The Best Shampoos for Yorkies

Overview

In this section, you will find:

Shampoo Overview: The Cornerstone of Coat Health - This covers the purpose of shampoo, ingredients to avoid and those that are beneficial. 

Conditioner Overview: Enhancing Coat Protection and Shine - This covers the purpose of a leave-in conditioners, ingredients to avoid and those that are beneficial. 

Leave-In Spray Overview: Between-Bath Coat Maintenance - This covers all the benefits of a leave-in spritz, ingredients to avoid and those that are beneficial. 

List of the Best Shampoos and Conditioner for a Yorkie: Regular, non-medicated - This is our list of shampoos that range from regular care to those that help with certain skin issues like odors, dryness and more. We also include our top choice for a wash-out conditioner.

List of the Best Medicated Shampoos for a Yorkie - This is our list of OTC medicated products for skin infections or infestations. 

List of the Best Coat Sprays for a Yorkie - This is our list of topical leave-in sprays, ranging from those that protect from everyday environmental factors to those that can help with itching. 

• For Cleansing: Coconut-based cleansers like Coco Glucoside (derived from coconut oil and fruit sugars) or Lauryl Glucoside (made from coconut oil and glucose) offer a gentle yet effective cleaning solution, soothing the skin and being environmentally friendly.
• For Preserving: Natural preservatives such as vitamin E (tocopherol), rosemary extract, grapefruit seed extract (noted for its antimicrobial properties), tea tree oil (for its antimicrobial and antifungal benefits), and sorbic acid (an organic compound from the berries of the rowan tree) serve as safer alternatives to chemical preservatives.
• For Fragrance: Options for natural scents include essential oils from plants like lavender, chamomile, and peppermint, as well as vanilla extract, almond oil, coconut oil, and citrus fruit extracts. These ingredients not only provide a pleasant smell but also offer additional benefits for skin and coat health.
• Proper pH Level: Dogs require coat products with a pH level ranging from 6.5 to 7.5, aligning with their skin's natural alkalinity.
  

Recommendations:

Jump down to our List of the Best Shampoos and Conditioner for a Yorkie for exact recommendations, based on your Yorkshire Terrier’s needs.

Conditioner Overview: Enhancing Coat Protection and Shine

A quality wash-out conditioner should always follow a shampoo. This should be applied generously and massaged in for 2 to 5 minutes, then rinsed out well with lukewarm water.

Purpose:

• Cuticle Sealing: Bathing causes hair cuticles to open. Without the use of conditioner, these remain open and vulnerable to damage. Applying conditioner seals the cuticles, protecting the coat from potential damage.
• Moisture Lock: This crucial application helps retain moisture, essential for a healthy, resilient coat.
• Environmental Shield: Acts as a protective barrier against environmental stressors, including pollutants and UV rays.
• Allergen Barrier: Helps to minimize the adherence of outdoor allergens to the coat.
• Skin Health: Provides a soothing effect on the skin, reducing the likelihood of irritation beneath the coat.
• Ease of Grooming: A high-quality product eases brushing and detangling, smoothing the coat for hassle-free grooming.
• Enhanced Shine: A quality conditioner can add a beautiful shine to your Yorkie's hair, thanks to enriching ingredients and the smoothing effect of sealed cuticles.
• Fragrance: Can leave a pleasing scent, ensuring your Yorkie stays fresh between baths.

Common Ingredients to Avoid:

• Heavy Silicones (e.g., Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone): These can create a superficially smooth feel but lead to buildup, resulting in a heavy, oily coat. Over time, they may trap dirt, debris, and bacteria against the skin, potentially causing irritation and blocking pores.
• Mineral Oil: A byproduct of petroleum processing, mineral oil can also contribute to a greasy coat by creating an occlusive barrier, which can inhibit the skin's natural breathing process and lead to pore clogging.
• Synthetic Additives: Some pet conditioners may contain artificial colors, preservatives, and/or stabilizers that can be harsh on a dog's skin and coat, cause skin reactions or disrupt the natural moisture balance of the coat. Examples include propylene glycol, formaldehyde releasers, and artificial polymers. 
  

Beneficial Ingredient Alternatives:

• Natural Moisturizers: Ingredients such as shea butter and coconut oil are excellent for conditioning the coat without leaving a heavy residue. They provide deep hydration and leave the coat soft and manageable.
• Vitamin E and Aloe Vera: Both are known for their skin-soothing and healing properties. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that supports skin health and adds luster to the coat. Aloe Vera offers hydration and relief for irritated skin, promoting regeneration and healing.
• Oatmeal: This natural ingredient is perfect for sensitive skin due to its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps alleviate dryness and irritation, making it a staple in gentle grooming products.
• Plant-Based Foundations: This may include coconut, almond, or other fruit extracts to offer an all-natural product. 
• Essential Oils: For fragrance, opt for conditioners infused with natural essential oils like lavender or chamomile, which offer a pleasant scent and additional skin benefits without the harshness of artificial fragrances.
  

Recommendations:

Jump down to our List of the Best Shampoos and Conditioner for a Yorkie for exact recommendations, based on your Yorkshire Terrier’s needs.

Coat care extends beyond just bathing products; it also encompasses treatments applied to a Yorkie’s coat between baths. Among these, one of the most beneficial is a leave-in spray.

Purpose:

A good leave-in spritz can provide some or all of the following amazing benefits: 

• Damage Prevention: Helps prevent damage to hair when combing and brushing.
• Tangle Reduction: Aids in preventing the formation of tangles, making the grooming process smoother and helps when working to remove tangles.
• Friction Protection: Safeguards the coat against the wear and tear of contact friction.
• Sun Shield: Shields the coat from the harmful effects of sun exposure, which can lead to dryness, especially during the summer months.
• Winter Protection: Offers protection for both skin and coat against the dehydrating impact of dry winter air.
• Allergen Repellent: Repels external allergens such as pollen, along with irritants, minor urine splashes, and various forms of debris that your dog may encounter outdoors.
• Moisture Sealing: Seals in moisture to combat dryness, enhancing the coat's texture for a soft and healthy appearance.
• Fragrance Infusion: Infuses your Yorkie's coat with a pleasant fragrance, ensuring they remain smelling fresh and clean.

Common Ingredients to Avoid:

• Soaping Agents, Chemical Additives, and Synthetic Fragrances: Similar to shampoos and conditioners, these can be harsh on the skin and coat.
• Alcohol or Alcohol Denat: Often included for quick-drying properties but can lead to skin irritation.
• Silicones (e.g., Dimethicone): While they can add shine and smoothness, they can cause buildup, resulting in a greasy coat and potentially trapping dirt and bacteria.
• Isopropyl Myristate and Other Synthetic Emollients: Used to smooth the coat but may cause greasiness and clog pores, leading to skin issues. 

Beneficial Ingredient Alternatives:

• All-Natural Bases and Fragrances: Prefer ingredients that are gentle and natural. Optimal choices include almond oil, vanilla, coconut, and fruit extracts, which offer natural scents without the harsh effects of artificial fragrances.
• Colloidal Oatmeal: An excellent ingredient for soothing and moisturizing the skin, ideal for preventing or addressing dryness.
• Naturally Moisturizing Oils: Hydration is an important benefit of incorporating leave-in sprays and some natural oils are great for this. Coconut oil has moisturizing benefits alongside natural antibacterial properties. Argan oil, rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, can hydrate, improve texture and add shine to the coat. Jojoba oil can help maintain the coat's natural balance of moisture, while almond oil, gentle on sensitive skin and rich in vitamins A, E, and omega-3 fatty acids, can soften the coat and enhance its shine.

Recommendations:

Jump down to our List of the Best Coat Sprays for exact recommendations, based on your Yorkshire Terrier’s needs.

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Regular Care Shampoo (also great to prevent or treat dry skin):

Our choice is: Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Shampoo, which also contains vanilla and almond. We love this for a Yorkie’s regular bathing to keep skin healthy and hair shiny, as well preventing and treating any dry skin issues. 

With the Yorkshire Terrier having a single coat of hair (as opposed to breeds with double-coats of fur), the all-natural, 4-tier combination is ideal. Oatmeal is renowned for its soothing properties; it contains compounds called avenanthramides that soothe any irritated skin. Aloe vera hydrates and moisturizes. Vanilla, while known for its pleasant scent, also contains antioxidants that protect a dog’s skin from environmental stressors. And almond oil is rich in vitamins A and E, which are vital for maintaining skin health. 

For Irritated Skin: 

Our top pick is: Earthbath Eucalyptus and Peppermint Shampoo, which is a fantastic formula if your Yorkie has irritated skin, hot spots, rashes or other similar issues. Eucalyptus is a natural anti-inflammatory that has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. And peppermint, rich in menthol, complements by offering a cooling and soothing effect that alleviates itching and promotes a refreshing sensation. The natural menthol in peppermint also bolsters a dog’s skin health by stimulating blood circulation, which encourages healthier hair growth.

Do please note that if your Yorkie's skin is severely irritated due to allergies or other causes, you may want to consider a medicated product, as seen below under 'List of the Best Medicated Shampoos for a Yorkie'.

For Odor-Control:

We love: Earthbath Sweet Orange Oil Shampoo which is outstanding for Yorkies that tend to get stinky easily. Orange peel has natural deodorizing properties and is also a holistic remedy for bacteria and yeast on skin that can contribute to bad smells. When used in a shampoo, orange peel extracts can offer a natural and effective solution to keep dogs smelling fresh without the use of chemicals or artificial additives, making it a gentle option for regular use. And as with all Earthbath products, this is all-natural and is properly pH balanced for canines. 

Our choice is: Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Conditioner. This works flawlessly with all the formulas mentioned above and is fantastic for this breed’s sensitive skin. It has a light, pleasant scent and is great for keeping the coat soft and manageable. It’s suggested to massage this in for several minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. 

List of the Best Medicated Shampoos for a Yorkie

Before we jump into the best medicated shampoos, it’s important to note that you’ll want to be sure of the diagnosis before using products that contain topical medications. This is because the same ingredients that can be very effective in treating issues like fungal or yeast can be overly harsh on skin without those issues. So, if you are unsure of the skin issue your Yorkie may be experiencing, it’s recommended seek veterinary care for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. 

For Allergies or Skin Issues (severe itching, rash and/or discomfort):

Our #1 choice is: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot and Itch Relief Medicated Shampoo.

If your Yorkie has severe or chronic skin issues that do not respond to non-medicated shampoos, such as intensely itchy skin, rashes, hot spots or other such issues, it's important to have this diagnosed and treated by the vet. In the meantime, this shampoo can offer relief. There are 3 main ingredients that combine to form an effective treatment:

1. Soothing Comfort with Lidocaine: Lidocaine is a gentle anesthetic that can help soothe a dog's skin by numbing the itchy areas. This provides immediate relief from discomfort and helps prevent a Yorkie from scratching, which can further irritate the skin.
2. Relief with Hydrocortisone: Hydrocortisone is known for its effective anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces swelling and redness associated with skin irritations and hot spots, helping to calm the skin and provide comfort and reduces the urge to scratch, which is crucial for healing.
3. Natural Care with Colloidal Oatmeal: Colloidal oatmeal has long been celebrated for its natural ability to nourish and soothe skin. It acts as a moisturizer, helping to hydrate overly dry skin and it forms a protective barrier that retains natural moisture. Additionally, it helps alleviate itching and irritation, making it an excellent ingredient for dogs with sensitive skin.

Together, these ingredients make this shampoo a powerful ally against skin reactions. When shampooing with this, be sure to use lukewarm water (as opposed to warm/hot water).

Please note: This formula can also be found in a spray, which can be used daily. For details, jump down to 'List of the Best Coat Sprays'.

For Yeast Infections, Pyoderma or Fungal Dermatitis:

Our top pick is: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Medicated Shampoo.

If your Yorkie is dealing with bacterial pyoderma (a skin infection with sores, bumps, and lesions caused by bacteria) or allergic or fungal dermatitis (skin inflammation from allergies or yeast infections, leading to itching, redness, and discomfort), this formula may prove to be effective.

Benzethonium chloride serves as an antimicrobial agent, removing harmful bacteria and preventing further infections. Ketoconazole specifically targets fungal issues, managing yeast and other fungi that worsen dermatitis. Aloe vera soothes irritated skin and promotes healing. Together, these ingredients provide a comprehensive treatment that addresses both the root causes and symptoms of skin conditions, helping your Yorkie's skin heal and providing relief from discomfort.

For Seborrhea:

Our top pick is: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo.

Seborrhea in dogs is a condition where the process of skin cell renewal is faulty, leading to improper formation of the skin's outer layer and often affecting hair follicles and claws as well. This can cause flaking similar to dandruff, and the skin may become either excessively oily or unusually dry. To address seborrhea, an antiparasitic and antiseborrheic medicated shampoo can be very effective. 

This shampoo contains coal tar, which helps shed dead skin cells and reduce scaling, much like treatments for human dandruff. Salicylic acid exfoliates and softens the skin, aiding further in the removal of flakes. Micronized sulfur soothes irritated skin and helps manage excess oil, which is particularly useful for the oily form of seborrhea. Additionally, oatmeal provides gentle relief by calming itchy and inflamed skin, while allantoin promotes healing. Together, these ingredients offer a comprehensive approach to managing seborrhea, tackling both the symptoms and underlying issues to restore a dog’s skin health and comfort.

List of the Best Coat Sprays for a Yorkie 

As mentioned earlier under 'Leave-In Spray Overview: Between-Bath Coat Maintenance', a leave-in spray has a long list of benefits. The type of spray you use will depend on the top priorities you have for your Yorkie's coat and what you'd like to accomplish with this sort of grooming product. Let's take a look.

Best Overall-all General Coat Spray:

Our pick is: Nootie Daily Spritz.

If you’re looking for just about all of the benefits of a leave-in, you really can't go wrong with Nootie. It's a fantastic all-natural spray helps keep a Yorkie’s coat soft and manageable, works as a repellent for small urine splashes, pollen and more, and comes in all sorts of fun, lovely scents including Japanese cherry blossom, sweet pea and vanilla, coconut lime, and cucumber melon. 

If Tangles are a Concern:

Our top choice is: The Stuff.

Once you try this, you'll understand the name, since you'll be saying "This stuff is amazing" and "This stuff works wonderfully". And if your Yorkshire Terrier has a long coat or is prone to knots and hair tangles, this "stuff" is what you’re looking for. It’s a combo conditioner and detangler. Do take care however to use a light touch, because if you over-spray and use too much, the coat can look oily and/or your Yorkie may be sliding around on the floor. Speaking of, also be careful to place your Yorkie on a towel or in a sink or tub when you use this, as any spray that falls to the floor can make that surface a bit slippery. 

This coat spray is also a fantastic repellent for dirt, allergens and other tiny debris and has a light, pleasant fragrance.