Finding the best antifungal dog shampoo is hard. I know from experience and plenty of trials and errors.
When this ordeal started, Roger, my dog, would chew on his flank until he bled. He would just gnaw on himself so bad that I expected he’d someday go all the way down to the bone. Eventually, I decided to take him to the vet, who said it was a yeast infection and recommended an antifungal shampoo.
The shampoo worked for a while, but within a couple of days, I was back to watching Roger practice self-cannibalism. That’s when I began my research to find the best dog shampoo for yeast infections.
I wouldn't wish my Roger's situation to any pet parent or pet, so I'd like to share my discoveries with you. I created a list of the best antifungal dog shampoos to help my fellow dog lovers provide their dogs with sweet relief from the itching horror of a fungal or bacterial skin infection.
After my antifungal dog shampoo reviews, I'll also discuss some important points you need to remember. This includes ingredients you need to look out for when buying antifungal shampoos and answers to common questions about using medicated shampoo for dogs.
Table of Contents
If I could only pick one, I'd say MiconaHex+Triz is the best antifungal shampoo for dogs - it worked so well on my Roger! It smelled good, got rid of the yeast, and relieved my best friend's skin.
Then again, as every dog lover knows, not every dog is the same. So, besides MiconaHex+Triz, I listed three more antifungal dog shampoos so you can test out which one suits your dog's skin. I really hope this helps you and your precious friend!
MiconaHex+Triz is a medicated shampoo to treat fungal skin infections in dogs and cats. It features Miconazole and Chlorhexidine as its active ingredients, which can treat moderate to severe bacterial and fungal infections.
It's a little pricey compared to the other antifungal shampoos on my list, but it's quite worth it. Besides the active ingredients, it contains wonderful ceramides that massively helped Roger's itchy skin.
Did you know dryness causes itchy skin, and ceramides are these magical ingredients that repair, restore, and keep your dog's skin moisturized? That's right - medicated dog shampoos don't work well with just their medicinal ingredients: they need supportive ingredients like ceramide, too!
You can get MiconaHex+Triz in 8-ounce and 16-ounce bottles, and it comes in a lavender and lemongrass scent.
I love how MiconaHex+Triz works on both bacterial and fungal infections. Roger had a yeast infection that caused him to gnaw on his skin, so it was comforting to know that he'd be safe from developing a bacterial infection while he was dealing with the yeast.
So, get this product if your best friend has issues with dandruff, ringworms, yeast, and other topical infections. More importantly, if you're a fan of smelling lavender or lemongrass, this comes to you as a bonus.
MiconaHex+Triz is a little pricey, but I guess you can expect that from a product on the best antibacterial and antifungal dog shampoo list.
Overall Rating - 4.6 stars out of 5
If your dog suffers from itchy and flaky skin, try Veterinary Formula Antiseptic & Antifungal Spray/Shampoo. It immediately soothed Roger's sensitive skin when I tried it, and I only had to use it twice a week.
Veterinary Formula for fungal infections contains Benzethonium Chloride and Ketoconazole, which effectively treats dermatitis, pyoderma, ringworm, and other fungal infections. It also features aloe vera to soothe inflamed or irritated skin, and I can proudly say that it's free from irritating and potentially-harmful parabens.
Once your dog recovers from the yeast infection, you can keep using Veterinary Formula once a week to prevent re-infection or another fungal infection.
Besides being effective at getting rid of infections, I love how its aloe vera content speeds up fur growth and the recovery of damaged skin. When I tried it on Roger, it left him with a soft and shiny coat!
I don’t really have anything I dislike about this product since it’s free of harsh chemicals and does the job, but some might prefer a product that works faster. Depending on the severity of your dog's skin infection, it may take multiple treatments to see a full recovery.
Overall Rating - 4.8 stars out of 5
Vetoquinol Sebozole Shampoo ranks among the best antifungal shampoos for dogs due to its sheer power. It contains veterinary-grade ingredients like Miconazole Nitrate and Chloroxylenol that are tough on various fungal and bacterial skin infections.
It's a pretty potent solution that only requires twice-a-week applications until your dog's symptoms subside. Moreover, it works well on dogs of all breeds and helps them fight against bacterial, fungal, and seborrheic skin conditions.
Then again, note that Vetoquinol Sebozole Shampoo is powerful at helping your dog recover fast, so its veterinary-grade ingredients mean you can’t afford to use it carelessly on your dog.
If you can’t take the necessary precautions or use this product according to instructions, it might not be the right one for you and your pooch.
I like that this product is suitable for both cats and dogs. If you have both as friends, you don’t have to bother buying two different treatments. More importantly, it acts fast, so you don't have to watch your furry friend suffer longer than necessary!
Vetoquinol's Sebozole Shampoo might not be ideal for dogs with sensitive skin due to its potency, so using it requires great care. Then again, it’s extremely potent for treating skin irritation and other conditions.
Overall Rating - 4.5 stars out of 5
Here’s another great product for treating itchy skin and hair loss caused by fungal or bacterial infections. It contains essential oils that do a great job disinfecting and keeping your dog clean. It also moisturizes and boosts the health of your dog’s coat.
I've seen plenty of vets recommend Nootie Medicated Shampoo, so I ended up giving it a try, too. It's made in the US, suitable for different dog breeds, and contains some essential oils that can help relieve a dog's irritated skin.
Like MiconaHex+Triz, its active ingredients are Chlorhexidine and Miconazole, which can easily beat bacterial and fungal infections.
Nootie's medicated shampoo is highly concentrated, meaning you only need a few drops to lather up your dog completely. This makes the already affordable bottle last longer, saving you money. As a bonus, it also works to deodorize your stinky pal!
I’m not a big fan of the scent, but Roger doesn’t seem to mind. I also ran across a few folks who said their dogs had a poor reaction to this formula.
Overall Rating - 4.5 stars out of 5
When choosing the best antifungal shampoos for dogs, you'll need to consider quite a lot of factors. For one, you need to ensure the medicated dog shampoo contains safe and effective active ingredients.
Second, you need to inspect whether the antifungal shampoo features additives that can give your dog's skin some relief or only cause it to dry even more. Some formulas can do more harm than good to dogs with sensitive skin, so avoid fragrances and alcohol if your dog has skin allergies.
Likewise, you'll need to consider your dog's current needs. Is his skin dry and flaky? He'll need an antifungal medicated shampoo with plenty of moisturizing power like MiconaHex+Trix or Veterinary Formula.
If your dog is really sensitive, you can also go for a natural antifungal shampoo. Ingredients like white vinegar and coconut oil can combat bacteria and fungi. Meanwhile, additives like glycerin, oatmeal, and aloe vera can help your dog's sensitive skin heal and recover faster.
However, note that some yeast infections in dogs are so advanced the only way to treat them is through an antifungal shampoo. Also, remember never to use human antifungal shampoo on dogs since they have different medicinal strengths.
Now, let's talk about the ingredients you'll need to look for and consider when buying dog shampoos for skin conditions.
When buying a shampoo for dogs, check these ingredients and understand how they help:
Sulfur: Sulfur on shampoos works as a degreaser to ensure the removal of your dog's yeast-friendly skin oils. You'll often see sulfur combined with salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid: Besides acting as a degreaser with sulfur, salicylic acid also works in removing your dog's dry and flaky dead skin cells.
Benzoyl peroxide: If your dog suffers from secondary bacterial skin infections due to the yeast infection, you'll love benzoyl peroxide. It acts as an antibacterial and a degreaser.
Ethyl lactate: Ethyl lactate contains a mild anti-yeast property.
Coal Tar: Coal tar isn't a common ingredient in shampoos for dogs these days, but when it's used, it helps with itch reduction. It's not often used due to its strong odor.
Selenium Sulfide: Like sulfur, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide, selenium sulfide works as a degreaser to eliminate the oils that allow the yeast to live in your dog's skin.
Ammonium Lactate: Ammonium lactate benefits dogs with skin conditions with its keratolytic and keratoplastic properties. This helps control excessively scaly skin.
Phytosphingosine: It's a phospholipid naturally found in your dog's skin, and it supports irritation reduction and hydration maintenance.
Chlorhexidine: Chlorhexidine is an awesome antiseptic that kills yeasts on your dog's skin and removes the oils they feed on. It's non-toxic and lasts for up to two days on your dog's skin.
Miconazole: Miconazole targets the yeast's cell wall to destroy it from there.
Ketoconazole: Like miconazole, it works by destroying a yeast's cell wall.
Zinc Gluconate: Zinc gluconate reduces inflammation and assists your dog's skin in healing faster. It also regulates oil production.
I couldn't bear to see Roger suffer, so I looked for shampoos with cooling agents. Examples of cooling agents include aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil, ceramide, and oatmeal.
These ingredients almost immediately provide relief to your dog's skin, soothing the inflamed and irritated areas. Additionally, some of them greatly help keep your dog's skin hydrated, which prevents the skin from drying up and getting itchy.
If your dog suffers from dry, flaky skin, look for a shampoo with conditioning ingredients. You might have already heard of emollients and humectants, and if you haven't yet, they're the ones that'll keep your dog's skin hydrated.
Basically, emollients are animal fats or oils like lanolin, coconut oil, mineral oil, and petrolatum. They can help your dog's skin by directly providing healthy oils to keep the skin hydrated.
Meanwhile, humectants are things like glycerin, propylene glycol, and sodium lactate, which can support your dog's skin locking in moisture on the skin.
So, keep your eyes out for these ingredients to help your dog with moisturization.
I had a bit of a smell problem with my dog's yeast infection, so looking for and trying out shampoos with deodorizer helped a lot. I especially loved MiconaHex+Triz's lavender and lemongrass scent!
So, if your dog smells due to yeast infection, you can look for shampoos with artificial fragrances or natural fragrances. However, remember that it's best to choose shampoos with natural scents if you're unsure if your dog has skin allergies and to reduce potentially bad reactions.
Likewise, note that you should only use shampoos with fragrances once your furry friend's yeast infection becomes inactive. Otherwise, it may cause a further flare-up.
When your dog has a fungal infection, you'll notice that your furry friend's skin looks red, thickened, hyperpigmented, and sometimes crusty or scaly. They may also keep getting ear infections and produce a musty odor.
Meanwhile, you'll notice pus-filled lesions on your dog's skin if your furry friend has a bacterial infection. Your dog may also excessively chew or lick itself and seem to be in pain.
Many things can cause a sudden yeast infection, including exposure to damp weather, a diet high in sugar and fructose, a poor immune system, an allergic reaction to something, and dry skin.
Basic signs that may indicate you need to use an antifungal or antibacterial shampoo on your dog include sudden hair loss, redness or irritation on your dog's skin folds, and dry and scaly skin.
Additionally, if you find your dog excessively licking, chewing, or itching specific parts of its skin, it may be time to use a shampoo for skin infections. Moreover, smelly or oily skin, brown discharge from the ears, and ring-shaped patches of inflamed skin can indicate an infection, too.
If you're using a medicated shampoo like me, just wet your dog, apply the shampoo from your dog's head and down its tail, and let the shampoo sit for a bit before rinsing it off. Once you're done rinsing, use a towel or hair dryer to dry your dog.
Generally, it's best to bathe dogs with a yeast infection twice a week or once every three to five days. It can take up to twelve weeks for the infection to clear, so you'll have to follow this routine for a while.
You can also check with your veterinarian or see the shampoo's recommended bathing schedule.
You can use apple cider vinegar to eliminate the yeast smell on your dog, but you should ensure your dog doesn't have any sores or cuts before using it. Alternatively, you can use baking soda.
Selsun blue contains selenium sulfide, but its pH level is meant to match a human's skin instead of a dog's. So, if you use Selsun Blue on a dog, it'll dry your furry friend's skin and irritate it even more.
A fungal or bacterial infection won’t go away on its own, but with MiconaHex+Triz, you can eliminate the infection in no time. However, if you find that Micona is too expensive or a bit off for your dog, try the alternatives I've tested out! Remember, what really matters is what product works best for you and your dog.
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