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The 5 Best Medicated Dog Shampoos in 2024 - Business Insider

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The 5 best medicated dog shampoos in 2024

Written by JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM; edited by Lisa Sabatini
Updated
2024-03-28T17:02:45Z
This article was medically reviewed by Karie Johnson, DVM, a veterinarian in the south suburbs of Chicago whose focus is on nutrition, osteoarthritis, behavior, and end-of-life care. She is published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association.
Five bottles of medicated shampoo for dogs are on a pink gradient background.
The best medicated dog shampoos treat conditions like bacterial and fungal infections and skin allergies. Chewy/Business Insider
  • Best overall
  • Best for bacterial infections
  • Best for fungal infections
  • Best flea and tick
  • Best for skin allergies
  • How we selected
  • FAQs
  • Glossary

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Dog baths provide many benefits, including removing dirt and grime, eliminating odors, and creating special human-animal bonding time. A bath with one of the best medicated dog shampoos can also treat skin problems from allergies and infections and provide much-needed relief from skin irritation.

For this guide, we evaluated 15 medicated shampoos for dogs, according to our veterinarian-informed selection criteria. Our top pick is Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo. This shampoo treats several conditions, from parasitic and fungal infections to flaky and itchy skin, and moisturizes dry skin.

As a veterinarian, I understand the complexities of skin conditions in dogs. Even with this curated list of shampoos, you should first visit your veterinarian, who will diagnose your dog's skin condition and recommend a medicated dog shampoo if appropriate. Be aware that a prescription medicated dog shampoo may be the best choice over an over-the-counter (OTC) shampoo. Always follow your veterinarian's instructions for using any shampoo. If you're looking for a nonmedicated formula, we cover them in our guide to the best dog shampoos.

Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.

Our top picks for the best medicated dog shampoos

Best medicated dog shampoo overall: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs - See at Chewy

Best dog shampoo for bacterial infections: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Medicated Shampoo for Dogs and Cats - See at Chewy

Best antifungal shampoo for dogs: Pet MD Medicated Shampoo for Skin Conditions - See at Chewy

Best flea and tick shampoo for dogs: Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor - See at Chewy

Best dog shampoo for skin allergies: 4-Legger Natural Shampoo - See at Chewy

Best overall

Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo

This is a mild-scented shampoo that treats various skin conditions while hydrating and healing the skin.

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What we like
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Free of soap
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Treats multiple skin conditions
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Safe for puppies at least 12 weeks of age
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Does not remove topical flea and tick treatments
What we don't like
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Salicylic acid may dry out the skin

The inevitable irritation created by skin problems can make dogs feel miserable and needs to be resolved quickly and effectively.

"A medicated shampoo is used to treat numerous skin conditions, such as bacterial and fungal infections and allergic disease," says Dr. Joya Griffin, a veterinary dermatologist at Animal Dermatology Group in Louisville, Kentucky. However, just treating the condition isn't enough. The skin also needs moisturizing to be restored to good health.

Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Dog Shampoo treats multiple skin conditions, including parasitic and fungal infections, seborrhea (greasy, flaky, itchy skin), and general dermatitis (skin inflammation). It also contains oatmeal and allantoin to soothe, hydrate, and heal the skin. This shampoo's ability to treat multiple skin conditions and heal the skin, all at a reasonable price, made it our top choice.

The shampoo contains salicylic acid, coal tar, and micronized sulfur, which work together to treat skin infections and reduce seborrhea symptoms. "Shampoos that contain sulfur or salicylic acid can be used for seborrheic conditions," says Griffin. However, she warns that salicylic acid can cause dryness and irritation.

Free of soap and dyes, this shampoo is safe for puppies at least 12 weeks of age and does not remove the best flea treatments for dogs that are topical medicines.

Best for bacterial infections

Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic & Antifungal Mediated Shampoo

This shampoo quickly treats bacterial and fungal skin infections and soothes the skin with natural aloe vera and lanolin.

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What we like
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Free of soap
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Treats multiple types of skin infections
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Reduces itching and flaking
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Soothes and heals the skin
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Safe for puppies at least 12 weeks of age
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Does not remove topical flea and tick treatments
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Mild scent
What we don't like
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Lather is not thick

Bacterial skin infections, broadly termed "pyoderma," have several potential causes. These causes include a break in the skin from injury or constant scratching, a change in the skin's normal bacterial population, and excessive moisture on the skin.

Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Shampoo contains the antibacterial agent benzethonium chloride to treat bacterial skin infections, along with ketoconazole to treat fungal infections. Many medicated dog shampoos that treat skin infections contain antibacterial and antifungal agents.

This shampoo was our top choice for several reasons. For example, it effectively treats both antibacterial and antifungal infections. In addition, the shampoo contains lanolin to reduce skin itching and flaking, as well as aloe vera to soothe and heal itchy and irritated skin. Also, the shampoo does not remove topical flea and tick treatments. To have these positive product characteristics, it impressed us that the shampoo costs less than $10 for 16 ounces.

Although the shampoo does not lather as thickly as other medicated dog shampoos we reviewed, it has a mild, non-medicinal scent and rinses out easily. It is safe for puppies at least 12 weeks of age.

Best for fungal infections

Pet MD Medicated Shampoo for Skin Conditions

Pet MD Medicated Shampoo treats fungal and bacterial skin infections and provides healing for dry skin and minor skin injuries.

Shop at Chewy
What we like
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Contains ketoconazole to treat fungal infections
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Contains colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera to soothe and moisturize the skin
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Safe for puppies at least 12 weeks of age
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Helps heal minor skin injuries
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Light mint scent
What we don't like
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. May discolor white fur

Fungal skin infections, such as ringworm and yeast dermatitis, occur less commonly than bacterial skin infections in dogs. Our top choice for medicated dog shampoos for fungal infections is Pet MD Medicated Pet Shampoo. Not only does it contain the antifungal agent ketoconazole, but it also contains colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera to soothe and moisturize infected skin that has become itchy and irritated.

An additional ingredient, chlorhexidine, is an antibacterial agent that can treat skin conditions like bacterial dermatitis. Chlorhexidine also has antifungal properties, giving the shampoo a slight edge in antifungal activity over Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Medicated Shampoo. In addition to these functions, chlorhexidine can help treat minor skin injuries, such as those caused by superficial cuts and insect bites.

Safe for puppies at least 12 weeks of age, the shampoo has a pleasant peppermint scent that can last long after the bath. If you have a white dog, be aware that the shampoo could discolor your dog's fur.

Best flea and tick

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor

Adams Plus kills fleas, flea eggs and larvae, ticks, and lice for up to 28 days while soothing dry, irritated skin.

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What we like
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Kills all life stages of fleas plus adult ticks and lice on contact
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Long duration of effectiveness
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Soothes dry, irritated skin
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Pleasant fragrance
What we don't like
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not labeled for use in puppies under 12 weeks of age
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Very thick lather may be hard to rinse

Flea and tick control is a cornerstone of responsible pet ownership. Veterinarian-prescribed flea and tick preventatives are the best choice for preventing these pesky parasites, and pet owners should use them as the primary form of flea and tick prevention.

Flea and tick shampoos have a role to play, though. Dr. Tierra Price, a shelter veterinarian and founder of BlackDVM Network, notes that these shampoos can be very effective at killing adult fleas and ticks. Our experts concur, however, that flea and tick shampoos are not good at prevention. "Flea and tick shampoos have very little residual activity an...

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