Gentle Hypo Allergenic No Fragrance Shampoo?

[rockonxox]

The allergies strike again… this time with the shampoo I used. Ace was smelly so I gave him a bath with a medicated shampoo that didn’t have any ingredients listed that he is allergic to on it. I had used it once before and began noticing hives (hair looks raised in areas, but didn’t notice that his skin was welted so not sure if this was true hives, but definitely not a good thing to have happen). At the time, I did not correlate this with the shampoo. 3 months later and having the same reaction it is definitely the culprit.

The shampoo I used is GNC Pets Medicated Itch Relief Dog Shampoo. The ingredients are: Pramoxine HCL 0.25%, Hydrocortisone 0.05%, Lidocaine HCL 0.05%, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lactate, Glycerin, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Fragrance, DMDM Hydantoin, Blue 1.

So out of those I’m thinking that he is potentially having the reaction from the Aloe, Fragrance, or dye? I am looking for a completely fragrance free and aloe free soap to try on him and thought of Johnson & Johnson Baby Wash. However, I looked it up and on their site there are a lot of recent complaints that the formula changed and I noticed that it has fragrance listed as an ingredient. I’m hesitant to try it for that reason. I definitely can not use anything with oats or oatmeal because he is allergic to that. I’d also like to stay away from Aloe just in case that is the culprit, but so many anti-allergy or anti-itch shampoos include one of those ingredients. I know that Dawn is used in oil spills or for skunky dogs or those with fleas, but is it too harsh to use as a regular (every 3 or so months) shampoo on a dog that has sensitive skin? Any thoughts on shampoos I should look at?

[Pep_n_Ann]

My dog does not have sensitive skin, but I do. I use Dawn on him because I do not break out from it. I’ve used it as often as once a week with no issues.

[Irish_Ei_s]

Castille soap ??
And I believe Wen now does a petcare line, as does Burts Bees

[rockonxox]

Looks like WEN was at QVC and is no longer carried and the WEN website didn’t have working links so couldn’t see the ingredients. All were scented except maybe the original (can’t tell though because no ingredient list). Burts Bees has a lot of ingredients I’m not sure about with my dog. Our allergy test covered environmental and food, but no topical ingredients.

Found a potential option at Chewy - Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hypoallergenic Shampoo. It was the only one I found out of 8 pages (other than one that said “natural fragrance” so I’m asking Chewy if they can expand on that at all). There was a soap bar made of a lot of oils and clay and not a whole lot else that may be a possibility. Wondering about easy of use on that type of a product, but it had good reviews.

I’m going to give him a diluted ACV rinse and see if that helps his skin calm down. I may just have to end up making a DIY shampoo with castile soap/ACV/olive oil and then if that is fine I could always test adding in different essential oils to make it smell good.

[Irish_Ei_s]

Try getting away from detergents, try Dove Sensitive. Only thing besides Castille I can use.

[rockonxox]

Dove Sensitive is a human product… not a good choice for dogs (different Ph levels in humans v dogs).

[walkinthewalk]

MalAcetic shampoo is hands down “it” for me. It works great on my dogs and my horse with environmental/itchy skin issues.

https://www.dechra-us.com/products/details/malacetic®-shampoo

ive been using it as needed since 2004 or 2005. I buy it by the Fallon since I use it on the horse.

It has a very calming effect on both dogs and horses:)

a little bit but goes a long way, so it lasts a long time. I am only on my third gallon since I first started buying it:)

Chewy.com sells it and so does Amazon but Amazon is on my s*** list for putting a charge for Amazon Prime on DH’s credit card when he did NOT sign up for it:(

[rockonxox]

Ah, I didn’t find it on Chewy because it is temporarily out of stock so didn’t show in the shampoo menu. It does list fragrance as an ingredient (hate when they can’t be specific about things), but might give it a go.

[Romany]

Try Cetaphil. Doesn’t sting, no extras.

[rockonxox]

I don’t think they make Cetaphil for a dog do they? This isn’t for an issue with my human skin, it is for an issue with my dogs skin. Not sure if I really want to be using human products on him. I’m not super sciency, but I have read a bit that human products can be more harmful than helpful due to Ph levels being higher in dogs than humans.

[Romany]

@rockonxox

I don’t think they make Cetaphil for a dog do they? This isn’t for an issue with my human skin, it is for an issue with my dogs skin. Not sure if I really want to be using human products on him. I’m not super sciency, but I have read a bit that human products can be more harmful than helpful due to Ph levels being higher in dogs than humans.

I suggested it because it doesn’t have the crap in it (I think!) that most shampoos, body washes, etc, do. I find it’s great for cleaning without stinging or irritating, which is why I suggested it. It’s also very good for cleaning post-skunking, bonus! I used it once when I didn’t have the usual (nasty, irritating, eye-stinging) mix of hydrogen peroxide, detergent and baking soda handy, and it did an excellent job of cleaning without causing any discomfort to mucous membranes, etc. I’m not a vet or a doctor, but maybe give it a spot test if that’s possible?

Johnson & Johnson anything is miserable stuff, stings horribly. I use Dawn on my dishes but if I don’t wear rubber gloves my hand skin flakes and peels within hours. Ick.

[walkinthewalk]

@rockonxox

Ah, I didn’t find it on Chewy because it is temporarily out of stock so didn’t show in the shampoo menu. It does list fragrance as an ingredient (hate when they can’t be specific about things), but might give it a go.

Here’s the ingredients list off my gallon jug of MalAcetic:

2% acetic acid
2% boric acid
sodium laureate sulfate
cocamidopropyl betaine
disodium cocoamphodiacetate
laurl glucoside
sodium chloride
glycerine
PEG-8 Laurate
Laureth 4
sodium carbonate
methylchloroisothiazolinone
methylisothiazolinone
fragrance

---

Holee-molee! I’m a pretty decent speller and pronouncer of words but I gotta say, this ^^^^ was grueling, lollol. I hope this IPad didn’t change any of the words as it is often prone to do.

And I hope this helps:)

[rockonxox]

Thanks for doing all of that. Those are some massive words for sure I think my vet may carry that one… I got the one in the purple bottle by that brand from them, although it was before I had this guy so never used it on him.

[walkinthewalk]

@rockonxox

Thanks for doing all of that. Those are some massive words for sure I think my vet may carry that one… I got the one in the purple bottle by that brand from them, although it was before I had this guy so never used it on him.

That makes sense. When I first started buying 'MalAcetic, it was prescription only and I had to go thru the vet.

Somewhere are along the line, it became an OTC product.

i don’t think there’s a shelf life on this product. Even though I have a new gallon I bought last year, I am still using up the gallon from ten or so years ago. It still has the same calming affect on the animals.

When I shampoo my allergy horse in the summer, I start out wiping the inside of his nostrils with a tiny bit of MalAcetic suds on a wet washcloth. The ole pot smoker just about falls to sleep for the rest of his bath, lollol