English Bulldogs are well-known for their skin rolls, which is part of what makes them so charming. Unfortunately, those skin rolls make them prone to skin conditions such as chafing, itchiness, and dry skin due to heat and moisture getting trapped underneath. They are also more prone to bacterial skin infections as well.

If you have an English Bulldog, you want a shampoo that can help combat these skin problems as well as keep your dog’s skin clean. That’s why we have rounded up the best dog shampoos for English Bulldogs, complete with reviews and pros and cons of each one. Hopefully, these reviews can help make it easier to choose an effective shampoo.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2024

The 11 Best Shampoos for English Bulldogs

1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall

English Bulldogs have plenty of skin folds that leave them prone to various skin conditions, which is why having a great quality shampoo is key to having a comfortable, happy dog. That’s why we’ve chosen Hepper’s Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo as our best overall pick for English Bulldogs.

The ingredients that many owners worry about? No need for concern – this shampoo is made without any sulfates, phthalates, DEA, dyes, gluten, or soaps. Dog owners can rest assured it is formulated with safe, natural ingredients that will have their pup smelling fresh and clean even long after their bath with the long-lasting and satisfying aloe vera and cucumber scent.

Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is fantastic for English Bulldogs who suffer from sensitive skin because of the pH-balanced formula. The colloidal oatmeal leaves the skin nourished and well moisturized and the aloe vera will help soothe any irritation and boost healing.

Each shampoo bottle contains 16 fluid ounces, is affordable on any budget, and is made right here in the United States. It’s even versatile enough to be used on cats and most other pets. Some pet parents may prefer fragrance-free shampoos, so it’s worth noting that this product does contain added fragrance.

At Dogster, 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!

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2. Oster Oatmeal Essentials Extra Soothing Dog Shampoo – Budget Buy

The best shampoo for English Bulldogs for the money is the Oster Oatmeal Essentials Extra Soothing Dog Shampoo. We like this shampoo for English Bulldogs because it’s made with simple ingredients that are designed to soothe and moisturize dry, itchy skin while cleaning it at the same time. Oatmeal and coconut-based cleansers act as moisturizing agents while aloe helps to soothe chafing and itchiness.

This shampoo is also safe to use with topical flea treatments and is free of dyes, parabens, and alcohol so that it won’t further irritate your Bulldog’s skin. It also has a pleasant apple fragrance and is affordable as well. The only downside is that it isn’t medicated, so if your Bulldog has an existing skin condition that requires medication, this shampoo may not be right for you.

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3. MiconaHex+Triz Shampoo for Dogs

If your English Bulldog has an existing bacterial or fungal skin infection, the MiconaHex+Triz Shampoo for Dogs is a great medicated shampoo to help you fight off that infection. Chlorhexidine gluconate is an antibacterial medication, while miconazole nitrate is an antifungal infection. Together, these ingredients work to kill and prevent whatever bacteria or fungus is affecting your dog’s skin (examples include ringworms and yeast).

In addition to treating infections, this shampoo also works to soothe and moisturize dry, itchy skin and prevent dandruff.  The only downsides are that since it is medicated, it is more expensive than other shampoos, and if your Bulldog doesn’t have an existing skin infection, then shelling out money for this shampoo may be unnecessary.

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4. TropiClean Hypoallergenic Coconut Dog Shampoo

As the name implies, TropiClean Hypoallergenic Gentle Coconut Puppy Shampoo is formulated just for puppies, but it can also be used on adult dogs that have sensitive skin. It’s made with all-natural ingredients and is hypoallergenic, so it’s great for both puppies and adult dogs that may have skin allergies. It’s also free of soap so that it doesn’t strip your dog’s skin of its natural oils and it’s free of dyes and parabens that may further irritate the skin.

This shampoo also has a natural coconut smell due to the coconut cleanser used in it. Unlike other shampoos, no artificial fragrances were used. The only downsides to this product are that it may not work with topical flea and tick treatments, and some users said that the lid doesn’t close tightly which could lead to some of the product leaking out.

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5. Vetnique Labs Dermabliss Anti-Itch & Allergy Relief Dog Shampoo

The Vetnique Labs Dermabliss Medicated Anti-Itch and Allergy Relief Shampoo contains 1% Pramoxine, which is a numbing agent that helps to offer relief from dry, itchy skin. With that being said, the relief that Pramoxine provides is only temporary, but it also contains safflower seed oil and oatmeal, both of which help to soothe and moisturize skin.

This shampoo is veterinarian recommended and clinically tested to offer relief from itchiness and skin allergies, but it is designed more for dogs that do have skin allergies since it is medicated. It may not be the right choice if your Bulldog doesn’t have a skin allergy but just needs a moisturizing shampoo. It’s also a bit pricey, considering that it does contain medicine.

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6. Hartz Groomer’s Best Itch Soothing Dog Shampoo

Another great shampoo for English Bulldogs is Hartz Groomer’s Best Professionals Itch Soothing Dog Shampoo. This shampoo is designed for dogs with itchy, sensitive skin and it contains aloe and honey to help soothe and relieve irritated skin. It also has a pleasant vanilla coconut. It also contains salicylic acid to help eliminate and prevent dandruff.

The downside to this shampoo is that it does contain a lot of artificial ingredients, but these ingredients help the shampoo to be able to clean and lather effectively. It’s free of dyes, parabens, and alcohol so that it won’t further irritate your dog’s skin. It’s also affordable and can be used on dogs of any age.

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7. TropiClean OxyMed Medicated Anti-Itch Oatmeal Dog Shampoo

TropiClean OxyMed Medicated Anti-Itch Oatmeal Shampoo is another “medicated” shampoo. However, it doesn’t contain Pramoxine or antibacterial and antifungal medications like other shampoos on this list. The main medicinal ingredients are natural salicylic acid and tea tree oil, both of which help to relieve itchiness, flakiness, and dandruff. This shampoo also contains aloe and oatmeal to help soothe and moisturize the skin as well.

All of TropiClean’s products are made with mostly naturally derived ingredients. However, this medicated shampoo may not be as potent as other options if your Bulldog does have an allergy or more serious skin condition that requires medicated shampoo. It may take a bit longer to work as well. But it is deep-cleansing and serves as a more affordable option than other medicated shampoos.

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8. Frisco Anti-Itch Shampoo with Aloe for Dogs

If your English Bulldog just needs a basic shampoo that will relieve dry, itchy skin, then the Frisco Anti-Itch Shampoo with Aloe is a great choice. There’s no medication in this shampoo, but it does contain aloe which also helps to soothe itchiness and irritation, and plant-based cleansers that work to clean your dog’s skin at the same time.

This shampoo is “unscented”. but that means that it doesn’t contain any artificial fragrances. Instead, the fragrance comes from tea tree oil, a natural ingredient that also helps to relieve itchiness. It’s also a great value for the amount of product that you get. However, it may take a few washes before offering relief from itchiness. It’s also not medicated so it may not be suitable if your dog has an existing skin condition.

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9. 4-Legger Organic, Hypoallergenic Lemongrass & Aloe Dog Shampoo

The 4-Legger Organic, Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo utilizes all plant-based ingredients to cleanse, moisturize, and soothe skin. Lemongrass contains natural antibacterial and antifungal properties and rosemary can help deter fleas and ticks as well. Aloe helps to soothe and relieve itchiness. This shampoo is described as being eco-friendly and non-toxic.

Natural shampoos aren’t always as effective at cleaning and resolving skin conditions, especially serious ones. This shampoo contains no medication, so it’s not as effective as other shampoos on this list if your Bulldog does have a skin condition. This shampoo can leave behind a waxy feeling on your dog’s skin after the first few washes as well, but it should go away over time. It’s a great choice overall if you don’t need a shampoo that targets specific skin problems.

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10. Burt’s Bees Itch Soothing Dog Shampoo with Honeysuckle

Burt’s Bees Itch Soothing Shampoo with Honeysuckle is another shampoo that is made with mainly natural ingredients. It contains honeysuckle, honey, and oatmeal, all of which help to soothe itchiness and minor skin irritation. Plus, it’s very affordable and contains no sulfates, parabens, or artificial fragrances. It’s a great choice for dogs that have sensitive skin.

One downside to this shampoo is that users say it is very watery, so it requires a lot of product to get it to lather. Others say that even though it is described as itch soothing, it didn’t do much to relieve itching and served more for just basic cleaning of their dog’s skin and coat. It’s also not medicated, which isn’t a downside for everyone, but it may be if your Bulldog does have an existing skin condition, as this shampoo is not going to help treat that condition.

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11. Douxo S3 Calm Soothing Dog Shampoo

Douxo S3 Calm Soothing Dog Shampoo contains ophytrium, which is a plant-derived ingredient that helps to strengthen and restore the natural skin barrier, as well as chlorhexidine which is an antibacterial medication. It also helps to moisturize and soothe itchy, irritated skin.

One downside to this shampoo is that it is a bit pricey, but it’s unique in that other shampoos don’t help to restore the natural skin barrier. You also get a lot less product for the amount of money that it costs. It also has a coconut and vanilla scent, which some users liked but others didn’t.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Shampoo for English Bulldogs

Now that you’ve seen what we think are the best shampoos for English Bulldogs, you may be wondering what’s up with all of the medicated or anti-itch shampoos? We should note that a medicated or anti-itch shampoo may not be necessary for your Bulldog, but we suggested them because Bulldogs are more prone to skin infections than other types of dogs.

This is mostly due to their skin folds, which are part of the reason why we love them. But the truth is that these skin folds create a warm and moist environment for bacteria to grow in. It’s worth noting that all dogs have bacteria on their skin, which is totally normal in certain amounts. But when given the right environment in which to grow, bacteria can multiply in such a way that it is unhealthy and can actually cause discomfort for your dog.

If this happens, bacterial skin infections can occur, which can cause itchiness, skin redness, hair loss, and even skin crusting and flakiness. Bacterial skin infections often require a medicated shampoo to treat, which is why we suggested a few for you. However, your vet can also recommend a reliable medicated shampoo as well.

Even if your Bulldog doesn’t develop a skin infection, the folds can still cause chafing and itchiness especially if they aren’t cleaned regularly. That’s why most of the shampoos that we suggested are anti-itch shampoos with ingredients such as oatmeal and aloe that are designed to soothe and prevent itchiness. With that being said, even Bulldogs who don’t have skin problems can still reap the benefits of an anti-itch shampoo, as these shampoos can help prevent itchiness and chafing before they occur.

The bottom line is that anti-itch shampoos are okay to use with Bulldogs in any situation, but not all Bulldogs will require a shampoo that is medicated. We’ve tried to provide a variety of shampoos that are both medicated and unmedicated, but the actual ingredients and fragrance of the different shampoos are ultimately just a matter of personal preference.

Conclusion

We love English Bulldogs due to their wrinkled appearance, but those wrinkles can also lead to skin problems as well. That’s why choosing the right shampoo and cleaning your dog regularly is so important. For the best overall shampoo for English Bulldogs, we like Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. For the best budget buy, we like Oster Oatmeal Essentials Extra Soothing Dog Shampoo. If you need something medicated, there are several great options on our list for that as well. Whatever your Bulldog needs as far as shampoo goes, we hope you found it with our product suggestions and reviews.

You might also like:

• 10 Best Shampoos for Labs: Reviews & Top Picks
• 4-Legger Dog Shampoo Review: Our Final Verdict

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Featured Image Credit: ChasIKS, Shutterstock