If you do end up with a shedding Doodle (although they are still likely to shed far less than other breeds) and you’re not too happy about all the time you are spending cleaning your floors and furniture, don’t despair! There are some things that might save you. While food is the best place to start, there are a variety of other products, such dog shampoo for shedding, that can help give your pet’s coat a health boost, hopefully reducing the amount of shed alongside it.
Here we will take a look at some of the best deshedding dog shampoo currently on the market to see which work and which don’t, with the aim of easing your shedding woes.
Table of Contents
- Causes of Shedding in Dogs
- Shampoos for Shedders: Buyer’s Guide
- Best Dog Shampoo for Shedding: Reviews
- Tips and Tricks for Bathing for Shed Control
- Dog Shampoo for Shedding: Frequently Asked Questions
Top 5 Dog Shampoo for Shedding
In a hurry? These are our top picks based on expert advice and user reviews. Click on the links to see where you can get them, and check out the reviews for yourself.
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Pick #1:
FURminator Deshedding Dog Shampoo. Enriched with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, plus plant extracts and vitamins too, this potent shampoo packs a coat-nourishing punch, and that’s why it’s our favorite.
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Pick #2:
Earthbath Shed Control Green Tea & Awapuhi Dog Shampoo. Chock full of super cleaners, skin moisturizers, and antioxidants, this fresh blend gives dirty dogs a super deep clean while nourishing, detoxifying and rejuvenating their coats.
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Pick #3:
TropiClean Lime & Coconut Deshedding Dog Shampoo. With its soap-free, earth-friendly, naturally-derived ingredients, this fabulous formula reduces shedding, softens the coat, and neutralizes odor for beautifully fresh, clean hair.
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Pick #4:
Nature’s Miracle Natural Shed Control Dog Shampoo & Conditioner. A 4-in-1 shampoo that controls shed while effectively cleaning and conditioning your pet’s coat and eliminating that nasty wet dog smell, replacing it with a fresh citrus scent.
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Pick #5:
Perfect Coat Shed Control Tropical Mist Dog Shampoo. Formulated for its deep conditioning action that effectively reduces sheds, Perfect Coat’s Tropical Mist Shampoo has omegas, antioxidants, and more for a healthy, shiny coat.
Causes of Shedding in Dogs
Dogs shed, alongside wanting a lot of attention and smelling foul when it rains. It’s one of the things you can just count on when it comes to our canine friends. Anyone who tells you that their pet doesn’t shed at all is fibbing. Like people, dogs naturally drop old hairs to make way for new ones as part of the natural hair growth cycle. This is entirely normal and completely unpreventable. The only thing you can do is try to keep it in check.
That being said, in some cases, your canine companion may seem to be losing far more hair than they usually do. This can be a cause for concern. Excessive hair loss can typically be linked to one or more of the following:
The Time of Year
If you live in a place with distinct seasons, then this is going to have an impact on Fido’s shed levels. Once or twice per year, usually around the changing of the seasons in spring and fall, when the temperature is either climbing or going down, they will ‘blow their coat.’ The reason for this is coat plays a crucial role in temperature regulation. Dogs with double coats are going to be particularly affected by this.
Poor Diet
If your pup is not getting all the nutrients they need, this will be reflected in the health of their skin and coat. Low amounts of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids might be the main driver of shed. However, if you’re feeding your pet a kibble rich in both but still seeing tons of hair on the floor, it might be the case that your pal has an allergy to one of the ingredients. Grains like corn and wheat are the most common culprits, with chicken also being up there.
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Health Issues
Beyond allergies, other health problems could be behind your dog’s sudden excessive hair loss. These might be linked to infections – both bacterial and fungal, hormone imbalances caused by certain canine diseases, tumors, or the presence of parasites like fleas and ticks. If you suspect your pup might be suffering from one of these issues but can’t get to grips with which it might be, then it’s a good idea to check with the vet.
Stress
Another reason your fur-baby might be suddenly dropping coat is that they are feeling anxious, in pain, or otherwise unwell. Often it’s pretty obvious when your pup is stressed; they will either hide or stick to you like glue. They might also pace, whine or bark, pant excessively, or itch and lick their paws until they are red and sore. Usually, this is linked to some change about the house, and all you can really do in this situation is find ways to make them feel happy and comfortable in your home once more.
Shampoos for Shedders: Buyer’s Guide
Shampoos aimed at reducing shedding work by restoring the natural condition of your pet’s coat. This can ease hair loss caused by damage from the environment. Dry, irritated skin is one of the leading causes of excessive shedding. With the right range of ingredients, shampoos can reintroduce the moisture back into both coat and skin, helping to keep both healthy and firmly fixed in place for far longer.
Things to look out for include:
- Omega fatty acids – you’re likely already aware of the role these crucial nutrients play in skin and coat health in terms of diet, but shampoo is another way of boosting their levels and reducing hair loss.
- B Vitamins – great for nourishing hair, promoting new growth, and regulating the production of natural oils. B Vitamins are another popular component of the best kind of anti-shed shampoos.
- Vitamin E – another powerful moisturizing agent for hair. Vitamin E is found in various plant-based oils. It also has excellent antioxidant properties for protecting skin and hair against environmental damage.
- Zinc – this fab mineral plays a vital role in hair tissue growth and repair. It also helps keep the oil glands around the follicles functioning correctly. Hair loss can often be traced back to a zinc deficiency, so you know this is a good one.
Best Dog Shampoo for Shedding: Reviews
Best For Super Shedders
A quick whizz through recommendations and reviews for best shampoos for shedding dogs will have you coming across this excellent product in the top spot time and again. With an impressive ingredient list that includes omega fatty acids, oat proteins, aloe vera, plus vitamins A, D, and E, it’s really no wonder. Moreover, the shampoo is formulated without skin-drying sulfate, parabens, or chemical dyes, and it’s pH-balanced for pups.
This FURminator’s Deshedding Shampoo has been tried and tested on some seriously heavy shedding breeds with great success. Pet parents notice a vast improvement in their pal’s coats. They also rave about how the shampoo fights against that wet dog smell weeks after use, leaving behind a pleasantly fresh but not overpowering scent.
FURminator Deshedding Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo
Pros
Well designed for its purpose (and several more besides), this fab shampoo is a firm favorite among dog owners fighting against having everything they own constantly covered in hair.
Cons
This product is a little on the pricy side compared to other canine shampoos – but you very much get what you pay for.
Best For Messy Mutts
Another well-received shampoo, with 96% of reviewers happy to recommend it to a friend, Earthbath’s formula promises to replenish skin nutrients and reduce coat loss. Being pH-balanced and soap-free, you know it’s not going to have a drying effect. That, coupled with some of the finest skin moisturizers found in nature: shea butter, green tea leaf extract, ginseng, omega-6 fatty acids, and awapuhi, is what makes this shampoo so effective.
For most dog owners, this shampoo has made a massive difference to their pet’s shedding. As one thrilled reviewer puts it: “Wow! This stuff is the REAL DEAL!” While another urges potential buyers to “JUST GO AHEAD AND HIT THE “ADD TO CART” BUTTON.” Beyond that, this great product has a noticeable effect on the condition of the coat, is perfect for sensitive skin pups, and provides excellent cleaning action too.
Earthbath Shed Control Green Tea & Awapuhi Dog Shampoo
Pros
While some shampoos of this nature tend to focus on the nourishing part, this one doesn’t forget about the cleaning. Use this for a fresh, happy, healthy, far-less-scratchy pup.
Cons
Some reviewers weren’t happy about this shampoo’s very subtle fragrance, stating they wished it lasted a little longer on their dog post bath.
Best For Delicate Doods
Another frequently recommended deshedding pick, Tropiclean’s shampoo, contains many of the beneficial ingredients of our top choice and a few extras besides. With oatmeal, wheat protein, omegas, vitamin E and B5, and a botanical blend of skin soothing and moisturizing ingredients, it cleans, softens, and reduces shedding. Plus, the tropical scent of lime and coconut will leave you in a holiday haze every time you pat your pooch.
“Lifechanging for Hairy Pups” this product may well be, especially if you pair it with the shine-enhancing conditioner. The very best thing about it is that it’s especially effective on super dry, itchy skin, helping to keep dandruff at bay and scratching under control. Aside from that, it leaves pet coats smooth and strokably soft, and most reviewers simply can’t get enough of that unique scent.
TropiClean Lime & Coconut Deshedding Dog Shampoo
Pros
Naturally derived yet potent ingredients perfect for strengthening coat and nourishing skin – both of which lead to far less shed. Plus, there’s that smell…
Cons
Issues with this product seem to all be to do with the packaging rather than the actual shampoo.
Best For Pungent Pups
A shampoo and conditioner in one is always a great time saver as long as it works, of course… and this one definitely seems to. It’s actually marketed as being a 4-in-1 product with extra benefits, including neutralizing a wide variety of odors, de-shedding, skin and coat cleansing, and rich conditioning. With its soap-free, all-natural formula, we can see this would be the case, and the company offers a money-back guarantee if not.
There aren’t quite as many ingredients focused on shed-reduction in this shampoo as there are with most of the other blends. From the reviews, it seems that buyers’ focus is a lot more on the odor control aspects of this shampoo, although plenty note a healthy coat too. It also seems quite popular with white-dog owners, so it seems to really work with both cleaning and freshening too.
Nature’s Miracle Natural Shed Control Dog Shampoo & Conditioner
Pros
Great for sensitive dogs, excellent for removing that wet dog smell. Effective ingredients for healthier skin and a softer coat. It might be best for light-colored lower shedders.
Cons
Again, issues with scent here (always the way with shampoo), with some saying it was too strong and others not strong enough.
Best For Cautious Canines
Last but not least is Perfect Coat’s Tropical Mist Shampoo. Packed full of the right kind of ingredients, including omega 3, vitamin E, provitamin B, and aloe vera, it has all the best stuff for deep conditioning action. Plus, the easy-rinse formula cuts bathing time in half, which is great for dogs who are not such big fans of the water. It also means that nothing gets left behind except a clean, fresh, nicely-scented dog.
A new brand to us, they seem to be a hit with reviewers who are admittedly a little scarce but very enthusiastic about this extremely wallet-friendly product. Pet parents love the beach coconut scent of the shampoo, which one mentions “lingers for days.” Plus, hair is left soft and shiny from the very first wash, and more of it seems to be kept on the dog – which is all we’re asking for here.
Perfect Coat Shed Control Tropical Mist Dog Shampoo
Pros
Simple formula developed as much for convenience as for functionality. Great smell that seems to top many other similar brands and all at a great price.
Cons
It would be nice to see a few more reviews for this product in terms of its ability to reduce shedding.
Tips and Tricks for Bathing for Shed Control
While having the right shampoo (and conditioner) is essential when hoping to boost your pup’s coat health and therefore reduce shed, there are a few other things you can do to really make the most of bath time in terms of getting rid of dead, loose, and damaged coat. These can significantly increase the effectiveness of the products you are using.
- Decide how often you are going to bathe your pet. One of the biggest mistakes new owners make is to do this too often. While regular baths may keep your pal looking clean and smelling fresh, every time you wash your dog, you are getting rid of the natural oils in their coat that keep it protected and hydrated. Aim for no more than once or twice a month and make do with dry shampoo and wipes in between to remove dirt and bad odors.
- Give your dog a thorough brushing before popping them in the tub. This is especially necessary for curly-coated Doods because any knots and tangles that they may have accumulated will only get tighter when they make contact with water. A well-groomed coat is far easier to clean, especially when you want the shampoo to penetrate all the way through your hound’s hair.
- Work the shampoo (and conditioner) through your pooch’s hair with the help of a bath time brush like the Bodhi Dog Pet Shampoo Brush. Not only does this help with coating the hair root to tip, but it also pulls hair from your pet’s coat right there in the tub so they can happily be washed down the drain rather than covering your furniture and floors.
- Rinse your dog thoroughly over and over until you’re sure everything has been washed away. While most soap-free shampoos won’t hurt your pet if a little gets left behind, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You don’t want leftover products irritating your hound’s skin, making it dry, flaky, and itchy; any time spent scratching is also time spent pulling out hair.
- Never use people’s shampoo on pups unless they are pH neutral for babies. Adult human formulas are designed to suit the slightly acidic make-up of our skin but work against a canine’s somewhat more alkaline body chemistry. No matter how well you rinse, the output will be the same, irritated, itchy skin with much the same effects as above. Also, avoid products with long lists of chemicals for much the same reason.
Dog Shampoo for Shedding: Frequently Asked Questions
While some level of shed is normal, excessive shedding can be caused by a number of factors, including poor diet and environmental damage. To try and reduce this, you need to make sure they are getting a good number of essential vitamins and minerals like omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and B vitamins. This can be done via their food or shampoo.
Bathing your dog when they are shedding is an excellent way to deal with dead and loose hair. Make use of an effective moisturizing shampoo, like the ones listed above. Pair it with a high-quality rake brush and a bath brush for best results. This way, you can contain the problem meaning you won’t be vacuuming for days.
Even with dogs that don’t normally shed all that much, you might notice a slight uptick with this at certain times of the year. Most commonly, this happens in the spring or the fall, when your pup’s coat responds to changing temperatures by becoming either lighter or thicker to help them cope better with the external conditions.
Hair-dropping is a fact of life and likely one of the more irritating aspects of pet ownership. Choosing a type of dog, like a Doodle, based on their low-shed coat is one thing you can do, but it doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be dealing with hair loss. We know that constantly lint-rolling your couch is not fun, so there are a few things you can do to reduce the amount of hair about the place. One of these is picking a shampoo that will keep your pet’s coat in the best condition possible. This will definitely help, but sadly won’t eliminate the problem altogether. However, think about all the joy your fur babies bring to your life. Surely that’s worth being put out just a little bit, hmm?
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