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’ve 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 Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
Great for sensitive skin
Moisturizes and soothes any irritation
Contains no sulfates, phthalates, DEA, dyes, gluten, and soaps
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Best Value
Oster Oatmeal Soothing Dog Shampoo
Great for sensitive skin
Soothes and moisturizes dry, itchy skin
Works with topical flea treatments
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Premium Choice
MiconaHex+Triz Shampoo for Dogs
Moisturizes skin
Helps treat fungal and bacterial skin infections
Helps to prevent dandruff
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Best for Puppies
TropiClean Hypoallergenic Coconut Puppy Shampoo
Gentle formula
Made from naturally derived ingredients
Great for dogs with sensitive skin
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Vetnique Labs Anti-Itch & Allergy Relief Dog Shampo
Soothes and moisturizes
Provides temporary numbing of skin to relieve itchiness
Great for dogs with skin allergies
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The 11 Best Shampoos for English Bulldogs
- Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall
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Ingredients: Water, Oatmeal Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal
Fragrance: Aloe and cucumber
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.
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Ingredients: Water, Oatmeal Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal
Fragrance: Aloe and cucumber
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 that 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 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!
Great for sensitive skin
Moisturizes and soothes any irritation
Long-lasting natural scent
Contains no sulfates, phthalates, DEA, dyes, gluten, and soaps
Can be used on dogs, cats, and most other pets
- Great for sensitive skin
- Moisturizes and soothes any irritation
- Long-lasting natural scent
- Contains no sulfates, phthalates, DEA, dyes, gluten, and soaps
- Can be used on dogs, cats, and most other pets
Contains added fragrance
- Contains added fragrance
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.
Ingredients: Purified water, coconut-based cleansers, colloidal oatmeal
Fragrance: Country apple
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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.
Affordable
Great for sensitive skin
Works with topical flea treatments
Soothes and moisturizes dry, itchy skin
- Affordable
- Great for sensitive skin
- Works with topical flea treatments
- Soothes and moisturizes dry, itchy skin
Not medicated
- Not medicated
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).
Ingredients: Chlorhexidine gluconate (2%), miconazole nitrate (2%), lavender and lemongrass oil
Fragrance: Unscented
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.
Moisturizes skin
Helps to prevent dandruff
Helps treat fungal and bacterial skin infections
- Moisturizes skin
- Helps to prevent dandruff
- Helps treat fungal and bacterial skin infections
Expensive
Not every dog needs a medicated shampoo
- Expensive
- Not every dog needs a medicated 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 too 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.
Ingredients: Purified water, coconut cleanser, oatmeal, aloe
Fragrance: Coconut
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.
Gentle formula
Great for dogs with sensitive skin
Made from naturally derived ingredients
- Gentle formula
- Great for dogs with sensitive skin
- Made from naturally derived ingredients
The bottle may not seal well
It may not work with some flea and tick treatments
- The bottle may not seal well
- It may not work with some flea and tick treatments
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.
Ingredients: Pramoxine, water, safflower seed oil, hydrolyzed oats
Fragrance: Unscented
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.
Soothes and moisturizes
Great for dogs with skin allergies
Provides temporary numbing of skin to relieve itchiness
- Soothes and moisturizes
- Great for dogs with skin allergies
- Provides temporary numbing of skin to relieve itchiness
Pricey
Medicated shampoo may not be suitable for every dog
Pricey
Medicated shampoo may not be suitable for every dog
See Also: 10 Best Shampoos for Labs In 2022: Reviews & Top Picks
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.
Ingredients: Water, artificial ingredients, aloe, and honey
Fragrance: Vanilla coconut
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.
Affordable
Prevents dandruff
Good for dogs of any age
Free of dyes, parabens, and alcohol
Helps to soothe and relieve itchy skin
- Affordable
- Prevents dandruff
- Good for dogs of any age
- Free of dyes, parabens, and alcohol
- Helps to soothe and relieve itchy skin
Contains artificial ingredients
- Contains artificial ingredients
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.
Ingredients: Water, salicylic acid, oatmeal, aloe, tea tree oil
Fragrance: Unscented
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.
Soothes and moisturizes
Helps relieve skin flakiness and dandruff
Medicated with natural salicylic acid and tea tree oil
- Soothes and moisturizes
- Helps relieve skin flakiness and dandruff
- Medicated with natural salicylic acid and tea tree oil
It can take longer to work than other medicated shampoos
It may not be suitable for dogs with more severe skin conditions
- It can take longer to work than other medicated shampoos
- It may not be suitable for dogs with more severe skin conditions
8. Frisco Anti-Itch Shampoo with Aloe for Dogs
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Ingredients: Purified water, coconut and plant-based cleansers, aloe vera
Fragrance: Unscented
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.
Great value
Doesn’t contain artificial fragrance
Contains coconut and plant-based cleansers
- Great value
- Doesn’t contain artificial fragrance
- Contains coconut and plant-based cleansers
Not medicated
It may take a few uses to work
- Not medicated
- It may take a few uses to work
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.
Ingredients: Coconut, olive, and jojoba oils, rosemary, lemongrass, aloe vera
Fragrance: Unscented
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.
Made with plant-based ingredients
Rosemary helps deter fleas and ticks
Ingredients have natural antibacterial and antifungal properties
- Made with plant-based ingredients
- Rosemary helps deter fleas and ticks
- Ingredients have natural antibacterial and antifungal properties
It can leave your dog’s skin feeling waxy
Not suitable for dogs with skin conditions
It can leave your dog’s skin feeling waxy
Not suitable for dogs with skin conditions
See Also: 4-Legger Dog Shampoo Review 2022: Our Final Verdict
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.
Ingredients: Water, honey, beeswax, oatmeal, honeysuckle
Fragrance: Unscented
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.
Affordable
Contains 97% natural ingredients
Great for dogs with sensitive skin
- Affordable
- Contains 97% natural ingredients
- Great for dogs with sensitive skin
Not medicated
Watery formula
It may not relieve itchiness
- Not medicated
- Watery formula
- It may not relieve itchiness
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.
Ingredients: Ophytrium, chlorhexidine
Fragrance: Coconut Vanilla
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.
Antibacterial
Soothes itchy skin
Helps restore the natural skin barrier
- Antibacterial
- Soothes itchy skin
- Helps restore the natural skin barrier
Pricey
Not the best value
Some people may not like the smell
- Pricey
- Not the best value
- Some people may not like the smell
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 value, 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 may want to read next: EngAm Bulldog (English Bulldog & American Bulldog Mix)
Featured Image Credit: ChasIKS, Shutterstock
