A Handy Overview of Dog Shampoos

That puppy smell doesn’t last forever and even puppies need baths sooner or later. So do adolescent, adult and senior dogs. 

WASHING YOUR DOG AT HOME

If you want to wash your dog at home, you’ll need to choose a shampoo that was specifically created for dogs. BUT: Not all dog shampoos work for all dogs. Apart from brands, there are different types of shampoos available. For example, you get general purpose shampoos as well as shampoos to help treat health conditions.

So, let’s take a look at some of your options and what they’re typically used for.

TYPES OF DOG SHAMPOOS

• Flea shampoo: for the treatment and/or prevention of fleas
• Puppy shampoo: milder products better suited to young dogs
• Aloe vera shampoo: helps cool and soothe irritated or sensitive skin
• Medicated shampoo: prescribed to treat specific (usually skin) conditions
• Regular shampoo: a quality, general purpose dog shampoo works for many dogs
• Black shampoo: created for dogs with dark coats to enhance colour and promote shine
• Hypoallergenic shampoo: a mild dog shampoo for sensitive skin to prevent allergies, irritation or other skin issues

IMPORTANT

Never use human shampoos on dogs as they can have very harmful effects.

Dogs have different grooming needs. So, for hygiene and safety reasons, ask your veterinarian how frequently your dog should be bathed.

Before sending your dog to professional groomers, make sure they use appropriate products (especially if your dog needs hypoallergenic or medicated shampoo).

MEDICATED SHAMPOOS

There are different types of medicated shampoos for different issues.

Examples include:

• Antibacterial shampoo: for bacterial pyodermas
• Antifungal shampoo: for Malassezia dermatitis (abnormal overgrowth of yeast)
• Benzoyl peroxide shampoo: for relief from mange, dermatitis, canine and feline acne and more
• Antiseptic shampoo: for nonspecific superficial dermatoses (skin disease); can help remove scales, crusts and odour-causing debris