Can shampoo rid dog of dandruff?

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By Dr. John Koch

Question: My dog has a dandruff problem. I have been using a dandruff shampoo on him, but it is getting worse. Is there a particular dandruff shampoo that you recommend?

Answer: I don't know of any dog shampoos that are specifically labeled for dandruff so I am going to assume that you are referring to a human shampoo. Human shampoo should not be used in pets, because canine hair and skin is very different than ours. There are several differences that could be discussed, however the most important is probably in the acidity. Humans have pretty acidic skin and hair. Dogs on the other hand have alkaline skin and hair.

Veterinarians used to tell dog owners not to bathe pets very often. The reason for this was that there weren't any shampoos specifically for them. All the pet shampoos were human shampoo that had been altered in someway to hopefully suit the animal. All of the dog shampoos, even those that claimed to be balanced for pH, were far too acidic. These acid shampoos were drying and even irritating to canine skin. If they weren't used too often, you could usually get by with it.

Today there are few companies that have shampoos with the correct pH of 7.5. These shampoos can be used frequently without aggravating skin problems that already exist. Many of the causes of dandruff will require treatment that includes frequent bathing with medicated shampoo. If the selected shampoo has the wrong pH, you could actually make the problem worse. This may be what is happening in your pet. The selection of a shampoo in pets is far more involved than picking a bottle off the shelf. You really should have your veterinarian examine the dog and based on that examination help you select the shampoo most likely to help.

Dr. Koch is a Cape Girardeau veterinarian.