Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Best shampoo for treating bacterial skin overgrowth in dogs
By Viaud, S et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2012·Aquivet Veterinary Clinic, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparison of two shampoos as sole treatment for canine bacterial overgrowth syndrome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with skin problems caused by bacterial overgrowth were treated with either a chlorhexidine shampoo or a benzoyl peroxide shampoo to see which worked better. Both shampoos were used twice a week for six weeks, and the dogs showed significant improvement in symptoms like itching, redness, and skin lesions. The results showed that both shampoos were equally effective in reducing the bacterial counts and improving the dogs' skin condition. By the end of the treatment, the dogs were much more comfortable and had healthier skin.
People also search for: dog skin problems shampoo · chlorhexidine for dog skin infection · benzoyl peroxide dog treatment
Abstract
Two antibacterial shampoos for the treatment of canine bacterial overgrowth syndrome (BOGS) were compared in a prospective controlled clinical trial. Forty dogs with clinical signs (pruritus, erythema and excoriations without pustules and/or collarettes) and cytological findings compatible with bacterial overgrowth were treated twice weekly with 3 per cent chlorhexidine shampoo (3 per cent CHX) or 2.5 per cent benzoyl peroxide shampoo (2.5 per cent BPO) and evaluated every two weeks for up to six weeks until cytological cure. Pruritus, erythema, greasy seborrhoea, malodour, excoriations, secondary hair loss, lichenification, hyperpigmentation and lesion extent were each scored on a 0 to 3 severity scale and combined to calculate an aggregate score. Among the 34 dogs with good compliance to treatment, reduction of cocci counts of at least 90 per cent was recorded in 11 of 18 dogs after 3 per cent CHX and nine of 16 dogs after 2.5 per cent BPO, with no significant difference between the two products (P=0.98). Lesion score was significantly reduced in both groups (63.48 (34.45)) per cent with 3 per cent CHX v 54.45 (33.61) per cent with 2.5 per cent BPO, P=0.36) and time to cytological cure was not significantly different between groups (P=0.13), at the end of the treatment. In the present study, 3 per cent CHX and 2.5 per cent BPO were similarly effective in the treatment of canine BOGS.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22678617/