Lots of shampoos have been designed to care for various skin problems faced by cats and dogs. It may be difficult to understand how the ingredients actually work.
This table will help improve your understanding of why particular ingredients have been added to shampoo. Alongside discussions with your vet, this knowledge will help you choose the best product(s) for your dog’s skin problems.
The following table should help you understand why certain ingredients are included in a shampoo.
This information can help you, with consultation from your veterinarian, select the right one for your pet's skin condition.
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INGREDIENTS
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COMMENTS
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INSECTICIDALS
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For treatment and prevention of fleas, ticks and some types of mange.
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Pyrethrin
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Pyrethroids such as permethrin
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Don’t use on cats.
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ANTISEBORRHEIC
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For the prevention and removal of scales and, in many cases, to also get rid of excess oils.
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For seborrhoea oleosa
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Characterised by excess oil and scales.
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Sulfur
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Removes crust and scales and decreases the amount of scales being produced. Antifungal & Antibacterial. Decreases the amount of itchiness. Best used when combined with the same amount of concentration of salicylic acid.
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Salicylic acid
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Removes scale and crust, and reduces scale production. Decreases the amount of itchiness. Antibacterial. Works best when used with an equal concentration of sulfur.
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Refined Tar
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This is the most powerful ingredient for use in decreasing the amount of scales being made. Decreases the amount of itchiness. Degreases May be irritating to your pet. Don’t use on cats.
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Selenium sulphide
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Removes scale and crust, and reduces scale production Antifungal & Antibacterial. Degreases Can irritate mucous membranes and scrotum. Only use it for severe oiliness or yeast infections. Needs to stay on for a minimum of 10 minutes for the antifungal properties to work fully. Don’t use on cats.
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Benzoyl peroxide
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Gets rid of crusts and scales. May dry out your pet’s skin. Antibacterial properties. Flushes hair follicles. Great degreaser.
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For seborrhoea sicca
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Characterised by dry scales.
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Sulfur
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Removes crust and removes and reduces the production of scales. Antibacterial. Reduces itching Is ideal when combined with the same amount of sulfur.
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ANTIPRURITIC
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To ease itchiness caused by problems such as atopy and other types of allergies.
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Colloidal Oatmeal
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Decreases the amount of inflammation.
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Hydrocortisone
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Minimal side effects as compared to oral Steroids
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Aloe vera
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Pramoxine Hydrochloride
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Topical anaesthetic
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Diphenhydramine
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Antihistamine that helps reduce inflammation
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Menthol
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Has a cooling and anaesthetising effect
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Sulfur
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Removes crust and removes and reduces the production of scales. Antifungal & Antibacterial. Decreases itchiness. Performs at its best when it’s combined with an equal amount of salicylic acid.
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Salicylic acid
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Removes crust and removes and reduces the production of scales. Antibacterial. Reduces itching Is ideal when combined with the same amount of sulfur.
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Cool water rinses
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ANTIBACTERIALS
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For treatment of bacterial infections such as pyoderma, folliculitis, and impetigo
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Benzoyl Peroxide
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Gets rid of crusts and scales. May dry out your pet’s skin. Antibacterial. Terrific degreaser and it flushes out the hair follicles
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Chlorhexidine
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Higher concentrations may dry out or irritate the skin of some animals.
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Povidone Iodine
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Triclosan
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Low potency
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Ethyl Lactate
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Helps flush follicles and helps to degrease
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Sulfur
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Removes crust and removes and reduces the production of scales. Antibacterial & Antifungal. Reduces itching Is ideal when combined with the same amount of salicylic acid May protect against Staph infections.
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ANTIFUNGALS
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To treat yeast infections and ringworm
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Miconazole 2%
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Cheaper than ketoconazole
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Chlorhexidine 2-4%
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Some activity against yeast and less activity against ringworm. Higher concentrations may dry the skin or be irritating in some animals.
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Povidone Iodine
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Not as effective and may be irritating
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Ketoconazole 2%
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Very effective
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Selenium sulfide 1%
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Gets rid of crusts and scales as well as reducing the production of scale. Antifungal/Antibacterial. Degreases. May irritate mucous membranes and scrotum. It’s better to only use it in cases of severe oiliness or yeast infections. Must be left on for a minimum of 10 minutes so its antifungal activities kick in. Don’t ever use on cats.
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EMOLLIENTS
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Add oils to skin
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Almond Oil
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Corn Oil
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Cottonseed Oil
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Olive Oil
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Peanut Oil
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Persia Oil
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Safflower Oil
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Sesame Oil
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Lanolin
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Mineral Oil
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Paraffin
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EMULSIFIERS
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Help distribute emollients
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Cetyl Alcohol
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Laureth-5
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Lecithin
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PEG-4 dilaurate
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Stearic acid
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Stearyl alcohol
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HUMECTANTS
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Rehydrate skin
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Carboxylic Acid
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Lactic Acid
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Urea
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Sodium Lactate
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Propylene Glycol
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Glycerine
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Polyvinylpyrrolidone
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SPECIAL FORMULATIONS
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Microscopic particles that will have numerous ingredients that stick to the hair and skin and slowly release their contents
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Novosomes®
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Release contents over a 7-10 day period.
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Spherulites®
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Release contents over an 8 day period.
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