I am thinking of adopting a Bichon Frise that has some mats in its coat. I need to know what is the best kind of shampoo and conditioner/detangler to use on her. The current owner has had the dog only 3 or 4 weeks, and used Dawn dish soap for her bath and no conditioner that I know of.
My dogs have long hair and the only thing I've ever used is Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner. It repels dirt and the conditioner is wonderful. I even use it on my own hair, and the conditioner to shave with.
At the feed store I pay about 7 dollars for a quart bottle and it last for a long, long time. Can also be found at walmart and some drug stores now though I don't think as cheap as the feed store.
You should use shampoo and conditioners made specifically for dogs. Especially in the smaller most likely puppy milled or backyard bred dogs as they are the most likely to have allergies and skin conditions among other health problems.
A dog's skin ph is about 7.4 while a human's is somewhere between 4.5-6 so even human or baby shampoos are NOT a great idea. No matter how expensive they are they can easily irritate a dog's skin.
If you shop carefully, the dog shampoos shouldn't be too expensive especially if you don't overuse them. Like human shampoo they are often much thicker than they need to be so you can think them out and use only what you need.
Baby shampoo is simply ph balanced to about 5.5 so it matches the ph of the human eye and does not irritate the baby's eyes. That's still below what your dog really needs. If cost is a really prohibiting factor, just go with the dog shampoo and use a small amount of human conditioner on the dog.
Do a small patch test the day before by putting a drop of the shampoo and/or conditioner on their skin and rub it in. Use their back so the dog can't lick it off. Check for any redness or itching the next day to make sure it's safe.
Some dogs have little problems but the puppy milled and backyard bred smaller dogs very often have sensitivities. If the dog is currently tolerating something as horrible as Dawn, it may be ok with mild human shampoo and conditioner until you can get a bottle of the dog stuff.
You also need to consider you will have some vet costs over time. The dog will need vaccinations, spay/neuter if it's not already done, you'll need to clip the nails regularly and put a small amount aside for vet emergencies because eventually they will arise.
There are many shelters that sponsor vaccination clinics and that will help a lot but you should still put aside at least $100 a year minimum for vet care and emergencies.
I have a male Bichon. I had to get it groomed when I got him. Now every 5 weeks Summer and 6 weeks Winter, I use a shampoo from his groomer. No problems.
That type of dog doesn't shed (I think). It needs a regular grooming hair cut. At this point I'd take the dog to a groomer and have it shaved down. If you try to brush/comb out the mats it will only hurt your dog and make them not like being brushed.
Where did people get this idea of using Dawn soap on animals? It's very bad for their skin. Use only dog shampoo on your dog.
If your dog is matted, it must need the mats removed by a groomer. It shouldn't cost too much for a small dog. Please see a vet about the basic condition of the dog. If the people who had it let it get matted, they probably didn't take it to a vet.
My mom has been grooming dogs for 40 or so years. She has always used baby shampoo and watered down conditioner when bathing the dogs.
(it used to be called creme rinse). It really is hard on dogs and groomers when they get matted. She always recommends that the owner keep the dog brushed on a regular basis , but don't just start brushing the dog after it has mats.
Adding some omega three to there diet will put some well needed oil in there fur. My daughters vet recommended the same omega three capsules that people take. It was recommended for her pet's hair loss. Possibly the oil will act some what as a conditioner and help with the grooming process.
You can't get the mats out in a bath. Getting them wet will only make them tighter. You'll need to cut them out and then keep the dog brushed.
I have a cockerpoo and from the picture it appears that their hair is similar. I use dog shampoo and conditioner that I use on my hair, which is a moisturizing type. (I use different kinds.) Conditioner for dogs might be better, I haven't used.
I have a Bichon and have him groomed quarterly, using pet products for home grooming. This little dog is the most expressive and loving dog I have ever had. I love all my dogs but this one (given to me because his former owner no longer wanted him) is a little sweetie.
I have a cockapoo. Because of me having surgery I haven't been able to take her to the groomers. (can't drive for 3 months) I have been brushing her but she still has some tangles because her fur is getting long. I use dog shampoo and conditioner, I bought them at the pet store. It didn't cost very much. My dog has had some tangles and I tried the detangler from the pet store but I don't find it works very good. So what I did I put some of her conditioner into a spray bottle and sprayed her with that. I works great!!! My dog looks like a polar bear right now because her hair is so long and fine. I hope this helps you.
If you have a puppy with fleas you should only use blue Dawn and a flea comb to get rid of the fleas and only if they have fleas instead of using a flea shampoo, it is unsafe. Most flea treatments are unsafe for puppies, even some of those expensive spot treatments and collars too. If you treat them once with the spot treatment and it doesn't work you cannot use anything with flea medication for 30 days on any age dog. So, using the Dawn is the only safe thing and it basically kills the fleas to make it easy to remove them with the comb. I spoke to 5 vets about this because this happened to my puppy and they all said to:
Step 1
Bath puppy using Dawn.
Step 2
Vacuum the house.
Step 3
Wash pet bedding frequently. This will help until you can safely use a flea treatment. You don't bath your puppy everyday with Dawn, as it can dry the skin.
Step 4
In between baths, mix Dawn with warm water in a bowl. Dip the flea comb into the soapy water and comb the dog rinsing the comb and removing the fleas by drowning them in the soapy water. I did this in my tub so if any fleas jumped out they couldn't get out and re-infest our house. If they do jump off and are alive, I just drown them in the soapy water.
What is the detailer called that you purchase at feed store or walmart
How could you say Dawn is horrible, Dawn is used to get oil off animals from oil spills? Dawn saves lives and is not horrible!!!
I work at vet clinic and we use dawn on animal but only on puppies and kittens normally to help with fleas it suffocates the fleas and normally puppies and kittens are too young for any medications but fleas can cause a small animal to become anemic
Dawn dish detergent is often used to kill fleas on dogs. If I find my dogs picked up fleas I use pert Plus shampoo, also kills fleas, but much gentler on dogs.
Dawn is commonly used on animals that have fallen victim to oil spills. They use it on seagulls and they use it on seals. Its not as crazy of an idea as say sprinkling food on babies to prevent diaper rash or the same food between your toes to keep your shoes and socks dry as moisture in a warm and dark setting without ventilation are never a good thing. I actually use corn starch in the same way as a baby to keep myself fresh and dry.
I have personally used Mane & Tail Shampoo for equines. Its the strongest stuff Ive found and for me, it gets the job done. Im sure itll depend on the type of mats you got . Hope this helps!!!
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a 7 month old Shih Tzu. My pet's hair seems to be very dry and is tangling up a lot. Any suggestions?
By Roberta
Fish oil caps will help the dryness. I give them to my dog daily.
Try getting a little spray bottle. Add about 2 tablespoons of hair conditioner fill with warm water and shake well. Spray your dogs fur and brush it every few days!
There are some leave in hair conditioners on the market for dogs, after bathing, towel dry the dog then brush or comb a little through. Regular brushing will help as well. A few minutes a day is better than once a week.
A little conditioner or a wide tooth comb will help (like people use!). If you need to use a fish oil pill ( it will make fur smooth and easy to manage and stronger too! and fix any dry skin problems). My mom gives her little Pom a Petite Omega 3 ( Packenzie?) - she has no trouble taking it.
I am looking for a recipe for homemade pet hair detangler.
I had a long hair daschshund and have a wire haired now. Tangles were/are a constant.
You can try rubbing a bit of cornstarch into the tangle and using your fingers to gently unmat the fur. If your dog tolerates brushing, a wide bristle brush can be used to gently unmat small sections at a time
If you use the cornstarch, a gentle oatmeal bath after will get the residue of the cornstarch out of the fur.
If the mats are too bad, you may need to shave the area.we have had to do that quite often.
Avoid using anything with essenital oils. Avoid sprays as the propellant can be dangerous to the pup.
If you are looking for a good way to detangle dogs you can use a good conditionier mixed with water and a little vinegar in the bottle. You should use 1 part conditionier, 3 parts water, and 2 Tablespoon of vinegar. This is what I use in a spray bottle and spray on the dog. I also have gone to the pet store and bought a special comes for tangles. This is not expensive and works wonders on the tangles in the dog's hair. It has a curve on the comb and small teeth inside that have a V on them. You just need to put the cuve under the tangle and then slowly turn the comb to break it up.
