What are Shampoo Allergies?
Contact allergies are caused by the aggressive response of specialized immune cells to an allergen. When an allergen activates the immune system, it manufactures a protein that causes the immune cells to release histamine, a naturally occurring compound that has an inflammatory effect on the tissues it comes into contact with. Shampoos for dogs can contain a number of ingredients that can cause skin irritation and even allergic reactions. These reactions usually occur rather rapidly after exposure and often become more intense with repeated applications.
Shampoo allergies are an overactive reaction of the cell of the immune system to a protein within the shampoo that the canine body sees as an intruder.
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Symptoms of Shampoo Allergies in Dogs
- Discomfort and/or itchiness
- Bald patches
- Blister-like lesions
- Chronic ear infections
- Chronically inflamed feet
- Face rubbing
- Head shaking
- Hives
- Obsessive licking
- Paw biting
- Skin infections
- Skin rashes
- Swelling, particularly around the face
- Ulcerations on skin
Contact allergies can sometimes progress to anaphylactic shock. If the following symptoms occur, take your pet to the nearest veterinary office or animal emergency clinic:
Hives, swelling of the face or neck, difficulty breathing, pale gums or collapse.
Types
There are several varieties of shampoo available that can help relieve symptoms related to allergies:
- Glycoprotein shampoos - Shampoos with glycoproteins help to soothe pain and inflammation caused by allergic reactions
- Hypoallergenic shampoos - Hypoallergenic shampoos are designed to be easy on the skin, and are generally free of the harsher chemicals; they are often designed to be easier to rinse off and can contain products to ease itching, such as oatmeal and aloe vera
- Medicated shampoos - Shampoos that include antihistamines and corticosteroids are helpful in reducing swelling and itching; these types of shampoos should be used with caution as they may cause problems if ingested
Causes of Shampoo Allergies in Dogs
There are several chemicals and other compounds in dog grooming products that can cause contact dermatitis, through either irritation or allergic reaction.
Common irritants
- 2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (a preservative)
- Benzyl alcohol (preservative)
- Cetearyl alcohol (conditioning ingredient)
- Coal tar (anti-dandruff ingredient)
- Cocamide DEA (foam booster and foam stabilizer)
- Cocamidopropyl betaine (foam booster, mild cleanser)
- Colorants
- DMDM hydantoin (preservative)
- Imidazolidinyl urea (preservative)
- Lanolin and lanolin derivatives (emollient)
- Propylene glycol (humectant)
- Sodium lauryl sulfate/SLS (degreaser)
- Sorbitan palmitate (emulsifier)
- Stearyl alcohol (conditioner ingredient)
- Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Common allergens
- 1-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (preservative)
- Botanicals
- Cetyl alcohol
- Cocamide DEA (foam booster and foam stabilizer)
- Cocamide MEA (foam booster & stabilizer)
- Cocamide MIPA (emulsifier)
- Coconut oil (emollient)
- Essential oils
- Fragrance
- Glyceryl stearate (emulsifier)
- Isopropanolamine (preservative)
- Lanolin
- Limonene
- Methylchloroisothiasolinone & methylisothiasolinone (preservatives)
- Petrolatum
- Propylene glycol (emollient)
- Stearyl alcohol
Diagnosis of Shampoo Allergies in Dogs
The general physical exam should reveal allergy symptoms that will most likely prompt your veterinarian to perform further tests. Signs of e.g. red skin and fur loss are not specific to a shampoo allergy so other issues must be ruled out.
The vet may take a skin swab, fur pluck, skin scrape or even a biopsy. The skin samples obtained will then be examined by cutaneous cytology, a microscopic evaluation of the skin cells completed in order to search for problems like mites or yeast infections.
Allergies to the compounds found in shampoos can manifest anywhere on the body, although true allergic reactions are often centered around the face and groin areas, as well as under the front legs and between the toes.
The timing of the response combined with the dog’s symptoms may help make a preliminary diagnosis, at which time your veterinarian may recommend a patch test, also known as an intradermal skin test. Miniscule amounts of the suspected antigens are injected under the skin so that a localized reaction can be induced. The antigens introduced in this situation are likely to be ingredients within the shampoo or other grooming products that your dog appears to be reacting to. Many doctors choose to try to diagnose which allergen is causing the reaction by eliminating suspected allergens from the environment first, in this case, changing to an entirely different shampoo.
Treatment of Shampoo Allergies in Dogs
If you are able to determine the cause of the allergic reaction, you may be able to treat it without a visit to the veterinarian. Any skin that had contact with the shampoo should be completely rinsed in cool water as soon as possible to minimize exposure. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend an appropriate dosage of over-the-counter antihistamine like Benadryl to give your pet to ease the symptoms, or may choose to prescribe topical or oral antihistamines or corticosteroids. Caution should be employed during application of hydrocortisone creams, as ingestion could cause gastric distress.
Medications such as corticosteroid injections or oral tablets are usually very efficient in reducing the signs and symptoms of allergy, but they are only recommended when other treatments have failed as they have some serious side effects. If your pet is showing signs of anaphylactic shock, treatment will need to begin before a definitive diagnosis is received. Epinephrine will be administered upon your arrival to the veterinarian’s office and supportive therapies such as IV fluids and oxygen are likely to be started at that time as well.
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Recovery of Shampoo Allergies in Dogs
Canine contact allergies can be just as unsightly and uncomfortable for our canine companions as they are for us and continuing treatment can be more than just cosmetic. Skin that has been damaged by allergic reactions is prone to developing bacterial infections, and either oral or topical antibiotics will be prescribed if this occurs. It is essential that your pet completes the full course of their antibiotic medication even if the symptoms seem to have subsided. Stopping the medication before the infection is completely eradicated may cause the infection to reoccur. Quite often a simple switch in the choice of shampoos is enough to ease the allergic response. Allergenic ingredients should be avoided for the rest of the patient's life.
Shampoo Allergies Average Cost
From 493 quotes ranging from $200 - $500
Average Cost
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Top
Shampoo Allergies Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Mixed
Pepa
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Hair Loss
Red Bumps
I have just bought a shampoo that was suppose to help with deskunking my dog, I've washed him in it for a few weeks. I have major hair loss on his neck. Should I start shampooing him in oatmeal and aloe? Or should I ask the vet what to use.
June 23, 2018
0 Recommendations
You should bathe Pepa with a mild sensitive hypoallergenic canine shampoo available from a local pet shop; bathe Pepa two or three times over the next week and look for any improvement. If there is no regrowth of hair or hair continues to fall out you should visit your Veterinarian for an examination. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 24, 2018
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Yorkshire Terrier
Bella
4 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Redness
Itching
Biting
My dog has fleas. So I bathed her in some flea and tick shampoo, however I noticed her belly is becoming more red and she’s still itching. I’m not sure if this is from the fleas, the shampoo I used, or a combination of both. I think it could be both and she has a skin sensitivity to the shampoo but I’m not sure what else to do.
May 29, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Bella may be having an allergic reaction to the fleas, the shampoo, or something unrelated. Since the shampoo hasn't helped, it would be a good idea to have her seen by a veterinarian, as they can look at her, determine what might be happening, and recommend any treatment that she may need.
May 29, 2018
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Small chichuaua mix
Pippin (pip)
8 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Feverish, Splotchy Skin,No Appetite
I noticed my dog scratching and biting herself constantly she also would lick herself and I bathed her in a oatmeal shampoo to see if it would calm it down and it didn’t work I have also had to treat her for ear mites and wasn’t certain of what would be the cause for her to do this so while searching for something to ease her itching I found a spray called Natural Care ➕ hot spot and itch relief with tea tree oil aloe Vera and chamomile and alcohol free it says it helps with all types of allergies and it seemed to help her but didn’t last very long and says not to spray near the eyes gentials or mouth but she still chewed herself even after being stayed but never seemed to bother her so I ran across a Medicated shampoo called Veterinary formula clinic care hot spot & itch relief medicated shampoo hoping to stop her digging and stuff all together that your to use twice a week it also contains lidocaine hydrocortisone and colloidal oatmeal says it’s paraben and soap free and a anti inflammatory and analgesic I have bathe her in it and it seemed to calm her itching and made her coat shinny the second time it done the same but I. Noticed a couple of days after she seemed like she was feeling bad that was about 4 or 5 days ago the past 3 days she hasn’t been herself at all she is sleeping all the time not very active and when she breaths sound like she had a cold they are short breaths but not rapid or anything..she also feels a little feverish..she don’t have much of an appetite and hasn’t eaten anything day but still drinks water. I bathe her hoping to make her feel a little better in the shampoo again last night and this evening I noticed little red dots on her stomach and genitalia but she doesn’t seem like it’s bothering her could all her symptoms be from an allergic reaction to the medicated shampoo
May 27, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Pip's signs could be from a number of things, including a bacterial or fungal infection, parasites, allergies, or a reaction. Since I can't see her, and there are a number of possible causes, it would be best to have her examined by a veterinarian, as they will be able to look at her, recommend any needed tests or treatments, and get her feeling better.
May 27, 2018
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Boxer Mix
Mudder
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Itching
Irritation
Bare Spots
Red Underneath Paws
My dog has developed bare spots on his rib cage area and flanks on both sides. His feet have also turned to a reddish color. We are not sure what is going on. I have been browsing the interweb and can't quite figure it out. Stuck somewhere between allergies, reaction to shampoo, and canine alopachea. Any help would be great.
May 21, 2018
0 Recommendations
There are many different possible causes for the symptoms you’re describing which may include food allergies, parasites, infections, hormonal conditions, other allergies (shampoo, environment etc…) among other causes. Without an examination it is difficult to say what the cause may be, if the alopecia is symmetrical it may be indicative of a hormonal condition; however, you should visit your Veterinarian to fast track to an underlying cause. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
May 21, 2018
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Shampoo Allergies Average Cost
From 493 quotes ranging from $200 - $500
Average Cost
$250
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
