The use of oatmeal shampoo for pets can have a lot of benefits, starting from relieving itchy skin to making the coat shiny. Oatmeal shampoos can be found in pet stores or may be prepared at home, but you need to make sure that the dog gets only shampoo that is formulated for canines and not humans. You may also look for formulas that are recommended for your dog’s condition.
Relieving Itchy Skin
Oatmeal shampoo is often recommended in dogs that suffer from allergic reactions. The oatmeal has numerous benefits for the dog’s skin.
When the skin is irritated and itchy, the oatmeal will soothe the skin and will help it recover. This is due to the fact that the oatmeal contains a substance known as avenanthramide, which combined with the phenols in the oatmeal will have a beneficial effect on irritated skin.
The oatmeal that is used for skin in dogs is not the breakfast cereal, but the colloidal oatmeal, which can be found in the form of powders and may be added when shampoos are made.
In addition to irritated skin, the oatmeal can also be used in skin conditions such as:
- Acne
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Hot spots
- Soothe the skin that is affected by flea or tick bites
Treat Dry, Flaky Skin
Dry skin may be caused by the weather or by an underlying condition. However, some dogs may have dryer skin than others. The oatmeal shampoos will moisturize the skin.
Vets may recommend oatmeal shampoo during winter time, to prevent skin flakiness, but some dogs may require this type of shampoo all year long.
Prevent Skin Infections
Dogs that have irritated skin will have an unbalanced pH and this can facilitate the development of harmful yeast cells and bacteria, resulting in bacterial or fungal skin infections.
The oatmeal shampoo will restore the normal pH balance of the skin and this will prevent the fungi or bacteria overgrowth.
Soften Dog’s Coat
The oatmeal shampoo will be beneficial for the dog’s skin, but when the skin is healthy, this will also influence the quality of the coat. The coat should be shiny.
In addition, the oatmeal shampoo can also soften the pet’s coat.
Recommended Oatmeal Shampoos
When you want to buy a shampoo for your pet, you will have to choose carefully. The oatmeal shampoos that you can find on the market may also contain vitamin A and vitamin E, which will have added benefits for the dog’s skin.
However, you should avoid buying shampoos that contain perfumes and many artificial ingredients, which may be harmful for a dog with sensitive or dry skin.
At Home Oatmeal Shampoo
If you want to prepare some shampoo at home, you will need some colloidal oatmeal, which you can obtain also as a powder.
Use 1 cup of oatmeal powder, add 1 cup of baking soda and 100 ml of water. This mixture can be used the same day and cannot be preserved, as it may go bad. However, the shampoo is easy to make anytime you bathe your pet.