subject: Is There a Good Dog Shampoo for Dogs with Sensitive Skin? [print this page] Is There a Good Dog Shampoo for Dogs with Sensitive Skin?
Before you go to the store and start looking at the huge number of choices for dog shampoos, it is really important to know your dog's skin type. Does your dog have sensitive skin? If your dog has itchy skin which is irritated easily and they scratch often, they may have sensitive skin. Your veterinarian will be able to help you determine if this is the case.
If your dog has sensitive skin, there are certain ingredients you'll need to avoid. A lot of scented shampoos should be avoided as these may irritate your dog's skin. It is generally a good idea to look for a medicated dog shampoo with oatmeal and aloe vera. These ingredients will help soothe your dog's skin while it heals. If the oatmeal and aloe vera are not successful in soothing your dog's skin after a few tries, you may want to try minor amounts of hydrocortisone. It is important to avoid a lot of the synthetic ingredients that are placed in generic shampoos. A good medicated shampoo made for dogs with sensitive skins will help.
Never use a human shampoo on any dog, especially dog for sensitive skin. Dog shampoos are more acidic than human shampoos and are made to keep the dog's skin clean and moist. Human shampoos contain sulfates that dry out your dog's coat and here take their skin further.
Whenever you're bathing your dog it is always at important to make sure you keep the medicated shampoo out of your dog's eyes and mouth. You should also make sure you rinse them thoroughly of all shampoo to avoid skin irritation in the future.
Summary
I've seen firsthand how a quality medicated shampoo can help. Whether your dog is suffering from skin irritation due to flea bites, food allergies, or some other skin irritation, a high quality medicated dog shampoo can bring your dog some relief.
