Dog Shampoos

Dog Shampoos

Dog shampoos perform very much like human shampoos to help cleanse away dirt, excess oils and sebum buildup from skin and hair. The pH levels are geared toward canine needs and most use a non-tearing formula, which is more gentle on your pet's eyes, should a little suds reach them by accident. To give a dog a shampoo, wet your dog's coat thoroughly, work enough shampoo into the hair to cleanse all areas and rinse completely. Towel off your dog and finish with a blow dryer, taking care to use a lower heat setting on its sensitive skin.

Shampoo Choices

The old adage, "You have to use the right tools for the job," is true about bathing your dog too. There are thousands of dog shampoo products on the market, and though you will have to figure out which brand you prefer, they are all broken down into a few specific categories.

Standard Shampoo

When your dog is simply dirty or smelly, this is the shampoo to use. It's usually scented, so your dog will smell nice afterward and may also be formulated for normal, oily or dry skin. Many of these dog shampoos contain conditioners also, but dogs with longer coats usually require a cream rinse product to help ease out tangling.

Medicated Shampoo

Medicated Shampoos are available at most pet supply stores or by prescription from a vet, depending on the severity of your dog's condition. These shampoos are formulated to treat skin irritations as well as cleanse your dog's coat. Dogs suffering from itchy staff infections and other psoriasis-like conditions will benefit more from these grooming products, since they provide some relief of the symptoms.

Flea and Tick Shampoo

Insecticidal shampoos contain chemicals that kill the fleas and ticks that are on your dog at the time of the bath and some even have a residual effect, meaning they stay in the coat for a few days afterward to help repel further infestation. Pyrethrins are usually the insect killer of choice. You must leave the suds on your dog for as long as the label directs in order to be sure you've actually killed the bugs and not just stunned them, then rinse very well.

Be sure to always follow label directions to the letter. Great care must be taken to avoid getting these shampoos in your dog's eyes and mouth. If this happens, flush the area thoroughly with cool water and call your vet for further instructions.

Ask your veterinarian to help you choose a flea and tick shampoo that is safe and appropriate for your dog's age, as puppies of certain ages cannot use these products at all.

Other Dog Shampoos

These next shampoos are quite different than the shampoos discussed above, and are used more by the dog showing crowd, when a full bath isn't always possible.

Self-Rinsing Shampoo

Self-rinsing shampoos require no water. Just squirt the liquid on the immediate area to be cleansed and work into a lather, then squeeze with an absorbant towel to remove the excess liquid and blow dry.

Dog show exhibitors like to use this product for spot cleaning at dog shows when bath tubs are not available. It's terrific for freshening long facial hair, tails and fringes, but isn't usually used for a full bath unless the dog is small and short coated like a Smooth Coat Chihuahua.

You can find self-rinsing shampoo at most dog show supply outlets and some larger pet supply chains.

Dry Shampoos

Dry shampoos are a powder that is usually a blend of talc, cornstarch, boric acid and baking soda, or any combination of these ingredients. The powder is applied and worked well into the coat to make sure it reaches the skin, where it absorbs excess oils. Then the powder must be thoroughly brushed back out, which also helps to remove dirt and debris.

These products can be helpful for freshening your dog between regular baths, but they are not a good long-term solution for your dogs regular grooming needs.

Coloring Shampoos

These products are again mostly used by the dog show fancier and are designed to enhance specific hair colors. Whitening shampoo is the most popular, as it removes urine and food stains from the coat, making it look cleaner and more brilliant, a definite plus in the show ring. Other types of color shampoos are mainly geared toward black, brown and red coats. While they don't actually color the coat like a dye would, they can give the natural coloring a bit of a boost.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are quite a few dog shampoos available, each designed with a specific use in mind. Sometimes you'll just need standard shampoo; sometimes you'll need help from flea and tick products. You can always consult your pet care professional to help you decide which product is best for your dog at any given time.