What are the best dog shampoos for Westies? The West Highland Terrier breed is prone to skin allergies and dry skin, which can lead to rashes and infections. These symptoms can be exacerbated if the wrong products are used when grooming and bathing.
Westies are active little terriers known for their beautiful white coats. You’ll want to keep your Westie’s coat and skin healthy and to do that you need to use the right shampoo for a Westie and follow a good grooming schedule.
You need to know what to look for in a good dog shampoo for your Westie and what to avoid.
Here is our guide to the best dog shampoos for your West Highland Terrier.
Why Do Westies Need Special Shampoo?
The Westie breed is prone to skin allergies and dry skin that can lead to rashes and skin infections. Consequently, it is essential to choose the right shampoo for your Bestie. Unfortunately, any-old dog shampoo won’t cut it.
West Highland Terriers have a hard, wiry outercoat and a soft, furry undercoat. The outercoat protects them from the elements while the undercoat protects their skin and keeps them warm. The challenge is to use a dog shampoo that cleans both types of fur – without leaving the outercoat too fluffy or making the undercoat and skin too dry.
Healthy Westies are known to be low-shedding dogs. This can mean that dead skin (dander) can stay in their fur. Bathing and grooming can release that dander, and care needs to be taken with the technique used when bathing if you are prone to dog-dander allergies.
Do Westies Shed? The Key Factors That Influence Shedding
What To Look For In A Dog Shampoo For West Highland Terriers
Because of their tendency for skin allergies, you should look for a gentle and natural shampoo without harsh synthetic chemicals that will strip natural oils.
You need a dog shampoo that is
- gentle
- detergent-free and soap-free
- moisturizing
- deodorizing
- conditions the fur
- whitens the fur
Ideally, you will use a shampoo made specifically for West Highland terriers.
Can I Use My Shampoo On My Westie?
It is important that you don’t use human shampoo on your Westie. Even if the shampoo is high-quality and organic, people and dogs have different needs, and human shampoo can seriously dry out your dog’s skin.
How Often Should I Bathe My Westie
Westies do not need to be bathed as often as some other dog breeds. As a guide, Westies should be bathed every four to six weeks. However, you may need to bathe your Westie more often depending on circumstances or if he has got particularly dirty rolling in mud, for example.
Read our full guide to How to Bathe a Westie, including the best procedure to follow.
Top Dog Shampoos For West Highland Terriers in 2023
There are a large number of shampoos for Westies to choose from. So, to help you out, we have reviewed the top dog shampoos for Westie terriers that are readily available on the market.
This Lillian Ruff shampoo is specifically formulated to remove tear stains and brighten the fur and coat.
It contains natural blueberry extract and other organic elements that moisturize the coat and keep the skin hydrated.
The shampoo and conditioner formulation is free from parabens, sulfur, preservatives, and gluten.
Pros
- Gentle whitening formula
- Pleasant fragrance
- Soothes dry, irritated skin
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Won’t sting your pet’s eyes
- Made in USA
Cons
- More expensive than other products in this article
Westies are prone to dry, flaky and itchy skin. This dog shampoo from John Paul Pet contains moisturizing oatmeal and aloe vera gel. Both ingredients are hydrating and lock in moisture.
It also has sweet almond oil, a natural humectant that helps the dog’s skin retain moisture. Plus, the shampoo has a pleasant fragrance. It is hypoallergenic and free from parabens, phthalates, and other harmful compounds.
Pros
- Ingredients sourced from organic farms
- Moisturizing for dry, flaky skin
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Vet-approved dog shampoo
- Made in USA
Cons
- Mixed reviews on the scent – some didn’t like the aroma of almonds
Specifically formulated for the West Highland Terrier breed, this hypoallergenic shampoo is ultra-gentle and soap-free.
The shampoo contains Organic Chamomile, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Lemon & Rose Oils plus Aloe Vera and Vitamin E.
The formula is effective at removing stains and is free of parabens, phthalates and sulphates. Made in Australia.
Pros
- Ultra-gentle hypoallergenic formula
- Contains organic oils
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Removes fur stains
- Made in Australia
Cons
- Currently only available in Australia (worth enquiring though, if you’d like them to ship to a different country)
This gentle oatmeal shampoo from Paws & Pals cleans, deodorizes, moisturizes and soothes itchy skin.
It acts as a conditioner and shampoo to nourish the skin, reduce allergies, and make the fur smooth and soft.
It features a tear-free formulation that won’t sting your pet’s eyes.
The main ingredients in this shampoo are oatmeal, which reduces inflammation and suits itchy skin, sweet basil for antimicrobial actions, and turmeric for healthy skin.
Its fragrance is long-lasting and will leave a refreshing scent.
It also contains extracts of aloe vera and rosemary.
The conditioning elements detangle knots in fur and prevent untimely shedding.
Pros
- Gentle and soothing
- Doesn’t contain any alcohol
- Acts as a conditioner and deodorizer
- Made in USA
Cons
- Some users reported problems with packaging
A gentle, hypoallergenic dog shampoo made in the US. If your dog loves to roll in mud or often comes home with a dirty coat after playing on the lawn, this shampoo will be your savior. Not only does it remove grime and dirt from the fur, but it also brightens the coat and restores the terrier’s white color. It is hypoallergenic, with no added harmful heavy metals, oxidants, phthalates, sulfur or preservatives.
All the ingredients present in the shampoo are sourced from natural and organic farms.
It helps restore a proper pH balance in your dog’s skin, enhancing immunity and keeping the skin safe from infections.
Thanks to its ability to form a rich lather, just a few drops will do wonders.
Pros
- Ingredients sourced from organic farms
- Allergy-friendly
- Brightening formula
- Thick and concentrated – offers 70% more bathing sessions
- Made in USA
Cons
- Needs dilution first for maximum coverage
The two prime ingredients present in this shampoo are green tea extracts and Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and will prevent infections. While green tea extract will moisturize and clean the fur and coat.
This shampoo does not contain bleach, paraben, emulsifier, or other harsh chemicals that might cause problems for your pet.
Its refreshing citrus fragrance is long-lasting. It has a medium concentration that will form just the perfect amount of lather to clean away dirt and grime from your dog’s coat and fur.
Suitable for sensitive skin.
Pros
- Contains safe optical brighteners that eliminate yellowing and stains
- Pleasant fragrance
- Balanced pH
- Doesn’t contain bleach
Cons
- Keep away from Westie’s eyes during bathing
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