A shampoo for dog allergies should contain ingredients that are present in nature. Such anti-allergen shampoos should be free of artificial ingredients such as color, chemicals or perfumes. You should use dog allergy shampoos available in organic stores and health food stores in order to prevent allergic reactions in your pet, although some natural ingredients can also irritate your pet’s skin and cause an allergy.
Apart from this, you should never use human shampoos on your pet as they remove the skin’s natural oils and contain harsh chemicals that can harm your dog’s skin.
Recommended Ingredients in Dog Shampoos
- Aloe Vera
- Oatmeal
- Hydrocortisone
- Tea tree oil
- Lemon extracts
- Orange extracts
- Eucalyptus
- Salicylic acid
Dog Allergies
Sometimes, harmless things such as pollen, saliva, dust mites, fleas, grass, cloth, dander, rice, or corn trigger an immune system response. The immune system in turn produces chemicals known as immunoglobulins. These immunoglobulins stick to irritants and release potent histamine chemicals that cause itching, swelling, breathing problems and redness. In some cases, these allergic reactions can prove to be fatal.
Anti-Allergen Shampoos for Dogs
Medicated shampoos can prove beneficial to dogs with mild and severe skin allergies. Shampoos with oatmeal are the most common medicated shampoos in use and need to be in contact with the dog’s skin for at least 10 minutes in order to effectively control the allergy. These shampoos provide relief to dogs with itchy, dry skin. Vitamin E and Biotin in these shampoos moisturize the skin and make your pet’s coat glossy.
Apart from this, omega 6 fatty acids are ingredients that are added to medicated shampoos because of their anti-inflammatory properties. The same is true for Pramoxine HCl.
Commercially Available Shampoos
Shampoos that contain oatmeal are Ectosoothe 3X, Pramoxine Anti Itch Shampoo and Pearlyte.
Ectosoothe 3X kills fleas, ticks and lice, while Pramoxine Anti Itch shampoo contains an anti-inflammatory product known as Pramoxine HCl. Salicylic acid is another ingredient that is often added to medicated dog shampoos. This is an anti-inflammatory product that also removes dead skin and helps cure skin problems.
Sulphur Tar Shampoo and DermaBen Ss are shampoos that contain salicylic acid. Sulphur Tar shampoo also contains menthol and this controls itchiness. DermaBen Ss on the other hand, contains benzoyl peroxide which helps to unplug clogged hair follicles. Shampoos containing hydrocortisone are not available over the counter, as they can cause serious side effects if they are used incorrectly. These shampoos are anti-inflammatory and provide relief from insect bites.
Dog shampoos that contain aloe vera are the best. They are soothing and moisturize the skin to relieve the dog of discomfort. However, shampoos that contain aloe vera are not beneficial to dogs that are allergic to grass and pollen.
Dog allergies are an indicator of a dog’s general health and generally develop in weak, unhealthy dogs. Nutritional deficiencies can also cause allergies. It’s important to remove allergens from your pet’s environment and provide him with nutritious food, to ensure that he is completely rid of allergies and enjoys optimum health.