Does your dog keep you awake all night scratching, chewing, biting, or licking? Worse, do you know the cause but feel helpless to do much about it?
Skin infections, specifically those involving yeast, can be challenging to tackle and eradicate no matter what your experience level is. By now you know your pet needs a medicated bath, but what is the best dog shampoo for yeast infection.
Quick Picks: The 5 Top-Rated Dog Shampoo for Yeast Infection
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 Best Dog Shampoo for Yeast Infection Reviews
Curaseb Antifungal & Antibacterial Chlorhexidine Shampoo
A product of Bexley Labs and made in the USA, Curaseb undergoes rigorous inspections by the FDA. It has combined action against bacteria, fungus, and yeast. This broad-spectrum antimicrobial action is good for allergic dogs because it addresses secondary opportunistic infections.
Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic used in veterinary surgical prep. It has a well-established history of effective action against topical microorganisms, including yeast species. Adding Ketoconazole, an antifungal, means most brands of yeast do not stand a chance against this shampoo.
Aloe Vera is the final major added ingredient. Its prostaglandins appear to have a soothing effect on the skin. Perhaps more pertinent, it has antifungal and antibacterial action.
Curaseb offers a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied.
Pros:
- It treats ringworm (a fungus) and pyoderma (skin infections).
- This shampoo is effective against skin allergies.
- Veterinarian-formulated.
- It has a pleasant scent that is not overpowering.
- This product is free of paraben and soap, which can be inflammatory and irritating for many skin conditions.
Cons:
- Red dye may stain white linens.
- Some dogs react adversely to the ingredients with skin redness and itching.
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs
This medicated shampoo is effective against fungal and bacterial infections. It also works by treating skin problems like oily exudate, parasites like mites, and scaly plaques to remove ideal niches for secondary yeast infections.
Coal tar treats skin scaling and flaking. It is extremely effective against seborrheic or oily dermatitis. By eliminating dead skin cells and other debris, it can be instrumental in reducing itchiness.
Salicylic acid also has an antiseborrheic activity. It can heal rashes. Remember acne? This is an active ingredient in many topical medications for acne and has similar activity in dog shampoo. Micronized sulfur has properties to help eliminate fungal, yeast and parasitic infections.
To relieve irritation and inflammation associated with yeast and other infection, the formulation adds colloidal oatmeal and Allantoin. Colloidal oatmeal is anti-inflammatory and antipruritic, and Allantoin provides excellent hydration.
Pros:
- If you have recently applied a spot-on flea or tick treatment, you do not have to worry about this shampoo removing it. I used to worry about that with my dog.
- No dyes, paraben, or soap.
- This product is ph-balanced explicitly for a dog’s skin.
- You should see positive results quickly.
Cons:
- The ingredients in this product are highly toxic to cats. I have cats also – keep this shampoo away from them.
- The scent is objectionable to some people.
Dechra Miconahex + Triz Pet Shampoo
Dechra, made in the USA, has miconazole, chlorhexidine, and TrizEDTA as the main active ingredients. We already mentioned the antimicrobial properties of chlorhexidine. Miconazole, similarly to ketoconazole, treats ringworm and other fungal and yeast infections. Miconazole in some formulations is also utilized against ear infections.
TrizEDTA is a compound of tromethamine USP and disodium EDTA dihydrate. It is antimicrobial in action, but even further, it enhances the effect of other antibiotics. In this shampoo, it potentiates chlorhexidine.
Dechra adds ceramides which have a broad range of benefits. They mechanically remove bacteria and allergens from the surface of the skin. Furthermore, they remove environmental toxins and odors, reduce inflammation, promote healing of the epidermal barrier, and hydrate the skin.
Pros:
- It has long-term action even after it has been rinsed.
- The shampoo has antimicrobial-potentiating ingredients so you can enhance the action of certain types of other medications you may be using.
- It decreases odors that can be associated with yeast infections.
- The product itself has no fragrance.
Cons:
- This shampoo requires very frequent bathing with the initiation of treatment (3 to 4 times a week). Some pets may find this unacceptable.
Vetoquinol 411608 Sebozole Shampoo
Sebozole utilizes a blend of Chloroxylenol and Miconazole Nitrate. Miconazole, of course, is a synthetic antifungal. Chloroxylenol, like chlorhexidine, is an antiseptic and disinfectant solution. It is often used for cold sterilization of surgical instruments and can be useful for skin infections.
This shampoo also uses salicylic acid at two percent. This combination of ingredients creates a product with antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-yeast, and antiseborrheic effectiveness. Like many other shampoos in its class, it provides deep cleansing if you ensure prolonged contact with affected areas.
Sebozole Shampoo is great for dogs with dry and flaky skin. Many customers reported immediate relief of itching and dry dandruff. There was a time where I could have used it for my dog before we finally resolved his dandruff problem.
Pros:
- It seems particularly helpful in infection areas like the feet and belly.
- Can be used for dog and cats and even horses.
- Minimal and unoffensive fragrance.
Cons:
- Chloroxylenol may not be as effective of an antiseptic as other compounds like chlorhexidine.
- The shampoo is difficult to lather.
Arava Natural Medicated Dog Shampoo
If you prefer a holistic approach to skincare and the elimination of yeast infection, Arava may be ideal. This shampoo treats and prevents bacterial, yeast, and fungal infections in dogs. It resolves hot spots that may be associated with these issues and promotes a healthy coat.
Arava utilizes a total of 28 active ingredients, all of which occur in nature. Some are botanical oils and extracts that have excellent action against fungus and yeast in the skin. Its cleansing actions and inclusion of Dead Sea minerals make it a good antiseptic for lesions, cuts, and wounds.
Oatmeal and flaxseed provide important hydrating benefits to the shampoo. Tea tree oil has antifungal properties, illustrating one example of the efficacy of this product.
Pros:
- Pleasant herbal/essential oil scent.
- Effective against itching and hair loss.
- The shampoo seems to soften the coat.
- No harsh or drying antiseptics and no antimicrobial drugs.
- May provide immediate relief for hot spots.
Cons:
- The first ingredient is a detergent.
- Some people do not find the scent pleasant.
About Yeast Infection in Dogs
Yeast grows naturally on the skin and other parts of your dog’s body. It is called Malassezia. Like some bacteria, it can work to improve function and health. However, like bacteria, its overgrowth can cause uncomfortable and sometimes serious problems for your pet.
What Causes Yeast Infection in Dogs
- Allergies – Allergies and itching are one of the most common causes of yeast infections. Whether environmental or food-borne, allergies compromise the immune system. Scratching disrupts the skin’s physical barriers that would otherwise protect it from the invasion of microscopic organisms.
- Bacterial infections – Bacterial skin infections pave the way for yeast and fungi. Bacteria often cause pustules, rashes, and lesions that create a prime environment for yeast that like warm seeping places.
- Endocrine disorders – Diseases such as lupus or diabetes again compromise the immune system and can predispose your dog to yeast infections of the skin.
- Medications – Some steroid and antibiotic use can lead to an opportunity for the yeast to proliferate through suppression of the immune system or adversely altering the population of beneficial bacteria.
- Skin parasites – Fleas and mange-causing mites cause itching and often set up ripe conditions for bacterial infection and secondary yeast overgrowth.
Treatments for Dogs Yeast Infection
There are topical and systemic treatments (oral medications or injections) for yeast skin infections in your four-legged friend. Topical medications usually come in the form of an ointment, cream or in a medicated shampoo.
Ointment and Creams
Ointments or creams are ideal for application to localized areas of infection. For example, does your dog have a yeast infection in ears? An ointment or even drops are indicated.
Shampoos
Shampoo remains one of the safest most effective ways to deliver topical medication to a dog’s entire body. Medicated shampoo requires contact with your dog’s skin for 10 to 20 minutes. Once you rinse it, you do not need to worry about ingestion or oily residue as you do with topical applications.
A bathing method is important to deliver the medication effectively to your dog. Just as when you condition your own hair, leaving the shampoo for the prescribed time frame is important.
A medicated shampoo specific to your dog’s problem enables you to treat your pet without an introduction of high levels of antifungal medications into his bloodstream. You will not see your dog experience side effects of systemic antifungal treatment like diarrhea, decreased appetite, or vomiting. Some side effects are worse as antifungal drugs can be toxic to the liver.
In some cases, oral medications or other therapies are unavoidable for your dog’s yeast infection. Shampoo may be an effective means to keep it from getting severe enough to require internal meds.
Ingredients of Medicated Dog Shampoos for Yeast Infections
Not every shampoo has every ingredient or pharmaceutical effective against a yeast infection. The ones we chose have an antifungal and an antibacterial agent plus a conditioning and/or antiseborrheic compound.
Antiseborrheic characteristics decrease the amount of oily substance produced by your dog’s skin often in the presence of bacterial or yeast infections.
A veterinarian-grade product often shows one percent of an antifungal concentration such as miconazole and two percent of the antiseptic like chlorhexidine.
Final Thoughts
Yeast infections of the skin are complex and finding the right medicated shampoo for your dog’s particular variety can be tricky.
However, after extensive research, we found the best general medicated shampoo for yeast infections in dogs was the Curaseb Antifungal & Antibacterial Chlorhexidine Shampoo for Dogs & Cats (Ketoconazole & Aloe).
Curaseb had the most efficacy across the widest population of dogs according to customers and veterinarians. It uses what remain the most effective ingredients to treat yeast.
Dechra is a good choice, but not as user-friendly. Arava is an alternative holistic approach, which is attractive, but it did not have as many testimonials yet.