Hypoallergenic shampoos for dogs: what are they and when should you use one?
We all want our pups to be outside as much as they like, living their best life - whether that’s in grassy fields, damp woodland or muddy footpaths. However, this outdoor lifestyle can lead to mucky pups and the need for a good bath!
With hundreds of dog shampoos available, it can be confusing to know what to look for, and what is best for your pooch. If you have a dog with sensitive skin, you may want to be even more cautious about purchasing the right product. Think you might need a hypoallergenic shampoo but not quite sure what they are or what to look for? Read on to find out more!
What are allergies?
An allergy happens when your dog’s immune system mistakes something relatively harmless (such as a type of soap, or pollen) as a threat, and launches an immune response, causing inflammation. Allergic responses can be caused by eating, inhaling or touching an allergen (the thing that your dog is allergic to). Allergic responses can vary from mild irritation to severe reactions.
The word ‘allergy’ is often used interchangeably with ‘sensitivities’, which is when your dog is more likely to react to certain ingredients and chemicals than other pups are, but their body doesn’t launch a full-scale attack.
Allergies in dogs often result in skin symptoms, such as redness, itching and irritation.
Why might I need a hypoallergenic shampoo?
There are two main reasons that you might be searching for a hypoallergenic shampoo.
Your dog has allergies, or other skin disease
If your dog is allergic to anything – pollens, dust mites, flea saliva –, they will suffer from bouts of itchy, red and sensitive skin. Dogs with allergies tend to have a weak skin barrier – the skin surface is damaged, allowing allergens to enter, and the normal microbiome (the ‘good’ bacteria and yeasts) is altered, leaving them prone to infection.
Dogs with allergies, or any other chronic skin disease, need a shampoo that isn’t going to further irritate their sore skin, and actively uses ingredients to soothe the inflammation and calm the itch. Shampoos such as the DOUXO® S3 range contain natural ingredients such as Ophytrium to soothe sore skin and strengthen that weak skin barrier.
Your dog is sensitive to products
Dogs’ skin is more delicate that you might think. The skin barrier is highly complex, and can easily be damaged by disease, exposure to the elements, over-enthusiastic grooming and general wear and tear. They also have quite acidic skin, and this different pH level can cause them to be highly sensitive to topical products. Some dogs react badly to certain products on the skin, such as spot-ons, shampoos and conditioning sprays. If your dog is known to react to standard topical products, a hypoallergenic shampoo may be a safer option to reduce potential problems.
What is a hypoallergenic shampoo?
Many dog shampoos contain ingredients such as fragrances, colourants, parabens, phthalates and nanoparticles. These all have the potential to cause irritation due to their chemical nature, or to alter the normal pH of a dog’s skin (usually around pH 5.5 to 7), causing disruption to the normal skin barrier. This can then lead to irritation and inflammation. The pH of dog’s skin is very different to human skin, and therefore using harsh products, soap or human shampoo is not advisable.
There is no specific definition of a hypoallergenic shampoo. Ideally, they should be designed to reduce skin reactions in sensitive dogs, by using neutral and non-irritant ingredients.
How do I find a hypoallergic shampoo?
The term ‘hypoallergenic shampoo’ is not well regulated, so it is easy for companies to market a product as such, with a fairly loose interpretation of the phrase. There are many hypoallergenic shampoos available, so it is useful to have some idea of what you are looking for.
Firstly, the product should not contain lots of fragrances, colourings or unnecessary chemicals. Check the ingredient list for potential reactive chemicals. The DOUXO® S3 shampoos are guaranteed to be free from soap, parabens, sulfate, colourants and nanoparticles, making them unlikely to cause reaction.
Good hypoallergic shampoos also tend to contain specific ingredients, such as Ophytrium, to soothe, equilibrate and strengthen the skin. Specifically chosen and formulated high quality ingredients are less likely to cause irritation than more concentrated products.
The shampoo should also have a pH suitable for dog skin. The wrong pH can not only cause irritation, but also alter the normal bacteria and yeasts living on your dog’s skin, leaving them more vulnerable to infection. Dogs’ skin is surprisingly acidic, at around pH 5.5-7, which is needed to maintain the robust skin barrier and control the microbiome. The DOUXO®S3 shampoos have a specialised pH range to work in harmony with your pup’s natural skin make-up.
Key takeaways
- Skin allergies and sensitivities are common in
- Many dog shampoos contain various fragrances, colourants and chemicals which can irritate dog skin.
- You may need a hypoallergic shampoo if your dog has sensitive skin, or has a chronic skin problem such as allergic dermatitis.
- Hypoallergenic shampoos are not well regulated, so shop around and look closely at the ingredients.
- Look for shampoos such as the DOUXO®S3 range which are free from paraben, sulfate, colourants and nanoparticles, have a suitable pH for dog skin and contain naturally soothing ingredients such as Ophytrium.
