My horse’s skin reacts to common horse shampoos. He gets small hives all over. I’ve tried multiple brands.
What shampoo can I use that is super mild and perfume free?
What have you tried? (Might be handier if you listed what your horse has reacted to so people don’t name something that already doesn’t work.)
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Try one of the equishield shampoos by Kentic vet. My vet recommended this shampoo when my horse was having some sort of allergic reaction last summer. I used the HC.
https://www.farmvet.com/GROOMING/Bathing/Shampoo/manufacturer/Kinetic-Vet
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Dr Bronner’s unscented baby soap is what I’d try
Ingredients: water, organic coconut oil*, potassium hydroxide**, organic palm kernel oil*, organic olive oil*, organic hemp oil, organic jojoba oil, citric acid, tocopherol (*certified fair trade ingredients) (**none remains after saponifying oils into soap & glycerin).
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Have you tried regular Ivory dishwashing liquid or Castile soap?
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Also thirding the recommendation for castille soap (which is waht Dr. Bronner’s is). I actually use the Kirk’s bar on my sensitive skinned horse. I rub the bar on her directly and then rinse with water. Another benefit of castille soap is that it rinses easily.
It could also be valuable to do a white vinegar rinse after you bath.
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I dont find I need much shampoo unless it’s a white horse going to a show. Most of the time in summer just water baths.
I do use Johnson and Johnson baby wash on her underpants.
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??? 
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Haha autocorrect. Underparts!!
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I know but I couldn’t resist 
“Mild” is too subjective. A shampoo with jojoba oil in it might be considered mild, but if there’s an allergy to it…
We really do need to know what you’ve used, as that might give some insight into what the ingredient might be A lot of newer shampoos have tea tree oil, or citronella, for example, and some horses can react strongly to those.
I wish I could tell you the whole list, but I’m a packrat with 10 shampoos in my tack box. I know the list includes:
- Orvus
- Coat Defense Shampoo
- E3 Argan Oil Shampoo
- Mane & Tail
- One of the EQYss products (can’t remember which)
- Farnam Aloedine
This is helpful, thanks. I know he can tolerate Chlorhexidine because I’ve used it to clean wounds on him in the past.
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Sunlight mild soap NOT the Sunlight dishwasher detergent is the go to for mild soaps.
If not grey and not going to a competition ditch all soaps and groom instead.
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I have used MalAcetic on the dogs and my sensitive horse for years. Early on it was a prescription but not anymore.
I buy it by the gallon, which lasts a long time.
https://www.dechra-us.com/our-products/us/equine/horse/non-prescription/malacetic#Shampoo
You can buy it thru Chewy and other on line stores:)
Interesting…“non-soap” shampoo. Does it lather and clean?
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@DawgLady yes it does lather and clean. But it doesn’t lather as much as regular shampoos do.
It gets everyone clean and has an almost hypnotic affect on the dogs and the horses.
As soon as my allergy horse smells it, he drops his head waiting for his forehead to be washed. I keep a little bit on a washcloth to wipe the insides of his nostrils and he really loves that😍
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pHisoderm and Burts Bees baby shampoo are amazing for my kids sensitive skin. Maybe try it on your horse??
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Shampoos with chlorhex, ketoconazole, or similar are not meant to be used regularly or without an active, diagnosed skin condition (Bacterial or fungal infection). They are very drying and will strip the coat of natural oils.
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I use this as well and have also found it useful in calming down allergic skin.
