Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Pit Bull may be a generic title bestowed on many different breeds of dogs, but all these pups tend to be united by a tendency toward allergies and skin issues. Bathing is a chore that Pit Bull owners would do well to get used to because they’ll probably be doing a lot of it! But what is the best shampoo to keep a Pit Bull’s skin and coat clean and healthy?
To help you decide among the numerous shampoo options available, we’ve rounded up reviews of what we think are the best shampoos for Pit Bulls this year. Check out our thoughts on these products, consult our handy buyer’s guide, and stock up on treats. It’s time to bathe your Pit Bull!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated in 2023)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
All-natural ingredients with no harmful chemicals
Moisturizes skin
Soothes dryness and irritation
Check Price
Best Value
John Paul Pet Sensitive Skin Oatmeal Shampoo
Cruelty-free
No overwhelming fragrance
Cost-effective but high quality
Check Price
Premium Choice
Epi-soothe Shampoo
Gentle enough to use daily
Contains technology to disrupt yeast and bacteria on the dog’s skin
Check Price
Isle Of Dogs Tearless Puppy Shampoo
Tearless
Gentle on puppy skin
Lathers and rinses easily
Check Price
HyLyt Hypoallergenic Shampoo
Hypoallergenic
Adds moisture to the skin
Won’t strip natural coat oils
Check Price
The 11 Best Shampoos For Pit Bulls
- Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall
Check Price on Hepper
Available Sizes: 16 ounces
Type of Shampoo: Shed control, moisturizing, cleansing
Hepper’s Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo in Aloe and Cucumber Scent is our top choice for the best overall shampoo for Pit Bulls. Made in the USA, this multi-pet shampoo is made from high-quality, natural ingredients to keep your Pit Bull’s skin and coat nice and healthy.
Check Price on Hepper
Available Sizes: 16 ounces
Type of Shampoo: Shed control, moisturizing, cleansing
With its pH balanced formula, this pet shampoo not only cleans and conditions your Pit Bull’s coat, but also moisturizes the skin to prevent itchiness and dryness. This formula also reduces irritation, and is the best overall choice for dogs with sensitive skin. Its Aloe and Cucumber Scent will also give your Pit Bull a fresh post-bath aroma!
This Colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo by Hepper is a multi-pet shampoo, which makes it the best choice for multi-pet households—for both Pit Bulls and their pet companions at home!
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 ingredients with no harmful chemicals
Moisturizes skin
Soothes dryness and irritation
Good for sensitive skin
Good for multi-pet households
Cons
Only 16-ounce bottles; more volume may be needed for bigger dogs per bath time
May take more time to rinse off
Our pick of best shampoo for Pit Bulls for the money is John Paul Pet Sensitive Skin Oatmeal Shampoo. Made in the USA by a well-known human hair care company, this shampoo offers premium quality at a value price. Cruelty-free, this product contains chamomile, aloe, and oat protein to soothe sensitive, inflamed Pit Bull skin. Formulated to control flakes and moisturize dry skin, John Paul Pet allows you to bathe your pet regularly without further drying their coat and skin. Most users appreciate that this shampoo doesn’t have an overly strong fragrance and does seem to work at controlling dry skin for most dogs. On the flip side, some users didn’t like that there was only a minimal lingering scent.
All-natural ingredients with no harmful chemicals
Moisturizes skin
Soothes dryness and irritation
Good for sensitive skin
Good for multi-pet households
- All-natural ingredients with no harmful chemicals
- Moisturizes skin
- Soothes dryness and irritation
- Good for sensitive skin
- Good for multi-pet households
Only 16-ounce bottles; more volume may be needed for bigger dogs per bath time
May take more time to rinse off
- Only 16-ounce bottles; more volume may be needed for bigger dogs per bath time
- May take more time to rinse off
Available Sizes: 16 ounces
Type of Shampoo: Moisturizing
Check Price on Chewy
Pros
Cost-effective but high quality
Cruelty-free
No overwhelming fragrance
Cons
Not everyone appreciates the lack of fragrance
Epi-soothe is formulated and sold by a veterinary pharmaceutical company specifically for the treatment of dry, itchy skin. This shampoo is soap-free and contains a unique technology that helps keep bacteria and yeast under control on your Pit Bull’s skin. Even after rinsing, the shampoo continues to release soothing ingredients into the dog’s skin and coat. Epi-soothe is a higher-cost shampoo, often sold in veterinarians’ offices. It’s gentle enough to use every day if necessary, but may not be enough to treat severe skin issues and itching. Users with very itchy dogs found that this product was less effective or that scratching returned quickly after bathing.
Cost-effective but high quality
Cruelty-free
No overwhelming fragrance
- Cost-effective but high quality
- Cruelty-free
- No overwhelming fragrance
Not everyone appreciates the lack of fragrance
- Not everyone appreciates the lack of fragrance
Available Sizes: 8 ounces, 16 ounces
Type of Shampoo: Moisturizing
Pros
Contains technology to disrupt yeast and bacteria on the dog’s skin
Gentle enough to use daily
Cons
Expensive
It may not work for severe itching
Because your Pit Bull puppy is likely in for a lifetime of regular bathing, it’s wise to begin getting them used to the process as soon as possible. Isle of Dogs Tearless Puppy Shampoo is a gentle, safe option for the very youngest canines. Sulfate and paraben-free, this shampoo is designed to keep sensitive puppy skin clean without irritating it. Because it’s tearless, you can clean your puppy’s face without worrying about causing pain. This shampoo also lathers and rinses easily, allowing you to minimize the time in the tub as you socialize your puppy to a grooming routine. Users generally rate this shampoo highly but note that it is not the best at controlling odor on smelly pups.
Contains technology to disrupt yeast and bacteria on the dog’s skin
Gentle enough to use daily
- Contains technology to disrupt yeast and bacteria on the dog’s skin
- Gentle enough to use daily
Expensive
It may not work for severe itching
- Expensive
- It may not work for severe itching
Available Sizes: 16 ounces
Type of Shampoo: Tearless
Pros
Tearless
Gentle on puppy skin
Lathers and rinses easily
Cons
Not good odor control
HyLyt Hypoallergenic Shampoo is one of the best options for Pit Bulls that must be bathed frequently. One of the difficulties in these circumstances is that many shampoos strip the natural oils out of your dog’s skin and coat, drying it out and creating many of the same issues the bath is meant to solve. HyLyt is a soap-free, non-stripping formula that is full of nourishing fatty acids. The shampoo adds moisture to your dog’s skin while cleaning. HyLyt also makes a creme rinse if your dog’s coat needs extra conditioning. This shampoo receives almost universally positive reviews from users. However, it does not use all-natural ingredients nor is it labeled cruelty-free, which will rule it out of consideration for some dog owners.
Tearless
Gentle on puppy skin
Lathers and rinses easily
- Tearless
- Gentle on puppy skin
- Lathers and rinses easily
Not good odor control
- Not good odor control
Available Sizes: 16 ounces, 1 gallon
Type of Shampoo: Moisturizing, hypoallergenic
Pros
Hypoallergenic
Won’t strip natural coat oils
Adds moisture to the skin
Cons
Not labeled cruelty-free
Not all-natural
Another great shampoo for Pit Bulls is the Earthbath Shed Control Green Tea And Awapuhi formula. This soap-free, pH-balanced shampoo is also cruelty-free and biodegradable. This shampoo relies on all-natural ingredients like shea butter, aloe, and green tea extract to keep the Pit Bull’s skin healthy and moisturized. Combined with antioxidants and fatty acids, these nutrients strengthen the skin and help heal any damage. Healthy skin helps control shedding, which Pit Bulls do a surprising amount of considering they are short-coated dogs. Users found that this shampoo generally succeeded in relieving their dog’s dry skin and allergies but was only moderately effective at controlling shedding. The shampoo seems to lather and rinse well, however.
Hypoallergenic
Won’t strip natural coat oils
Adds moisture to the skin
- Hypoallergenic
- Won’t strip natural coat oils
- Adds moisture to the skin
Not labeled cruelty-free
Not all-natural
- Not labeled cruelty-free
- Not all-natural
Available Sizes: 16 ounces
Type of Shampoo: Shed control, moisturizing
Pros
All-natural and cruelty-free
Enhances skin health
Lathers and rinses well
Cons
Not always effective for shedding control
Formulated by a holistic veterinarian, Vet’s Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo is ideal for the Pit Bull with confirmed allergies and related itching. Using a blend of essential oils and oatmeal, this shampoo is an all-natural solution to scratching. It’s designed not only to relieve itching but to wash away allergens on the dog’s skin, eliminating the contact that could be causing the reaction. This shampoo should not be used on dogs younger than 12 weeks of age. In addition, some owners found this shampoo hard to lather up. Others found that it did not help their dog’s itching and even dried their skin out further.
All-natural and cruelty-free
Enhances skin health
Lathers and rinses well
- All-natural and cruelty-free
- Enhances skin health
- Lathers and rinses well
Not always effective for shedding control
- Not always effective for shedding control
Available Sizes: 16 ounces
Type of Shampoo: Itch relief
Pros
Uses all-natural ingredients
Veterinary formulated
Cons
Not for young puppies
Hard to lather
May dry out the dog’s skin
This shampoo and conditioner combination is ideal for the Pit Bull who is stricken with a strong doggy odor. Tropiclean Luxury is cruelty-free, soap-free, and produces a beautiful, fragrant lather ideal for deodorizing your stinky pup. This product both cleans your dog’s coat and nourishes their skin, leaving behind a lovely fragrance. It’s available in bulk sizes as well, making it a good choice for mass bathing operations like kennels or animal shelters. Some users had issues with this shampoo leaking during shipping. Others found that they had to use a lot of the product to effectively lather their dog, which could get expensive when bathing a large dog like a Pit Bull.
Uses all-natural ingredients
Veterinary formulated
- Uses all-natural ingredients
- Veterinary formulated
Not for young puppies
Hard to lather
May dry out the dog’s skin
- Not for young puppies
- Hard to lather
- May dry out the dog’s skin
Available Sizes: 20 ounces, 1 gallon, 2.5 gallons
Type of Shampoo: Deodorizing
Pros
Available in bulk sizes
Cleans and nourishes the skin
Deodorizes
Cons
Some issues with shipping
Large dogs may require a lot of shampoo
Skout’s Honor Probiotic Shampoo and Conditioner features one of the highest price points on our list, but the company pledges to donate a day’s worth of food for a homeless pet for every bottle sold so you can feel good that your money is going to a worthy cause. This shampoo is also cruelty-free and 97% all-natural. It moisturizes with avocado oil and coconut oil, leaving your dog clean and smelling fresh. Designed to soothe itching and control shedding, Skout’s Honor also contains essential fatty acids for your dog’s skin health. Some users reported the shampoo was hard to rinse out, but that should be less of an issue on short-coated Pit Bulls.
Available in bulk sizes
Cleans and nourishes the skin
Deodorizes
- Available in bulk sizes
- Cleans and nourishes the skin
- Deodorizes
Some issues with shipping
Large dogs may require a lot of shampoo
- Some issues with shipping
- Large dogs may require a lot of shampoo
Available Sizes: 16 ounces
Type of Shampoo: Deodorizing, moisturizing
Pros
97% natural ingredients
Contains fatty acids and oils
Cons
Expensive
It may be hard to rinse out
97% natural ingredients
Contains fatty acids and oils
- 97% natural ingredients
- Contains fatty acids and oils
Expensive
It may be hard to rinse out
- Expensive
- It may be hard to rinse out
Vegan, organic, and cruelty-free, Paws And Pals Oatmeal, Sweet Basil, And Turmeric Shampoo is the choice for eco-conscious Pit Bull owners. Tearless and soap-free, this shampoo combines several all-natural ingredients including aloe, oatmeal, jojoba, and coconut oils. Paws and Pals moisturizes and soothes itchy skin, softening your dog’s coat as well. It is a higher-priced shampoo, as might be expected since it uses organic ingredients. Most users found that this shampoo was effective at keeping their dog’s skin and coat moisturized. However, they are divided on their opinion of the scent of this shampoo. Some also reported issues with leakage during shipping.
Available Sizes: 20 ounces
Type of Shampoo: Moisturizing
Pros
Vegan, organic, cruelty-free
Tearless
Soothes and moisturizes
Cons
Some issues with leakage during shipping
Scent won’t appeal to everyone
Veterinary Formula Hot Spot And Itch Relief shampoo is for the Pit Bull owner who doesn’t mind pharmaceutical intervention to soothe their dog’s scratching. Formulated with vet-recommended ingredients, this shampoo combines natural products like oatmeal and aloe with the medications lidocaine and hydrocortisone. These medications work to ease the discomfort of irritated skin and provide quick itch relief. The shampoo also helps rebuild the outer layer of skin that may be damaged by scratching. Although labeled as hot spot relief, this shampoo should not replace a trip to the veterinarian, as many hotspots require additional treatment. Some users did not find this product effective at itch relief, especially for more severe conditions.
Vegan, organic, cruelty-free
Tearless
Soothes and moisturizes
- Vegan, organic, cruelty-free
- Tearless
- Soothes and moisturizes
Some issues with leakage during shipping
Scent won’t appeal to everyone
- Some issues with leakage during shipping
- Scent won’t appeal to everyone
Available Sizes: 16 ounces, 1 gallon
Type of Shampoo: Itch relief
Pros
Combines natural and pharmaceutical ingredients
Quick itch relief
Cons
It may not work for severe scratching
Combines natural and pharmaceutical ingredients
Quick itch relief
- Combines natural and pharmaceutical ingredients
- Quick itch relief
It may not work for severe scratching
- It may not work for severe scratching
Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Shampoos For Pit Bulls
Now that you have a basic idea of what type of shampoos are available for your Pit Bull, here are some more specific points to consider as you narrow down your options.
Does Your Dog Have a Diagnosed Skin Condition?
Itching and skin irritation are generalized symptoms that can point to a variety of different medical conditions. If your Pit Bull is suffering from these signs, a shampoo may not be all that is needed to treat them. Many skin conditions require other interventions including antibiotics, antifungal medications, anti-allergy medications, supplements, special foods or even prescription shampoos. While it can be tempting to save some money by trying a good shampoo on your Pit Bull, skin conditions can quickly get worse and cause your dog serious discomfort. See your veterinarian to rule out any skin conditions before you reach for an off the shelf shampoo. If you know you’re just dealing with a mucky pup, your shampoo options are more wide open.
What Type Of Parasite Control Do You Use?
Many flea and tick products applied to the skin rely on the dog’s natural oils to help spread the product across the dog’s body for maximum effectiveness. Bathing can reduce the effectiveness of these products, leaving your dog vulnerable to fleas and ticks. Some of the shampoos on our list specifically tout their safety with flea and tick products. Generally, these are soap-free products that leave the natural composition of the coat intact. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check the label of the flea and tick product before bathing. Another option is to give your dog a parasite-control product in pill form. This allows you to bathe worry-free and also eliminates any concern that kids or other pets could come into contact with a topical product.
How Often Are You Bathing Your Dog?
We discussed the concerns with frequent bathing earlier on in the article. If you find that your dog just can’t stay clean and you are bathing them once a week or even more, your choice of shampoo is vital to avoid drying out your Pit Bull’s coat. Look at a shampoo like HyLyt or Epi-soothe that doesn’t disturb the natural oils and instead adds moisture to the skin while bathing.
How Old Is Your Dog?
Some of the shampoos on our list are not recommended for young puppies, which will eliminate them from consideration for owners of those dogs. Even if a shampoo is okay to use on puppies, that doesn’t mean it is ideal. Quick-rinsing and tearless formulas are typically the best choices for baby dogs.
Conclusion
As our best overall shampoo for Pit Bulls, Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is ideal for overall skin and coat health and reduces messy shedding. Our best value pick, John Paul Pet Sensitive Skin offers premium quality at a value price. Pit Bulls are often misunderstood by society but as their owner, you know their needs best, including what they need in a shampoo. Each dog is an individual and what suits one may not suit another. With so many excellent dog shampoos to choose from, we hope our reviews of these 10 products were beneficial as you select the best option for your beloved Pit Bull.
Featured Image Credit: Vershinin89, Shutterstock
