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.
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
Earthbath Shed Control Shampoo
Natural ingredients
pH-balanced
Soothes skin and strengthens coat
Check Price
Best Value
Nature’s Miracle Shed Control
Odor control
No dyes or parabens
Safe for flea and tick products
Check Price
Premium Choice
FURminator Deshedding Shampoo
Reduces shedding right away
Natural ingredients plus omega fatty acids
No dyes or parabens
Check Price
Best for Puppies
TropiClean Deshedding Dog Shampoo
Safe for all life stages
Exfoliating
Great smell
Check Price
Oster Oatmeal Shed Control Shampoo
Keeps skin soft
Pleasant, long-lasting scent
pH-balanced
Check Price
The 7 Best Deshedding Dog Shampoos for Dogs
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.
Size: 16 fluid ounces
Lifestage: Adult
Check Price on Chewy
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.
Pros
Natural ingredients
pH-balanced
Soothes skin and strengthens coat
No parabens or chemicals
Biodegradable
Cons
Doesn’t smell great
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.
Natural ingredients
pH-balanced
Soothes skin and strengthens coat
No parabens or chemicals
Biodegradable
- Natural ingredients
- pH-balanced
- Soothes skin and strengthens coat
- No parabens or chemicals
- Biodegradable
Doesn’t smell great
- Doesn’t smell great
Pros
Odor control
No dyes or parabens
Safe for flea and tick products
Included omega fatty acids
Cons
Odor control doesn’t last long
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.
Odor control
No dyes or parabens
Safe for flea and tick products
Included omega fatty acids
- Odor control
- No dyes or parabens
- Safe for flea and tick products
- Included omega fatty acids
Odor control doesn’t last long
- Odor control doesn’t last long
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.
Pros
Reduces shedding right away
Natural ingredients plus omega fatty acids
No dyes or parabens
Cons
No odor control
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.
Reduces shedding right away
Natural ingredients plus omega fatty acids
No dyes or parabens
- Reduces shedding right away
- Natural ingredients plus omega fatty acids
- No dyes or parabens
No odor control
- No odor control
Size: 20 fluid ounces, 1 gallon, 2.5 gallons
Lifestage: Puppy, adult, senior
Pros
Safe for all life stages
Exfoliating
Great smell
Natural ingredients
Cons
Pricey
Bottle leaks easily
- Oster Oatmeal Essential Shed Control Shampoo
Check Latest Price
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.
Safe for all life stages
Exfoliating
Great smell
Natural ingredients
- Safe for all life stages
- Exfoliating
- Great smell
- Natural ingredients
Pricey
Bottle leaks easily
- Pricey
- Bottle leaks easily
Check Latest Price
Size: 18 fluid ounces
Lifestage: Adult
Pros
Keeps skin soft
Pleasant, long-lasting scent
pH-balanced
Cons
Not as effective as other brands
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.
Keeps skin soft
Pleasant, long-lasting scent
pH-balanced
- Keeps skin soft
- Pleasant, long-lasting scent
- pH-balanced
Not as effective as other brands
- Not as effective as other brands
Size: 16 fluid ounces
Lifestage: Puppy, adult
Pros
Gentle for puppies
pH-balanced
No parabens
Cons
Doesn’t lather well
No aroma
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.
Gentle for puppies
pH-balanced
No parabens
- Gentle for puppies
- pH-balanced
- No parabens
Doesn’t lather well
No aroma
- Doesn’t lather well
- No aroma
Size: 20 fluid ounces, 1 gallon
Lifestage: Adult
Pros
Gentle formula
No dyes or parabens
Oat proteins and aloe vera included
Cons
Doesn’t lather well
Uses a lot of product per wash
Leaky bottle
Pricey
Gentle formula
No dyes or parabens
Oat proteins and aloe vera included
- Gentle formula
- No dyes or parabens
- Oat proteins and aloe vera included
Doesn’t lather well
Uses a lot of product per wash
Leaky bottle
Pricey
- Doesn’t lather well
- Uses a lot of product per wash
- Leaky bottle
- Pricey
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. Earthbath Shed Control 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
