The biggest difference between different types of pet shampoos lies in the formula. In addition to the same surfactants used for cleaning, you can add other functional ingredients to achieve the desired effect. Here we will analyze the ingredients to help you understand their fundamental differences.
Before understanding their differences, we need to know that pet shampoos are different from humans, as they are milder and less irritating. Learn more
Smooth Pet Shampoo
This is the most common pet shampoo, its function is to make pet hair easy to care for, easy to comb, less mats and tangles.
In addition to the basic formula of shampoo, you need to add the cation surfactant and emulsified silicone oil. The function of cations is to prevent hair from getting tangled together, while the most useful use of silicone oil is to make hair smoother, and the two complement each other.
It should be noted that silicon control must be strict! Foam interferes most seriously with the distribution and function of silicon oil in hair. And this “specific environment ” is nothing more than the use of silicon oil in combination with that cationic polymer at a certain concentration of surfactants.
Main functional ingredients: cation surfactant+emulsified silicone oil
Brightening Pet shampoo
Whitening dog shampoo is designed to restore the stunning beauty of dogs with white coats. They have different formulas that can brighten the fur, remove stains, or bleach hair. Depending on the style you choose, the ingredients may be a bit mild or quite harsh on your puppy’s hair and skin.
Before brightening, the first step is to clean it. In addition to general surfactants, various enzyme preparations can be added, which can decompose protein dirt, oil dirt, and food residue, making the cleaning effect more obvious.
The most common brightening ingredient is phenylmethylsilicone fluid, which has unique glossiness and has good compatibility with other ingredients, highly stable to heat and ultraviolet radiation
In addition, an appropriate amount of coconut oil can be added, which helps to add luster to the pet’s fur, making it feel softer and smoother.
Main functional ingredients: Phenylmethylsilicone fluid, enzyme preparations, coconut oil.
Deodorizing Pet Shampoo
The odor comes from pet secretions, such as sweat and sebum, combined with the action of bacteria, which metabolize an unbearable odor. Regarding the principle of odor generation, common pet deodorization methods typically include:
Chemical Deodoulant
Common chemical deodorants can remove odor through chemical reactions and chemical bonds with odor molecules. For example, zinc ricinolate, the activated Zn ion part of its structure, can be irreversibly bonded with a variety of odor molecules to achieve the effect of odor purification.
Main functional ingredients: zinc ricinoleate
Fragrance Technology
Ordinary fragrance cover technology is not enough to remove pet odor, and it is easy to stimulate pet smell, which will bring adverse effects on pet health. However, some efficient deodorization technologies can be converted into non-odor molecules by combining them with odor molecules. For example, aldehydes and ketones can be converted into new non-odor molecules by the Michael addition reaction or Schiff base reaction with odor molecules, thus reducing odor intensity.
Antibacterial Technology
The addition of antibacterial technologies can eliminate odors by inhibiting microbial growth. Common antibacterial agents generally include benzalkonium bromide, cationic guanidine fungicides, para chloro xylenol (PCMX), etc. These products can achieve antibacterial effects by acting on the cell wall of bacteria and affecting their permeability.
It should be noted that when using antibacterial agents, in addition to their effectiveness, their safety and irritation also need to be carefully considered. Also, if the odor is of non-bacterial origin, then the addition of antimicrobials will have little effect.
Main functional ingredients: Germaine
Biological Deodorant
Biological deodorants generally use enzymes produced by microbial metabolism or directly add enzymes to degrade organic substances that cause unpleasant odors, thereby controlling or inhibiting the generation of odors.
Some of the natural ingredients used in biological deodorants include essential oils, aloe vera, and coconut oil. These ingredients help to nourish and soothe the skin while providing a pleasant scent.
Main functional ingredients: Essential oils
Anti-itch Pet Shampoo
Itching is usually caused by fungi. Cations can kill fungi, usually, an appropriate amount of cations are added to the pet shampoo for anti-itch, such as glucose chlorhexidine, it works by disrupting the cell membranes of microorganisms, leading to their destruction.
It should be noted that cationic formulations cannot use anionic surfactants, they will react and cancel each other out. At this time, nonionic or amphoteric surfactants should be selected.
Main functional ingredients: Glucose Chlorhexidine
Anti-mite Pet Shampoo
Mites are extremely harmful and can cause all kinds of problems on your pet’s skin. Generally, there are two options for mite removal. One is to add tea tree oil, whose smell can repel mites, and the other is to add dichlorobenzyl alcohol, which can kill mites.
If you are just trying to prevent mites then we recommend only using tea tree oil, and if your pet already has mites then adding dichlorobenzyl alcohol is a better option.
Main functional ingredients: Tea tree oil, Dichlorobenzyl alcohol
Waterless Pet Shampoo
Very useful for pets who are difficult to bathe, such as pets who are afraid of water or who have mobility issues. It works by absorbing dirt and oils, and then evaporating or being wiped away with a towel.
It comes in a spray, foam, or liquid(The viscosity of the liquid is lower than that of regular shampoo, usually between 2000 and 3000Pa·s). Due to being a leave-on type product, biodegradable surfactants such as alkyl glycosides and sodium olive oil carboxylate are used, so as not to cause significant damage to pet skin.
It should be noted that the cleaning effect of waterless shampoos is definitely not as good as ordinary rings-off shampoos.
Main functional ingredients: Alkyl glycosides, Sodium olive oil carboxylate
The different types of shampoos can be all-in-one, such as brightening+deodorizing+anti-itch, or something else, just adjust the formula appropriately. After all, multifunctional and minimalist are still mainstream.
