It’s quite easy to choose the right shampoo for your dog as long as you know what exactly you looking for. There’s three different shampoos we can choose from: regular shampoo, medicated shampoo, or flea and tick shampoo.

Regular Shampoo

This category can be divided into an endless list, but the basic ingredients don’t vary much. Different additives will make them work better on white coats, dark coats, dry coats, and so on. Natural anti-itch shampoos are included in this category because they use only natural ingredients, such as oatmeal, to add soothing properties.

Medicated Shampoo

We can group all shampoos with prescribed medicine in the medicated category. These types of products, available in most pet stores, should only be used under veterinary supervision. As good as tar and sulfur shampoos are to treat certain skin problems, they can cause serious problems to a dog with sensitive skin.

Flea and Tick Shampoo

There are various kinds of natural flea and tick shampoos on the market that are safe to use as a preventive bug repellent, especially for dogs that play outdoors a lot. If you must use chemical-based flea and tick shampoos, it is very important to take the necessary precautions to be sure that no shampoo gets inside the dog’s eyes or mouth. The use of a protective ointment for the eyes is highly recommended when using any kind of shampoo other than a mild shampoo, and extreme caution should be used when applying the shampoo on the dog’s head.

Cream Rinse and Conditioner

Depending on the coat, you can choose from different kinds of conditioners. Heavier conditioners are harder to rinse out, and most will leave a thicker coat on the hair, making them a perfect choice for long drop coats. Lighter conditioners will protect and coat the hair, adding minimum weight while helping to achieve a super fluffy look. Like shampoo, conditioners must be rinsed thoroughly unless the manufacturer’s directions indicate a light rinse.

Leave-in Conditioner

These products are best used between baths or during daily brushing. Leave-in conditioners will add shine and flexibility to the hair and prevent breakage. For dogs with thick undercoats or very woolly coats, we recommend the use of a light leave-in conditioner to avoid product buildup. With these conditioners, a little product goes a long way. Using too much leave-in conditioner could turn your dog’s coat into a dust magnet by making it sticky. Always start by applying a small amount; you can always add more if needed.

We humans, have sweat glands all over our bodies, including our scalps. Sweating through our skin is one of the ways we get rid of toxins. Most dogs, on the other hand, or paw, only sweat through their tongues and pads and get rid of toxins by filtering them through their kidneys and excreting them in their feces. A dog’s pH level is also different than ours: a human’s pH level is around 5.5, and a dog’s is on average 7.5.

Because we sweat from our scalps, our shampoos have to be strong enough to remove toxins and oils that are released into the scalp. Because dogs do not sweat through their scalp and body, dog shampoo, which is much more gentle, is designed to penetrate the hair shaft and remove the dirt without stripping the coat of its natural oils. Dog hair is also more exposed to scratching and rubbing against hard surfaces than ours—this is the reason a dry coat will easily break.

If you run out of dog shampoo, you don’t have to panic or leave your dog dirty. If you must use a human product, baby shampoo is the mildest shampoo with a similar pH balance. Use it, but be sure to add a good amount of conditioner so that the hair cuticle is properly nurtured and sealed.

Another fact to remember is that our skin is ten to fifteen cells thick, while your best friend’s skin is only between three and five cell layers thick. This difference in thickness, therefore, makes your dog’s skin more susceptible to harsher chemicals.