Best Shampoo For Yorkies – Choose the Best Yorkie Shampoo for Clean and Healthy Hair
As not just a Yorkie owner but also a veterinarian, I have some strong opinions on what shampoo you should and shouldn’t use. We will show you some of the top shampoos suitable for Yorkshire terriers, but also, what shampoos and ingredients you must avoid.
But if you are in a hurry or don’t feel like reading all the details at the moment, you can’t go wrong with this shampoo:
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I’ve had numerous Yorkie owners tell me they love this shampoo. It has a nice smell, doesn’t irritate the skin, and moisturizes the coat to provide the best possible skin health and look for your Yorkie.
Table of Contents
Our Top Pick – The Best Shampoo for Yorkies
Like humans, dogs need a bath on a regular basis, too. They get dirty, oily, and need the cleansing and health benefits a good shampoo can provide. My favorite shampoo is already listed above, but here’s a few more that I love that will benefit your Yorkie.
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“Can I Use Human Shampoo?”
This is a question many people ask, when it comes to the Yorkie bathing. The answer is “No!”
You cannot use human shampoo for your Yorkie. But still, you need to use shampoo, because pure water is not enough for the deep and thorough sanitizing. However, even your most favorite or most expensive human shampoo you have at home is not suitable for your Yorkie.
Why?
The thing is that dogs have different pH hair and skin level, which means that your human shampoo will disturb your dog’s normal pH. It will dry out the skin, make your Yorkie more itchy, and not provide even close to the best results you should have when washing your Yorkie.
What Is The Purpose Of Yorkie Shampoo?
Speaking about Yorkshire Terriers and their shampoos, one very important aspect to consider is what will the shampoo do and what can go wrong (and how bad it can be).
Removes the body oils.
Body oils, of course, are naturally produced by the dogs all the time and that is why they are so important. The mentioned are protecting the skin and are moisturizing it. They are unable to evaporate; thus, they accumulate with time.
If you had had a good shampoo and had bathed your dog as needed, then three weeks afterwards the body oils will be so accumulated that they will be harmful for your dog if unwashed. Skin pores clogging is only one of the harmful effects.
Others include trapping of tiny hairs, air flow blockage, bad smell, rashes, itches and pimples (a pimple is eruption of the skin), with the last three being caused by the blockage of the skin pores. Eventually, the dog’s coat will flatten, will also look oily and will start to smell.
The oils can’t be rinsed off with water. That is why you need to use to correct shampoo – one that will be able to wash the body oils. Clean slate is what you should begin with.
The usage of the wrong shampoo can cause a lot of problems. If the correct cleansing agents are missing, then the bath will be ineffectual. If the shampoo is second-rate, it will just skitter and not wash the dog’s skin successfully. Yorkies need the proper shampoo in order to smell clean and fresh and to have clean skin and coat.
What about the pH balance?
Every shampoo, no matter what its price is,has a pH balance. That balance should be exactly what is necessary for your dog. If not, it can be harmful for the Yorkie’s coat and skin.
The canine’s pH balance is from 6.5 to 7.5 and you must choose the shampoo that has the matching pH to that of your Yorkie. The wrong pH balance will lead to harmful and unpleasant feeling. It can even cause the skin to deteriorate – it will be irritated, dried and might start to peel off.
That can cause a damage for the hair follicles of the coat. This problem leads to erosion of the outer cuticles of the hairs and also affects their growth. It makes the coat prone to problems provoked by elements, such as air, sun, et cetera.)
Moisturizing effect
The human skin is not as delicate as that of canines. The dog’s coat is made up by very thin hairs. One very important feature of the shampoo is the proper moisturization. Not every time you can understand if the shampoo is correct, because sometimes you can feel them good, but their ingredients won’t be absorbed in the skin,
What makes a shampoo perfect is the quality of its ingredients. If there are aloe and almond oil – then it is good. That is because these substances are absorbable by the cells.
Calming effect
Yorkshire Terriers usually suffer from dry skin. That is because of the little protection offered by their coat. A lot of elements can harm the skin.
You should try and find a shampoo that will allow you to provide some relief to your dog’s skin while you are giving him a bath. One ingredient perfect for this is the colloidal oatmeal, which have better be in your dog’s shampoo.
Some other substances that can provide relief if your dog’s skin is dry or has other problems caused by allergies are eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree oil.
Ingredients To Avoid in Yorkie Shampoos
There are several ingredients you need to be careful for, when choosing the best Yorkie shampoo. Below, you will see the most dangerous ones, when it comes to your dog`s skin health:
• Parabens:
They are well-known with its imitating effect of the hormone, estrogen.
And it is not uncommon for the Yorkies to suffer from hormonal dis-balance. Such a shampoo can unlock hormonal problems to your dog, but it is not all. Actually, parabens can cause even cancer to to the dogs.
• Petroleum:
Some of you might think that there is no way for a shampoo – whether made for humans, or especially for Yorkies – can actually contain it, but you are wrong.
Actually, those mineral oils that are determined as so beneficial for the skin (including for baby’s skin and in baby’s cosmetic products) are actually made of petroleum.
Make sure you do not use such a product on your puppy.
• The sodium laurel sulfate:
Another bad ingredient with a very bad effect mostly on your dog’s eyes.
Once the shampoo with such a component gets inside your Yorkie’s eyes, there is 80% possibility for it to get an awful irritation.
Besides, sodium laurel sulfate is an extremely bad agent for the digestive system and you cannot actually fully make your dog to understand that swallowing the foam of the shampoo is very bad.
More Great Organic Yorkie Shampoo Choices
Each one of the next shampoos are at the top of the line, speaking of quality shampoos.
They have everything necessary and are natural, without any parabens, DEA, phosphates, perfumes and synthetic dyes.
Many people ask:
What is the best shampoo for Yorkies sensitive skin?
We can surely say that the following recommendations are suitable for dogs with sensitive skin.
4-Legger Certified Organic All Natural Dog Shampoo
We love 4-Legger Certified Organic All Natural Dog Shampoo, because it has an ultra hydrating feature that leaves the skin smooth, nourished and relaxed.
Yorkies with dry skin should be washed with it, but in addition to the moisturizing effect, it also has a fine organic base that simply cannot cause anything bad to your dog’s health and wellbeing.
Ingredients:
After getting a certificate – officially – 4-Legger Certified Organic All Natural Dog Shampoo has become one of the most well-known organic products for dogs.
And indeed, it has no harmful ingredients: either parabens, or the popular DEA, PEG, DMDM hydantoin, alcohol or even MEA.
Sulfates are also excluded from the components and the fragrances are minimizes to natural ones only.
Ok, so what this Shampoo is composed of then?
Well, it has the beneficial jojoba oil, good concentrate of Aloe Vera, as well as the extra sensual and nourishing bio oils made of pure rosemary and lemongrass.
Pros:
• Certified as a 100% organic product. Even the bottle is recyclable.
• Deep hydration for the skin
• The essential oils work as a protection against fleas and tick hair syndrome
• 100% unique American origin
• Fine effect on sensitive skin disorders
• It is also determined as hypoallergenic
Cons:
• There are few complains by the consumers as to the packing.
4-Legger Certified Organic All Natural Dog Shampoo is a little bit thin, so make sure you do not spill it out the first time you use it.
Why recommended:
One of the few organic products for Yorkie washing with triple effect: anti-flea, deep hydration and hypoallergenic formula!
Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo with Tea Tree Oil and Aloe
Coming from a classy and popular top-rated company that produces washing products for dogs,
Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo is a wonderful choice for daily usage and 100% bad odor removal.
Ingredients:
Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo contains no parabens, GMOs, enzymes or sulfate components that can cause rash on your dog`s skin.
On the contrary:
the combo of Aloe Vera and tea tree oil eliminates the scratching at once and keeps the skin hydrated with long-lasting effect.
There are no chemical perfumes, but only natural scents that minimize the bad odor at once and lets your Yorkie spread its fine smell of flowers all around the house.
Pros:
• No soap among the ingredients, which is a very good prevention against itching. Besides, in most cases soap makes your puppy crying
• 100% eco-friendly product: including its biodegradable bottle and pack.
• Fast effect against scratching
• Gentle to the most sensitive skin
Cons:
• Not very hard washing effect according to some big and typical outdoor dog owners
Why recommended:
We recommend you Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo, mainly because of its reputable and trustworthy brand.
Products made by this company are proclaimed to be the top pick-ups from the whole world pet supplies industry.
And it is both: gentle and effective against dirt at once.
Best Shampoo For Yorkies With Dry Skin
One of the most common Yorkshire terrier skin problems is dry skin. There are many different reasons for this skin condition and you should do everything possible to prevent it.
One of the most common reasons for the dry skin issue in Yorkies is the bad food and nutrition. When I first adopted my older Rescue Yorkie, this was exactly the reason why her skin was so dry, flaky, and unhealthy.
The second most common reason is the shampoo and conditioner or other Yorkie hair products that are harmful for their delicate skin.
What about Itchy Yorkies?
The main reasons for Yorkie’s itchy skin could be allergies, skin inflammation, bad nutrition and again improper shampoo or other cosmetic products. Your veterinarian can help you determine if allergy medications or antibiotics may be needed for your Yorkie.
However, there is a great choice for an over-the-counter shampoo choices that you can also use to help your Yorkie with dry, itchy skin:
[amazon box=”B0033118YK”]
Best Shampoo For Yorkie Puppy
You can bathe your Yorkie puppy if they are smelly or dirty but don’t overdo it. They can be very susceptible to chilling after a bath so it must be done in a warm room with the puppy dried immediately after the bath until it’s once again warm.
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Best Flea Shampoo For Yorkies
As any other dog Yorkies can be attacked by ticks and fleas, especially in the spring-summer and autumn when these parasites are most active. That’s why prevention is very important!
There are different Flea and Tick shampoos on the market, that say that will keep parasites away but they really can’t. The only true prevention will be either a topical or oral flea/tick medication that will stay in the dog’s system and kill any parasite that bites the dog’s skin.
However, if your Yorkie does end up with fleas, a good flea treating shampoo will help you kill and remove any of these terrible little bugs from your Yorkie.
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Should You Use A Leave-in Conditioner?
Most people do not understand the importance of leave-in conditioners. If you find a proper one, the elements in it can provide a lot of benefits for your dog. During the bathing process, it is important for the dog’s health that you use correct quality shampoo and conditioner.
A quality coat spray can help with its features:
- Protects against split ends and static
While things touch the coat, they wear it off, leading to thinning and separation of the cuticles. After time this can be a reason for impaired strands’ integrity.
If you use a coat spray every day, this will prevent any damage and will keep your dog’s coat soft and silky.
- Protects the skin from the sun during the summer
The Yorkie should be taken out regularly in order to exercise, but since the Yorkies have silky coat, they need to be protected against the sun.
If your dog is exposed to sun every day, this might damage the skin (sometimes dark spots may occur). Yes, you can use a basic spray for sun protection, but a spray can provide the excellence of the canine sunscreen.
- Offers protection against dry air during the winter
The long and cold winters can damage your Yorkie’s skin and that is why this feature is so important.
The cold air dries the skin and causes a loss of moisture. So, during the winter, you should use a proper spritz.
- Helps while you brush the coat
Not everyone knows that the dog’s coat should not be dry, when you are brushing it. Very important for regular grooming is the leave-in spritz.
- Prevents the occurrence of mats
In dogs with medium or long coats, it is very important to prevent tangles and you can do this using a quality leave-in spray, which will not allow the hairs to knot.
- Brings fresh scent
The leave-in spray can help the dog smell awesomely good. But the product should be with a clean fragrance and not over-powering.
- Adds more shine
Because of the mentioned features, the spray helps you to keep your dog’s coat healthy. This, on the other hand, leads to development of the natural shine.
- Helps eliminating dirt and debris
All the time the coat picks up fine matter – such as dirt, pollen, grass, lint, carpet fibers, etc. In you apply leave-in, it will act as a barrier, preventing the sticking of dirt into the coat.
Leave-in sprays can be used for all coat lengths. No matter if your dog hair is cut short, or even shaved, you still must use a leave-in conditioner. Actually, if your Yorkie is shaved, there is no hair to protect the skin and, thus, there is even more need for leave-in with sunscreen to protect the skin.
For Yorkies with long hair, a coat spray must be used for the maintenance of a strong and healthy coat. Here are a few suggestions of shampoo and conditioner 2 in 1:
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Yorkies (2 in 1)
Paws & Pals Natural Dog-Shampoo And Conditioner
People recognize this name immediately if they have taken care of a dog. Indeed, Paws & Pals Natural Dog-Shampoo And Conditioner is one of the most preferred washing products for different dog breeds.
It is mainly popular due to its double containing formula: shampoo and conditioner at once.
Ingredients:
Do not worry about your Yorkie’s health, because this is one of the least harmful shampoos ever.
No matter how sensitive your dog’s skin is, the shampoo will cleanse it thoroughly and will not cause any allergic reaction.
It has no parabens or GMOs.
On the contrary:
the formula contains only vegan components: Aloe Vera, jojoba and coconut oils, oatmeal, Shea butter and rosemary.
Pros:
• One of the most popular dog shampoos on the planet.
• Compact pack with a standard amount of shampoo, but you will need a little bit amount of it each time you are in the bath with your Yorkie.
• Amazing anti-sensitive skin formula with fast effect
• 100% American original product
• Conditioner and shampoo in 1 product: saves time and money, even space in the bathroom
• Great product against itching
• Soap-free product with great shininess effect after bath
Cons:
• Little fragrance effect
• Higher price
Why recommended:
Oxgord Organic Oatmeal Dog Shampoo & Conditioner is one of the best choices for a Yorkie shampoo, because of its delicate cleansing formula.
Also, since your Yorkie needs conditioning on mandatory, you can save some money!
Earthbath All Natural Mango Tango Shampoo and Conditioner
Here is one more wonderful solution for ultimate cleansing and conditioning effect your Yorkie needs: the brilliant Earthbath All Natural Mango Tango Shampoo and Conditioner.
It has a fantastic aromatic formula with no chemical ingredients and amazing sheering effect on the fur.
Ingredients:
Earthbath All Natural Mango Tango Shampoo and Conditioner is a 100% vegan product and even its bottle is environment-friendly.
The product contains no harmful enzymes or GMOs. However, the main benefit of this product is that it is fully produced with purified water.
Such a water can be very delicate and efficient for the tender Yorkie’s skin, which is why we really want you to consider Earthbath All Natural Mango Tango Shampoo and Conditioner.
Plus: it has Aloe Vera, glycerin and mango. The shampoo and the conditioner have also vitamins A, B, D and E.
Pros:
• Cool mango scent
• Simple lathering
• No toxins or bad effect on the Yorkie’s skin
• 2 in 1 and you know that conditioning is significant for the Yorkie
• Popular and top-notched dog-related brand
Cons:
• No formula for problematic skin
Why recommended:
We appreciate Earthbath All Natural Mango Tango Shampoo and Conditioner for many reasons, but mainly because of its double effect: cleansing and nourishing.
Even though not specially tailored for a Yorkie, it fully responds to the puppy’s needs.
Besides, Earthbath All Natural is more than famous alongside the dog-lovers community.
Best Leave-in Conditioner for Yorkies
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How to use a leave-in conditioners and coat sprays:
You should spray the coat every 2 to 3 days. But do not do it too much – just spray the coat lightly. For Yorkies with little or no coat, the spray must be applied to the owner’s hands and he/she should massage it into the dog’s skin.
For longer coats, the bottle must be held on 5 inches away from the dog. A light spray must be applied 1 inch away from the roots. Then it should be brushed down, in order for the product to be distributed. Then, you can spray in your hands and jam out the tips.
Best Medicated Shampoos For Yorkies
For problems related to allergies:
One of the most wanted medicated shampoos is the one that can help with allergy-related problems. Allergies are a huge problem and can be a reason for a lot of reactions, all of them causing discomfort to the Yorkie.
Some of the symptoms might be dry skin, rashes, irritated skin, hot spots, thinning of the hairs, etc. For the shampoo, do not forget that it is recommended to use one with natural remedies. If not necessary, do not use chemicals, since they can be a reason for more irritation.
The following shampoo is very good choice:
[amazon box=”B08NLCGW23″]
For skin infections and skin infestations:
For suspected mange, yeast or bacterial infection, or mites, you must take the dog to the vet. He or she will be able to see what the problem really is and get your Yorkie on the right medication.
But if you cannot reach the veterinarian and want to try a medicated shampoo in order to heal infections or other skin problems, one remedy that you can try at home is an antiparasitic and antiseborrheic shampoo. SynergyLabs’s Veterinary Formula is one of the best shampoos.
Its ingredients are coal tar, salicylic acid, and micronized sulfur. They are used for the treatment of seborrhea, bacterial and parasitic infections, fungal, and mange.
SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs
We call this shampoo medical shampoo because it has more healing than cleansing effects.
However, the treating effects provided by SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula for Dogs are as effective as the cleansing approach.
The protective coat the shampoo provides works against bacteria and insects at once.
Ingredients:
No parabens, dyes or soap are used in the preparation of this Shampoo for Dogs.
It has a small hazard effect on kids, so keep it away from children.
The main ingredients of these products are the well-known oatmeal oil and allantoin. They protect the coat and makes the skin rash-free.
In addition to these, the salicylic acid is the anti-bacteria agent with deep cleansing effect, while the coal tar and sulfur provide protection and treatment against Seborrhea, fungus, parasites, and hair loss.
Pros:
• Great medical support: against bacteria, insects, allergens, dermatology disorders and etc
• Fast healing process
• Normal pH suitable for all dog breeds
• Compact pack
• No necessity of frequent usage
• Budget-friendly and low-cost
Cons:
• No fragrance effect
Why recommended:
We appreciate this Shampoo for its fast and deep healing effect. Probably, you cannot find another product like this on the market, because while being a regular and thoroughly cleansing shampoo, it is also a suitable treatment for so many skin problems your dog might have.
Hot spot spray:
If a dog has one particular area that they are going after, this is what’s called a “hot spot.” Many times there will be a localized infection in the area as well. The hair may be gone and the area reddened due to a scratch or a bug bite.
If you want to try and manage this on your own at home, there is a good OTC product to try.
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Yorkie Tear Stain Remover
You should pay special attention to the eye area of your Yorkie. The skin around the eyes is very sensitive and it always has to be clean and without tear stains. In order to prevent irritations around the eyes, you should trim the facial hair regularly. This will also help your dog see better.
Many times the tear stains can’t be removed, but they can be lessened with regular cleaning. The best product I’ve found for this is below:
[amazon box=”B001AWH582″]
