What are the Best Hypoallergenic Shampoos for Dogs in 2020?
There are those dogs that have such sensitive skin that we get used to them scratching and itching due to lack of a permanent solution to the issue. If you are the owner of a dog with sensitive skin, you may want to try laying off the dyes, fragrances and common chemicals that more than often may trigger allergic reactions. Some owners may go as far as trying out medicated shampoos which if not properly selected and not of the right quality may result in worsening the situation rather than making it better.
Top 5 Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo Brands
What is the Solution?
Worry not as the best solution to the sensitivity of the skins of our pups is using a hypoallergenic shampoo. Like medicated shampoos, this shampoo has medicinal values as they treat itchy skin, dry skin, sensitive skin and they are popular for being natural and very safe. These shampoos do not contain harsh chemicals that may further irritate the skin and result in the long term and short term harm on your pet.
There are several brands of hypoallergenic shampoos in the market. However, with the many brands, it can be hard to choose the best one for your furry companion. To help you narrow down your search, we evaluate some of the best hypoallergenic dog shampoos in the market today.
Best Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo List
① Hylyt Hypoallergenic Shampoo with Essential Fatty Acids for Dogs and Cats
This hypoallergenic dog shampoo is a gentle, soap-free formula that contains emollients that help to moisturize the skin of the dog. The shampoo is also rich in protein which conditions the skin and it features an optimal PH balance that is perfect for the skin of the dog. The natural moisturizing factor promotes hydration of the skin as well as the coat of the dog.
The essential fatty acids featured in the formula help to nourish the skin of the dog and to control the flaking and scaling of the skin. While very effective, this formula is luxurious and does not strip or dry the skin of the dog. It can also be used together with flea and tick products and actually be beneficial to them.
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② Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Dogs
This hypoallergenic dog shampoo cleans and moisturizes sensitive skin and relieves itching and also helps to soothe dry skins and brittle coats. It is a tearless, soap-free formula with natural key elements the likes of aloe vera and Vitamin E which helps to moisturize the skin. This product is perfect for dogs that have sensitive skin, those with dry skin and those that suffer seasonal allergies.
This product is made from natural ingredients that do not cause further harm and irritation to the skin. It is a safe formula that can be used on dogs of different breeds, sizes and ages freely. The product does not have any effect on topical flea control products.
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③ Earthbath hypo-Allergenic Dog and Cat Shampoo
This is a soap-free shampoo that gently cleanses the skin while keeping the coat of your dog fluffy and worthy of a cuddle. It is a hypoallergenic, tearless formula that is ideal for any pets that suffer from skin allergies and skin sensitivities. It is formulated specially to soothe irritated skin and clear up allergic reactions.
The product can be associated with topical flea treatments that are aimed at clearing tics and fleas that may result in conditions like dermatitis. It is perfectly formulated for dogs that are six weeks olds and older as well as cats. The product is completely biodegradable, does not contains any parabens and phosphate hence it is a safe formula.
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④ 4-Legged Organic, Hypo-Allergenic, Lemongrass and Aloe Dig Shampoo
This is a holistic, essential oil blend formula that cleanses, moisturizes, conditions and softens the skin and the coat without stripping it of its natural oils. The lemongrass in the formula is known for its antibacterial, antifungal and pest-deterrent properties that naturally ease conditions that result from yeast, fungus and bacterial infections.
It is a concentrated formula that is easy to lather and rinse and it does not contain any artificial thickeners, detergents, parabens, sulfates or synthetic preservatives, it is also an eco-friendly formula, non-toxic and 100% biodegradable. It is made with sustainably sourced ingredients that are Non-GMO. It is also a cruel-free, vegan and gluten-free product.
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⑤ Burt’s Bees Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo
This is a hypoallergenic shampoo that is also a gentle cleanser manufactured specially for dogs with nature’s finest ingredients. It is rich in Shea butter that works to moisturize the skin and the coat of the dog. The Shea butter is a natural hypoallergenic hence the hypo-allergenic properties of the product.
It is also rich in honey which is responsible for the natural shine of the coat. The product is also made with 97% natural ingredients that are vet recommended and proven safe for the skin and the coat of the dog. It features the perfect PH balance for dogs to take care of their special skin needs and it is made cruelty-free locally with no sulfates, colorants, essential oils or fragrances.
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⑥ Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
This product features four in one benefits of a shampoo and a conditioner. Such benefits are the fact that it neutralizes a wide variety of odors, it is a deodorant, it cleanses the skin and the coat and it features rich conditioning effects. It is an unscented and hypoallergenic that is perfect for pups that have allergies and sensitive skin.
The soap-free formula is safe to use with spot-on flea and tick treatment products and it contains no dyes or parabens hence is ideal for dogs with sensitive skin. It is also a natural cocoa surfactant shampoo that provides exceptional cleaning, enhances hair softness, reduces static electricity on the coat and enhances long term cleanliness. The shampoo is made locally with highly safe products.
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⑦ Perfect Coat Gentle Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo
This product is specially formulated for dogs with sensitive skin and it is an extremely mild formula that will prevent irritation. It is made with high-quality gentle ingredients that support the cleaning and conditioning functions of the shampoo that leaves the skin and the coat of the dog clean, soft and fresh.
The ingredients do not include any harsh dyes, or fragrances and the formula is kept simple to prevent inflammation and irritability. It is designed with the best ingredients that are fundamental in keeping the skin of your dog and its coat healthy and well kept. It is a concentrated formula that lathers easily and is also easy to rinse off and does not settle stubbornly hence making the cleaning task effortless. Pros Cons
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Conclusion & What is the Best Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo
You may also need to go deeper into the claims and the description of the product and heed to the reviews by other customers before deciding to buy a supposed hypoallergenic dog shampoo. It is also important to note that the FDA, in the United States of America is the determinant of whether a product is hypoallergenic or not. Therefore, you need to look for the FDA seal in a product.
Different countries have different bodies like the FDA which will also have their seal on products that have actually been proven as hypoallergenic. In this piece of writing, we have looked into some of the best and authentic hypoallergenic dog shampoos in the market. To make your task easier, we recommend the HyLyt Hypoallergenic Shampoo with essential fatty acids for dogs (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE).
It is a gentle hypoallergenic, it is a soap-free, non-stripping and non-drying formula. It controls scaling and flaking, it is packed with natural moisturizing ingredients, and it has no effect on topical flea and tick treatments.
What are hypoallergenic dog shampoos?
Before we get into the term hypoallergenic dog shampoos, we first need to gain an understanding of the term “hypoallergenic dog”. A hypoallergenic dog is a dog that is allergic to some or most substances. Such dogs need more regular baths than those that are normal.
Regular shampoos cannot be used on these dogs as they contain some harsh chemicals that may result in damage to the skin and the coat of the dog especially when the shampoo is used regularly. Therefore, for such dogs, hypoallergenic dog shampoos are used.
Hypoallergenic dog shampoos are shampoos and washes that are made without allergens. The word hypoallergenic does not have a universally legal definition. It however can be labelled as a safer, better option for sensitive dogs who tend to get irritated when they are bathed with regular shampoos that contain soaps, sulfates and similar chemical elements.
Such shampoos are made to be extra mild and they do not apply the use of any strong or harsh chemicals. They are also known to leave out a certain common ingredient that the dog may have allergic reactions to or may trigger allergic reactions.
The challenge with coming up with such products is that allergic reactions can be triggers by anything, including water, depending on the dog and some rare situations. Therefore, we cannot completely assure that the products are without allergens.
For this reason, the term hypoallergenic is not legally defined as something that completely lacks allergens as the term may be misleading. Instead, the term hypo at the beginning of the term hypoallergenic means below, defining the term as a solution with lower risk of triggering allergic reactions and not completely immune.
Therefore, hypoallergenic shampoos are the better choice of shampoos for dogs that have known sensitivities the likes of inflammation, extreme itchiness of the skin, rashes, dryness of the skin and similar instances of contact dermatitis.
What makes hypoallergenic dog shampoos better than normal shampoos?
With the following points, we attempts to explain the differences between normal dog shampoos and hypoallergenic shampoos hence the reasons as to why the latter is better.
Normal shampoos are packed with chemicals that are aimed at cleansing the coat. Since they are used at long intervals, they may not have harmful effects on the dogs. However, dogs with allergies and sensitivities need to be washed more regularly, hence if the regular shampoo is used on them, the harsh cleansing chemicals may lead to harm that may be long term on the skin of the dog.
Hypoallergenic shampoos therefore are designed with mild agents that cleanse the coat thoroughly and do not cause any form of damage to the skin of the dog.
Regular shampoos are normally scented using a variety of natural fragrances and it often turns out that a particular element used for the fragrance may not suit the pet. This results in hazardous effects and the shampoo resulting in allergies despite being very effective in cleaning as a result of the fragrant ingredient.
Most hypoallergenic shampoos are designed almost similarly with the normal shampoos but forgo the fragrant element hence have fewer side effects on the dog.
- For a stronger cleaning action; which is the main purpose for normal shampoos, they contain soap and detergent. However, for hypoallergenic dogs that require more regular baths, these soap and detergents may have a negative effect on the dog. Therefore, hypoallergenic dog shampoos do not contain these ingredients but instead use natural and organic cleansing options the likes of oatmeal and aloe vera which are just as effective as the said chemicals and have less negative side effects.
- Normal shampoos that are used as brighteners or whiteners contain dyes that are used to color the coat and add sheen on the coat of dogs. When these shampoos are used on hypoallergenic dogs, they may result in extreme allergic reactions on the dog. Therefore, hypoallergenic shampoos rely on natural and more biodegradable options for the purpose of brightening the coat of dogs.
Other pros of using hypoallergenic shampoos include;
- They have a PH balance that is carefully formulated to match that of dogs as not doing so may result in irritation of the skin of the dogs
- They also do not contain any alcohol or alcohol elements which may also trigger sensitivities or allergic reactions
- These shampoos are all free of harmful and harsh chemicals that may result in adverse effects on the skin and coats of the dog when used on a regular basis
- They do not contain soaps and detergents that may also be considered as harsh and harmful chemicals
- They are also free of parabens that may also result in negative side effects on the skin and the coat of the dogs if used both irregularly and regularly
- They are enriched with natural nutrients from the natural ingredients used in their manufacture
- They do not contain fragrances and dyes that may cause allergic reactions
- They are biodegradable and extra mild on the skin
- They can be used frequently without negative side effects or irritating sensitive skin
- They are also designed to soothe itching, scratching and dryness that may have resulted from allergic reactions and or sensitivities.
The fact that these products are designed very carefully to benefit the allergic dogs and beat regular shampoos makes it almost unlikely to find any fault in them. However, the fact that they are extremely mild on the skin makes it hard to believe that they are actually effective in their cleansing purpose.
This is however not a challenge since if the user knows how to use the shampoo and follows the instructions keenly, the shampoo actually effectively cleanses the coat and the skin of the dog despite being mild.
A buying guide for hypoallergenic dog shampoos
When you are looking into getting a hypoallergenic shampoo, the first thing in your mind should be getting a shampoo that will clean your dog effectively without causing any irritation or harmful allergic reactions. For this reason, the fewer ingredients there are, the better the product is.
Ingredients to look out for
Looking at the ingredients of the shampoo is key to knowing how mild the shampoo is. Therefore, you need to avoid products with ingredients like; colorants and dyes, artificial perfumes or fragrances, sulfates, parabens like propylparaben and butyparaben among others, formaldehyde which is sometimes listed as sodium hydrocymethylglycinate and methylchloriosothiazolinone.
Instead, look for a product with a more natural list of ingredients the likes of oatmeal and aloe vera. You can do this by going through the ingredient list on the product description. While some products may not list their entire product list, you can get comprehensive knowledge by looking at the reviews of the product or seeking advice from your vet.
