Choosing a dog shampoo is as difficult as choosing cosmetics for yourself. There are thousands of dog breeds in the world and each of them has its own characteristics; therefore, it can be difficult to navigate a large variety of dog hygiene products. Further we will tell all about the best shampoos for four-legged friends.
Types and composition
Not all dogs can boast of cleanliness, so it is important to choose a suitable shampoo for frequent or even daily care. Means for dogs are divided into several types:
- common for frequent use;
- dry shampoos;
- medicinal;
- professional;
- for deep cleaning.
Also, shampoos are classified by breed. For each dog, a certain care is needed - which is suitable for long-haired breeds, it is absolutely not suitable for dogs with short or curly hair.
Wrong selection of hygiene can harm the dog.
Conventional classic washable products for a certain breed have a large volume and a rather high cost, but such a tool is usually economical and will last for a long time (for example, 8 in 1 Tea Tree Oil Shampoo). In addition, you need to wash your pet no more than 1 time in 2 weeks (with heavy pollution).
For daily washing of paws after walks, a special liquid soap (“Veda”, “Pchelodar”) is suitable.
Classic shampoos have various additives. For dogs with long hair need agent with lanolin or coconut oil. This moisturizing option perfectly unravels the wool and makes it soft and smooth. For dogs with hard and curly hair, you need shampoo with good cleansing properties and substances such as aloe, coconut or jojoba oil, zinc, panthenol.
For puppies and weak dogs, special care is needed, for example, shampoo conditioner. Such a tool gently and non-aggressively cleanses wool and skin, does not overdry it and does not wash away the natural protective layer from the skin. For dogs with sensitive skin release hypoallergenic shampoo with a natural composition.
Healing Shampoos for dogs are intended for short-term use of the course. Their appearance depends on the problem. For example, there are remedies for fleas and other parasites, antimicrobial variants with chlorhexidine, propolis, tar shampoo for dandruff and skin problems.
Dry shampoos are a special cleaning powder in the spray. It is suitable for quick cleaning of light impurities. Does not require rinsing. It is quite simple to apply dry sprays - you should put it on the coat, protecting the eyes and ears of the pet, massage and then comb the animal.
In addition, there are shampoos, subdivided by coat color: for white color, black, brown, etc. They gently and gently cleanse, add shine and retain the color of the coat.
Professional tools are used before various competitions and exhibitions, as well as as a grooming care after haircuts. These funds differ primarily in volume - it is much more than usual. Also in professional products a more careful and useful composition, for example, with allantoin, herbal extracts, herbs.
These shampoos allow the wool to remain clean for 4–5 weeks, while maintaining shine and pleasant aroma.
Can I use baby shampoo?
The Ph level of a person and a dog is different, therefore, it is possible to resort to washing the pet with baby shampoo only in extreme cases.For example, when you have finished the dog version of the detergent, and you need to wash the dog right now. Human shampoos, even for children, can significantly dry the dog's skin, which is fraught with diseases and infections (allergies, dandruff, greasiness).
In addition, if such a tool is bad to wash off the wool and skin, then the pet can get poisoning or indigestion by licking the shampoo residues off.
Some short-haired breeds of dogs quite well tolerate washing with baby shampoo. So pets need to be completely washed no more than 3 times a year, so you can use a mild cleanser for children. In other cases, you can use dry sprays for dogs or, for example, snow. Paws of dogs are washed with special liquid soap or just warm water. Long-haired dogs need to wash much more often, especially in the autumn and spring periods. therefore Experts do not recommend washing them with children's hair care products.
In any case, it is better to use quality shampoo for dogs. Now in pet stores a huge selection of hygienic products for different purposes for any breed, any shade of wool.
Tips for choosing
When we choose a shampoo, we pay attention to the brand, composition, degree of damage to the hair and much more. Hygiene products for dogs should be selected exactly on the same principle.
In animals, fur can also be dry, oily, problematic, normal or brittle. Therefore, a good tool is chosen according to several principles..
- It is necessary to consider the breed and type of wool: for long-haired, hard-haired, curly-haired, etc.
- Coat color: for black dogs and for pets with white wool means are selected different.
- Animal Age: for puppies and for adults hygiene should also be different.
- Wool condition - an important factor when choosing cosmetics. If there are any problems, then the vet will write out a special healing shampoo that needs to be applied in a course.
Good shampoos can not be too cheap - this should also be considered. But the cost, as a rule, is compensated by a large volume, more natural hypoallergenic composition and efficiency.
Let us dwell on the selection criteria for the dog breed and the state of wool. To make the pet look healthy, the coat is shiny and clean and does not have an unpleasant smell, you should take into account the type of animal hair when choosing a detergent: for soft wool, such as a poodle, you need shampoo with soft natural surfactants. Terriers have hard and short hair, they need shampoo to increase shine and improve coat texture.
Collies need a means of facilitating combing, for example, two in one - shampoo-conditioner.
In a good therapeutic shampoo for solving various skin problems, components such as oat extract, aloe vera, herbs, panthenol, proteins, tea tree oil extract, coal tar, hydrocortisone (with itching and allergies) should be present.
He may be advised by the sales assistant, but it is still better to first contact the veterinarian if the dog is concerned about any problem.
With ticks and fleas, special means are used, which are usually used once. You should not save on such a therapeutic shampoo, because it is better to achieve the effect at once, than to clean the hair with a potent drug for several days. After the use of such funds should wash the pet especially thoroughly and abundantly with clean water so that it does not poison itself when licking off the coat.
Quality options are represented by brands such as Tropiclean, Pchelodar, Espree Knock Out.
Bred pets, often participating in contests and exhibitions, should look first class on them. Therefore, in the line of professional tools exist tinted shampoos, which apply only before the event itself (several days).Such detergents are composed of mild dyes that make the color of wool rich, shiny and beautiful. It is not necessary for a pet in everyday life, therefore it is rare to use such tools.
They can be found at manufacturers such as Royal Groom.
If your dog does not like to swim at all, you can choose dry shampoo that quickly and easily cleans wool from dirt, dust and odor. It comes in the form of a powdered or liquid spray (Pet Head Dry Clean). In the first case, the agent is applied to the wool, massaged and combed with a brush, in the second case it is applied to the wool, massaged, dries out and also thoroughly combed.
Instructions for use
As we found out, for dogs there is a huge amount of shampoos of different directions. Fully wash the pet with a hygienic detergent should be no more than 1 time in 2-3 months, if the dog is healthy and not too fallen in the dirt. They also bathe dogs for certain diseases (skin diseases, fleas) or before exhibitions and contests. In other cases, you can get by wiping with a damp cloth or snow.
Do not wash the dog just like that, for no reason. From frequent washing the dog can get sick. It is possible to bathe a dog with a means for deep cleaning of wool no more than 1 time in 6 months. Dogs can get rid of the smell of dry shampoos, special aromatic sprays.
Shampoos with preservation of coat color, for example, whitening, should be used only if the dog is a participant in exhibitions and contests. An ordinary dog doesn’t need such care; it will be sufficiently simple to bathe with sparing means.
The process of bathing itself should not be difficult if you prepare for it in advance. So, for the first time you decided to bathe your four-mate friend who was pretty dirty in the mud. First you need to lay a rubber mat on the bottom of the bath so that the dog does not slide and feel confident. Then you need to gently pour the dog with warm water, after plugging your pet's ears with a cotton swab.
Shampoo should be diluted in water (in a small container), in what proportion - written in the instructions for each specific tool. Then with this solution evenly lather all the wool and massage it. After that, plenty of wash off the foam with clean and warm water from the shower.
If the dog has folds, they should be especially thoroughly washed.
After the bath, thoroughly dry the dog with a soft towel. and do not let out until the wool is completely dry. For this period there should be no drafts in the house so that the animal does not catch a cold.
Each shampoo has its own instructions for use, read it carefully before bathing. Some products need to be washed off immediately after application, and some need a few minutes to act.
The dogs themselves are quite clean animals, but playing outside can plunge into puddles or any other dirt. Therefore, you need a good tool that is right for your dog.
For more information on how to choose a shampoo for dogs, see the following video.
