*** = Great!
** = Pretty Good
* – Might work, but not the best
Shampoo ingredient
Aloe vera
Action: moisturizing/anti-itch/antibacterial
Efficacy: ***/*/*
Carboxylic Acid
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Chitosanide
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Colloidal Oatmeal
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Notes: some formulations can be irritating
Fatty Acids
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Glycerin
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Glycerol Esters
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Glycol
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Lactic Acid
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Lanolin
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: ***
Phytosphingosine
Action: Moisturizing
Efficacy: ***
Notes: A building block of the skin.
Propylene Glycol
Action: moisturizing/antibacterial/antifungal
Efficacy: ***/**/*
Protein Hydrolysates
Action: Contain oil and protein. Oil adds luster, protein coats the hair and makes
it seem thicker.
Efficacy: variable
Notes: If protein is added to shampoo rather than applied separately, most of it
will be rinsed away and the effect will be minimal.
Sodium Lactate
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Urea
Action: moisturizing
Efficacy: **
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate
Action: detergent/cleansing
Efficacy: **
Notes: mild
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Action: detergent/cleansing
Efficacy: do not use
Notes: irritating
Diphenhydramine
Action: anti-itch
Efficacy: *
Hydrocortisone
Action: anti-itch
Efficacy: **
Menthol
Action: anti-itch
Efficacy: *
Pramoxine
Action: anti-itch
Efficacy: *
Acetic Acid (Vinegar)
Action: antibacterial/drying
Efficacy: /
Notes: can be irritating; dilute 1:5 or 1:10 in water
Alcohol
Action: antibacterial
Efficacy: *
Notes: drying and irritating
Benzalkonium Chloride
Action: antibacterial
Efficacy: *
Benzoyl Peroxide
Action: antibacterial/follicular flushing/degreasing
Efficacy: ***/**/***
Notes: can be drying
Chlorhexidine
Action: antibacterial/antifungal
Efficacy: ***/*
Notes: generally speaking, the best antibacterial agent among shampoo
ingredients
Ethyl Lactate
Action: antibacterial
Efficacy: **
Notes: mild
Hydrogen Peroxide
Action: antibacterial
Efficacy: *
Iodine
Action: antibacterial/antifungal
Efficacy: /
Notes: drying and irritating
Phenols/Cresols (Hexachlorophene, Resorcinol, Thymol, Picric Acid)
Action: antibacterial/antifungal/anti-itch
Efficacy: */*/*
Potassium Permanganate
Action: antibacterial/antifungal/drying
Efficacy: **/*/*
Notes: stings and can cause purple stains
Salicylic Acid
Action: antibacterial/degreasing/reduce flaking
Efficacy: ***/**/**
Selenium Sulfide
Action: antibacterial/ antifungal/degreasing/reduce flaking
Efficacy: **/**/**/**
Notes: can be drying
Sodium Hypochlorite/Chloramines
Action: antibacterial/antifungal
Efficacy: ***/*
Notes: can be irritating; dilute 1:10 in water
Sulfur
Action: antibacterial/degreasing & reduce scaling
Efficacy: **/**
Tar
Action: antibacterial/degreasing & reduce scaling/ anti-itch
Efficacy: //**
Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Oil)
Action: antibacterial/antifungal/parasite repellent
Efficacy: //*
Notes: can rarely be toxic and cause hypersalivation, incoordination, weakness,
liver toxicity and drop in body temperature
Domeboro (Aluminum Acetate)
Action: drying
Efficacy: ***
Notes: dilute to lowest concetration on package
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)
Action: drying
Efficacy: **
Climbazole
Action: antifungal
Efficacy: ***
Ketoconazole
Action: antifungal
Efficacy: ***
Lime Sulfur
Action: antifungal
Efficacy: ***
Notes: can be drying & can cause yellow stains; smells like rotten eggs;
Generally speaking, lime sulfur is the most effective antifungal for
dermatophytosis.
Miconazole
Action: antifungal
Efficacy: ***
Alpha-Hydroxyacids (Lactic, Malic, Citric, Pyruvic, Glutamic, Glycolic and Tartaric Acids)
Action: reduce scaling
Efficacy: *
Tid Bits:
Medicated shampoos should be allowed to sit on the pet for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing
K9 skin pH is 7-7.4 This is different than human skin, so human pH-balanced shampoos may not
be as effective in dogs as they are in people. Human shampoos are ok to use in dogs.
Soap shampoos work well in soft water. In hard water, they leave a dulling film of calcium and
magnesium soap on the hair.
Detergent shampoos are synthetic surfactants or emulsifying agents, usually salts of lauryl
sulfate.
Conditioners should be used after detergent shampoos.
Conditioners have 4 main purposes: 1. reduce static electricity 2. give body to limp hair 3.
supply fatty acids or oil to coat the hair and skin 4. deliver medication to the skin and hair
surface that will not be completely rinsed away or removed.
Conditioners are slightly acidic which hardens keratin and removes hard water residues.
Vinegar, lemon or bleaching rinses are not recommended except for special problems.
Dry Baths:
Talc, boric acid powder or special products available at pet stores are dusted into the coat and
then thoroughly brushed out. With careful application the coat is left relatively clean and
lustrous. However, dry baths are only good for quick cosmetic clean-up. Powder cleaners are
actually inefficient: they dry the coat and increase its static electricity. Should not be used to
replace bathing.
Tar or Paint:
Small deposits should be allowed to harden and then be cut off
Large amounts of tar can be soaked in vegetable oil or an emollient oil with a surfactant for 24
hours and then washed out with Dawn dish soap.
Never use paint removers or organic solvents such as kerosene, turpentine and gasoline to
remove tar or paint. They may produce caustic burns.
Gum:
Harden with ice, then strip or pull out
Odors:
Might originate from the mouth, ears, feet or perineum, so these areas should be checked
carefully.
Odor from the skin often indicates bacterial or yeast infections.
Clipping:
Medicated shampoos may have greater benefit in clipped hair.
Dogs with long coats or with corded hair may take years to re-grow after clipping
Dandruff can be caused by allergies, genetic disorders and bacterial infections