Best Shampoos, Conditioners & Coat Sprays for Shih Tzu Dogs
Overview
The Shih Tzu is a breed that requires their humans to make wise choices in regard to coat products. What you use to bathe your little guy or gal is either going to be detrimental or beneficial. Harsh shampoos or coat products that contain certain ingredients can dry out both coat and skin, and cause a number of problems. Quality products, on the other hand, can prevent or resolve skin issues, keep the coat protected and soft, and have your Shih Tzu smelling lovely and looking great.
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This article covers:
Aspects of a Quality Shampoo: For Both Shih Tzu Puppies and Dogs
Aspects of a Wash-out Conditioner and Leave-in Coat Spray: For Both Puppies and Dogs
Recommended Products: Shampoo, conditioner, specialty shampoo, medicated shampoo, leave-in spritz
Aspects of a Quality Shampoo for Shih Tzu Dogs
A good shampoo for a Shih Tzu should:
- Gently remove body oils and debris without being harsh. Excess body oils can accumulate, leading to odor and greasiness, and ineffective shampoos fail to clean this properly.
- Clean without stripping the coat. Overly harsh shampoos can damage hair cuticles and worsen the coat's condition. Ideally, they should contain plant-based cleansers like coconut, avoiding harsh soaping agents.
- Be correctly pH balanced. Shih Tzu puppies and adult dogs need a neutral pH balance (6 to 7), as opposed to the more acidic human shampoos (pH 4.5 to 5.5). Incorrect pH can cause skin irritation, dryness, yeast infections, and negatively affect the coat's appearance.
- Be chemical-free, avoiding ingredients like paraben, phthalate, and phosphates. These can be hard to wash out and cause dryness or irritation.
- Rinse out cleanly without leaving residue. Oil-based ingredients in shampoos can leave residues that clog pores and make the coat look oily.
Aspects of a Wash-out Conditioner and Leave-in Coat Spray
Conditioner:
Using shampoo alone is insufficient, as hair cuticles open during bathing. To prevent a dry, frizzy coat, a conditioner is necessary to soothe and close these cuticles. Shampoo and conditioner should be used together for optimal results.
Leave-in Coat Spray:
While a great shampoo and conditioner gets you two-thirds of the way, the final step for your Shih Tzu to look their best and have proper skin and coat protection is a leave-in coat spray.
Even with quality bathing products, there are 20 days between the recommended 3-week bath intervals where the coat needs care. A leave-in spritz is essential during this time. It can significantly improve both the appearance and health of your Shih Tzu's skin and coat. A good spritz prevents split ends, protects against friction, static, and environmental factors like sun and dry air, helps prevent tangles, and keeps your Shih Tzu smelling fresh. A leave-in coat spray should be used any time you brush the coat.
Recommended Coat Products: Shampoo, specialty shampoo, conditioner, leave-in spritz
Shampoo & Conditioner:
also contains almond and vanilla to create a super luxurious product that pampers every hair and is oh-so good for a Shih Tzu's skin. This is ideal for your 'regular' shampoo to keep your puppy or dog's skin and coat in good health and to prevent future issues. 
is amazing. It is formulated to sooth minor skin irritations and help a dog relax. This is great to create a nice spa day for your little guy or gal. 
, which lathers a dog in these two healing and restorative oils,
for very fast results in offering soothing relief and optimal restoration. Leave-in Coat Spray:
. It's aptly named, because you will keep saying, "This stuff is awesome!" and "This stuff makes my dog look amazing!" It is hypo-allergenic, helps prevent tangles, repels dirt & debris, helps prevent drying, works to guard from contact friction, and most importantly makes the coat look and feel incredible soft, silky, and healthy. Note that this has a very light scent. For more of an odor-combating product, see next. 
is just one of several splendid options. These condition and moisturize exceedingly well, adding protection to the coat for healthy hairs. If you want your Shih Tzu to smell fantastic, Nootie is the one to use. Scents also include cucumber melon, Japanese cherry blossom, sweet pea & vanilla, and warm vanilla cookie.Specialized, Medicated Shampoos
Dandruff: Dandruff in dogs, often due to seborrhea, manifests as flaky skin and may result from genetics, allergies, or infections. An antiseborrheic medicated shampoo is effective for managing this condition, balancing oil production and reducing flakes. These shampoos typically contain salicylic acid for exfoliation and coal tar to slow skin cell growth. Soothing ingredients like oatmeal or aloe are also included to alleviate itchiness and discomfort.
A recommended medicated dandruff shampoo is Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseborrheic Medicated Dog Shampoo.
Itchy skin, skin issues: moderate to severe: Itchy skin in dogs, or pruritus, often stems from allergies, infections, or parasites, leading to discomfort and potential skin damage from excessive scratching. For moderate to severe cases, like extreme itchiness, rashes, hot spots, and sores, a medicated dog shampoo may be more effective. Key ingredients include hydrocortisone, which reduces inflammation and soothes the skin; lidocaine, a local anesthetic that numbs the area for itch and pain relief; and colloidal oatmeal, known for its moisturizing and skin-protecting properties.
A recommended product for such conditions is the Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot and Itch Relief Shampoo, containing hydrocortisone, lidocaine, and colloidal oatmeal.
Yeast or fungal skin infections in dogs, identifiable by itchiness and odor, should be confirmed by a vet, as shampoos with chlorhexidine and ophytrium can irritate skin without an infection. Chlorhexidine combats infections effectively, while ophytrium soothes the skin and maintains its health. This combination treats the infection and promotes a healthier coat, but its use should be based on a confirmed diagnosis to avoid unnecessary skin irritation.
A recommended anti-fungal medicated shampoo for dogs is Douxo S3 PYO Shampoo for Dogs.
Specialized and Medicated Topical Sprays
Anti-itch spray, non-medicated: This type of spray usually has natural elements like colloidal oatmeal which is great for itching and adding moisture to skin. Additional ingredients may include aloe vera, almond oil or other botanical extracts.
A recommended topical spray that we like is the John Paul Pet Store Oatmeal Conditioning Spray. It's a great formula with oatmeal, aloe, sweet almond oil and chamomile.
Medicated spray, for severe skin issues: If your Shih Tzu is truly suffering, you may want to consider a spray that, like the shampoo we covered earlier, has hydrocortisone to stop severe itching and/or reduce inflammation and lidocaine to reduce pain.
A recommended topical medicated spray is
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot and Itch Relief Medicated Spray which has hydrocortisone, lidocaine and allantoin which is a moisturizer.
Shampooing, Conditioning and Spritzing Tips
- Once you are satisfied with your chosen products, give your Shih Tzu a bath once every 3 weeks, unless they have gotten very dirty or have an issue that requires more frequent baths, like skin issues.
- If you shampoo too often, you'll be 'wiping the slate clean' too quickly, and the body will not be able to keep up with natural oil production. And if you wait too long in between baths, too much oil will have accumulated which can block skin pores and be quite smelly.
- Before the bath, comb the coat to separate hairs.
- Thoroughly wet the coat (a nozzle is best) before adding shampoo. Use your hands to work this into a lather, taking 5 minutes or so to scrub the entire body.
- When you are ready to rinse, when you think you've done this enough, do it once more. You do not want any residue to remain at skin level and you want the coat to be ready for the conditioner. Rinse with lukewarm water.
- Massage the conditioner in for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
- Do not rub the coat dry; use a dabbing and patting motion.
- Then, use your chosen spritz before you comb. Spritz 1 inch from the roots and use a stainless-steel two-level comb to distribute the product to the ends.
- Spritz the coat lightly any time that you brush. Many Shih Tzu do best with a light misting every 3 days or so.
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