Dog shampoos are specially formulated products targeted for dogs' skin and fur coats. When purchasing dog shampoo, you need to find a product that best suits your dog.
Remember, every dog has unique wants and preferences. The best choice of dog shampoo will not make their bath time dreaded but instead enjoyable.
Luckily, there's a wide selection of formulas, types, and scents of shampoos in the Malaysian market, so there's sure to be a shampoo perfect for your dog!
But is dog shampoo really necessary?
Yes, dog shampoos are essential grooming and hygiene products. Generally, you can use dog shampoo on your dog once a month. These shampoos work deeply clean and moisturize your dogs' skin and fur.
Depending on the type of shampoo and its ingredients, the benefits your dog gets from it differ.
Here's a list of the best dog shampoos in Malaysia!
1. Burt’s Bees 2-in-1 Tearless Shampoo
Puppies, in general, have a more sensitive skin type than adult dogs. Therefore, not all dog shampoos are suitable for months-old dogs. Burt's Bees 2-in-1 Tearless Shampoo is one of the top preferred products amongst puppy parents.
To use this shampoo, gently lather a liberal amount to your puppy's wet fur coat. Afterwards, rinse your puppy with clean water and dry with a towel.
As no sulphates or colourant chemicals are used in this shampoo, you can be confident that it'll not damage your puppy's skin. Moreover, this shampoo is co-formulated with buttermilk to soothe your puppy's skin and also linseed oil to deeply condition its skin and fur coat.
Price: RM 45
Type: Puppy shampoo
Suitable for: puppies below 6 months
Where to buy: Shopee
2. Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Shampoo
The combination of oatmeal 3% and organic aloe vera makes this shampoo suitable to address itchiness and dry skin. Both these ingredients are proven to promote skin healing and re-moisturize skin texture. You can simply massage this shampoo to the whole of your dog's body except for its eyes. Then, rinse your dog with clean lukewarm water.
Additionally, the Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Shampoo is soap-free, meaning it's also gentle on sensitive or allergic dog skins. This shampoo is flea treatment compatible, too, as it will not wash away topical flea medications.
Price: RM 58
Type: Itch relief shampoo
Suitable for: dogs with dry and itchy skin
Where to buy: Lazada
3. Dr Pets Concentrated Perfumed Pet Shampoo
If you're a fan of perfumes and scents, you'd definitely love this pet shampoo! This Paris Hilton perfume-inspired pet shampoo gives long-lasting fragrance for up to 4 days. But that's not the only great thing about it.
Upon application, it also performs deep cleansing and conditioning on your dog's skin surface and fur coat. To use this product, use your fingertips or a soft brush to massage the shampoo and, finally, rinse off the foam. With a promising 99.9% anti-bacterial activity, this pet shampoo will leave your dog clean, healthy, and sweet-scented. Rest assured, cuddle time with your pup will be enjoyable than ever now.
Price: RM 15
Type: Antibacterial shampoo
Suitable for: dogs with normal skin only
Where to buy: Dr. Pets Website // Shopee
4. MAOWASH Hydrating Hypoallergenic Pet Shampoo
Hypoallergenic describes the unlikelihood of a product causing allergic reactions such as flaking, dandruff, or excessive scratching. Though the MAOWASH hypoallergenic pet shampoo is suitable for all skin types, it is especially the best for sensitive skins.
Firstly, you’d have to wet your dog with lukewarm water. Then, apply and gently massage the shampoo for 1 to 3 minutes before rinsing it off with water. If necessary, you can shampoo your dog twice at a time.
On top of that, the addition of Lonicera japonica (Honey sucker flower) extract and Neroli essential oil enhances and maintains long-lasting hydration of your dog's skin. The fruity scent of this shampoo could also help as a deodorant and reduce your dog's body odour.
Price: RM92 to RM131
Type: Hypoallergenic shampoo
Suitable for: dogs with normal, sensitive, or dry skins
Where to buy: MAUOP website
5. Yu Pet Shampoo
The YU Oriental Natural Herbs Care brand is a Taiwanese award-winning pets line launched in 2007. Their products are formulated with the intent to make every bath time happy and fun for pets.
Accordingly, the YU Oriental Natural Herbs Pet Shampoo comes in 10 different soothing scents sourced from flowers and woods. The delicate deodorizing properties that come with it can last for up to 7 days after a single wash.
Price: RM50
Type: General purpose shampoo
Suitable for: dogs with any skin type
Where to buy: Shopee // Lazada
6. DD101 Organic No Rinse Waterless Pet Foam Shampoo
Dry shampoos are products that do not require any water rinsing. It's best for use on days your dog requires some quick touch-up and spot cleaning without the need to have an entire bath time.
To use this product, you will only need to apply a small amount of foam to your dog's body and give it a good massage. Finally, wipe your dog's body with a dry and clean towel—that's it, you're good to go!
This pet shampoo has no harmful chemicals such as paraben, sulphate, alcohol, or ammonia. Therefore, you do not have to worry about your dog accidentally ingesting the shampoo too.
Price: RM30 to RM50
Type: Dry shampoo
Suitable for: dogs with any skin type
Where to buy: Shopee
7. Nanovet Pet Medicated Shampoo
Fungal, bacterial and yeast infections are common in pet dogs. If your dog is suffering from any skin infection, you can use the Nanovet Pet Medicated Shampoo to relieve associated symptoms of itching and scratching.
Furthermore, the advanced nanomedicine technology used to produce this shampoo formula allows it to achieve over 99.99% of effectiveness in combating bacterial and fungal growth (including highly resistant strains).
When using this shampoo, it's important to wet your dog first with warm water. Then, lather an even coat of shampoo on your dog's body. Remember to let the shampoo sit for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing it off for optimal results.
This gives the shampoo sufficient time to penetrate and reach its target sites. That said, it's crucial to note that you must not use this shampoo on your dog more than twice a day.
Price: RM15 to RM29
Type: Medicated shampoo
Suitable for: long and short-coated dogs of any age and skin type.
Where to buy: Shopee
8. Malaseb Medicated Shampoo
This medicated shampoo contains active drugs chlorhexidine (anti-bacterial) and miconazole (anti-fungal). It's commonly recommended for the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis that's characterized by symptoms such as:
- Whitish scales (dandruff) on dog bedding
- Flaky skin
- Red and inflamed skin
- Strong odour in areas with skin folds (feet, neck, armpits)
This shampoo is rather simple to use. You'd just have to lather the shampoo on wet dog skin and leave it on for 10 minutes. Finally, rinse it off and dry your dog with a clean towel.
Malaseb shampoo also kills active and infective spores to avoid worsening the condition. The ability of this product to relieve itchiness also avoids the risk of infection spreading to other areas of the dog's body.
Price: RM 60
Type: Medicated shampoo
Suitable for: dogs with any skin type and age
Where to buy: Shopee
Can I use human shampoo on my dog?
No. Human skin has a lower (more acidic) pH than dog skin. Since dog shampoos are formulated to maintain human skin pH, exposing them to your dog's skin will disrupt pH balance. This makes your dog more vulnerable to skin abrasion and subsequent bacteria, virus, or parasite invasion.
Moreover, most human shampoos consist of ingredients that are harsh on dogs. Did you know that while human skin is 10-15 cell layers thick, dogs have only 3-5 cell layers thick? Therefore, human shampoos will damage your dog's skin and make it more dry, flaky, red, or cause rashes in the long run.
Which shampoo is best for dogs?
The best dog shampoo for your dog depends on the goals you'd like to achieve in terms of your dog's skin and coat health. For example, pet shampoos with antibacterial properties will do the trick if you'd like to avoid diseases or infections.
On the other hand, if you have no preferences and would just like a pet shampoo that keeps your dog clean, a general shampoo would be the best. Define your goals and look for products that suit them.
Conclusion
Though pet shampoos may help prevent some diseases or infections, your pet can still fall ill from time to time. Oyen’s dog insurance policies cover emergency or illness veterinarian consultation fees. That being so, your furry friend can receive veterinarian care from various clinics throughout Malaysia without you having to worry about huge bills.
The first step towards safeguarding your pet’s health begins by checking your pet’s eligibility for insurance.