Even if you brush your dog every day, it isn’t possible to stop them from shedding altogether. However, there are some ways to minimize the hair floating around your house when shedding season rolls around. Regular baths and brushing do help to combat shedding, and a high-quality deshedding shampoo is going to make your efforts even more worthwhile.
The following deshedding shampoos are some of our favorites, and in this article, we’ll weigh out the pros and cons of each to help you decide which will work best for your dog.
A Quick Glance at Our 2023 Favorites
| Image | Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo |
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Best Value
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Nature's Miracle Shed Control |
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Premium Choice
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FURminator Deshedding Shampoo |
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| Best for Puppies |
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TropiClean Deshedding Dog Shampoo |
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Oster Oatmeal Shed Control Shampoo |
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The 8 Best Deshedding Dog Shampoos for Dogs
1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall
| Size: | 16 fluid ounces |
| Lifestage: | All life stages |
The Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is ideal for cats and dogs as an all-natural, safe, and soothing shampoo that can help de-shed even the most stubborn coats. The pH-balanced formula leaves behind clean and well-nourished skin. Colloidal oatmeal exfoliates and soothes while providing long-term benefits, locking in moisture and protecting against skin irritants like eczema and allergens. It’s ideal for pets with persistent odors or those who love getting into mud and muck.
This plant-based shampoo contains no soaps, glutens, dyes, DEA, sulfates, or phthalates. Simply pour a line of the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo down your pet’s back and massage it into their skin. It provides a soothing spa-like experience as it moisturizes and nourishes their skin.
The natural oatmeal exfoliates help loosen dead and shedding fur, effortlessly rinsing it away with the remaining shampoo. Then, it leaves a fresh scent of aloe vera and cucumbers that even your pup or kitten will find appealing.
With a sizeable 16-ounce bottle, you can keep all pets smelling and feeling fresh and clean. Pair with a silicone shampoo brush to help massage skin and loosen additional shed to make bath time more relaxing and effective.
At PetKeen.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 pet company!
2. Nature’s Miracle Natural Shed Control Shampoo–Best Value
| Size: | 16 fluid ounces |
| Lifestage: | Adult |
One of the best deshedding dog shampoos for the money is this Shed Control Shampoo from Nature’s Miracle. This recipe is derived from plants and free from artificial dyes and parabens to prevent allergic reactions on sensitive skin. It is safe to use with tick and flea products but you will need to check the wait time before washing as times vary according to each flea product. Also includes omega fatty acids to soothe irritated skin. While it does include odor control, it doesn’t last long and needs to be used fairly often.
3. FURminator Deshedding Shampoo–Premium Choice
| Size: | 16 fluid ounces |
| Lifestage: | Adult |
FURminator Deshedding Shampoo is only slightly more expensive than some other top brands, but it is a premium deshedding shampoo for your dog. The all-natural ingredients are gentle on your pet’s skin and won’t dry it out, plus there are no dyes or parabens. However, there is, unfortunately, no odor control with this shampoo.
This recipe includes omega fatty acids to soothe and moisturize dry and itchy skin, and several customers stated they immediately noticed less shedding from their pets after using this shampoo.
4. TropiClean Lime & Coconut Deshedding Dog Shampoo–Best for Puppies
| Size: | 20 fluid ounces, 1 gallon, 2.5 gallons |
| Lifestage: | Puppy, adult, senior |
This deshedding shampoo from TropiClean is one of the few products available that is safe for pets of all ages. You can use this on young puppies, adults, and senior dogs without worrying about it harming them if they accidentally swallow it. The ingredients are all-natural, and there is an exfoliating feature that removes dead skin while still being gentle. The coconut gives the shampoo a great smell too. This product is a little more expensive than others, though, and some reviews stated that the bottle itself seems cheaply made and leaks easily.
5. Oster Oatmeal Essential Shed Control Shampoo
| Size: | 18 fluid ounces |
| Lifestage: | Adult |
Oster has created an excellent pH-balanced, deshedding shampoo that is safe for both cats and dogs. The use of oatmeal in the recipe can help reduce skin problems like eczema, and the recipe also uses vitamin B12 to keep your dog’s skin soft. The shampoo also has a great smell that lasts a long time. While this shampoo is very gentle, it isn’t quite as effective as other brands and doesn’t slow shedding as much as we’d like.
6. Earthbath Shed Control Shampoo
| Size: | 16 fluid ounces |
| Lifestage: | Adult |
Earthbath is a trusted brand that uses all-natural ingredients in its formula, and its Shed Control formula is our top choice overall deshedding shampoo for dogs because it is pH balanced and won’t irritate your pet’s skin. The included omega 6 fatty acids help to soothe any red spots or itchiness and help strengthen your dog’s coat to help reduce shedding. It is also free from parabens and harsh chemicals.
Another thing that we love about Earthbath shampoo is that it’s 100% biodegradable and safe for the environment. The only negative aspect customers have experienced is that this shampoo doesn’t smell as good as other shampoos on the market.
7. Burt’s bees for Dogs Shed Control Shampoo
| Size: | 16 fluid ounces |
| Lifestage: | Puppy, adult |
Humans have trusted the Burt’s Bees brand for their own skin for many years, and the company makes great dog products too. This formula uses honey and beeswax in order to reduce shedding, but it doesn’t lather very well. It is pH-balanced with ingredients gentle enough for puppies yet effective enough to reduce shedding in adults too. There isn’t much of a smell, though, and it doesn’t work as well as the brands that focus solely on animal care.
8. Espree Simple Shed Shampoo
| Size: | 20 fluid ounces, 1 gallon |
| Lifestage: | Adult |
The last dog deshedding shampoo on our list is the Simple Shed Shampoo from Espree. This shampoo has a gentle formula that uses organic aloe vera and oat proteins with no parabens or dyes. The shampoo smells great but it doesn’t lather well, and pet owners report that they have to use a lot of product for maximum results. The bottle also seems cheaply made and leaks easily, and the shampoo is on the pricier side compared to more effective products.
Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose The Best Deshedding Shampoo
One of the most important aspects of choosing a deshedding dog shampoo that is gentle and effective is paying attention to the ingredients. The goal of these shampoos is to effectively reduce itchy skin, moisturize the skin and coat, and reduce further shedding and dander. Here are some of the most common ingredients that your choice of deshedding shampoo should contain.
Vitamins
Vitamins are crucial for skin health, and the best vitamins to help prevent rashes, scratching, and dry skin are vitamins A, B, D, and E. Vitamin B is one of the best because it contains biotin which is claimed directly affects coat health in dogs and thus helps reduce shedding. Vitamins are likely to be more beneficial to skin and coat health when taken as a supplement but are included in many shampoos.
Omega Fatty Acids
You may have noticed that many of the shampoos on our list contain omega fats in the recipes. Omega fatty acids help strengthen your dog’s coat to help reduce shedding in the future, and also help to soften, condition, and moisturize your dog’s fur. Overall, omega fats will bring out the natural sheen in their coat and make them look more attractive and healthier overall.
Zinc
Another important nutrient to look for on the ingredients list is zinc. Zinc when taken as a supplement helps your pet fight health problems by boosting their immune system and helps strengthen the nervous system. Used topically it can have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one of the most useful ingredients used in deshedding shampoos, usually ground down into a fine powder called colloidal oatmeal, it works in many beneficial ways. It is used to help gently exfoliate your dog’s skin, provides a protective barrier and is moisturising. Oatmeal also contains saponin to help clean skin pores and unclog hair follicles, plus keeps follicles functioning properly. It is also known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Aloe Vera
You already know the magic that aloe vera can work on human skin, and it is no different for dogs. Aloe vera is known to improve hair and nourish skin by adding a protective layer and preventing moisture from escaping.
Things to Avoid
Alcohol, chemicals, and dyes are all things that you don’t want to see on your pet’s shampoo label. Alcohol is a popular ingredient but actually dries the skin out and creates more issues. Most of the products on this list are also labeled as all-natural because they do not use chemicals or dyes. Dogs are especially sensitive to these harsh chemicals and they could create more issues later on.
Conclusion
If you’re trying to limit the amount of shed hair floating around your house, then finding a good deshedding shampoo for your dog can certainly be helpful. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is our top choice with great ingredients and effective results.
Nature’s Miracle offers you a more affordable option for deshedding your pooch and is free from harsh dyes and parabens. Finally, FURminator deshedding shampoo is also a high-quality product for a little more money with premium, all-natural ingredients.
We hope these reviews have helped you narrow down some potential products and choose the best deshedding shampoo for your pooch.
Featured Image Credit: 135pixels, Shutterstock
