Pet Health Tips, Pet Products

The 5 Best Medicated Dog Shampoos in 2023

What is the best dog medicated shampoo? What shampoo is good for skin infections in dogs? When it comes to keeping your dog clean and well-groomed, bathing is an essential part of the process. From favorite products to a weekly schedule, many dog owners have a routine in place. However, it may be necessary to change that routine if your dog has a skin condition. While bathing more often than every six weeks is not recommended for pets with normal skin, dogs with skin disorders often benefit from more frequent bathing using medicated dog shampoos. Allergies and infections can result in itchy, irritated skin, and while preventing these conditions is ideal, it isn’t always possible. Learn more here. On the bright side, many common skin conditions in dogs can be managed with medicated dog shampoo. These products contain active ingredients to help manage dry skin and irritation caused by bacteria, fungus, and other conditions to provide symptom relief and make your dog more comfortable. In this guide, we’ll run through our recommendations of the best medicated dog shampoos to consider based on your dog’s unique needs. Select one of the products below or keep reading to learn more about each option.
  1. Vet Basics Sebo Plus
  2. Vet Basics ChlorConazole
  3. Vet Basics Chlor 4
  4. Pramoxine Anti-Itch Shampoo
  5. Goodwinol Shampoo

The Best Medicated Shampoos for Dogs

1. Vet Basics Sebo Plus

  • Price: $24.29 (16 oz)
  • Instructions: Use 2-3 times per week for up to 4 weeks
  • Use Cases: Seborrhea, bacterial skin infections, acne, mange
First on our list, Vet Basics Sebo Plus is one of the all-around best medicated dog shampoos for skin allergies, itchy skin, and bacterial infections. Active ingredients benzoyl peroxide and micronized sulfur work to remove scales and oils from your dog’s skin and relieve symptoms of seborrhea, acne, and demodectic mange while preventing the growth of bacteria and fungi. It also contains oatmeal and moisturizer to help hydrate and soothe irritated skin caused by dryness and scratching.

2. Vet Basics ChlorConazole

  • Price: $24.69 (16 oz) – $138.19 (Gallon)
  • Instructions: Use 2-3 times per week for up to 4 weeks
  • Use Cases: Bacterial, fungal, and yeast skin infections
Some skin conditions, such as rash, hair loss, lesions, and itchy skin, are caused by infections. In these cases, it’s important to choose a product that targets the source of the symptoms in addition to the symptoms themselves. Vet Basics ChlorConazole contains chlorhexidine gluconate, an antiseptic, and ketoconazole, an antifungal medicine, to help manage bacteria and fungi effectively. One of the best antibacterial and antifungal dog shampoos, ChlorConazole is also available in spray and wipe formats as needed.

3. Vet Basics Chlor 4 Shampoo

  • Price: $24.29 (16 oz)
  • Instructions: Use 2-3 times per week for up to 4 weeks
  • Use Cases: Bacterial skin infections
If your dog is dealing specifically with symptoms stemming from a bacterial infection, Vet Basics Chlor 4 is another option to consider. It also contains chlorhexidine gluconate, this time at a higher concentration, making it an effective medicated dog shampoo for bacterial infections that are more persistent.

4. Pramoxine Anti-Itch Shampoo

  • Price: $12.25 (12 oz)
  • Instructions: Use up to once per week as needed
  • Use Cases: Itchy, dry, and flaky skin
Another medicated dog shampoo for allergies, Pramoxine Anti-Itch Shampoo helps provide relief from itchy skin caused by seborrhea and other conditions. Pramoxine hydrochloride, the primary ingredient, targets and manages the discomfort while colloidal oatmeal moisturizes and conditions the skin to help reduce dryness and flaking going forward.

5. Goodwinol Shampoo

  • Price: $32.99 (32 oz) – $71.99 (Gallon)
  • Instructions: Use as needed
  • Use Cases: Itchy skin caused by fleas, mites, and mosquitoes
Last on our list, Goodwinol Shampoo is a medicated dog shampoo for itchy skin caused by pests. From mosquitoes to fleas, bites from these pests cause itching and flaking and encourage scratching which can further irritate your dog’s skin. To combat this, Goodwinol contains cedar oil, a natural insecticide that repels these and other insects to provide relief and give the coat a bright shine without the use of conditioners.

Which Medicated Shampoo is Right for Your Dog?

These are just a few of the best medicated dog shampoos you can choose from and it’s important to find the right one to manage your pet’s condition. With that in mind, we highly recommend consulting your veterinarian and deferring to their expertise when choosing a shampoo. If you have any questions about any of our picks above or other products we offer, please contact our Pet Care Pros at 800.786.4751 and we’ll be glad to assist you.

Written by: Shelley Hexom

Content Manager

Shelley Hexom is Revival's Content Manager and helps develop educational pet health resources. A three-time Emmy® Award-winning news anchor, Shelley works with Revival's Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Marty Greer, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, to help create useful and easy-to-understand articles, videos, and webinars. Shelley received her bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from Winona State University in 2002. As a pet owner, Shelley enjoys time with her Boxer mix, Sally. Shelley has been part of the Revival Team since 2016.

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