CB_VICAS Which Shampoo and When - Love My Pet

Which Shampoo and When
Callum Blair BVMS MRCVS
Shampoos can be a useful adjunct to the management of various skin conditions and
the maintenance of healthy skin but knowing what to use and when can be perplexing.
This is complicated further by the fact that the majority of the available shampoos are
not authorised medicines so there are no data sheets or SPC’s to refer to for
information on their activity.
The main objectives of using shampoos in veterinary dermatology are:
• Control surface micro-organisms
• Remove crusts & scales
• Restore epidermal turnover rate
• Restore correct hydration
• Remove parasites
• Remove allergens
Not all of these will be applicable in all situations, but the correct selection can be
made by identifying the problems that are present and marrying these with an
understanding of the function of various active ingredients.
Frequency of Shampooing
The frequency of shampooing will be dependent on the severity of the skin condition
on initial presentation and will often start as frequently as every other day. The
frequency will then tend to reduce to weekly as the condition improves and then
reduce further until the optimum frequency for maintenance of the individual case is
established. The requirements for specific active ingredients and activities will also
alter as the management of the condition progresses (e.g. control of 2º
Bacterial/Malassezia overgrowth)
Shampooing Technique
• Wet animal all over
• Use 5-10ml shampoo for medium sized dog
• Pre-dilute shampoo in appropriate volume of water before application
• Massage well into coat/skin
• Ensure water contact of 10-15 minutes
– less → drying of skin especially if already dry
– more → maceration and loss of stratum corneum resulting in
compromised barrier function
• Rinse thoroughly

The main conditions where shampoos may be of interest are:
• Routine Skin Care
• Pyoderma
• Excessive scale – Greasy or Dry
• Atopy
Routine Skin Care
There are a number of myths surrounding the routine shampooing of cats and dogs.
Myth
Dog’s skin is the same as
human skin
Regular shampooing dries
the skin
It is normal for dog’s skin
to smell
Reality
The pH of dog skin is ~7.5
and human skin is ~5.5
Only if inappropriate
shampoos are used
So-called ‘doggy smell’ is
the fatty acids in superficial
skin gone rancid
The important issue is that the shampoo should be formulated for use in dogs and/or
cats. When considering the need for routine shampooing the effect of the unnatural
environment that we keep dogs in should be taken into account. Factors such as the
dehydrating effect of central heating, the effect of man-made fibres on the build up of
static charge on the coat and the ubiquitous nature of house dust mites in modern
households all conspire to undermine the health of the skin of even a normal dog.
Shampoos for routine use should provide three main properties: emollient
(moisturiser), conditioner and cleansing agents. This will help to counteract the
environmental assault on the skin as well as removal of general dust, dirt and debris.
The Benefits of Using Properly Formulated Shampoos
CLEANSING
Removes old skin cells, dirt
and rancid fat. Cleans pores
to allow correct flow of oils.
CONDITIONING
Closes up scales on hairs so
imparts shine and lessens
opportunity for dirt etc to
collect on coat. Anti-static.
ALLERGEN REDUCTION
Reduces risk of some skin
conditions in predilection breeds
such as Westies by physical
allergen removal
RE-HYDRATION
Puts moisture back into the
skin which is often lost due
to environmental pressure.

Examples of ingredients included to provide these properties are:
• Urea/Lactic acid – Hygroscopic (attract water to skin), emollient &
humectant
• Glycerine/propylene glycol – Cosmetic (applies shine), conditioning and
prevents water loss through skin (humectant)
• Non-soap cleansing compounds (e.g. olefin sulphonate)
An example of a routine shampoo is Sebocalm (Urea + Glycerine + olefin
sulphonate), Virbac.
Some plant extracts such as oatmeal and aloe vera are reported to have soothing as
well as emollient properties. Shampoos based on these ingredients can be used for
routine shampooing as well as soothing itchy skin or in dogs prone to itchy skin.
Examples of these shampoos are Coatex Aloe and Oatmeal (Aloe Vera + Oatmeal),
VetPlus and Episoothe (colloidal oatmeal), Virbac.
Pyoderma
It should be determined whether either deep or superficial pyoderma is present and the
coexistence of other problems such as folliculitis, damaged skin and possible
associated greasiness identified. Pyoderma may also be a secondary or complicating
factor in a variety of other primary conditions such as those listed below.
Chlorhexidine (e.g. Malaseb, VetXX in conjunction with Miconazole)
• Antibacterial - residual effect (binds to keratin)
• Antifungal
• Drying
2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide (e.g. Paxcutol, Virbac)
• Keratolytic
• Follicular flusher (i.e. really deep cleanser)
• Potent antimicrobial - bacteria/fungi/yeasts
• Potent degreaser
• Good idea to use with humectant
• Useful adjunct to Demodex Therapy
In animals susceptible to pyoderma it is worth considering routine shampooing to
maintain skin health.
10 % Ethyl Lactate (1,2) (e.g. Etiderm, Virbac; Lactaderm, Vetoquinol)
• Releases ethanol and lactic acid following contact with the skin
• Lactic acid:
o keratoplastic properties
o anti-bacterial by lowering skin pH
• Ethanol
o Antibacterial and antifungal properties
o degreasing agent

Excessive Scale – Dry or Greasy
These cases will often present with bacterial (commonly Staph. intermedius) and/or
Malassezia pachydermatis overgrowth. A combination of Chlorhexidine and
Miconazole (Malaseb, VetXX) authorised in the UK is specifically formulated for this
purpose and has a proven track record in the treatment of this problem. When
overgrowth has been brought under control these cases will often show a significant
clinical improvement. Once this is achieved, targeted use of keratoplastic and
keratolytic agents will help maintain this improvement, these are summarised in the
table below (1) :
Agent Keratolytic Keratoplastic Degreasing Other
Ammonium Lactate
Benzoyl Peroxide
Antimicrobial
Coal/Pine Tar
anti-pruritic
Salicylic acid
Bacteriostatic, mildly
soothing
Selenium sulphide Antifungal at 2.5%
Sulphur (mild) Antibacterial,
antifungal
In addition to these primarily keratolytic/keratoplastic agents, shampoos for dogs
prone to excessive scurf may include a specific anti-bacterial and/or anti-fungal agent
to maintain the microbial health of the skin:
• Chloroxylenol – Antibacterial agent (found in Dettol)
• Piroctone Olamine – broad spectrum antibacterial and antifungal
Formulations of shampoos used in the management of dogs suffering from excessive
scale including miscellaneous ingredients:
Shampoo Company Ingredients Dry/Greasy
Coatex Medicated VetPlus Chloroxylenol
Salicylic acid
Mildly Dry –
Greasy
Sodium thiosulphate (sulphur)
Sebolytic Virbac Salicylic acid (2%)
Greasy
Linoleic acid & γ-Linolenic acid
• Maintain barrier function and
health of keratinocytes
Zinc gluconate & Vitamin B6
• Inhibit sebum secretion
Piroctone Olamine
Sebomild P Virbac Ammonium Lactate
Piroctone Olamine
Dry – Mildly
Greasy
Seleen CEVA Selenium Sulphide Greasy

Atopy
It has now been established that percutaneous penetration of allergens present on the
skin surface plays an important role in the development of atopic dermatitis (3,4) .
Two factors increase the significance of this in the domestic environment. Firstly
positively charged House Dust Mites are attracted to the negative charge on dogs’
coats and secondly it has been identified that affected dogs suffer from epidermal
structural modifications (5,6) which compromise lipid (mainly linoleic acid) barrier
function (7) . The net effect is to both increase the level of topical antigenic challenge
and the potential for absorption of these antigens. Dogs suffering from atopy also
frequently suffer from bacterial/malassezia overgrowth so initially
Chlorhexidine/Miconazole may be indicated. As in dogs with excessive scale once
overgrowth is brought under control the need for shampoo ingredients will change.
The shampoos based on plant extracts oatmeal and aloe vera, mentioned previously,
can also be used for soothing itchy skin and have conditioning and emollient
properties. A variety of other ingredients have been formulated into a foaming microemulsion
(Allermyl, Virbac) specifically to maintain the health of skin in dogs
susceptible to atopy:
• Linoleic acid – help to replace lost superficial lipids and address the
compromised barrier function
• Conditioner – neutralise the negative charge on coat and reduce attraction to
HDM
• Vitamin E – Anti-oxidant and soothing
• Glycotechnology (e.g Monosaccharides fucose + rhamnose) new concept in
dermatology have soothing properties and disrupt formation of bacterial
colonies (8)
• Piroctone olamine – Antibacterial/Antifungal Agent
REFERENCES
1. Curtis, C., (1998) Use and abuse of topical dermatological therapy in dogs and
cats Part 1. Shampoo therapy. In Practice 20: 244 – 251.
2. de Jaham, C., (2003). Effects of an ethyl lactate shampoo in conjunction with a
systemic antibiotic in the treatment of canine superficial bacterial pyoderma in
an open-label, nonplacebo-controlled study. Vet Therapeutics 4(1):94-100
3. White S.D. & Bourdeau P., (1995). – Canine atopy: an update of new data. Le
Point Vétérinaire, 27 (169), 11-21.
4. Halliwell R.E.W. (2000). Atopic dermatitis: clinical signs and diagnosis -
Proceeding of the 4th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology, San
Francisco, California, USA.

5. Scott D.W., Miller W.H. & Griffin C.E., (1995). Immunologic Skin Diseases -
In Muller & Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology, 1995, 5th ed., 502.
6. Koch H.J., (2000). Atopic dermatitis: treatments old and new - Proceeding of
the 4th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology, San Francisco, California,
USA.
7. Kwochka K.W., (1993). The Structure and Function of Epidermal Lipids -
Veterinary Dermatology, 4(4), 151-9.
8. Lloyd, D.H., Viac, J., Werling, D., Rème, C.A., Gatto, H., (2007). Role of
sugars in surface microbe–host interactions and immune reaction modulation.
Vet Dermatology 18(4):197-204.