Dandruff

Our pick
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care
9.4/10Our Score

Specifications:

  • Scent: Coconut
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Ingredients: Oatmeal

I’ve chosen SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula, because it’s formulated to treat dandruff.

It’s a medicated shampoo which treats the dry, scaling skin that’s caused by the overproduction of oils by the sebum glands.

The shampoo also helps relieve other parasitic, fungal, and bacterial skin infections which could be causing the dandruff. I like that you can use the one product to treat all the possible causes!

The formulation does not have paraben, soap or dye which may cause allergies. It has allantoin and colloidal oatmeal which hydrates the skin and lets it heal quicker.

[amazon box=”B09B3NJY14″]
Runner up
Curabenz Benzoyl Peroxide
9.4/10Our Score

Specifications:

  • Scent: Citrus
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Ingredients: Benzoyl Peroxide 3%

Curabenz is a veterinary advisable medicated shampoo that relieves scratching & scaling from demodectic mange, seborrhea, pyoderma, hot spots, acne, and other deep cutaneous infections.

This product helps relieve itching and treat the mange Benzoyl Peroxide, Sulfur & Salicylic Acid

Combine to Create a Super Effective AntiMicrobial Shampoo that Treats a Broad Spectrum of Skin Related Problems in both dogs and cats.


Vet Recommended
Vet’s Best Oatmeal
9.4/10Our Score

Specifications:

  • Scent: Tea Tree 
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Ingredients: Purified Water, Tea Tree 

Vet’s Best Oatmeal Medicated Dog Shampoo eliminates dandruff and flaking, made with oatmeal tea tree oil and salicylic acid.

The oatmeal helps to comfort and relieve your dog from the itchy, dry and flaky skin, and you can use it as a shampoo’s puppies.

Its gentle formula helps to heal the skin and fur naturally. The moisturizing ingredients keep the skin soft and do not allow itchiness and dandruff to creep back.


Best For Itching
Petmd Benzoyl Peroxide
9.4/10Our Score

Specifications:

  • Scent: Citrus
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Ingredients: Benzoyl Peroxide 3%

This brand is safe for both dogs and cats

The shampoo is a powerful cleanser, and it’s medicated to relieve scaling and itching caused by skin infections and other skin issues on dogs and cats.

The formula contains degreasing ingredients to help remove scaly skin and oil from your dog’s coat, as well as skin moisturizers which soothe the skin and a pleasant citrus scent to deodorize your pet.


Specifications:

  • Scent: Vanilla
  • Lifestage: Adult & Puppy
  • Ingredients: Oatmeal & Alo

All ingredients are natural, biodegradable, and gentle.

This product does not contain anything that would harm your pet or the environment. NO: DEA, parabens, phosphates, synthetic dyes, or perfumes.

Groomers around the world put their trust into the Earthbath line of products because they’re consistent, affordable, work great, and smell even better.


Specifications:

  • Scent: Normal
  • Lifestage: Adult 
  • Ingredients: Oatmeal & Aloe

Pet MD’s Oatmeal Dog Shampoo is one of the best oatmeal shampoos for dogs available online.

It is uniquely formulated with colloidal oatmeal, Aloe vera extract, and coconut oil.

Among its primary functions is that it eases pet itching, dandruff and minimizes pet odors which we can definitely confirm, reviewing it on a particularly messy furry friend!

In addition, this dog shampoo is also free of soap and alcohol. It also leaves your dog with soft fur and gives off a sweet, pineapple-like smell.

.


Specifications:

  • Scent: Aloe Vera
  • Lifestage: Adult 
  • Ingredients: Aloe Vera Juice, Saponified Oils of Coconut

100% Natural and Organic… No sulfates. No preservatives. No chemicals. Hypoallergenic and easy to rinse.

Aloe vera leaves skin soothed and moisturized, while Shea butter gives dog coats a healthy shine and a silky finish.

Gentle, concentrated formula rinses out of coats easily and saves money by being able to use a smaller amount of shampoo.

Perfect for treating skin allergies and dermatitis, thanks to the natural antiseptic power of Neem and Argan oils.


Fresh Clean Skin & Coat
9.4/10Our Score

Specifications:

  • Scent: Fresh
  • Lifestage: Adult 
  • Ingredients: Rooibos Tea

The product is made of harmless, non-toxic agents and it leaves the skin fresh and nice-smelling.

It works with numerous skin conditions and is suitable for both: dogs and cats.

with a couple of baths, you will clean dandruff, dry flakes and makes the coat extra soft.


Zesty Paws Oatmeal Anti-Itch
9.4/10Our Score

Specifications:

  • Scent: Vanilla
  • Lifestage: Adult 
  • Ingredients: Oatmeal & Aloe Vera

This gentle, anti-itch shampoo features oatmeal, aloe vera, vitamins, quinoa, and almond extract to nourish her skin and coat for a soft, clean feel with a shiny finish.

The oatmeal also leaves a moisturizing protective layer on her skin to relieve itching.

while vitamins E and C help neutralize hot spots, reduce shedding and improve brittle fur. For even more protection, natural aloe vera contains antifungal and antibacterial properties to further soothe troubled skin.

Natural aloe vera contains antifungal and antibacterial properties to soothe troubled skin.

My Personal Recommendation

The ​Veterinary Formula Clinical Care is my top pick for the best shampoo for dandruff.

i’m not saying the shampoos  that i have listed is useless but i have most success with Veterinary Formula.

It fulfills 3 important criteria that we are looking out for.

  • Made without usage of any harsh chemicals
  • Completely eradicates scalp issues and dandruff
  • Treats most allergies which are common today

Not to mention, the shampoo is really easy to use. You can simply use warm water and apply it in a tub from head to tail.

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