Is Malaseb shampoo safe for regular use on dogs without skin issues?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am not sure what you mean by "competitor". Malaseb is a great medicated shampoo! I use it in dogs with yeast and bacteria skin infections. I recommend bathing 2-3 times per week and allow the lather to sit on the skin for 10 mins before rinsing. Let us know if you need anymore help! Good luck!

The key to using the medicated shampoo is contact time. After lathering, the shampoo needs 10-15 minutes of contact time with the skin/coat before rinsing. The Dechra brand is fine. When there is an active skin issue bathing should be twice a week with using the spray or mousse in between. Once looking better, you can decrease frequency of the products.

It depends on what you are using the shampoo for. If it is just maintenance baths I recommend an oatmeal based pet shampoo. You can get one at any pet store. Do not use a human shampoo as you can dry out their skin. If Honey is having a skin problem I recommend a shampo from a veterinarian, depending on the issue. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Head and Shoulder is OK but not the best product for this issue. Dandruff is called seborrhea and I would use a dog shampoo made specifically for this issue like this one. It also comes as a mousse that you can apply instead of bathing with a shampoo. http://www.allivet.com/p-6684-douxo-seborrhea-shampoo-for-dogs-and-cats.aspx http://www.allivet.com/p-6678-douxo-seborrhea-mousse-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx I, personally would get the mousse since his seborrhea is just in one location. I would use it every 3-4 days until improvement noticed. If no improvement within a few weeks I would get Pokey to your vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

If you bought it over the counter (OTC), no prescription is needed. Directions for use should be on the container. Do not bathe more often than directed since this may make the itching worse and can dry out the skin. Try to determine the underlying cause of the itch. This may require a visit and exam with your veterinarian. Causes may include skin infection, external parasites, allergies or food sensitivities.

Thanks for using PetCoach! The concentration of chlorhexidine in that formulation tends to be higher than what we normally use in pets. You can use a veterinary [chlorhexidine shampoo](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/septiderm-v-antiseptic-skin-care-bath-grooming-shampoo-for-dogs-cats-and-horses) which contains a more diluted version of the chlorhexidine. That could help with a secondary infection. The seborrhea sometimes can improve with supplemented fish oil. You can get a veterinary version of fish oil online or at your local pet store. Good luck and have a good one!

I wouldn't recommend adding either of these essential oils to your pets shampoo because they don't provide any health benefits for your dog. Also there is no literature to suggest what is a safe dosage that can be applied to your pet, if at all. If your pet has some skin condition then I would encourage buying a shampoo that is already formulated and tested as safe for Boovs to have. The Duoxo shampoo line (available on line through amazon.com) is a safe and effective alternative that can help if Boovs has a certain skin condition. If he doesn't have a skin condition then a regular over the counter aloe based or oatmeal based puppy shampoo is adequate. The haircoat is most affected by what the pet eats than what is applied topically. Feeding a high quality puppy food such as Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Evo, or Eukanuba are best. Best wishes with Boovs and his skin. Take care.