Its another Skin topic!

Sorry to bore you all again with this but my 2 year old staffy has a skin allergy, like most she can scratch and bleed etc and all inbetween her toes are always red, she is getting better as the months go on but that is because i havnt bathed her for a while, basically i am scared of using any shampoo on her because as a 15 week old puppy i bathed her and she had a MAJOR reaction to it causing a hefty vets bill in the early hours of the morning haha, so its apparent i cant use anything scented on her, which is a problem as she constantly STINKS! Iv been reading on here about John Paul's Oatmeal Shampoo and was wandering if anyone has any suggestions on a really gentle shampoo i could use that is scented because she smells really bad now,

I have been bathing her im some puppy/kitten shampoo i got from our vets but again its completly unscented, so she always looks nice and shiny but still smells when shes dry

Thanks for reading

It's a bit of a vicious circle at the moment isn't it, washing her is taking the natural oils from her skin, which will cause the itching. Caryll uses a very good doggy shampoo but I cannot remember the name of it. HELP Caryll ........

It is that haha, her coat to be honest isnt in very good shape she looks dull etc iv tried giving her cod liver oil capsuals to see if that will help her

I use the John Paul oatmeal shampoo, and it's certainly gentle, but it is scented!

It's also quite expensive! If you're unsure, email the John Paul company & ask them if they can supply a sample so you can test for any allergic reaction. If they'll do that you can rub a small amount onto, say, a back leg & watch for any reaction.

Have you tried any non-perfumed, puppy shampoos?

Yeh we have a bottle i purchased from the vets for puppies/ kittens and she has no reaction to it but she always smells, and her skin after a few weeks is dry and flakey i did try a spot of baby oil on her, NEVER AGAIN! It took weeks to go after and i was sick or washing smears off the windows and floors haha

Bailey got a bit itchy after a bath with normal puppy shampoo. I saw the John Paul Oatmeal stuff recommended by Caryll and its fine to use on Bailey! No itching or redness after a bath now !

Think il try some, to be honest i dont care how much it cost iv spent enough on her since having her as long as shes ok

I have always used tea tree shampoo on Pixee. Suppose to be good for skin problems however I would go with What Caryll says.

What are you doing to control the allergy? Is the smell definitely the skin, not the ears, mouth, anal glands etc? I would make sure the allergy is controlled and their are no secondary bacterial infections giving rise to the smell. As you mentioned, her coat is not the best so I would be investigating the source of that.

Also, how often are you washing her? I've red that you can use diluted apple cider vinegar with an unscented shampoo, and also dry her thoroughly after - with a towel first and then a hairdryer set on cool or cold (NOT warm or hot). Moist skin is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

At work I use malaseb shampoo for my skin complaint dogs, but not sure if you have to buy that from the vets. The oatmeal shampoo works well too, caused a reaction in 1 of my dogs but was fine with the other 20+! We also give piriton for the itching!

Troy gets malaseb shampoo from the vets but have been making my own oatmeal shampoo messy job tho but do's help

I would only use malaseb if recommended by the vet. It's a very strong shampoo meant for a specific purpose, ie mites. Not really good for sensitive skin issues or allergies.

that says it all so confusing at the mo he is getting over dermadox

Hi guys/girls thanks for the replies she dosnt smell smell itsva typical dog smell she has but really strong her ears/ eyes are fine tbh i think her allergy is getting better as the years go on, its really the condition of her coat etc im concerned in,

I really am impressed with maleseb shampoo and you can freely buy it online or a similar version you dont need to see a vet.
It is used as a antibacterial wash for all dermological conditions its used for treating secondary infections caused by irritations,fleas,mites,hotspots ect ect.
Both my vets have said its great to use watered down as a general body wash and is perfectly safe and good for conditioning the coat.
I wouldnt say its good for a smelly dog as the smells not that strong but if you think your dog may have some underlying dermalogical condition then its defo worth a try