Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chlorhexidine vs benzoyl peroxide shampoo for dog skin infection
By Loeffler, A et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2011·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparison of a chlorhexidine and a benzoyl peroxide shampoo as sole treatment in canine superficial pyoderma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with skin infections called superficial pyoderma were treated with either a chlorhexidine shampoo or a benzoyl peroxide shampoo to see which worked better. After three weeks of regular washes, the dogs using the chlorhexidine shampoo showed significant improvement, with many experiencing reduced skin bumps and itching, while the benzoyl peroxide shampoo did not show the same level of effectiveness. Overall, about 68% of the dogs treated with chlorhexidine improved, and some had complete resolution of their symptoms. This suggests that chlorhexidine shampoo may be a more effective option for treating this skin condition in dogs.
People also search for: dog skin infection treatment · chlorhexidine shampoo for dogs · benzoyl peroxide shampoo for dogs
Abstract
The clinical and antibacterial efficacy of two shampoos used as a sole antibacterial treatment in dogs with superficial pyoderma were investigated and compared. In a randomised, partially blinded study, a 3 per cent chlorhexidine gluconate shampoo (Chlorhex 3; Leo Animal Health) was compared against a 2.5 per cent benzoyl peroxide shampoo (Paxcutol; Virbac) in 22 dogs with superficial pyoderma. Dogs were washed two to three times weekly with a 10-minute contact time over 21 days. Clinical scores and bacterial counts were assessed on days 1, 8 and 22 and compared within and between treatment groups; overall response was assessed at the end of the study. Twenty dogs completed the study; 15 (68.2 per cent) showed an overall clinical improvement and the clinical signs resolved in three chlorhexidine-treated dogs. In the chlorhexidine-treated group, scores for papules/pustules (P<0.001), investigator-assessed pruritus (P=0.003), total bacterial counts (P=0.003) and counts for coagulase-positive staphylococci (P=0.003) were reduced after three weeks. Scores and bacterial counts did not vary significantly in the benzoyl peroxide-treated group.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21831997/