Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Dog Shampoo Review (2026)

Quick verdict: Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Dog Shampoo with Honey is a gentle, pH-balanced, sulfate-free everyday shampoo that suits dogs with dry, sensitive or mildly itchy skin and owners who want a simple, budget-tier wash. It lathers lightly and it is not a medicated product, so it is the wrong tool for infections or severe allergies. This review covers what the listing says, who should buy it, who should skip it, how to use it, and five alternatives worth comparing.

Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through links or product cards on this page, at no extra cost to you. Last updated: October 2026.

What Is Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Dog Shampoo?

Burts Bees for Pets Oatmeal Dog Shampoo with Honey, Unscented, 16 Fl Oz | Soothing colloidal oat flour formula for itchy, sensitive dog skin, pH-balanced and sulfate-free for regular use

One of the home product options compared in this guide.

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Burt’s Bees for Pets makes a line of natural-leaning grooming products, and this oatmeal shampoo is the most recognizable one. The version shown here is the 16 fl oz bottle in an unscented format. The listing describes a soothing colloidal oat flour formula for itchy, sensitive dog skin, pH-balanced and sulfate-free for regular use. There is also a honey-scented 32 fl oz bottle, which we list below as the larger, better-value size.

Colloidal oat flour is oats ground fine enough to suspend in water. People have used oat baths for dry, itchy skin for a long time, and dog shampoos borrow the idea. The shampoo sits in the budget tier, which is a big part of its appeal: it is cheap enough to try without a big commitment.

Two points matter before you buy. First, formulas and ingredient lists change over time and between retailers, so the bottle in your hand is the final word. Second, this shampoo is described for dogs. Do not use it on a cat without checking with your vet and finding a cat-specific product.

Burts Bees for Pets Oatmeal Dog Shampoo, Honey Scent, 32 Fl Oz Bottle | Colloidal oatmeal and honey, pH-balanced formula, soothing, itchy and sensitive skin

One of the home product options compared in this guide.

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The 32 fl oz honey-scent bottle above uses the same colloidal oatmeal and honey, pH-balanced concept in a bigger container, which makes more sense for large dogs or frequent bathing.

Spec and Ingredient Summary

Who It Suits

This shampoo makes sense for dogs whose coats feel dry, dull or flaky and who scratch a little more in winter, when heating dries the air. It also fits dogs that need frequent baths, such as swimmers or park regulars, because a mild, pH-balanced formula is kinder to the skin than a harsh degreaser. Families with a first dog, owners who hate heavy perfumes, and anyone who wants a budget wash with a clear purpose will find it easy to live with.

The unscented option is helpful for dogs and people with fragrance sensitivities. If your dog has a history of reacting to perfumes, start with the unscented bottle and patch test a small area first.

Who Should Skip It

Skip it if your dog has red, weeping, crusty or foul-smelling skin. Those signs point to infection, mange or allergy flare-ups that need veterinary diagnosis and often a medicated product. A gentle oatmeal wash may soothe the surface, but it will not treat yeast, bacteria or mites, and it can give a false sense that the problem is handled.

Also skip it if you want a deodorizing or deshedding shampoo. This one is a gentle cleanser, not an odor destroyer, and it does not claim to release undercoat. For those jobs see our guides to smelly-dog and shedding shampoos.

How to Use It

1. Brush your dog first to remove loose hair and tangles.
2. Wet the coat thoroughly with lukewarm water, down to the skin.
3. Apply a generous amount. Natural formulas lather lightly, so do not add more simply because the suds are modest.
4. Massage along the back, belly, legs and tail, keeping the lather out of the eyes and ears.
5. Leave it on for several minutes so the oat flour has time to sit on the skin, following the label directions.
6. Rinse longer than seems necessary until the water runs clear and the coat no longer feels slick.
7. Towel dry well and avoid hot air. Brush once the coat is dry.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: gentle for regular use, pH-balanced, sulfate-free per the listing, unscented option, budget tier, easy to find in two sizes.
• Cons: light lather means you use more product; formulas vary between versions; not medicated; no deodorizing or deshedding claims.

Burt’s Bees vs the Alternatives

Five Alternatives Worth a Look

earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Itch Relief Dog Shampoo

earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Itch Relief Dog Shampoo, 16 Oz (1 Pack) | Oatmeal Shampoo For Dogs, Dry, Itchy Skin Relief, Made in USA, Cruelty Free Sensitive Pet Shampoos, Vanilla & Almond

One of the home product options compared in this guide.

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earthbath’s 16 oz oatmeal and aloe shampoo is made in the USA and cruelty free, with a vanilla and almond scent. It is a good pick if you like a scented, lightly conditioning wash and have a dog with dry skin. The trade-off is fragrance: choose Burt’s Bees unscented if scent bothers you.

Wahl Dry Skin and Itch Relief Pet Shampoo

Wahl USA Dry Skin & Itch Relief Pet Shampoo for Dogs – Oatmeal Formula with Coconut Lime Verbena Scent & Pet Friendly Formula, 24 Oz - Model 820004A

One of the home product options compared in this guide.

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Wahl’s 24 oz oatmeal formula comes in a coconut lime verbena scent and is described as pet friendly. It is a value alternative with a bigger bottle in the same budget tier. The trade-off is again scent, and the listing does not spell out the full ingredients.

Veterinary Formula Smart Coat Ultra Oatmeal Moisturizing Shampoo

Veterinary Formula Smart Coat Ultra Oatmeal Moisturizing Dog Shampoo, 17oz

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This 17 oz shampoo from a veterinary-oriented brand focuses on moisture. Choose it for dry coats that need extra softness. Details beyond the title are not listed in the text we reviewed, so check the label for ingredients.

Natural Dog Company Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo

Natural Dog Company Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo - 12 oz | Hypoallergenic Oatmeal Anti Itch Shampoo, Gentle Puppy & Dog Wash with Aloe Vera, Manuka Honey & Chamomile, Odor Control

Chosen because it is hypoallergenic.

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A 12 oz hypoallergenic oatmeal shampoo with aloe vera, manuka honey and chamomile, noted for odor control and suitable as a gentle puppy and dog wash. It is a step up in ingredients, but also a smaller bottle, so it costs more per wash than the Burt’s Bees pick.

Burt’s Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo and Conditioner with Buttermilk

Burts Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo & Conditioner with Buttermilk, 16 Fl Oz | Gentle 2-in-1 formula cleans and conditions sensitive puppy skin and coat, tearless for easy bath time

One of the home product options compared in this guide.

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If you have a young puppy, this 16 fl oz 2-in-1 is made for sensitive puppy skin and is tearless. Choose it over the oatmeal formula for the youngest dogs, and ask your vet when the puppy is old enough for regular baths.

What Colloidal Oatmeal Actually Does

Colloidal oatmeal is finely milled oat that stays suspended in water instead of sinking. In a bath it leaves a thin film on the skin that may help the surface feel less tight and less irritated. That is why oat products are a long-standing choice for dry, itchy skin. It is a comfort measure, not a drug: it may help soothe, but it will not clear an infection or stop an allergy. The honey in the formula is a common moisturizing ingredient in natural grooming products, and the wider formula is built around mild plant-derived cleansers rather than harsh detergents.

Retailer pages for this shampoo list slightly different ingredient lines depending on the version, and some mention items such as glycerin, green tea extract and plant-derived cleansers. Because those lists are not consistent across stores and are not in the product text we reviewed, we treat the full ingredient list as not listed here. Read the back label of the bottle you receive, especially if your dog has a known allergy to a specific ingredient.

Scent, Lather and Rinse Feel

The unscented 16 fl oz bottle is the safest starting point for fragrance-sensitive dogs. The honey-scented 32 fl oz bottle has a mild sweet profile that most people find pleasant but that will not hide a strong doggy smell. The lather is light by design. Owners who expect thick foam often over-apply, which makes rinsing take longer. A good habit is to dilute a little shampoo in a cup of warm water, pour it along the back and work it in. That spreads a small amount further and reduces residue.

After rinsing, the coat should feel soft rather than slippery. If it still feels slick, rinse again: leftover shampoo can itch and encourage the scratching you wanted to calm.

16 fl oz or 32 fl oz: Which Size?

The 16 fl oz bottle suits a small or medium dog bathed every few weeks, or a first trial. The 32 fl oz bottle suits large dogs, more frequent baths, and anyone who knows their dog tolerates it. Both sit in the budget tier, but the larger bottle is the better value per wash. If you plan to dilute, the bigger size goes much further. Store bottles with the lid closed, away from direct heat.

Building a Gentle Skin-Care Routine

A shampoo is only part of skin care. Brush your dog regularly to spread natural oils and remove dead hair. Keep up with flea and tick prevention, because a single flea can trigger scratching that no oatmeal bath will fix. Wash bedding weekly in a fragrance-free detergent, and wipe paws after walks to remove pollen and grass. In dry winter air, consider a humidifier in the room where your dog sleeps. If your vet recommends omega-3 supplements or a diet change for dry skin, introduce them slowly and give them time to work, which can be several weeks.

When to See a Vet Instead

An oatmeal shampoo is for mild dryness. Contact your vet if your dog has bald patches, red or inflamed skin, scabs, a musty or sour smell, constant licking or chewing at paws, head shaking, or itching that wakes them at night. These signs can point to allergies, parasites, yeast or bacterial infection, and each needs a different treatment. If you try this shampoo and see no improvement after two or three baths, do not keep escalating on your own. A quick vet check usually saves time and discomfort.

Is It Worth Buying?

For its purpose, yes. Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Dog Shampoo is an inexpensive, mild, pH-balanced shampoo that does what a gentle everyday wash should do. It is not a miracle product, and the light lather can feel underwhelming if you are used to heavy foaming shampoos, but that is typical of formulas without harsh surfactants. Pick the unscented 16 fl oz bottle to try it, and move to the 32 fl oz honey-scent bottle if your dog likes it. If skin trouble continues beyond a couple of baths, the answer is a vet visit, not a different oatmeal shampoo.

FAQ

Is Burt’s Bees oatmeal shampoo good for dogs with itchy skin?

It can help soothe mild dryness and itch thanks to colloidal oat flour, but it does not treat the cause. If the itching continues, see your vet.

Is it safe for puppies?

The brand also makes a separate puppy shampoo, so for very young puppies choose that one and ask your vet when baths are appropriate.

Can I use it on my cat?

Do not assume so. This shampoo is made for dogs. Cats are sensitive to many ingredients, so use a cat-specific product and ask your vet.

How often can I bathe my dog with it?

The listing says it is for regular use, but bathing frequency depends on your dog’s skin and coat. Many healthy dogs are bathed every few weeks; ask your vet or groomer for a schedule.

Does it wash off flea and tick treatments?

Spot-on products differ, so follow the instructions on your flea treatment about waiting time before and after bathing. If unsure, ask your vet.

Why does it not lather much?

Gentle, sulfate-free shampoos use milder cleansers that produce less foam. Use enough product to cover the coat and rinse well.

Can oatmeal shampoo be too drying?

Oatmeal itself is gentle, but any shampoo used too often can strip natural oils. Stick to the schedule your vet or groomer suggests, rinse well, and stop if the skin looks worse.

Do I need a conditioner as well?

Not necessarily. Short coats are usually fine with shampoo alone. Long or curly coats may benefit from a conditioner to reduce tangles; the brand sells an oatmeal conditioner, but check suitability for your dog.

Is the honey-scented version different from the unscented one?

Both are described as colloidal oat and honey formulas for dogs. The main differences are scent and bottle size, so pick the unscented bottle if your dog or household is sensitive to fragrance, and always compare the ingredient panel on the bottle you receive.

Last updated: October 2026