Top 10 Best Whitening Shampoo for Dogs
Do you have an all-white dog? Then you know it’s tough to keep that snowy coat pristine.
Over time, white coats on dogs may become faded or dingy. Food, slobber, dirt, and even pee cause stains that stand out on light-colored fur. While regular bathing helps keep dog coats clean, for all-white pups, sometimes plain old dog shampoo just won’t cut it. That’s where whitening dog shampoos come in.
Why would you use a whitening shampoo?
Whitening dog shampoos are specially formulated to brighten white fur and remove stains. If your dog’s coat is looking dingy, or they’ve recently rolled in something dirty, a whitening shampoo can help clean and brighten them up more than regular dog shampoo.
Whitening shampoos come in three main types:
Enzymatic shampoo
Similar to enzymatic cleaners you may use to clean up accidents around the house, enzymatic dog shampoos contain specific enzymes that dissolve discoloration-causing proteins. Many enzymatic shampoos also contain surfactants or sulfates, which are effective cleansers but can be irritating to dogs’ skin and mucous membranes. These are heavy-duty shampoos, best used as spot treatments to remove stains, and should never be used around the eyes.
Bluing shampoo
Bluing shampoo is formulated with “optical brighteners” that absorb and reflect light, effectively hiding yellow stains and tricking our eye into seeing only the white coat. Bluing shampoos can also be used to make black coats shine,
Clarifying shampoo
Clarifying shampoo for dogs works the same way as clarifying shampoo for humans: by opening up the hair cuticle and stripping it of any build-up or dirt. They’re best for serious grime like clay, grass stains, or built-up urine. Clarifying shampoo can be very drying, so be sure to follow with a conditioner.
In general, a bluing shampoo will be plenty to clean a white dog at home. If your pup has a more seriously stained coat, something harsher may work, but consider visiting a professional dog groomer who has the expertise to bathe your white dog safely and effectively.
The 10 Best Shampoos for White Dogs
We’ve read through countless online reviews to find the best-rated whitening shampoos for dogs.
TropiClean Whitening Dog Shampoo – Best Value
| Key ingredients: | Oatmeal, awapuhi, blueberry, vitamin E |
| Suitable for: | Puppies, adults, and seniors of all ages |
| Scent: | Tropical |
TropiClean Whitening Awapuhi & Coconut Dog Shampoo is a soap-free formula that brightens white coats and enhances all coat colors, including tri-color coats. The protein in this shampoo naturally brightens all coats while moisturizing at the same time. The blueberry and awapuhi, which is part of the ginger family, work together to naturally brighten coats, and the oatmeal and vitamin E work to moisturize and cleanse the coat.
This formula leaves your pooch smelling great without an overpowering scent, and it’s safe for puppies, adults, and senior dogs.
The cap on these bottles sometimes arrives broken if you order online, and the consistency of the formula itself is thick, making it hard to lather in quickly. However, this shampoo comes in a 20-ounce bottle or a 1-gallon bottle at an affordable price. With the all-natural ingredients and affordable price, we feel this product is the best shampoo for white dogs for the money.
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Cap can break easily
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Thick formula, may be hard to lather in quickly
Frisco Brightening Shampoo for Dogs – Best Overall
| Key ingredients: | Aloe, coconut, and plant-derived cleansers |
| Suitable for: | Dogs and cats of all ages |
| Scent: | Coconut cream |
Frisco Brightening Cat & Dog Shampoo with Aloe is a paraben-free formula that brightens your white pooch’s dull fur. It contains aloe, coconut, and plant-derived cleansers for an all-natural cleanser and brightener. It removes stains, but it also conditions your doggie’s skin and coat.
This formula contains violet flowers that whiten and restore the brilliance in white coats, and it’s safe for dogs and cats of all ages. This shampoo will remove tear stains, but be careful to not get the shampoo in your pet’s eyes, as it is not tear-free.
The scent is a calming coconut cream that’s not too strong, and it comes in a 20-ounce bottle or a 1-gallon bottle at a reasonable price. With the all-natural ingredients and reasonable price, this shampoo is our pick for the best overall shampoo for white dogs.
Veterinary Formula Solutions Snow White Dog Shampoo – Premium Choice
| Key ingredients: | Coconut oil-based cleansers, green tea extract, vitamin E |
| Suitable for: | Dogs, cats, and horses |
| Scent: | Citrus |
Veterinary Formula Solutions Snow White Whitening Shampoo for Dogs & Cats is the most expensive on our list, but its effectiveness is worth the extra cost if you can swing it. This shampoo is free from bleach, peroxide, and sulfates, and it’s pH-balanced for a shiny coat. The patented optical brighteners gently revive and clean dull and yellowing fur, and this shampoo won’t wash away topical flea and tick treatments.
The pure ingredients make this product safe for frequent use, and it’s suitable for dogs, cats, and horses. It contains green tea extract and vitamin E for a soft, soothing coat.
This shampoo comes in a 1-gallon bottle for a premium price, but it’s also available in a 17-ounce bottle that’s more affordable.
Some consumers claim the shampoo has an unpleasant smell, and it may not brighten all dogs’ coats. Keep in mind that it may take several baths to see a difference in some pets.
TropiClean Spa White Coat Shampoo
| Key ingredients: | Oatmeal, lavender, coconut |
| Suitable for: | Dogs and cats 1 to 7 years of age |
| Scent: | Floral, herbal |
TropiClean is a trusted, family-owned manufacturer within the pet industry, and they have earned another spot on our list for a brightening shampoo. TropiClean Spa Color White Coat Shampoo for Dogs & Cats is bleach-free and contains oatmeal and lavender that gently lifts dirt and brightens dull, white coats. It contains no alcohol, peroxide, or ammonia, and it won’t dry out your pup’s skin. The naturally-derived ingredients won’t wash away flea and tick treatments, as well.
The lavender scent may be too strong for some and be careful if you have it shipped because the cap may arrive broken, causing messy leaks.
BioSilk Whitening Dog Shampoo — Best for Puppies
| Key ingredients: | Natural cleansing agents, papaya leaf extract, Hawaiian white ginger |
| Suitable for: | Puppies 8 weeks or older, adults, seniors |
| Scent: | Tropical |
BioSilk is known for its human line of hair products, and now, our pets can enjoy their products, too! BioSilk Therapy Whitening Dog Shampoo uses the same innovative and classic ingredients as the human line, and the natural silk botanicals will leave your pooch soft and clean. This shampoo is specially formulated with silk and vitamins that moisturize your dog’s skin and coat, all while brightening any dull and dingy white coats.
This product is pH-balanced and free from parabens or sulfates, but it does come with a few downsides. The liquid of this shampoo is thick, and you may need to dilute it first so that it doesn’t slide off your dog’s coat before getting the chance to lather it in. It may be hard to rinse, too. This shampoo also may not brighten your dog’s fur as much as you’d like.
On the positive side, it smells great and comes in a 12-ounce bottle at an affordable price.
Earthbath Coat Brightening Dog Shampoo
| Key ingredients: | Aloe, vitamin A, B, D, and E |
| Suitable for: | Dogs and cats 6 weeks of age or older |
| Scent: | Lavender |
Earthbath Light Color Coat Brightening Lavender Dog & Cat Shampoo uses special blends of optical brighteners that whiten coats and leaves your pet smelling fresh and clean. The mild lavender scent is not overbearing, and the formula omits any harsh chemicals, such as phosphates and parabens. This gentle formula is derived from plants and coconut-based cleansers, and it will leave behind a shiny and soft coat.
The scent is pleasant; however, it doesn’t last long, and it may not brighten some white dogs; in fact, some report that it makes the coat yellow. Despite this, the reviews of this product are more positive than negative, and many have excellent results. This product is available in a 16-ounce bottle.
Nature’s Miracle Whitening Dog Shampoo & Conditioner
| Key ingredients: | Keratin, aloe, awapuhi extract |
| Suitable for: | Adult dogs |
| Scent: | Jasmine pear |
Nature’s Miracle Whitening Dog Shampoo & Conditioner is specially-formulated with awapuhi extract to brighten your dog’s coat, all while neutralizing odors. The keratin and aloe help soften and condition the coat, and it contains no harmful ingredients, such as parabens or dyes.
This formula is a natural Cocoa Surfactant Shampoo that softens and reduces static electricity. This product has a jasmine/almond scent, and it’s suitable for adult dogs.
A downfall is that it takes a good amount of the liquid to get a good lather, and the scent doesn’t seem to last long. It may not work well on dogs with long hair, as it may cause the hair to matt. It may also take several uses before seeing a difference with whitening.
| Key ingredients: | Aloe, oats, proteins |
| Suitable for: | Puppies, adults, seniors of all ages |
| Scent: | Watermelon |
Petpost Whitening Dog Shampoo is specially-formulated with aloe to soften and soothe dry, irritated skin. The whitening formula revives dull and dingy fur while leaving behind a fresh, watermelon scent, and it’s perfect for a Poodle, Maltese, or Shi Tzu. The nutrients in this formula exfoliate the skin, which makes it perfect for doggies with dry, itchy skin. This shampoo also helps with itchy hot spots.
It may take a few washes to see results, and it may not remove tough stains in the fur. The company does offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied.
Angels’ Eyes Whitening Dog Shampoo
| Key ingredients: | Oat protein, vitamin E, safflower oil |
| Suitable for: | Puppies 12 weeks and older, adults, seniors |
| Scent: | Tropical |
Angels’ Eyes Arctic Blue Whitening Dog Shampoo is pH-balanced and formulated to brighten white and light-colored coats. It adds sheen to your dog’s coat, and it softens the fur to help with tangles and mats while leaving a fresh, tropical scent. It lathers well and rinses easily. This formula also uses coconut-based cleansers that moisturize and hydrate dry skin.
It is not formulated to be used safely around your dog’s eyes, so you’ll need to purchase a separate product for tear stains.
This product is on the pricey side, but it seems to do a good job of whitening and cleaning coats. It’s available in a 16-ounce bottle.
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Cannot use for tear stain removal around eyes
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Expensive
John Paul Pet Super Bright Shampoo for Dogs
| Key ingredients: | Aloe, oat protein, almond |
| Suitable for: | Adult dogs and cats |
| Scent: | Almond |
John Paul Pet Super Bright Shampoo for Dogs is a pH-balanced formula designed for white dogs, light-colored dogs, and cats to safely brighten dull coats. It can also be used for dark-colored dogs and cats to add shine and depth to their coats.
Paul Mitchell has been in the hair product business since 1980, and now, they offer a pet line of shampoos that uses the same botanical ingredients as the human line. This formula conditions the fur with chamomile, aloe, and oatmeal, and it leaves behind a mild almond scent. It’s also paraben-free for doggies with sensitivities.
This product may not work for dogs or cats with sensitive skin, and it may dry it out even more. Some consumers claim they have had no success with whitening, and it may take several uses. However, many consumers are happy with the results of the product.
This product is available in a 16-ounce bottle.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Buy the Best Shampoo for White Dogs
Now that we’ve reviewed our picks, let’s take it one step further and review what to look for in a shampoo for white dogs.
Use frequency
If you have a white dog that likes to roll around in mud and dirt constantly, you may want to search for a product you can use as often as needed, as some products can only be used once or twice a week. Keep in mind, though, that bathing your dog too often will strip away the natural oils, making their skin dry and itchy. If you need to clean your dog in between baths, you can use wipes to freshen up your pooch.
Flea and topical medications
Most products advertise that their product will not wash away flea and topical medications. Even though this is advertised, we recommend waiting at least 24 to 48 hours before bathing your dog or cat to ensure any treatment does not get washed off.
Ingredients
Ingredients are important to know because there may be something in the product you want to avoid, especially if your dog has any sensitivity issues. All of the products we’ve listed are paraben-free and pH-balanced. Parabens can cause allergic reactions in some dogs, so it’s wise to steer clear of a product with this ingredient.
Getting the best shampoo for your dog will require you to try and find a product that uses all-natural ingredients derived from plants. Aloe, oatmeal, chamomile, and vitamin E are all wonderful ingredients and should not cause irritation.
Conclusion
For the best overall shampoo for white dogs, recommend Frisco Brightening Shampoo for its plant-derived cleansers, whitening ability, and affordability. For the best value, we recommend TropiClean Whitening Awapuhi & Coconut Shampoo for its natural ingredients, moisturizing capabilities, and reasonable price.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our top ten picks for the best shampoo for white dogs. Now that you know what to look for, you’ll be on your way to brightening your white dog’s full coat.
