Dandruff, also known as “seborrheic dermatitis” can affect dogs just like it can humans. We all know the symptoms of dandruff—dry, flaky skin is the major giveaway. It can be caused by a range of conditions including fleas, skin allergies, and improper grooming. The good news is that often, dandruff is easy to treat.
That said, if your dog is suffering from dandruff, it might be best to get them checked out by a vet to rule out more serious skin conditions. If your vet has recommended using a shampoo that helps with dry, flaky skin, check out our best dog shampoo for dandruff reviews to help you get an idea of what’s on the market.
Note: If your dog is suffering from a skin issue, be sure to run any new shampoo you’re thinking of using by your vet to make sure it’s suitable for your dog.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
Formulated to soothe dry, irritated skin
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
pH balanced
Check Price
Best Value
John Paul Pet Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo
Eco and animal-friendly
Professionally formulated
PH balanced and skin-kind
Check Price
Premium Choice
Vetnique Labs Medicated Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo
Vet-formulated
Pramoxine helps numb itchy skin
Doesn’t strip healthy oils from the skin
Check Price
Best for Puppies
Earthbath Mild Cherry Puppy Shampoo
Eco-friendly and cruelty-free
Aloe vera infused to soothe dry skin
Perfect for puppies over 6 weeks old
Check Price
Hartz Groomer’s Anti-Dandruff Dog Shampoo
Easy to lather
Made with salicylic acid
Gentle on your dog’s skin
Check Price
The 11 Best Dog Shampoos for Dandruff
1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall
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Brand: Hepper
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Aloe & Cucumber
Leave dandruff in the dust with Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. This pH balanced formula uses all natural ingredients to nourish dry, irritated skin, leaving behind a healthy and hydrated coat. The gentle lather is easily worked into the fur down to the skin, lifting any excess dandruff and loose hair away and leaves your dog smelling light and fresh. The aloe and cucumber scent is long lasting yet mild enough that it won’t bother the most sensitive of dog noses.
Once your dogs dandruff is a thing of the past, you can safely continue to use this shampoo during bathtime to prevent future irritation, making this an all in one must have product!
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 cat company!
Pros
All natural, pet-safe formula
Mild, long lasting scent
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
pH balanced
Great for all life stages
Cons
Some pets may not like the scent
John Paul Sensitive Skin Formula Oatmeal Dog & Cat Shampoo is our recommendation for the best dog dandruff shampoo for the money. This inexpensive shampoo is made with oatmeal, aloe vera, and almond oil, which leaves behind a light almond scent on your dog’s fur after use. It is designed to get rid of dirt and build-up without being harsh on your dog’s skin.
All natural, pet-safe formula
Mild, long lasting scent
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
pH balanced
Great for all life stages
- All natural, pet-safe formula
- Mild, long lasting scent
- Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
- pH balanced
- Great for all life stages
Some pets may not like the scent
- Some pets may not like the scent
Brand: John Paul Pet
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Almond
Check Price on Chewy
This shampoo was chosen as our best value pick because it tackles dandruff, allergies, and dry skin at a very affordable price, is highly reviewed, and best of all, it’s guaranteed cruelty-free! The only thing some may not like about this product is that the almond scent is pretty faint. That said, whether or not this bothers you comes down to your personal preference.
Pros
Inexpensive
Eco and animal-friendly
PH balanced and skin-kind
Professionally formulated
Cons
Faint scent
Our premium-choice dog shampoo for dandruff is Vetnique Labs’ Dermabliss Anti-Itch & Allergy Relief Soothing Oatmeal shampoo. This shampoo is vet formulated and is designed to cleanse without stripping your dog’s fur of healthy oils. For this, it utilizes a soap-free formula and its key ingredients are safflower seed oil and oat extract.
Inexpensive
Eco and animal-friendly
PH balanced and skin-kind
Professionally formulated
- Inexpensive
- Eco and animal-friendly
- PH balanced and skin-kind
- Professionally formulated
Faint scent
- Faint scent
Brand: Vetnique Labs
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Medicated
While the soothing properties of these ingredients get to work, pramoxine creates a numbing effect on your dog’s skin. This helps to relieve dry, itchy skin. Though this is a medicated shampoo, it doesn’t smell strongly medicated. On the downside, this shampoo is pretty pricey for a 16-ounce bottle.
Pros
Specially formulated to tackle skin issues
Pramoxine helps numb itchy skin
Vet-formulated
Doesn’t strip healthy oils from the skin
Cons
Expensive
If you’re the proud parent of a gorgeous pup, you’ll no doubt be on the lookout for a shampoo that’s safe for them. For puppies over 6 weeks, we recommend Earthbath’s Ultra-Mild Wild Cherry Puppy Shampoo. This cherry-scented shampoo is cruelty-free, soap-free, tearless, and infused with aloe vera to soothe irritated and dry skin.
Specially formulated to tackle skin issues
Pramoxine helps numb itchy skin
Vet-formulated
Doesn’t strip healthy oils from the skin
- Specially formulated to tackle skin issues
- Pramoxine helps numb itchy skin
- Vet-formulated
- Doesn’t strip healthy oils from the skin
Expensive
- Expensive
Brand: Earthbath
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Cherry
We also love the fact that this shampoo is paraben and phosphate-free, biodegradable, and safe to use with flea treatments. Its sweet cherry scent is something you’ll either love or hate and it is a bit expensive compared to many of our other recommendations.
Pros
Perfect for puppies over 6 weeks old
Aloe vera infused to soothe dry skin
Lovely cherry scent
Eco-friendly and cruelty-free
Cons
Expensive
- Hartz Groomer’s Best Pro Anti-Dandruff Dog Shampoo – Best Overall
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Brand: Hartz
Volume: 32 fl oz
Scent: Jasmine and citrus
Hartz Groomer’s Best Professionals Anti-Dandruff Dog Shampoo is another good choice for best dog shampoo for dandruff. This shampoo was professionally formulated to treat and soothe flaky, itchy skin in dogs. Its magic ingredient is salicylic acid—this reduces redness and inflammation while shedding dead skin cells. It’s completely paraben-free, so it’s a great choice for dogs with itchy, sensitive skin.
Perfect for puppies over 6 weeks old
Aloe vera infused to soothe dry skin
Lovely cherry scent
Eco-friendly and cruelty-free
- Perfect for puppies over 6 weeks old
- Aloe vera infused to soothe dry skin
- Lovely cherry scent
- Eco-friendly and cruelty-free
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Brand: Hartz
Volume: 32 fl oz
Scent: Jasmine and citrus
This shampoo is easy to lather as it’s not too thick in consistency and works on softening your dog’s coat as well as tackling dandruff. Best of all—it comes in a 32 fl oz bottle, so it will last for ages! On the downside, the bottle isn’t the sturdiest and is prone to leaking.
Pros
Made with salicylic acid
Professionally formulated
Gentle on your dog’s skin
Pleasant scent
Easy to lather
Cons
Bottle prone to leaking
- Zesty Paws Itch Soother Oatmeal & Aloe Vera Dog Shampoo
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Brand: Zesty Paws
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Vanilla bean
Aloe vera, oatmeal, vanilla, and vitamin E make up this anti-itch shampoo for dogs. The added vitamin E is a major bonus—it’s good for the skin and is a great moisturizer. Moisturization is crucial when it comes to treating dandruff in dogs. As well as tackling itchy skin, Zesty Paws’ shampoo is designed to add softness and shine to your dog’s fur.
Made with salicylic acid
Professionally formulated
Gentle on your dog’s skin
Pleasant scent
Easy to lather
- Made with salicylic acid
- Professionally formulated
- Gentle on your dog’s skin
- Pleasant scent
- Easy to lather
Bottle prone to leaking
- Bottle prone to leaking
Brand: Zesty Paws
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Vanilla bean
Another of Zesty Paws Itch Soother Dog Shampoo’s powers is that it helps to banish unpleasant smells. What we like about this shampoo is that it packs a lot of power into one bottle. On the downside, it may not be suitable for dogs with very sensitive skin or serious skin conditions.
Pros
Vitamin E to moisturize
Adds softness and shine
Good for odor control
Cons
Might not be suitable for dogs with especially sensitive skin
- Pet MD Benzoyl Peroxide Dog & Cat Shampoo
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Brand: Pet MD
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Citrus
Pet MD is one of the most trusted sources of information about pet health conditions. It has also developed its own range of pet care products, including this vet-approved anti-itch shampoo. Pet MD’s Benzoyl Peroxide shampoo is all about treating conditions like dandruff and banishing grease and dirt that could contribute to skin conditions.
Vitamin E to moisturize
Adds softness and shine
Good for odor control
- Vitamin E to moisturize
- Adds softness and shine
- Good for odor control
Might not be suitable for dogs with especially sensitive skin
- Might not be suitable for dogs with especially sensitive skin
Brand: Pet MD
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Citrus
This shampoo utilizes benzoyl and salicylic acid—this helps get rid of dead skin and exfoliates the pores. If your dog suffers from clogged hair follicles, Pet MD’s shampoo can help out with this as well as dandruff. It has a fresh, non-chemical-like scent. On the downside, this shampoo can potentially cause dryness on dogs with especially sensitive skin.
Pros
Vet-approved
Fresh scent
Designed to treat dandruff and clogged follicles
Tackles dirt that could be making skin conditions worse
Cons
Can be drying on dogs with especially sensitive skin
Vet’s Best Oatmeal Medicated Dog Shampoo targets itchiness, dryness, and flakiness on your dog’s skin. It smells pleasant and doesn’t have that harsh chemical-like smell that some medicated shampoos do. It is made of a few simple but powerful ingredients—tea tree oil, salicylic acid, oatmeal, aloe vera, and vitamin B5—a great combination for skincare.
Vet-approved
Fresh scent
Designed to treat dandruff and clogged follicles
Tackles dirt that could be making skin conditions worse
- Vet-approved
- Fresh scent
- Designed to treat dandruff and clogged follicles
- Tackles dirt that could be making skin conditions worse
Can be drying on dogs with especially sensitive skin
- Can be drying on dogs with especially sensitive skin
Brand: Vet’s Best
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Tea tree
You can use it with tick or flea treatments without worrying about washing them away and the tea tree helps give your dog that “fresh” feeling as well as relieving their flaky skin. The only thing we’re not keen on with this shampoo is that it’s a little watery—this means that it’s not hard to lose some of it to the drain when applying it to your dog’s fur. On the bright side, you won’t have to worry about working up a decent lather!
Pros
Oatmeal medicated
Contains tea tree
Smells fresh
Targets dryness and itchiness
Cons
A little watery
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care’s Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Dog Shampoo was made specifically for dogs with dandruff. Like many other dandruff shampoos, it’s made with oatmeal and salicylic acid but it has an extra trick up its sleeve—coal tar. Coal tar is commonly used to treat skin conditions in humans too and is known for its ability to shed dead skin cells and soothe flakiness, scaliness, and even inflammation.
Oatmeal medicated
Contains tea tree
Smells fresh
Targets dryness and itchiness
- Oatmeal medicated
- Contains tea tree
- Smells fresh
- Targets dryness and itchiness
A little watery
- A little watery
Brand: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Coconut
What we like most about this product is that it targets not only flakiness and itchiness but also the soreness and redness that sometimes accompanies it. If your dog has a rash or inflammation, you might want to give this shampoo the once over.
You might want to check with your vet before using this product, though, as it’s not the gentlest dog shampoo out there and can even be harsh on some dogs’ skin. It may not be suitable for some skin conditions and could worsen the symptoms.
Pros
Designed to reduce inflammation and soreness
Uses coal tar
Targets a range of skin conditions
Cons
Might not be suitable for some dogs
Not the gentlest shampoo
TropiClean’s Medicated Oatmeal & Tea Tree Dog Shampoo is a paraben-free, dye-free, and soap-free product for dogs with itchy skin. We love that this product is both eco-friendly and cruelty-free and comes in a 20-ounce bottle—more than the standard 16 ounces. This throws into the mix a little extra value for money at a not-too-shabby price.
Designed to reduce inflammation and soreness
Uses coal tar
Targets a range of skin conditions
- Designed to reduce inflammation and soreness
- Uses coal tar
- Targets a range of skin conditions
Might not be suitable for some dogs
Not the gentlest shampoo
- Might not be suitable for some dogs
- Not the gentlest shampoo
Brand: TropiClean
Volume: 20 fl oz
Scent: Fresh
Its ingredients include oatmeal, tea tree, and papaya—a good combination for skincare and a fresh, tropical scent. Its naturally-derived ingredients make it one of the least harsh choices of all our recommendations. Its magic ingredient is beta-hydroxy which is commonly used in skincare products to unclog pores and exfoliate. One thing to watch out for with this shampoo is that it is prone to leakage, especially when being delivered.
Pros
Targets dryness and flakiness
Infused with beta hydroxy for exfoliation
Paraben, dye, and soap-free
Cruelty-free
Cons
Prone to leakage
Infused with colloidal oat flour and honey, Burt’s Bees Dog Oatmeal Shampoo is an inexpensive, PH-balanced shampoo free of parabens, chemicals, and artificial fragrances. It is designed to moisturize skin and leave your dog feeling soft while the colloidal oat flour goes to town on soothing skin irritation. We really like this shampoo’s very reasonable price, natural ingredient selection, and eco-friendliness—the bottle is made of 80% recycled material!
Targets dryness and flakiness
Infused with beta hydroxy for exfoliation
Paraben, dye, and soap-free
Cruelty-free
- Targets dryness and flakiness
- Infused with beta hydroxy for exfoliation
- Paraben, dye, and soap-free
- Cruelty-free
Prone to leakage
- Prone to leakage
Brand: Burt’s Bees
Volume: 16 fl oz
Scent: Fragrance-free
If you prefer scented shampoos, though, you might be disappointed as Burt’s Bees shampoo is fragrance-free. Overall, it’s a gentle, inexpensive option that’s unlikely to worsen your dog’s dandruff or skin condition. The reason this shampoo is our bottom pick is that, while there’s a lot to love about it, you may need to use quite a lot of product as it’s hard to lather. Also, a little subjective on our part, but we do prefer shampoos that leave behind a nice smell!
Pros
Cruelty-free and eco-friendly
Good for sensitive skin
Affordable
Cruelty-free
Cons
Unscented
Need to use a lot of product
- See Also: Is Dawn Dish Soap Safe For Dogs? Is It Effective For Cleaning?
Cruelty-free and eco-friendly
Good for sensitive skin
Affordable
Cruelty-free
- Cruelty-free and eco-friendly
- Good for sensitive skin
- Affordable
- Cruelty-free
Unscented
Need to use a lot of product
- Unscented
- Need to use a lot of product
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Dog Shampoo for Dandruff
As there are so many dog dandruff shampoo options out there, it can be hard to make a decision as to which one would be best for your dog. First and foremost, we’d like to reiterate something we mentioned near the start of this article—if your dog has a skin condition, check any potential shampoos out with your vet first before using them.
However unlikely a product may be to cause a reaction or worsen your dog’s condition, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry. This is because though certain shampoos are designed to treat and soothe dandruff and other skin conditions, some just simply might not be suitable for the type of condition your dog has.
If you’ve got the go-ahead to use an anti-dandruff shampoo on your dog, ask yourself these questions when picking one out:
Do I need something for a puppy or an adult dog?
Does my dog have a simple case of dandruff or do they have another kind of skin condition?
Which ingredients is this shampoo made of that can help with my dog’s specific skin condition?
Are there any ingredients I want to avoid using on my dog?
Do I want something scented or fragrance-free?
Does my dog have any allergies or especially sensitive skin?
How much product am I going to need?
Is dandruff an occasional issue that can be reduced by using a good shampoo or does my dog have an ongoing condition I should speak with my vet about?
Is this shampoo professionally formulated, vet-approved, or at the very least have positive reviews?
What’s my budget?
See Also: Does Dog Shampoo Expire? What You Need To Know!
Do I need something for a puppy or an adult dog?
Does my dog have a simple case of dandruff or do they have another kind of skin condition?
Which ingredients is this shampoo made of that can help with my dog’s specific skin condition?
Are there any ingredients I want to avoid using on my dog?
Do I want something scented or fragrance-free?
Does my dog have any allergies or especially sensitive skin?
How much product am I going to need?
Is dandruff an occasional issue that can be reduced by using a good shampoo or does my dog have an ongoing condition I should speak with my vet about?
Is this shampoo professionally formulated, vet-approved, or at the very least have positive reviews?
What’s my budget?
Conclusion
Let’s recap. Our choice for the best overall dog shampoo for dandruff is Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. We particularly like the refreshing treatment you can give your dog for a reasonable price.
Our best value pick goes to John Paul’s eco-friendly shampoo designed with sensitive skin in mind. Finally, our premium choice is the pricey but gently cleansing Vetnique Labs Dermabliss Medicated Anti-Itch & Allergy Relief Soothing Oatmeal Shampoo.
We hope that our best dog shampoo for dandruff reviews have given you a good idea of what’s available to treat and soothe your dog’s flaky skin. Remember—when in doubt, talk to a vet. Good luck!
Featured Image Credit: Vershinin89, Shutterstock
