Pets · Head-to-head
Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Itch Relief Shampoo, Fragrance Free vs Vet's Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Dog Shampoos: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
Earthbath wins on disclosure: a full ingredient list, a stated six week minimum age, and a stated compatibility with topical flea applications. Vet's Best answers the flea question for a fraction of the outlay, with a stated 12 week minimum age and a more conventional cleanser blend.
Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Itch Relief Shampoo, Fragrance Free
Buy itThe best-documented general shampoo here, and the fragrance free version removes the variable that bothers reactive dogs most.
- Earthbath publishes the whole ingredient list, and it is short enough to read on your phone in the aisle.
- The maker states it is soap free and pH balanced, and free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, alcohol, lanolin, DEA and synthetic dyes.
- It is stated safe for pets over six weeks and stated not to wash off topical flea applications, so bath night does not have to be scheduled around a spot-on.
- The pH balanced claim arrives with no number attached, so you are trusting the formulator rather than checking anything.
- Coconut derived cleansers lather less than the shelf brands, and a genuinely filthy coat often needs a second pass.
- The fragrance free version leaves the dog smelling of nothing, which some owners read as the bath not having worked.
Vet's Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo
Buy itCheap enough to use properly, with a published ingredient list, a stated 12 week minimum age, and an answer to the compatibility question most owners have.
- Vet's Best states it will not affect other dog treatments such as topical flea and tick control products, and describes a paraben and sulphate free formula.
- The full ingredient list is published, and it includes familiar names such as aloe vera extract, allantoin, panthenol and tocopheryl acetate.
- Inexpensive enough that you will rinse twice and bathe on schedule instead of rationing the bottle.
- The cleanser blend includes Cocamide DEA and several other surfactants, so it is a more conventional formula than the Earthbath.
- No pH figure, no pH balanced claim and no soap free claim appear on the product page.
- The stated minimum age is 12 weeks, so it is not for young puppies.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Itch Relief Shampoo, Fragrance Free Our pick | Vet's Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Owners who bathe a dog on a regular schedule and want a plain, fully disclosed shampoo that will not interfere with a topical preventative. | Healthy dogs over 12 weeks with no particular skin history, bathed often, by an owner who wants the flea-preventative question answered in writing. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| Who it is for | Regular washing, sensitive skin | Frequent washing on a budget |
| Soap free (stated by maker) | Yes | Not stated |
| pH claim | pH balanced, no figure given | Not stated |
| Full ingredient list published | Yes, all named | Yes, all named |
| Fragrance | Fragrance free version available | Not stated on the page |
| Stated minimum age | Pets over 6 weeks | Dogs from 12 weeks |
| Says it leaves topical flea products alone | Yes, will not wash off topical flea applications | Yes, will not affect topical flea and tick control |
| Sizes listed by the maker | 16, 128 and 320 fl oz | Not listed |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Itch Relief Shampoo, Fragrance Free if
owners who bathe a dog on a regular schedule and want a plain, fully disclosed shampoo that will not interfere with a topical preventative.
Know before buying: the pH balanced claim arrives with no number attached, so you are trusting the formulator rather than checking anything.
Pick the Vet's Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo if
healthy dogs over 12 weeks with no particular skin history, bathed often, by an owner who wants the flea-preventative question answered in writing.
Know before buying: the cleanser blend includes Cocamide DEA and several other surfactants, so it is a more conventional formula than the Earthbath.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Itch Relief Shampoo, Fragrance Free - The best-documented general shampoo here, and the fragrance free version removes the variable that bothers reactive dogs most. Choose the Vet's Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo instead if healthy dogs over 12 weeks with no particular skin history, bathed often, by an owner who wants the flea-preventative question answered in writing.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Dog Shampoos: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).