Keto-C Shampoo for Dogs: Treat Skin Infections Naturally!
Okay, so my dog, Buster, he's got this flaky skin thing going on. Itchy, red, sometimes a little smelly – the vet said it might be a fungal or bacterial thing. She suggested trying a medicated shampoo, specifically one with ketoconazole and chlorhexidine. That's where "keto-c" shampoo comes in.
Getting the Right Stuff
First thing, I needed to find the shampoo. I did some digging and saw a few brands out there. I ended up grabbing one from the pet store, I don’t remember what it was called, but it has both of those ingredients. Important: make sure you're getting a shampoo specifically for dogs. Human stuff can be too harsh.
Bath Time Battle
Buster hates baths. So, step one was, you know, the wrestling match to get him into the tub. Treats helped, a little.
- Wet Him Down: I used lukewarm water – not too hot, not too cold, just like Goldilocks. Got him good and soaked.
- Shampoo Time: I put a generous amount of the keto-c shampoo in my hands and started working it into his fur. You really gotta get down to the skin with this stuff, not just the top layer of fur.
- The Waiting Game: This is the key part, and probably the hardest. The instructions said to let the shampoo sit for 10-15 minutes. Ten to fifteen minutes! With a wet, unhappy dog. I ended up distracting with some more small treats and did some talking with him to keep him in the tub and keep him calm.
- Rinse, Rinse, Rinse: Got to make sure all that shampoo is out. I rinsed him probably three times, just to be sure. Leftover shampoo can irritate the skin, and that's the opposite of what we want.
- Dry Him Off: I used a big fluffy towel to dry the dog. I did not use a hairdryer, and just did a good towel dry.
The Results (So Far)
I've only done this a couple of times, and I use it every three days. I'm starting to see a difference! The redness is going down, and he's not scratching as much. The smell is way better too.
Important things
I spoke with my vet first before I started using this, you need to do that too. I'm not going to use this forever, once I see it clearing up, I'm going to use the shampoo a little less.
It's not an overnight miracle, but it seems to be helping. Getting him in the tub is still a struggle, but at least he's more comfortable, and that's the main thing, and he looks and smells much better now.
