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My puppy won't stop itching. What shampoo can I use besides oatmeal?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Border Collie | Female | unspayed | 5 months old

What other than oatmeal shampoo is good for itching puppy's?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA

Veterinarian

Published on March 27th, 2017

Vet's Best has a number of good shampoo formulations to relieve itching. However, it is important to remember that bathing June too frequently will cause further itching of her skin. Also, until the underlying cause of the itching has been addressed (allergies, fleas, ticks, mites etc). June will likely not stop itching regardless of the shampoo being used.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
It's important to diagnose the cause of the itching in order for June to be treated properly. Her itching could be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If she isn't up to date on her flea treatment, she will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If she is up to date on her flea treatment, I recommend taking her into the vet for an exam today or tomorrow. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment.
0Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lauren Jones VMD
Veterinarian
The management of itchiness is dependent upon the underlying cause of the itching. Common causes of itching are from allergies (fleas, food, environment), mange/mites, ringworm, etc. Make sure June is receiving a high quality of a flea preventative (Nexgard, Bravecto, Advantix) once a month regardless if you are seeing fleas or not. Some dogs are allergic to flea bites such that even one bite causes excessive itching. If June is scratching excessively, she may have developed a skin infection. She should see her vet to evaluate her skin for the presence of infection, ringworm, or mites. Otherwise, oatmeal shampoo is the only other course of action at home for June's itching.
0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My puppy is scratching and has a rash. Can oatmeal shampoo help?

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Oatmeal shampoo can provide some temporary relief so it can be used. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog is itching from seasonal skin allergies. What can I do at home?

You can try an over the counter oatmeal based shampoo for several days to see if that helps. If the itching continues or Joy has any bumps, redness or an odor develops she needs to see her veterinarian as that could mean she has an infection.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My puppy's dry, itchy skin got worse with baby wash. What shampoo?

Baby shampoos do tend to be fairly gentle for puppies, but any dog can be sensitive to any shampoo and it’s possible that it caused irritation or dried his skin out more. You may want to see if your vet carries a dog specific shampoo like Dermallay or HyLyt. It is common for young puppies to have dryer skin and act itchy, and most outgrow it within a few months. If he has developed skin wounds I’d recommend rechecking with your vet to make sure he doesn’t have a skin infection or parasites that weren’t obvious on his previous exam.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Best shampoo & diet for puppy dry skin, dandruff, and itching?

I would give him fish oil in the diet to improve the coat. I recommend an aloe and oatmeal moisturizing shampoo, and make sure you are using a flea control product as having fleas causing excessive itching will irritate the skin. Also as he’s a puppy please make sure he’s been treated for internal parasites which can cause a poor hair coat. To control the itching you can use Benadryl. There is a recommended dosing schedule elsewhere on this website. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Arjun.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

How often can I use medicated shampoo for my dog's itchy skin?

If you bought it over the counter (OTC), no prescription is needed. Directions for use should be on the container. Do not bathe more often than directed since this may make the itching worse and can dry out the skin. Try to determine the underlying cause of the itch. This may require a visit and exam with your veterinarian. Causes may include skin infection, external parasites, allergies or food sensitivities.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What can I buy for my rescue dog's itchy skin and itch control?

This all depends on the severity and cause. If it’s very mild allergies, a shampoo like Duoxo Calm can help strengthen the skin barrier and decrease itching. (Bathe once to twice weekly during flare ups and try to leave the lather on for 5 minutes if possible.) If there is already a skin infection, hot spot, or it’s a hypersensitivity or flea/tick problem, you’ll need to visit your vet to get the proper treatment. Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Aurora!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 3-month-old puppy has itchy skin. Why isn't medicated shampoo working?

The medicated shampoo must have contact time. You need to lather it on and then leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. You also need to be bathing in this fashion every 2-3 days until the skin is looking better. Skin issues like this take a few weeks to clear up so you won't see an immediate response.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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