Does your dog need an everyday or a medicated shampoo?
Choose an everyday shampoo to keep a healthy coat clean and fresh, and a medicated shampoo to treat a specific skin problem like allergy itch or yeast.
A matching conditioner helps an everyday wash with tangles and shine. A medicated shampoo is different: it works by staying on the skin for a set contact time rather than being a quick rinse, so it treats rather than just cleans. If your dog's skin is healthy, a gentle everyday wash is all you need. If they are itchy, flaky or smelly, the medicated range is where to look, and our dog products for skin conditions cover the wider plan behind a persistent itch.
Our guide to dog skin conditions explains what drives it.
Which medicated dog shampoo for which skin problem
Match the medicated wash to the problem: oatmeal and soothing washes for allergy itch, antimicrobial washes for yeast or bacteria, and barrier washes for flaky skin.
- Oatmeal and soothing washes, such as Dermcare's Aloveen, calm general allergy itch and dry, irritated skin.
- Antimicrobial washes, such as Dermcare's Malaseb, target the yeast and bacteria behind red, greasy or smelly skin.
- Barrier and moisturising washes help flaky, climate-stressed coats and support the skin after a flare.
If you are not sure which your dog needs, or the skin is broken or infected, check with your vet before starting a medicated wash. Browse the full Dermcare range for the medicated options.
How to bathe an itchy dog
Bathing an itchy dog comes down to contact time: wet the coat, work the lather down to the skin, leave it on for the label's contact time, then rinse well.
- Wet the coat thoroughly with lukewarm water, never hot, which irritates sensitive skin.
- Work in the lather down to the skin, not just over the top of the coat.
- Leave it on for the contact time on the label, usually around ten minutes, so the active ingredients can work. This is the step most people skip.
- Rinse well and pat dry, as leftover shampoo can itch as much as the original problem.
How often should you wash your dog?
For a healthy dog, a wash every few weeks is plenty, because bathing too often strips the natural oils and can leave the skin drier and itchier than before. Medicated shampoos are different: your vet may direct a course of two or three washes a week during a flare, then less often to maintain. A good conditioner after a medicated wash helps put moisture back and protect the skin barrier. When in doubt, follow the label and your vet's advice rather than washing on a hunch.
Trusted dog shampoo brands
Australia's leading dog shampoo ranges span the everyday and the medicated:
- Dermcare: the vet-developed medicated range, with Aloveen oatmeal for itch and Malaseb for yeast and bacterial skin.
- PAW: gentle, nourishing shampoos and conditioners, including options for sensitive skin.
- Fido's: an everyday range covering cleansing, oatmeal and puppy-friendly washes.
- Virbac: dermatological shampoos used alongside clinic skin plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
A soothing oatmeal-based shampoo is the best starting point for general itchiness, while an antimicrobial wash suits skin that is red, greasy or smelly from yeast or bacteria. Match the shampoo to the cause rather than picking by scent, and leave it on for the full contact time to get the benefit. If the itch is severe or the skin is broken, your vet can point you to the right medicated option.
No, never use a dog shampoo on a cat, because some dog washes contain ingredients such as permethrin that are toxic to cats, who then groom the residue off their coat. A cat-safe shampoo can be used on a dog, but not the other way around. If you only have a dog product and need to wash a cat, wait until you have a cat-specific shampoo.
No, human shampoo is not suitable for dogs, because a dog's skin has a different pH and human products can leave it dry and irritated. Use a shampoo made for dogs, and a medicated one if your vet has recommended it for a skin problem. Baby shampoo is no safer, so it is worth keeping a dog wash on hand.
Leave a medicated dog shampoo on for the contact time stated on the label, usually around ten minutes, before rinsing. That contact time is what lets the active ingredients treat the skin, so a quick lather and rinse will not work and a timer helps. Rinse thoroughly afterwards, as leftover shampoo can itch as much as the problem you are treating.
Yes, colloidal oatmeal is a genuinely soothing ingredient that can help calm mild, general itch and dry skin in dogs. It works on the surface, though, so it eases the symptom rather than treating an underlying allergy or infection. For itching that is severe, spreading or recurring, pair the wash with a vet's plan for the cause.
