8 Best Dog Shampoos for Yeast Infections (2026 Buyer’s Guide)

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5 min read · Updated 19 October 2026

Yeast on a dog’s skin is common, and shampoo is part of the treatment. The American Kennel Club says Malassezia is a yeast that normally lives on a dog’s skin, ears and mucous membranes, and that trouble starts only when there is too much of it. This guide explains what the AKC says about treating it and lists eight medicated shampoos. The product details come from each store listing, not from our own testing.

Short answer: the AKC says treatment is usually topical, such as medicated shampoo, and names chlorhexidine as an antiseptic ingredient and ketoconazole as an ingredient in creams and sprays. Our pick is Curaseb, because its listing gives 4% chlorhexidine. See your vet first, since the shampoo does not fix the cause.

Short on time? Jump straight to the Dermabliss chlorhexidine + ketoconazole shampoo →

What Yeast Dermatitis Looks Like

The AKC says yeast dermatitis is not contagious, so a dog cannot get Malassezia from another dog. It lists these signs:

• Itchy or inflamed skin
• A smell like sour milk
• A coat that feels greasy
• Hair loss
• Scaly skin
• Skin that turns black or thickened if left untreated
• Dark brown, greasy discharge with a foul smell

The AKC says the most common cause is allergies, including food sensitivities, and that long antibiotic courses can also let yeast take over. Hot, humid weather and trapped moisture between toes or in skin folds make it more likely. It names the West Highland White Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Poodle and Dachshund as predisposed, along with dogs that have long floppy ears or skin folds. A vet confirms the diagnosis by taking a sample and looking at it under a microscope.

How Shampoo Is Used

• Frequency. Depending on how bad the infection is, the AKC says you may need to bathe your dog one to three times a week.
• Greasy coat. For a very greasy dog, the AKC says a vet may suggest a degreasing cleanser with an ingredient such as benzoyl peroxide, used together with an anti-yeast shampoo, so the anti-yeast shampoo makes good contact with the skin.
• Time. The AKC says yeast dermatitis may take a bit longer to treat than a bacterial infection.
• Limits. The AKC says shampoo is not used around the eyes. The vet may recommend oral medication for those cases, or if the infection is not improving or is very uncomfortable. Oral antifungals it names are ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole and terbinafine, and blood work may be monitored on a long course.

Eight Medicated Shampoos

These are the shampoos we list. Read each label and ask your vet which active ingredient fits your dog before you buy, because we have no source comparing how well these specific products work.

Curaseb Antifungal & Antibacterial Chlorhexidine Shampoo for Dogs

The listing gives 4% chlorhexidine, the antiseptic type the AKC names for yeast skin infections.

Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Shampoo for Dogs

The listing describes a 5 to 10 minute soak of the coat.

Jax N Daisy Antifungal Dog Shampoo

DOUXO S3 Calm Itch Relief Dog and Cat Shampoo

Dechra MiconaHex + Triz Shampoo for Dogs

Arava Natural Medicated Dog Shampoo

Pet MD – Medicated Shampoo for Dogs – Effective for Skin Conditions

Vetoquinol Sebozole Shampoo

The listing gives two actives: miconazole nitrate 2% and chloroxylenol 1%.

Keeping Yeast From Coming Back

The AKC says that if the underlying allergy is not addressed, a dog can recover and then get another infection, so a dog with allergies and repeat infections should be discussed with the vet. Its prevention advice:

• Dry the ears after a bath or swim. A cotton ball or an ear-drying agent works, because a warm, moist floppy ear suits yeast.
• Clean and dry skin folds, which stay warm and moist.
• After walks in rain or mud, clean and dry the feet. The AKC says Bulldogs, with little space between the toes, may be at higher risk on the feet.
• Overweight dogs may be prone to allergies and yeast infections, per the AKC.

For the feet, see how to clean your dog’s paws after a walk and how to stop a dog licking his paws.

Final Thoughts

A medicated shampoo is one tool. The AKC puts the cause first: allergies, moisture and skin folds. Get the diagnosis from a vet, follow the bathing schedule they give, and dry the ears, folds and feet.

Resources

• American Kennel Club, Yeast Dermatitis (Malassezia) in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Treatments