The Best Dog Shampoo for Sensitive Skin

The gel-like sap from the Aloe Vera plant is used as an additive in many varieties of skin and hair care products for humans. It's just as useful in dog shampoos. It is soothing for your dog's itchy, irritated skin and will aid in healing with its anti-inflammatory qualities.

A dog shampoo that contains Jojoba oil will calm dry, itchy skin on your dog by moisturizing and coating his skin and fur. Jojoba is more of a wax than an oil, so while it will hydrate your dog's skin, some of it will remain topically to continue to protect between washings. Like Aloe Vera, Jojoba also works as an anti-inflammatory.

Oatmeal has been used for centuries by all cultures for its skin healing traits for conditions like eczema and dermatitis. When you use an oatmeal shampoo on your dog, you'll be literally bathing his skin with soothing properties that will balance the pH of his skin and calm the itching and inflammation he's been suffering.

Glycerin is a common ingredient in many human skin care products and in shampoos and conditioners, too. If glycerin is on the ingredients list for a dog shampoo formulated for sensitive skin, you can trust that it will help rehydrate your dog's dry skin. Since glycerin encourages moisture retention, you can also count on it to help keep your dog's skin moisturized and less itchy between baths.

When reviewing the ingredients for any shampoo that claims to be good for dogs with sensitive skin, look for ingredients like vitamin B, vitamin E and honey. Honey is a natural moisturizer and will also act as an antibacterial. Vitamin E will work to repair skin that has been damaged by repeated scratching and vitamin B enhances skin's moisture retaining capability.