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We all know regardless of how adorable our pooches are, they can stink so bad to the point where you can’t snuggle into them – and we don’t want that.
That’s why it’s vital to get your furry (yet smelly) friend a top-notch deodorizing dog shampoo to keep those musty doggy smells away.
We’ve picked out our top five best deodorizing dog shampoos for you, so you can bathe your dog and have them smelling like heaven in no time.
We’ve also curated a buyer’s guide to highlight some key information you should look out for when buying deodorizing dog shampoo.
There’ll also be a few frequently asked questions included at the end so you’ll know everything you need to know about shampooing your pooch.
Can’t bear the smell any longer?
If your pup is just too whiffy to be around anymore, then we’ve saved you the time of reading the entire article and picked out our number one choice.
We recommend the Honey Dew Lavender Oatmeal Shampoo as the best deodorizing dog shampoo on the market right now.
Here’s a few reasons why we think you and your four-legged best friend will love it:
- Softens fur
- Helps soothe irritated skin
- Gentle deodorizer
- Leaves your dog smelling fresh
- Tear-free
- Sulphate-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- 100% Money back guarantee if not satisfied
If you’re still unsure, read on further to find out our thoughts on all five deodorizing dog shampoos in our list, including a concise pro and cons list.
Honey Dew Lavender Oatmeal Shampoo
Tropiclean Shampoo
Wahl Oatmeal Shampoo
EarthBath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Shampoo
Nature’s Miracle Oatmeal Shampoo
Top Pick: Honey Dew Lavender Oatmeal Shampoo
The Honey Dew is a top shampoo for dogs and puppies with sensitive skin as is designed to be hypoallergenic and extremely soothing for your dog’s skin using ingredients such as jojoba.
Its clinical formula was recommended and guided by vets with the use of high-quality ingredients for a deep cleanse and odor remover,
The shampoo contains lavender essential oil which is extra calming for your pooch and also you when you’re around them. The lavender has a comforting effect making it easier and more comfortable for you to bathe them, as well as eliminating any odor.
Their Ingredients restore essential oils while combating skin irritants, leaving your pup happy and fresh.
The Honey Dew shampoo prides itself on being tear-free, so you won’t have to worry about getting this in your dog’s eyes. Safe and effective pet care with all Natural Lavender Oatmeal Pet Shampoo for dogs is extremely gentle and effective.
The shampoo is made in a high-grade facility in the US and exceeds all GMP (Good manufacturing practice) standards ensuring ultimate care in making the products and also those who make it as well.
Honey Dew also offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the quality or results from their lavender oatmeal shampoo.
The Honey Dew oatmeal pet shampoo is the perfect option for helping soothe and nourish your dog’s fur, whilst being gentle and mind but still ensuring the elimination of unpleasant odors.
It’s also sulfate-free, paraben-free, and cruelty-free, so no hidden nasties to surprise you.
Pros:
- Softens fur
- Helps soothe irritated skin
- Gentle deodorizer
- Leaves your dog smelling fresh
- Tear-free
- Sulphate-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- 100% Money back guarantee if not satisfied
Cons:
- Not formulated for dogs with preexisting skin conditions
Second Pick: Tropiclean Shampoo
The Tropiclean is a luxurious 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner to cleanse, moisturize and condition your pet that will leave them smelling amazing whilst being able to easily detangle fur for easy brushing.
The 2-in-1 product will save you so much time and hassle whilst bathing your dog but still ensuring a soft odor-free dog.
This shampoo can be used on dogs with dandruff problems or skin issues and will leave their skin feeling nourished and looking incredibly shiny. It’s also suitable for dogs with any allergies so they won’t have any irritation from regular use of this shampoo.
The Tropiclean shampoo carries a sweet scene of papaya and coconut which will leave them smelling irresistible fresh and ready for endless cuddles with you.
It’s super safe for your pooches skin as it’s pH balanced, soap-free, paraben-free, and dye-free, so there’ll be no ingredients or hidden components that’ll irritate or damage your dog’s skin. The packaging does note that the shampoo should be used on dogs who are over 12 weeks old.
Tropiclean makes its products in the USA, so there won’t be any illegal or hidden ingredients that could affect your pup. They pride themselves on only using the highest quality, naturally derived ingredients. They are also an environmentally friendly brand.
Pros:
- Anti-itch formula
- Helps eliminate dandruff
- Made in the USA
- 2-in-1 (saving time)
- pH balanced
- Paraben-free
- Soap-free
Cons:
- Harder to rinse on dogs with long fur
Third Pick: Wahl Oatmeal Shampoo
The Wahl’s Oatmeal Shampoo is allergy-friendly and is great for any dogs that suffer from dry skin or irritation.
It’s made in the USA and is paraben-free, pH balanced, and alcohol- free and abides by the product laws of the country, so you know your dog is getting high quality and safe bath time.
The shampoo is concentrated which means you won’t need to use as much as you would with other competitors, a little goes a long way so it’ll last you for longer – always a bonus!
It contains oatmeal, aloe, and other soothing ingredients that will gently cleanse your dog and leave them smelling delicious.
Pros:
- Made in the USA
- Itch relief formula
- Paraben-free
- pH balanced
- Concentrated formula requires you to use less
Cons:
- Hard to build up a lather
Fourth Pick: EarthBath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Shampoo
The Colloidal Oatmeal and Organic Aloe Vera ingredients in the EarthBath shampoo will help combat skin irritation, promote healing, and re-moisturize sensitive, dry skin.
The luxurious shampoo is pH balanced to clean and eradicate odors from your dog whilst still leaving your dog’s coat soft and smelling amazing.
This shampoo and all products from EarthBath are 100% all-natural and biodegradable. EarthBath also takes pride in having its products contain no soap, gluten, DEA, parabens, dyes, or nasty chemicals and is even cruelty-free.
You can be confident that EarthBath loves making their products perfect as much as you love your pooch.
You won’t need to worry about this shampoo washing off topical flea applications, so your dog can stay smelling fresh and protected from fleas at the same time.
EarthBath also offers a whole range of scents and different formulas for more specific needs, so if this possible scent is not to your preference, then there are plenty of others in the range to choose from.
EarthBath has so much confidence that you’ll love their products that they offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with your shampoo.
Pros:
- Sulphate-free
- Phosphate-free
- Offered in bulk as well
- Soothes skin
- Neutralizes odor
- Lovely natural vanilla almond scent
Cons:
- Scent may not be strong enough for some people
Final Pick: Nature’s Miracle Oatmeal Shampoo
Nature’s Miracle Oatmeal Shampoo is formulated with an odor neutralizer & deodorizer for even the toughest dog fur odors.
The natural cocoa surfactant shampoo cleans and conditions your dog’s fur to make sure that any dirt or grime is removed and they’re left super soft.
The formula of the product contains no dyes or parabens so will cause no dryness or irritation on the skin, meanwhile, the oatmeal ingredient will soothe and hydrate the skin and helps maintain the skin’s natural oils.
It’s also soap-free and is safe to use with tick and flea treatments.
The shampoo is also a great option as it is cruelty-free. It also carries a sweet honey sage scent that will make your dog smell fresh, but the scent may not be to everyone’s preferred taste.
Pros:
- Nice honey sage scent
- Soothes skin
- Neutralizes odor
- Cleans and conditions pet skin
- Soap-free
Cons:
- Scent may not be for everyone
- Not 100% natural
Best Deodorizing Dog Shampoo Buyer’s Guide
Fragrance & Ingredients
It’s probably best to use an unscented shampoo on your dog regardless if they’ve got sensitive skin or not.
You may be tempted to use a strongly scented shampoo to eliminate a stinky odor, but if your dog is prone to irritating or flaking skin, we recommend using something unscented to calm and nourish their skin.
However, there can be huge benefits to using scented shampoos on your dog if they have normal skin conditions. Shampoos that contain natural essential oils smell divine but can also help calm your dog during the bathing process and help them enjoy it instead of being flustered.
Scented shampoos will also help your dog smell clean and fresh, getting rid of that doggy odor that sometimes builds up after walking in the rain or rolling in the mud.
Fragranced shampoos can also act as a bug repellent, however, this will depend on the scent you choose. Some scents can repel mosquitoes, which is ideal to stop them from harassing your dog during the height of mosquito season.
Unfortunately, the beautiful scent after washing your dog will quickly fade after a day or two of them living their best lives.
You’ll want to try and avoid chemical fragrances as this can seep into your dog’s skin, dry it out and it won’t last as long as natural fragrances. Natural ingredients that have lovely fragrances can have heaps of benefits for your pooches skin and their mood.
Not only do you want your dog smelling amazing, but you want them to be clean and rid of any dirt. That’s why it’s important to find a shampoo that will thoroughly cleanse your pup of all mud, dirt, and anything else they’ve managed to get in their fur whilst running around.
A lot of natural ingredients will be able to give your dog a good clean and some may use a percentage of salicylic acid to achieve an effective clean as well.
Ingredients to avoid
To ensure your dog’s skin or even worse their health doesn’t get affected by their new shampoo, you’ll want to avoid certain ingredients.
We recommend staying away from artificial colors and fragrances, they can be synthesized from petrol and can lead to serious problems like cancer. You can find a full list of ingredients and chemicals that SHOULD NOT be in your dog’s shampoo online.
Cruelty-free
We guess as you own a dog, you’re a lover of animals, so hopefully, you’re someone who aims to buy cruelty-free products. However, some people are unaware that some companies still use animals to research and test their products.
Most dog shampoos will declare if they are cruelty-free on their products, but you can also use an array of websites and apps to check what products are on the list.
You’ll want to make sure you’re checking where your product is coming from as laws in the US are very different from those in China. Laws in China require them to test products on animals before they can sell them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my regular shampoo on my dog?
Humans and dogs have different neutral pHs, so using a shampoo that is made for human hair can disrupt the pH balance on your dog’s skin and cause irritation and also make them prone to viruses and bacteria.
How often should I wash my dog?
You should wash your dog about once a month unless they are unusually dirty or smelly.
Why does my dog smell so bad?
One of the most common reasons why your pooch is smelling a bit whiffy is they’ve been rolling around in something they shouldn’t have. It’s in a dog’s instinct to roll around in the smelliest thing they can find to mask their own scent.
From water to the garbage and even animal poop (the latter tends to be the worst), it all gets stuck to their fur so easily and dries leaving you baffled as to why there’s a super bad stench now in your house.
Some medical issues can cause your little friend to smell. Dog’s can develop infections in their ears and mouth and they do tend to reek if unattended, so if anything unfamiliar arises, take them to the vets for a check-up and they’ll be able to tell you if something is wrong.
Dog’s do tend to be gassy creatures and you won’t be a stranger to their smelly surprises. Gas can sometimes be caused by a sudden change in their diet i.e you’ve switched up their dog food or they’ve eaten something that is too rich for them.
Gas is normal, but if you think your dog is passing wind a bit too much, then you might want to consider switching them to a higher quality diet, or if it persists taking them to the vet to have their anal glands checked out.
Believe it or not, but dogs do actually sweat, their bodies produce oil to keep their skin moist. However, excessive sweating can cause skin problems and then bacterial infections if your dog is not bathed and groomed regularly.
How do I get my dog to stop smelling between baths?
To avoid your dog smelling between baths you should regularly wash their bedding or any blankets they may lay on.
Brushing your dog will also help keep smells away, as it brushes any dirty hairs away or even any dirt trapped in their fur.
You may even feel obliged to get a specialized dog spray that will keep them smelling fresher for longer.