Which Shampoo is Best For My Dog?

There will be times when you will need to bathe your dog at home. Especially after they have had an interaction with fox poo…

Choosing a shampoo can difficult, as it is hard to know which shampoos are safe and really suited to your dog’s delicate skin. Here is some key advice to help you find the best shampoo for your furry friend.

Never use Human Shampoo

Did you know dogs have a different skin PH to us? Our dogs skin is much more alkaline than ours. This makes it the perfect breeding ground for bacteria if the pH level is disrupted.

Human shampoos are not suitable for use on our pets as they are balanced to use on our more acidic skin. Using human products on dogs skin will result in irritation, redness and potentially worsen dermatitis.

The key is to focus on finding a natural shampoo which is PH balanced to dogs skin.

Remember regular grooming is also important for maintaining healthy skin and coat. For more advice on how often to brush, check our grooming guide.

What ingredients should I look for in a shampoo?

The Dogwood Range has been perfectly designed to suit pets and each ingredient has been chosen for specific benefits. Here are some fantastic ingredients and how they support skin and coat health:

• Vitamin E – This helps widen the capillaries which improves the blood flow to the skin, aiding hair growth and helping to keep the skin healthy.
• Maris Sal – This is Dead Sea Salt which provides essential minerals and improves the skin barrier and hydration.
• Coconut Oil – Helps to strip oil and grease without damaging the fur.
• Tea Tree – When balanced out with other ingredients tea tree helps to remove oil and sebum and reduce inflammation of the skin. Tea Tree is also a natural parasite repellent.

What ingredients should I avoid?

Some ingredients found in both dog and human shampoo can be irritating to the skin. Here are some ingredients to avoid when choosing a suitable shampoo:

• Parabens – added to increase the shelf life of cosmetic products. However, they often cause irritation to dog’s skin, especially when not removed from the coat properly. A natural alternative is citrus seed extracts and vitamins A, C and E.
• Sulfates – used as a detergent to add more foam to shampoos and to help remove grease and dirt. This can be very irritating to pets’ skin and strip out natural oils. A natural alternative is fatty acids from things like coconut oil and olive oil.
• DEA’s – added to make products like shampoos appear thicker and to create foaming action. This is another potential skin and eye irritant. A natural alternative to this is Cocamidopropyl Betaine (made from coconut oil).
• PEGs – an ingredient added to make cosmetics appear thicker and more concentrated. They often cause skin irritation or worsen any dermatitis. A natural alternative is to look for fatty oils such as tea seed oil, peanut oil and sunflower oil.

To learn more about our wonderful range of natural pet cosmetics and for support, head in to your local Pets Corner or Dogwood Natural Grooming Salon.