Shedding is a problem as old as dog ownership itself. As much as we love our canine companions, we don’t usually love to have our entire homes covered in dog hair. There are many dog shampoos on the market that are designed to prevent or lessen shedding. So, let’s try to decide which is the best dog shampoo for shedding.
Quick Picks: The 5 Top-Rated Shed Control Dog Shampoo
Last update on 2024-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Check our best pick above, or keep reading for product reviews and buying guide!
5 Reviews of the Best Anti Shedding Shampoos for Dogs
Isle of Dogs Coature No. 20 Royal Jelly Dog Shampoo
This is a product that makes some large claims and gets overwhelmingly positive reviews. Unlike most dog shampoos, it is based on a royal jelly formula. Royal jelly is said to have quite a few health benefits, including new hair growth, rejuvenation of damaged hair, and a few other things.
However, when we look at the list of ingredients for this product, we see that its main ingredient is Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which we have already discussed. This means that you will need to be a little more careful with this one. It also contains Cocamidopropyl, which is derived from coconut and generally considered to be very safe.
The royal jelly is the gimmick in this product. It is derived from beeswax, so there are no real safety concerns here. Since most users seem to be happy with this product and its results, the manufacturer must be doing something right. I cannot even find a negative review to quote.
Pros:
- Very good reputation
- Mostly made from natural ingredients
- Comes in a liter-size bottle
Cons:
- Contains sodium laureth sulfate
- not available in smaller bottles
Pet Head De Shed Me!! Miracle Deshedding Rinse
This product comes in a small and strange-looking pink bottle. Unlike our previous product, this one isn’t meant to prevent shedding, or even to reduce its occurrence. Instead, this product functions as a rinse that removes loose hair before it can be rubbed all over your furniture.
This rinse is meant to be used twice a week. After giving your pet a rinse with this stuff, they should do very little shedding for the next couple of days. This is why a twice-per-week regimen is ideal. It allows you to control your dog’s shedding all week long.
Pros:
- Allows all-week control of shedding
- Easy to use
- Smells very nice, but the smell doesn’t linger very long
Cons:
- Comes in a very small bottle
- Bottle bursts easily
- Product doesn’t lather very well, which means that it takes more product to do the job
Oster Oatmeal Essentials
Oster is a fairly trusted name when it comes to organic shampoos. They usually do a great job of avoiding the kind of harsh chemicals about which many pet owners are concerned. Their de-shedding shampoo is no exception. As you would probably guess, its main ingredient is oatmeal extract. Coconut extracts are combined with this concentrated oatmeal, and these could be called the two active ingredients.
This shampoo also has safflower extract, aloe vera extract, and an infusion of vitamin B5. All of these plant extracts will give the hair and its follicles a little bit of extra nutrition. Some people also don’t like the “fruity” smell that this shampoo leaves behind.
Pros:
- Totally natural
- Provides the hair with extra nutrients that help it grow
- No dyes or alcohols
Cons:
- Not as powerful as chemical-based shampoos
- Pets could still have an allergy to some of those plant extracts
- Fruity smell (may not be a problem)
Wahl Dog/Puppy Shampoo
It might surprise you to find out tha Wahl, a company that normally makes clippers, also makes shampoo. This deshedding shampoo is not really advertised as a de-shedding shampoo, but a closer look at the label tells us that this product is intended to help reduce shedding.
This one contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, so use your best judgment on that. However, most of its other ingredients are plant-derived. We mentioned this product earlier in the buying guide section (though not by name) when we mentioned that its main gimmick is a combination of sage and lemongrass.
Both sage and lemongrass have a long history of being used for their cleansing and aromatic properties. One cannot help but admit that these two substances smell good together. This product generally gets good reviews, and most buyers seem to agree.
Pros:
- Mostly natural ingredients
- Product lathers pretty easily
- Meant to reduce both shedding and dander
Cons:
- Neither fully natural nor fully chemical
- Contains sodium laureth sulfate
- Plant ingredients can sometimes cause allergies
Furminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo
This is another product that emphasizes its natural ingredients. This stuff contains so many different plants that it would tire the reader to list them all. When we look at the label, we can see that cranberry plays a big role in the function of this shampoo.
Cranberry provides omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which have a variety of proven benefits. These are powerful antioxidants that are proven to promote healthy skin and hair. Research has shown that those who have lower levels of omega fatty acid are more likely to have issues with dry skin and hair.
Papaya is said to be another of the active ingredients. Upon closer inspection, we see that the number two ingredient on the list is “mild surfactants.” While we can safely surmise that this refers to a mild soap/detergent, it would be nice to know a little more. Vague information makes me a little suspicious. That being said, I have not heard of any serious reactions resulting from the use of this product.
Pros:
- Many different herbal products
- Does a good job of removing loose hair
- Meant to hydrate and strengthen the hair
- Herbal products offer a few extra benefits
Cons:
- All those plants can increase the chance of an allergic reaction
- Pleasant smell might induce some dogs to eat it
- Label doesn’t specify which sufactants are used.
What to Look For When Buying Shed Control Dog Shampoo?
Here are a few quick facts that you need to know before buying.
Price Versus Volume
One thing you need to consider is the amount of shampoo per bottle and the price. This is important because there is a lot of variation between different brands. Some will be sold in 12-16 ounce bottles, while others may be as large as a liter. This can make it a little confusing to try and figure out which product will give you the most shampoo for the least amount of money.
For instance, let’s say you have a bottle that contains 16 ounces, and its cost is 12 dollars. You also have a 32-ounce bottle, and its price is 20 dollars. Although the smaller bottle may seem like the cheaper option, the 32-ounce bottle is the better value. This is the case because it contains twice as much shampoo at a price that is cheaper than two 16-ounce bottles (which would be 24 dollars).
Common Ingredients
The most common ingredient in human shampoos is a substance called Sodium Laureth Sulfate. This is also a common ingredient in dog shampoos. It is an alcohol-derived detergent and is included mainly for its abrasive qualities and as a foaming agent.
You will need to make a decision as to whether this ingredient is safe for your dog. If your dog is a particularly hardy breed, you probably don’t need to worry too much. If you have one of those small and sensitive dog breeds, you might want to avoid this ingredient.
If you aren’t sure, just perform a simple test. Take a very small amount of a dog shampoo that contains SLS, and dab it on a piece of bare skin. Their underbelly is usually a good spot. Make sure you only use a tiny dab, so that any negative reactions can be minimized. Leave the SLS shampoo in place for a few hours, then wash it off and check the skin. If there is no irritation, itching, or redness, your dog should be fine.
If your dog is sensitive, or if you are overly nervous about chemicals, there are plenty of alternatives. Some companies make shampoos that are purely plant-derived. Cleansers can be made from oatmeal, coconut, aloe, citrus fruits, and other plants. These are probably your best option if you have a really sensitive dog on your hands.
Bear in mind that dogs have allergies much as humans do, and so you should always test out a new shampoo in this manner before washing their entire body. Even natural substances can sometimes create allergic reactions.
Scent
Although the smell of a dog shampoo may not be particularly important to me, it might be of some importance to you. Since you will be using this product on a regular basis, you may as well choose one with a smell that you enjoy. However, effectiveness should always be a higher priority.
Safety Concerns
There are a whole host of safety concerns when using any chemical product on your pet. We have already told you how you can test various products for allergic reactions, but some toxins will not necessarily show their effects right away. For this reason, it is important to do your research.
Most chemical substances will have a wikipedia article with a brief overview, although Wikipedia is not always 100% trustworthy. Use it as a jumping-off point to find leads for further research.
Extras
Many products of this type will have “gimmicks.” In most cases, these will take the form of a substance that is deemed to have some special benefit to your dog. For instance, one of the products we will review below contains sage and lemongrass extracts. As far as I know, it is the only dog shampoo that includes these things. Does it make a big difference? Again, research and experimentation will be the only way to know for sure.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it seems that the clear winner is the first item on our list, the Isle Of Dogs shampoo. This is the best dog shampoo for shedding. Of all our products, it was the only one that did not seem to have at least one serious problem. Although it suffered from one or two minor issues, we still felt that it was the best overall.
Any of these products are likely to do the job, but the Isle Of Dogs seems to provide the perfect middle ground between a purely herbal shampoo and a purely traditional shampoo. As such, it offers the best of both worlds. We hope this article has been helpful, and that you are able to choose the best product with minimal time and fuss.