How to use dog shampoo

[terravista]

We have a dog with issues........skin issues that is.
He is a puppy farm bred terrier and pretty well grass, fleas, dirt, flowers and a heap of other stuff causes extremely itchy rashes and hair loss.
Medicinal shampoo that works half decent costs a fortune.
The instructions on the bottle, as do plenty of others, say to wash the animal with the shampoo, rinse and repeat leaving it on for 10 minutes.
What I am trying to find out is the first wash with the million dollar shampoo just an excuse to use twice as much of the good stuff and a waste when the first wash and rinse could be done with normal dog shampoo?
Cheers
Ian

[scarps]

West Highland Terrier?

[Robbo]

Don't have the dog any longer but when i did i used baby shampoo as it was fairly mild and gentle on sensitive skin which can be a problem with many dogs. That plus the fact that it was heaps cheaper than the shampoos that the Vets sold.

[Black Diamond]

Terriers are known for their sensitive skin. I wouldn't be using anything harsh to wash him with that's why I wouldnt be using a cheap shampoo to begin with.

[terravista]

West Highland Terrier?
[/quoete]

Nup, a Jack Russell supposed to be wire coat bu more like a longhair.
Cheers

[terravista]

Terriers are known for their sensitive skin. I wouldn't be using anything harsh to wash him with that's why I wouldnt be using a cheap shampoo to begin with.

I agree, but when you compare $20 shampoo against $60 bottles, cheaper is not really cheap.
Cheers

[Stozz]

We use Pinetarsol to wash our dog. While he doesnt have sensitive skin, our previous Bluey did and IMO there is nothing better.

You buy it from the chemist. You can get it as a solution, shampoo, bar, lotion etc. We buy the solution. It comes in a 500ml white and green plastic bottle and is about $15.

It is a runny liquid and lathers VERY easily and so you dont need to use much.  It is bright yellow, but dont panic as once you wash it off, the yellow goes.  If you leave it on for a few minutes it helps too. We always do two lathers each time we wash our dog.

Pinetarsol is usually used for humans with skin conditions like eczema or dermatitis. It is not a soap product, so it doesnt dry out your dog's skin - which normal human shampoos can - and hence exacerbate the problem.  However it does clean the skin gently but thoroughly.

It does have a reasonably strong but not unpleasant smell. Some say it smells like a bushfire.

IT IS BRILLIANT for washing dogs.  Our dog now has a beautiful coat and he never has that doggy smell.

We have discussed it with our Vet and he recommends it too.

[Stozz]

And another thing...

Our old bluey had terribly itchy skin.  He used to get under the side-step of my 4wd and rub his back/rump on it until it was minus any fur and was red raw and weeping - poor little bugger must have been so itchy. Within a few weeks of using Pinetarsol the itch was gone, the skin was healing and the fur growing back.  We have never used anything else since to wash our dogs.

[terravista]

We use Pinetarsol to wash our dog.

Thanks, I used to use it years ago and found it the best shampoo out, but thought it may be too strong for small dogs.
The shampoo we are using now is an expensive canine one with a bunch of extras mixed in by our vet, and it works pretty well, but too bloody expensive if it does not need to be used as a pre-rinse aid.
The shampoo is mainly needed as a backup for steroids that work well, but can only be used for short periods of time.
Cheers