Our 8 Picks For The Best Shampoos For Chihuahuas

As a Chihuahua owner, you probably understand a few things; you realize that your Chi sheds like crazy and hates coddling. You probably also guess that bathing your Chihuahua is an integral part of ownership because they have such a thick coat.

Their coat grabs hold of everything and sucks it in until it disappears, so you want to get your pup on a regular bathing schedule of at least once every three months. That might not often sound enough, but over-bathing is more harmful than it is helpful.

If you bathe your Chihuahua too often, you’re ridding her of the essential oils she needs to protect herself from the elements. Limit her bathing to once every three months but use the best of the best shampoo when you do it.

Quality over quantity is the important slogan to bathing your Chi, and that’s why we’re taking a look at the eight best dog shampoos for Chihuahuas.

Things To Consider When Shopping For A Top-Rated Chihuahua Shampoo

When shopping around for a Chihuahua shampoo, you want to keep their unique needs in mind. Think about your pet and what issues he or she suffers from. Does your Chi scratch a lot; or maybe it has dry, flaky skin?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for your pet needs, so you want to take careful consideration when choosing a dog shampoo. Here are a few types of shampoo you want to look for when making your purchase.

• Hypoallergenic – These shampoos are great for Chihuahuas with allergic reactions to a lot of households and outdoor allergens. If you feel that your pup has dry, irritated skin due to allergies, a hypoallergenic shampoo should be the only option for you.

Much of the time these shampoos also have other ingredients that moisturize and help repair dry and cracked skin so after a few washes your Chihuahua should be good to go.

• De-shedding – Something we didn’t even know existed for a long time is the de-shedding shampoo that is designed to help limit the amount of fur you’ll find on your couches, carpets, tables, and pretty much everywhere else.

When choosing this type of shampoo, you want to pay close attention to the ingredients because we found a lot of false claims and open promises with deshedding shampoo.

• Soap-free – One of the most important things you should look for in a dog shampoo is that it’s soap-free. A lot of the industrial soaps that we find in everything we wash with is too harsh for our canine friends, so we need to use more natural solutions to help them.

• Conditioner – We don’t typically recommend conditioner because a lot of the time we find it unnecessary, but for Chihuahua’s they have a dense undercoat which becomes easily matted if it’s not soft enough, so you want to make sure to use conditioner to keep their coat free of tangles.

Of course, if you have any uncertainties, it always helps to consult with a Vet, and they can give you some recommendations on what type of shampoo to use.

The 5 Best Dog Shampoos For Chihuahuas

There are so many great options for dog shampoo out there, but there are also so many bad options that will dry out your Chihuahuas skin leaving them scratching and biting at themselves.

Check out the five options we believe to be the best dog shampoo for Chihuahuas.

Buddy Wash Original Lavender And Mint Dog Shampoo And Conditioner

Best Overall – This all-natural shampoo is designed to leave your smelling and looking great after their bath. It features a soap-free shampoo and conditioner that lathers up nicely and rinses well. The shampoo contains all-natural botanicals like sage, aloe, green tea, and rosemary and the base of the shampoo is pure coconut oil.

This shampoo is a great option for Chihuahuas with dry skin or matted fur because it will help restore damaged skin and with a good scrubbing, the conditioner penetrates down deep into their fur to get those stubborn tangles.

Pros:

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Great for dry skin
• Lathers and rinses easily
• All natural ingredients

Cons:

• The smell does not last long
• Not tearless

---

FURminator DeShedding Ultra Premium Shampoo For Dogs

Best Anti-shed – This two in one shampoo and conditioner is specially formulated to help dogs who shed a lot (that’s your Chihuahua). The shampoo has fatty acids and a unique blend of natural ingredients to protect you against excessive shedding while also moisturizing and to protect your Chihuahua from allergens.

All shampoos made by this manufacturer are 100% all natural and made in the USA. They also have a wide variety of other cool products to help with dogs who shed.

Pros:

• Natural ingredients
• Anti-shed formula
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Made in the USA

Cons:

• Not soap-free
• Dangerous if consumed

---

Paws And Pals Oatmeal, Shea Butter, And Aloe Vera Shampoo

Best All Natural – This shampoo is 100% all natural and organic to help with even the most stubborn skin on your canine pals. Everything in this shampoo is made from vegan ingredients so you can feel great about what you are rubbing into your pups’ fur.

This shampoo is made with aloe and coconut oils to relieve painful cracked skin and help with itchy dry spots as well. If your Chihuahua deals with matted fur this also helps get down deep into their coat and break apart tangles.

Pros:

• All natural
• Vegan ingredients
• Helps with matted fur
• Tear-free

Cons:

• Only for use on adult dogs
• Fragrance blend is somewhat unpleasant

---

Earthbath Oatmeal And Aloe Dog Conditioner

Best Conditioner – Long-haired dogs like Chihuahuas have incredibly soft coats if they get the right treatment. This conditioner combines vanilla and almond extract with oatmeal and aloe to detangle and leave your furball fluffy and soft.

The formula is 100% biodegradable and paraben free, so you don’t have to worry about irritating their skin or causing any unwanted allergic reactions.

A cool little trick we have used on our pets is to put a little conditioner in a spray bottle with water and spritz it on our dogs between washes. Doing this helps reduce static and extends the soft fur feeling, so you don’t have to bathe your pup as often.

Pros:

• Great for matted fur
• 100% biodegradable
• Leaves fur soft and plush
• Natural ingredients

Cons:

• Contains alcohol
• Can dry out skin if used too often

---

Burt’s Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo

Best for Puppies – If you need a shampoo that works for puppies less than six months old, this option is 97% natural and tear-free. The shampoo combines buttermilk and honey which helps soothe your pup’s skin while regulating pH and moisture levels to promote healthy hair growth.

If you are currently treating your Chi for fleas or ticks, you can use this shampoo alongside, and it will not wash off the treatment. A couple of issues we do have though is that not all the ingredients are natural, and it takes a long time to get a lather if you get one at all. If you’ve ever washed a Chihuahua puppy before, you know time is not something you have a lot of.

Pros:

• Gentle on puppy skin
• Moisturizes and soothes
• Doesn’t irritate the skin
• Made in the USA

Cons:

• Doesn’t lather up
• Not all natural ingredients

---

Best Alternative Dog Shampoos For Chihuahuas

If none of the dog shampoos recommended above work for you or if you’re looking for something a little different; here are a few other options that are sure to clean and soothe your Chihuahua.

Earthbath Oatmeal And Aloe Dog Shampoo

This soap-free shampoo combines oatmeal and aloe vera to help dry, itchy skin directly. If you notice your Chihuahua scratching and biting frequently, it could mean your pup has an allergic reaction to something and has irritated its skin.

Treating your Chi with an all natural, soap-free shampoo is a great way to help relieve them of any skin irritations while also making sure they smell and look great.

We also love the fact that this shampoo is all natural, biodegradable, and paraben free.

---

Pro Pet Works Oatmeal Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo

If your pup is severely itchy and has patchy fur, you may need something specifically designed to relieve dry skin. This dog shampoo from Pro Pet Works contains aloe vera and other antimicrobial properties that help with shedding, hotspots, and other fungal infections.

Sometimes if your Chihuahua licks and bites a specific spot too much the resting moisture causes infection and that can lead to worsening skin problems. Treating your pup weekly with this shampoo helps eliminate infections and heal damaged skin.

---

HyLyt Hypoallergenic Shampoo With Essential Fatty Acids For Dogs

The last product we’ll recommend to you is a hypoallergenic shampoo that works great for dogs with severe allergies. This shampoo is gentle on skin, soap-free, and helps control flaking and scaling of their skin.

The most important thing you can do for your struggling pup is to give them relief from scratching and biting. Your Chihuahuas quality of life is low when they have to constantly interrupt what they’re doing to get at that stubborn itch but washing them down once a week during treatment with a hypoallergenic shampoo is the perfect way to impact your pups life.

---

 Related: Best Dog Crates For Chihuahuas

5 Tips For Bathing A Chihuahua

1. Don’t be afraid of conditioner. A lot of the time we think conditioner is unnecessary and for a lot of breeds, it is but not with Chihuahuas. your Chi’s fur easily becomes matted causing skin irritation if it’s always pulling on them. Choose the right conditioner and don’t be afraid to go heavy on it.
2. Use a two-part washing process. The first part of the washing should be to clean off any grime and dirt. Follow that with a second wash to target unique pet issues like deep down allergens and shedding concerns.
3. Your Chihuahua has two shedding cycles; one that occurs in the spring, and the other happens in the fall. During this time, you want to refrain from bathing your Chihuahua and instead brush them frequently to help their undercoat grow in correctly.
4. Double coated dogs like Chihuahuas are known to deal with numerous hot spots. If you find a hot spot on your pup, shave around the area and apply a hot spot cream to kill the bacteria in the area. Make sure to check it frequently to see if it dried out.
5. Chihuahuas do not like being picked up, and they are also afraid of heights so keep this in mind when bathing them. The best way to wash them down is outside with a hose and bucket if possible. If you must bathe them inside allow them to jump in the tub on their own and make sure to use a bath mat, so they don’t slip.

FAQ

Q: What do I do if my Chihuahua has an allergic reaction to a shampoo?

A: The best thing you could do is try something else right away; try a hypoallergenic shampoo and if that does not help consult a Vet.

Q: How do I get my Chihuahua to stop biting and scratching?

A: If your Chihuahua is picking at a specific area it could mean that spot is irritated by something. Try giving your pup a nice bath with a high-quality shampoo.

Q: How do I get my Chihuahua to enjoy bath time when he’s scared?

A: Many dogs fear baths but if you supply enough positive reinforcement and you act perfectly okay about everything your behavior is likely to rub off on them.