What are the Best Antibacterial & Antifungal Shampoos for Dogs in 2020?
Just like in human beings, skin infections are a common issue in dogs. Such infections may be caused by a variety of things. Such causes include allergies, bites from bugs like fleas, hot spots, floppy ears, folds or wrinkles on the skin of the dog, and in other cases dry or itchy skin.
The conditions could lead to the dog scratching his or her skin which in turn allows micro-organisms to find a place on which they can grow hence leading to the much common skin infections in dogs. Skin infections that are caused by the above factors are referred to as bacterial skin infections. The reason being that they are caused by micro-organisms popularly known as bacteria.
Top 5 Antifungal Dog Shampoo Brands
However, not all skin infections, in both dogs and human beings, are caused by bacteria. There are those that may result due to fungus which are referred to as fungal infections. Fungal infections are often associated with infections of the ears.
If you find yourself in a situation where your canine is faced with fungal infections, the first remedy in your mind should always be getting your furry companion a good antifungal shampoo. Luckily, there are several brands of antifungal shampoos in the market which you can choose from. In this article, we look at the best of the best antifungal dog shampoos in the market.
Best Antifungal Dog Shampoo List
① Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal shampoo
This is a deodorized dog shampoo that is formulated to help relieve fungal and bacterial infections the likes of dermatitis and pyoderma. Pyoderma and dermatitis can be as a result of allergies, hormonal disorders, weakened immune system, skin folds and or short coats, trauma hailing from grooming or scratching and fungal infections the likes of ringworms.
This product consists of Aloe Vera which helps to soothe the skin and also helps to speed up the healing process on the affected area. It is easy to use as all you have to do is to shampoo using the product twice a week until the skin condition clears up. Once this happens, you can proceed to use it weekly in order to prevent flare-ups.
Pros Cons 
Pros
Cons
② VetMD Medicated Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal Dog Shampoo
This is a vet recommended shampoo that is designed to help alleviate symptoms in your dog that are associated with both bacterial and fungal infections a like. It is a skin soothing formula that contains tea tree leaf oil which invigorates the skin and lavender which has a calming effect on the skin and a field scent as well. The medicated formula contains zero artificial fragrances, chemicals or parabens that could further irritate the skin of your dog.
It is a pet-friendly formula with a PH balanced for sensitive skin and it also contains vitamins that help to support healthy hair. This is a safe and effective formula that can be used with topical flea and tick treatments. It is designed for dogs that are twelve weeks old and older.
Pros Cons
Pros
Cons
③ GNC Pets Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal Medicated Dog Shampoo, Lavender Scent
This GNC Shampoo for pets is specially formulated for dos that are twelve weeks of age and older. It is formulated to help combat bacterial and fungal skin infections alike in dogs and other pets. The pet shampoo is enriched with vitamins that help to encourage a healthy skin and a lustrous coat for your canine friend.
It is also packed with chlorhedixide gluconate which is an antiseptic skin cleanser that works to fight against bacteria that is present in the skin of dogs. Kotoconazole is also an anti-fungal medication found in this formula that helps reduce itching that is related with fungal infections. The product is made locally with high quality ingredients hence it is very safe.
Pros Cons
Pros
Cons
④ Pet MD Antiseptic and Antifungal Medicated Dog, Cat and Horse shampoo
This pet shampoo helps to relieve fungal and bacterial skin infections the likes of hot spots, ringworms and acne as well as superficial cuts, abrasions and insect bites. It works to prevent skin problems by eliminating them from their source with the aid of the chemicals; Chlorhexidine and ketoconazole.
This is a skin-friendly formula that does not contains soaps or parabens that may result in further irritation on the skin of pets. Using this product requires that you lather the coat of your dog, massage the fur and the coat gently and then rinse it off properly. This product is made locally with ingredients that are sourced locally and are safe.
Pros Cons
Pros
Cons
⑤ DermaBenSS Shampoo for Dogs, Cats and Horses
This product has been formulated to support healthy skin for animals with seborrheic skin conditions. This is a soap-free formula that contains ceramide that aid in moisturizing, repairing and restoration of skin that is dry or damaged. Its main active ingredient; benzoyl Peroxide provides an antimicrobial, Keratolytic, comedolytic or rather follicular flushing and degreasing action on the skin and the coat.
The minimal amounts of salicyclic acid provides keratoplastic, Keratolytic, antibacterial, antifungal and ant parasitic benefits to the skin of your pet. The formula helps to increase the amount of water the stratum corneum which is the outer layer of the skin can absorbe in turn promoting the healthy regrowth of the skin. It also contains ceramides which moisturize, repair and restore skin that has been damaged.
Pros Cons
Pros
Cons
⑥ TrizCHLOR 4 Shampoo for Dogs, Cats and Horses
This pet shampoo is specially formulated to work as an antimicrobial. It is designed to kill bacteria, fungus and viruses that are present on the skin of your pet. It is also the perfect product for cleansing and treating skin infections.
The product is effective against multi-drug resistant staphylococcal infections as it is one of the most powerful medicated products in the market for which you do not need a prescription. It is rich in betaine which soothes the skin and Chlorhexidine which kills microbes as well as triEDTA which is a buffer for the other chemicals. It is a water-based formula that supports normal skin health and does not contain any alcohol.
Pros Cons
Pros
Cons
⑦ Thomas Labs MicroChlor Plus Antibacterial and Antifungal Dog and Cat Shampoo
This is a vet-strength shampoo that is designed to ease the skin conditions associated with bacterial and fungal infections. It is designed to help soother and treat conditions like ringworms, dermatitis, hot-spots, irritations and itching on dogs and cats a like. In addition to its medicinal benefits, this product also gently removes dirt, debris and excess lipids from the coat of the hair leaving the coat and the fur clean and fresh.
It contains Aloe Vera, Oatmeal, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E which enriches and moisturizes the skin and the coat of your dog. It is also known to descale and degrease the hair coat without stripping it of its health and density. Pros Cons
Pros
Cons
Conclusion & What is the Best Antifungal Dog Shampoo
When choosing the best dog antifungal shampoo, you will first need to make sure that the price meets your budget. Other factors to consider include the chemicals that are present in the product and the effects of the chemicals. For instance, aloe vera has a soothing effect and it also speeds up the healing process, hence this is a chemical ingredient to look out for.
There are other ingredients that your dog may be allergic to hence the need to get advice from a vet before making a choice. You also need to take a look at the effectiveness and how long the product takes to produce results. In this article, we present you with the best products in the market from which we suggest the Veterinary Formula Chemical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Shampoo (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE).
It is a deodorant, it is affordable, it soothes and cures fungal infections, it has aloe vera, it works promptly and it is completely parabens free.
What is a Yeast?
A yeast is a type of fungi that resembles a spore and reproduces rapidly in a process that is commonly and scientifically referred to as budding. During the budding process, part of the organism breaks off from the original organism and forms again hence the reason as to why yeast infections tend to spread like wildfire.
Yeast infections are a very common issue in dogs. The skin of dogs contains a normal amount of yeast which if not cleaned well or exposed to some conditions may result in the yeast increasing in number. This results in the number of yeast growing out of control and the establishment of a yeast infection. If not treated promptly, the yeast will continue to increase in number resulting in the infection getting worse in a very short amount of time.
Yeast infections are popularly referred to as fungal infections. The clinical term for a yeast infection, however, is Malassezia which essentially refers to yeast which is growing around the paws, the ears, the mouth and the backside of your canine friend. They actually affect all areas on the skin of the dog that is folded as the yeast thrives and grows in a warm environment that the skin folds provide.
How do you know if your dog has a yeast infection?
With the normal amount of yeast on their skin, dogs do not show any symptoms as this is quite normal. However, when the infestation grows out of hand and a yeast infection is formed, there may be some very clear symptoms. Some of the symptoms of yeast infections or fungal infections include; constant agitation, scratching, chewing of the paws or the surfing of the floor on the backside of the dog, and inflammation of the skin.
The skin may also appear greasy and smelly and the ears may present a brown and waxy discharge.
When these symptoms occur in your furry friend, you may want to visit the vet in order to know or sure if it is as a result of a yeast infection. It is wise to do so in order to avoid misdiagnosis and treating your pet for a condition that he or she is actually not suffering from. The chemicals found in antifungal and antibacterial products are strong hence need to be used for the right purpose.
What are the causes of yeast infections in dogs?
There are several causes of yeast infections in dogs. Some of them include;
The climate
Yeasts thrive in warm and damp weather. Changes in the weather may result in your pup picking up a yeast infection. This is more likely to happen in warmer climates as the warmth of the climate triggers the growth of the yeast that may have already been present on the skin of your dog.
The food
The diet that you give your dog may have a great effect on the development and growth of yeast infections in your dog. Foods that are packed with high amounts of sugar and fructose are catalysts to yeast growth. This is both an alarming and a calming issue as without this knowledge your dog may suffer but with this knowledge, you can easily control the issue.
A proper balanced diet is the most important step in cutting down the chances of a yeast infection and most of the times a means of killing the yeast.
Diseases
If your dog has been suffering from a certain medical condition or an operation, he or she is more likely to get a yeast infection. The lack of movement and the cozying up that the dogs do as they recover may create the perfect conditions for the growth of the yeast resulting in a full blown yeast infection.
The trick is to make sure that you have antifungals and antibacterial at hand to curb the issue. You can use antibacterial on a weekly basis to prevent the flare-up of yeast infections.
Allergies
Allergies may result from bites from bugs like fleas and the conditions of dry skin in general that may be caused by numerous factors. The presence of allergies and allergic reactions can trigger the flare-up of a yeast infection.
As part of using antifungal dog shampoos, you need to give your dog a bath and not jist a regular bath but a proper bath.
Properly bathing a dog
The first thing that goes into giving your dog a bath is getting the right tools in preparation for the bath. Such tools include towels, water and the right kind of shampoo. In this case, you need to use an antifungal dog shampoo.
You will then need to fill a bath or whatever means you are using with water up to about the chest height of your dog. You need to make sure the water is neither too hot nor too cold for the comfort and the wellbeing of your canine. To make the dog calm in the process, make sure to take it slow and make the dog smell the water before getting him inside as it will make him calmer.
You can also use dog treats and toys to make the process easier. If you own one of the larger breeds, you may need a second set of hands to help you get the dog in and out of the water. Once you have your dog in the water, then you have to start by rinsing its whole body with water to make sure that the coat and the fur is completely wet.
This will make shampooing easy. Then you will proceed to shampoo the coat gently and massage the skin while you do so. With an antifungal dog shampoo, you will need to keep the shampoo in for a minimum of five minutes, ten if possible, in order to make sure the medicine in the product soaks in and works.
Once you have achieved this, you will need to rinse off all the shampoo preferably using running water to make sure that it is all rinsed off. You can also use a jug or a cup for this. While doing so, it is important to make sure that the shampoo does not get into the eyes and the ears of the dog as it may cause severe irritation.
With this accomplished, you will need to dry the dog. You can use towels to dry the dog. Some dogs will shake themselves dry or prefer to dry on the sun.
With this done, you can brush the fur of your dog.
