best allergy dog shampoo

Dog shampoo allergy: Vet's guide to symptoms and treatment

Does your dog get red and itchy after every bath? If so, its possible that your dog has a shampoo allergy.

Although true shampoo allergies are uncommon, they can occur and they can be tricky to manage. Some dogs dont have a true shampoo allergy but are simply irritated by residual shampoo left on their skin after a bath, so its important to rinse your dog thoroughly after every bath and ensure that all shampoo is washed away.

For pups that do have shampoo allergies, finding the right dog shampoo that doesnt cause a reaction can be a bit of a trial and error process, and you may need to take some other steps to manage your dogs allergies as well.

Read on to learn more about shampoo allergies in dogs and what you can do to help your dogs skin.

Can shampoos cause allergic reactions?

Yes, shampoos can cause allergic reactions in dogs. Dogs can experience allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a delayed hypersensitivity reaction that occurs after repeat exposure to an allergen.

However, dogs can also experience irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), a non-specific inflammatory reaction that occurs following direct contact with an irritating substance.

Both ACD and ICD can occur as reactions to shampoo, and it can be difficult to differentiate one from the other. For simplicitys sake, in this article we will refer to shampoo allergies, but please keep in mind that your dogs reaction may not be a true allergy, but rather an irritant reaction, which is treated differently.

Dog shampoo allergy symptoms

If your dog has an allergy to shampoo, one of the first things you will notice is that your dog has a reaction soon after bathing.

With a true shampoo allergy, this reaction typically occurs first in hairless or sparsely haired regions of the body such as the abdomen, the axillae (armpits), the inguinal regions (groin), underneath the neck, under the tail, the scrotum, the perianal region, the muzzle, and the pinnae (external ears).

You may notice red, blotchy areas at first. With chronic exposure, thickening of the skin, hair loss, and hyperpigmentation can occur. Scaling or crusting may also be present, and your dog may or may not be itchy.

If you notice any of these symptoms or any other changes in your dogs skin, a visit to your veterinarian is in order.

Diagnosis of shampoo allergies in dogs

If youve noticed changes in your dogs skin, the first step is a visit to your veterinarian for an examination. Be sure to tell your veterinarian if these changes have been occurring in relation to bathing or shampooing your dog, as this can help your veterinarian diagnose a shampoo allergy.

Your veterinarian will perform a full physical examination on your dog, including close examination of your dogs skin. Because many skin conditions can present with similar symptoms, your veterinarian may recommend additional diagnostic testing such as a skin scraping to look for parasites or taking samples to check for skin infections.

Your veterinarian may also prescribe medicated shampoo for you to try with your dog. It may take some trial and error to find a shampoo that works best for your dog and does not cause a reaction.

What to do if your dog reacts badly to shampoo

Thoroughly rinse away product

If your dog reacts badly to shampoo, the first step is to rinse away all of the previous shampoo product as thoroughly as possible.

This is especially important if you have bathed your dog in the past few days. Unfortunately, finding a shampoo product that your dog can tolerate will be a bit of trial and error, as there is no test that can tell us what products will work best for your dog.

Consider a human baby shampoo test

Wait until your dogs skin issues have resolved before you try bathing your dog again, so youll know if your dog has a reaction to the new shampoo.

Many allergic dogs tolerate human baby shampoo well, so this is a good starting point for many pet owners.

Be sure to rinse the shampoo thoroughly as any shampoo left on your dogs skin may cause irritation, which could be mistaken for allergy. After bathing, dry your dog well to reduce the risk of skin infections.

Consult with your vet

Your veterinarian can also prescribe a medicated shampoo which may help reduce your dogs allergy symptoms.

These shampoos often contain medications such as antimicrobials, antifungals, and mild steroids to help eliminate infections and reduce inflammation.

Medicated shampoos designed to calm and soothe the skin are also available, and may work well for dogs with shampoo allergies.

Try hypoallergenic soap free as a last resort

Some dogs simply cannot tolerate any shampoo.If this is the case for your dog, and you still need to bathe your dog regularly, try using hypoallergenic soap free products intended for humans.

This is a last resort to allow you to still bathe your dog without resorting to shampoos that make your dog itchy and uncomfortable.

How to help a dog with skin allergies

Many dogs with allergies to shampoo also have other skin allergies. Like humans, dogs can be allergic to certain foods, to environmental allergens such as pollens, grasses, or dust mites, or to a combination of foods and environmental allergens.

To address your dogs allergies, the first step is getting them properly diagnosed by your veterinarian.

Do not waste your money on over the counter allergy tests that use hair or saliva samples to test your dog for allergies these tests are not accurate! Environmental allergies can be diagnosed via blood test through your veterinarian, but there is no reliable test for food allergies except for performing an elimination diet trial with a hypoallergenic diet.

Your veterinarian can help you with this process to properly diagnose your dog with food allergies if this is a concern for your dog. If possible, eliminating the allergen(s) to which your dog reacts will help reduce your dogs allergy flare-ups and associated symptoms.

Many allergic dogs improve with medication. Your veterinarian can prescribe oral or injectable allergy medications for your dog to help relieve itching and improve the symptoms of allergies.

Many dogs also experience secondary skin infections as a result of allergies, so antibiotics or topical antimicrobials may be necessary. Your veterinarian is your best resource for medications and guidance on the best products to help manage your dogs skin allergies.

Best Dog Shampoo For Allergies: For Itchy Skin, Oatmeal, Medicated & More

Are skin allergies creating a problem for your pup, and youre not sure how to help? Finding the right shampoo could provide some much-needed relief for your dogs itchy skin and discomfort. We review several excellent choices, including shampoos formulated with specific soothing and healing ingredients to help your pup.

Skin allergies can be a chronic concern that can leave your pup with dry skin, feeling itchy and uncomfortable. Luckily, you can consider a shampoo for dogs with skin allergies to help ease the discomfort and irritation your dog may be experiencing. Weve got the information you need to help you decide which best shampoo for dogs with allergies is right for your pup. We recommend also speaking with your vet about possible medicated shampoo options.

Does My Dog Have A Skin Allergy?

Skin allergies in dogs can come from environmental factors, fleas, food, contact with an allergen, or bacteria. These allergies appear with a variety of symptoms, too. If you have concerns about your pup having skin irritation, read about dog skin allergies to learn more about the symptoms youre seeing and what may be causing them.

Dog Allergy Testing

If you want to get to the root cause of your dogs skin allergies, getting your pup tested for intolerances or allergies is your best bet. You have options that range from working with your vet to at-home allergy testing. Once you know the cause, it will help you and your vet come up with the best treatment plan to meet your pups needs.

Best Dog Shampoo For Allergies

Weve reviewed our top picks for the best dog shampoo for allergies in several categories based on ingredients, customer reviews, price, and more.

Best Overall Dog Shampoo For Allergies: Douxo S3 PYO Shampoo Review

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Douxo S3 PYO Shampoo is our top pick for the best overall dog shampoo for allergies. This soothing dog shampoo uses ophytrium, a purified natural ingredient, to help soothe irritated skin and support the skin as a natural barrier. A calming shampoo for dogs, this product is veterinarian-recommended and contains no soaps, sulfates, parabens, dyes, or nanoparticles. You can use this product in conjunction with the hydrating mousse, and this company also makes antiseptic pads that may be helpful.

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Best Dog Shampoo For Itchy Skin: Vets Best Allergy Itch Relief Dog Shampoo Review

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Vets Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo is our pick for the best anti-itch dog shampoo. This itchy dog shampoo has a mild scent, uses a veterinarian-formulated blend of essential oils, and doesnt affect the use of flea or tick products. You can use this dog shampoo for dry, itchy skin to help give your pup relief from allergies that cause skin discomfort.

Even though this is our best dog shampoo for itching recommendation, it does contain tea tree oil, which can be dangerous in large doses, and some users report allergic reactions after use. As with any new product, its best to test it on a small area before using it on your dogs entire body. They also offer a flea specific shampoo.

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Best Oatmeal Dog Shampoo For Allergies: Burts Bees For Dogs Natural Oatmeal Shampoo Review

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So, is oatmeal shampoo good for dogs? Yes oatmeal can provide soothing relief for dogs with skin allergy symptoms. We like Burts Bees For Dogs Natural Oatmeal Shampoo as the best oatmeal shampoo for dogs. This oatmeal dog shampoo for itchy skin is made with natural ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, honey, and beeswax and is an excellent choice for puppy shampoo for itchy skin. Theres also a conditioner available that goes with this product.

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Best Medicated Dog Shampoo For Allergies: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Dog Shampoo Review

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We chose Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Dog Shampoo as the best-medicated dog shampoo for allergies. You can also use this shampoo for itchy skin, as a dermatitis shampoo for dogs, or a dog eczema shampoo. The active ingredients include coal tar, salicylic acid, and micronized sulfur, and there are no dyes, soap, or parabens.If you like a mild scent, this is not the shampoo for you and is not for use on puppies under 12 weeks old.

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What Are My Other Options For Dealing With Skin Allergies?

Looking for another option to help relieve the discomfort of skin allergies? You can try an allergy bath for dogs, like an oatmeal bath similar to the one you would use for a baby. You may also find a spray like Vets Best Itch Relief Spray helpful in reducing itching or a supplement like PetHonesty Allergy Support to help reduce overall symptoms. PetHonesty also carries an excellentAllergy Itch Relief Shampoo that contains chlorhexidine and ketoconazole to help treat skin issues and infections.

Homemade Dog Shampoo For Allergies (Video)

This two-minute video by YouTuber LAurenrdaniels shows you how to make a moisturizing homemade dog shampoo that is anti-itch, anti-flea, and can reduce dandruff.

Allergies Can Affect More Than Skin

Even if your dog doesnt have signs of skin allergies, it doesnt mean he doesnt have allergies at all. Allergies in dogs can occur in several different ways and produce various types of symptoms. Learning more about dog allergy symptoms can help you determine if your pup needs treatment.