A Guide to Using Products for Your Dog’s Coat

Dogs, unlike humans, have a very sensitive skin. That is because they have a different pH balance and has only half the thickness of human skin. Therefore, if you want to be sure that you don’t irritate your pet’s skin, avoid using human products on him. Instead, use products that are specially designed with your dog’s pelt and coat in mind.

What to Avoid Using

There are plenty of homemade remedies made to treat skin diseases and get rid of parasites. While most of them are completely safe, others are made to address the needs of human skin. Unfortunately, not everything safe for humans is safe for pet dogs. In case you are wondering why, humans don’t lick their skin when grooming. Dogs do. Thus, we have to know that the ingredients used in these remedies can be toxic.

In general, products made from tea tree are toxic to dogs. Tea tree is a natural antiseptic and an antibacterial, but if ingested and consumed, it can cause serious health problems.

Treat Itchy Skin

If your dog is suffering from itchy skin, you might want to consider using a medicated shampoo, perhaps one that is made of oatmeal. Shampoos with aloe Vera also make a great choice because they are also soothing to the skin.

Get Rid of Skin Infections

Is your dog at risk for skin infections like dermatitis or fungal flare-ups? If that is the case, you need to use a medicated shampoo on your canine buddy that contains chlorhexidine or miconazole. However, because these products may result in dryness, you might need to consult a vet first.

Reduce Greasy Coat

If your dog is greasy and a bit smell, using a shampoo that addresses such issue might just help. Most of these shampoos are antifungal and antibacterial, so they’d really work magic. Here is an important advice, though. Avoid using this type of shampoo on your dog’s coat for more than 10 minutes. You might end up irritating their skin. Also, make it a habit to read the labels first. That way, you will have an idea how long the shampoo should be left on.

Prevent Flaky Skin

There are dogs that have flaky and dry skin. If your canine pal is among them, use a gentle shampoo and get your dog a soft brush. By using both, the natural oils in the coat should be equally and properly distributed. If you want, you can also experiment with fish oils. They work wonders on flaky skin, too! Lastly, it is worth noting that shampooing excessively can cause skin dryness. Hence, you might want to try backing off with regular baths to see if that is the reason for your dog’s skin dryness.

Keep Natural Coat Glossy and Beautiful

If your dog’s coat is fair and normal, without any grease, smell, or flakes, the use of a natural shampoo would suffice. Just make sure you use one with a good quality. Ask your vet about it or visit specialty pet stores nearby.

The Need for Conditioners

If the shampoo you are using on your dog is gentle, a conditioner may no longer be necessary. Conditioners are only essential for dogs with dry coats. More often, these are applied in between baths to keep dogs from becoming smelly.

Is It Necessary to Bath Dogs?

Many pet owners, especially the new ones, are asking if it is necessary to regularly bath dogs. Well, here’s the answer.

If your four-legged buddy is not that smelly, does not swim in the mud, and does not roll over dirty things, you might not need to bath him at all. A good brush is more than enough to evenly distribute the natural oils in the coat and give it a glossy shine. You can get this kind of brush at the pet store. For sure, the sellers have something good to recommend.

Bathing Your Dog the Right Way

Dogs that are small can be quickly bathed in a baby bath or in the laundry sink. But as a safety precaution, you need to use a non-slip mat to prevent accidents.

Furthermore, indoor baths are highly recommended because you can ensure the water is not that cold or warm. Of course, if the weather is fine, you can definitely wash your pet outdoors and let him stay in the yard to speed up the drying process.

Just don’t bath him inside the dog kennel. Although there is nothing wrong with that, you might end up damaging the kennel itself.

On a Final Note

There is a multitude of dog care products out there. While most of them are safe for a dog’s skin, others might result in skin problems. If you are uncertain about the use of a certain product, do not continue using. Instead, seek the advice of a veterinarian. You don’t want to put your dog’s health at risk, right?

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