Best Waterless Dog Shampoo / Sprays for Normal & Specific Use

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In Brief: Best Waterless Dog Shampoos

• Wahl Natural Pet
• Burt’s Bees
• Furminator deShedding
• SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula Clinical Care
• Bodhi Dog
• Paw Choice
• BioSilk
• Miracle Coat Dog
• Pet Head Dry Clean

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Grooming is one of the main parts of having a dog as part of your family.

There are many grooming options, including taking your dog to see a professional or performing the grooming tasks yourself.

Engaging in a full grooming process can take a lot of time and effort.

Using a waterless dog shampoo is an option that allows you to take care of grooming touch-ups in between major cleanings without a lot of fuss.

Dog shampoo is generally made of more organic and natural products like tea tree oil and aloe vera. Some contain hydrocortisone and other chemicals.

Since shampoos come in contact with the dog’s skin it is essential that you choose a shampoo that does not react adversely with the dog’s skin and fur.

Comparison table – Top Waterless Dog Shampoos

There are lots of waterless dog shampoos on the market. Some are for general cleaning and some have a specific purpose. It is important to choose the right one based on your requirements and your dog’s skin.

Here are the top shampoos along with their key specifications  –

What is a Waterless Dog Shampoo?

Waterless shampoo is a unique variety of shampoos.

These do not require water for their action on the skin and fur of dogs. You simply apply the shampoo on the dog and make sure it spreads well. In order to spread it, you can work it well with a towel.

After a while, you can brush it off so that the chemicals don’t remain in.

These are generally used for those dogs who are scared off or do not like water. It is a convenient solution for such dogs and dog owners.

These shampoos can also be used on other dogs as a replacement for the normal shampoo.

For example, if you do not want to go through the tedious process of bathing the dog or you have to bathe the dog often because it keeps getting dirty, you can spray on some waterless shampoo.

If you choose the right shampoo, the dog and you will not feel the difference between a conventional shampoo and the waterless one.

Some brands in the market can match traditional shampoos to such an extent that they make the fur as soft, remove the smell and do not leave extra oils behind.

As is the case in traditional shampoos, in waterless shampoos too, the organic and natural ones are most well-received from the side of both the dog and the owner.

These ones tend to cause minimal damage and are gentler.

Waterless Dog Shampoo: Buying Guide

If you are thinking about using a waterless dog shampoo for the first time, there are probably a few factors you will want to consider before choosing the product that is right for you and your dog.

Here are some features to look for:

Spray Bottle

Dry shampoo already raises the bar when it comes to convenience and grooming your dog.

The ability to clean your dog without using any water is helpful and makes regular upkeep simple.

Choosing a waterless shampoo that comes in a spray bottle will further streamline the process.

One of the main factors when using a waterless shampoo for your dog is ensuring that you spread the product well.

Using a spray bottle will help you cover more area of your dog’s body with less effort.

Suitable for Skin Type

It’s extremely important to pay attention to the dry shampoo you choose to use on your dog so as to avoid causing any irritation.

Check the packaging for indications of what skin types the shampoo is safe for.

Your best bet is to choose a waterless dog shampoo that caters to your dog’s specific skin type, such as sensitive or dry, or that is safe to use on all skin types.

Odor-Fighting

While waterless shampoo is an option that is meant to be used between real cleanings, that does not mean you won’t need to use it at a time when your dog has picked up a foul smell.

Look for dry shampoos that kill odor-causing bacteria to make sure that your dog smells as fresh as possible between major grooming sessions.

Mild Formula

Chances are you will be using the waterless dog shampoo you choose on a regular basis.

That’s why it is vital that you invest in a product that is made with a mild formula.

This is important because it will prevent the chance of having your dog’s coat stripped and thinned out from the use of waterless shampoo.

Choose Hypoallergenic if needed

You never know when allergies may strike your dog. Choosing a waterless dog shampoo that has a hypoallergenic formula means one less possible allergy trigger to worry about.

Select the one with Works with Flea Treatments

There are some flea treatments which require a topical application.

If your dog uses this type of flea treatment, you will want to make sure that the waterless shampoo you choose does not interfere with the flea treatment’s effectiveness.

Skin Conditioning

If you are going to use a waterless shampoo on your dog, you might as well choose one that offers skin nourishing properties while cleaning your dog’s skin and coat.

Look for formulas with ingredients such as coconut and Aloe Vera.

Foaming Formula

Using a foaming formula waterless dog shampoo makes the cleaning process extremely easy.

These formulas are simply applied to and spread throughout your dog’s coat, and left to dry. You can brush your dog’s coat out later for an even shine.

Balanced for pH

Your dog’s skin has a specific pH level which it needs to maintain for optimal health. Some products are not formulated safely and can disrupt the balance.

Make sure you choose a waterless shampoo that will keep your dog’s pH level where it needs to be.

Pleasant Scent

In addition to odor-fighting, you may want to use a waterless shampoo that leaves your dog with a pleasant, but the not overpowering scent.

Things to Avoid

When shopping for a waterless shampoo, there are things you’ll want to avoid, especially in the ingredients list.

These are chemicals and additives that can be toxic to your pet and cause negative reactions including rashes, hair loss, allergic reactions, and severe sores. Some ingredients you should avoid are :

• Artificial fragrances and dyes
• Ammonium laureth sulfate
• Cocamidopropyl betaine
• Cocamide MEA/cocamide monoethanolamine
• Formaldehyde preservatives (Bronopol, Diazolidinyl Urea, DMDM Hydantoin/DHDH hydantoin,
• Imidazolidinyl urea, Quaternium-7/15/31/61, or Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate)
• Isothiazolinone preservatives (methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone)
• Isopropyl/SD-40 alcohol
• Parabens (butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben)
• PEG-40 Lanolin (a derivative of natural lanolin)
• Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
• Polysorbates
• Propylene glycol
• Phthalates
• Sodium benzoate preservative
• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
• Triethanolamine (TEA)

You should also steer clear of products that don’t list their ingredients at all or hide behind terms like “proprietary blends” or generic terms like “conditioners” or “moisturizers.”

Keeping these features in mind will help you choose the waterless dog shampoo that best suits your needs.

How Waterless Shampoo Works

Natural oils are healthy, however, there are certain spots on your dog where they have a large number of sebaceous glands that can overproduce sebum, an oily substance that is supposed to keep their skin healthy and hydrated.

These spots are around their paws, under their chin, around their tail, and at the back of their neck.

When too much sebum is produced for any reason, it can make their coat feel greasy and look duller than usual.

It can also attract dirt and dust.

Waterless dog shampoo works by absorbing excess oil from your dog’s skin and coat.

This will restore their shiny, soft fur while also leaving behind a fresh scent.

There are usually starch powders or clays that absorb the oils while the pleasant aromas usually come from things like essential oils or similar natural ingredients or artificial fragrances if you chose a waterless shampoo that uses those.

Since natural oils are essential for your dog’s health, you don’t want to use these dry shampoos too much.

They will absorb too much of the naturally occurring sebum and can disrupt your dog’s natural pH balance.

This can cause dry, flaky skin and leave them vulnerable to bacteria growth. You can also clog their hair follicles causing breakage and hair loss.

For it to work properly, spray or rub the waterless shampoo on your dog following the specific instructions for the product in question.

Make sure to focus on any areas where you know there is excessive oil built up.

Some dry shampoos will tell you to leave the product on your pet or to brush it through their coat while others will say to use a towel to wipe down your dog.

Be sure to do what the instructions say so that you get the most out of the product.

Benefits and Limitations of Waterless Shampoo

Although they may not be the traditional choice for dog grooming needs, waterless dog shampoos have a lot to offer.

Benefits of Waterless Shampoos

Here are the benefits you and your dog stand to gain from the use of a waterless dog shampoo:

[wpsm_highlight color=”green”]Maintenance[/wpsm_highlight]: one of the best reasons to invest in a waterless dog shampoo is to make maintenance between main grooming sessions simple and fast.

Some dogs resist the washing process, so instead of trying to do it very frequently, you can plan main sessions with cleanings using a dry shampoo in between.

[wpsm_highlight color=”green”]Use with Dogs who do not like water[/wpsm_highlight]: if your dog makes the grooming process especially difficult by moving around too much or even getting aggressive, using a waterless shampoo is a practical alternative.

It will allow you to keep your dog’s coat free of dirt without forcing an unpleasant situation.

[wpsm_highlight color=”green”]Ease of Use[/wpsm_highlight]: the whole point of waterless dog shampoos is the convenience they offer.

Washing your dog on a regular basis with standard shampoo and water takes a lot of time and effort, not to mention that some dogs may not be easy to groom.

Using a waterless shampoo is super simple. All you need to do is apply the dry shampoo to your dog’s coat, let it absorb, and brush your dog.

[wpsm_highlight color=”green”]Prevent Allergies[/wpsm_highlight]: many standard shampoos trigger or further irritate skin allergies in dogs.

Many waterless shampoos are made with milder formulas that are unlikely to cause irritation and may even be able to help treat existing skin allergies.

[wpsm_highlight color=”green”]Better Clean[/wpsm_highlight]: while a standard shampoo may provide a better clean in theory, if your dog is anxious or uncooperative during grooming, regular shampoo and water may not get the job done very well. Dry shampoos may help you clean your dog’s coat more thoroughly than usual.

[wpsm_highlight color=”green”]Puppy-Friendly[/wpsm_highlight]: if you have a new puppy, there’s a chance they may be afraid of the water, which will compromise your ability to get them sufficiently clean with a classic shampoo.

Scared puppies will not even realize it’s bath time when you use a dry shampoo.

[wpsm_highlight color=”green”]Assist with Lack of Time or Space[/wpsm_highlight]: not everyone has a bathtub large enough to facilitate the functional grooming of their dog as well, and an outdoor hose is not always an option either.

If grooming space is one of the main issues you face when trying to wash your dog with standard shampoos, then waterless shampoo may be just the solution you’re looking for. Not to mention they save a lot of time.

Limitations of Waterless shampoos

Although these shampoos clean up the dog well, it often leaves a greasy layer behind which attracts more dust and dirt to settle in and make the dog dirty again.

It cannot replace conventional shampoos and bathing completely.

How to Use a Dog Waterless Shampoo Spray

The process of using waterless dog shampoo is extremely simple, which makes it one of the most popular options among pet owners. To use a waterless shampoo with your dog, follow these steps :

• Decide where you want the grooming to take place and situate your dog there. You will not need to limit your dog’s movement too much, as the dry shampoo process is very easy.
• Rub or spray the waterless shampoo all over your dog’s coat. Make sure you get shampoo on the areas that you feel are extra dirty.
• Leave the shampoo in your dog’s coat for the time indicated on the product packaging.
• If the dry shampoo is a foaming formula, use a towel to wipe your dog down.
• Brush your dog’s coat when the indicated time period has passed. There are some dry shampoos that do not require brushing.

Are Waterless Dog Shampoos Safe?

If you’re new to using a waterless shampoo for your dog, it’s important to know that they are completely safe as long as they are used properly.

When using a dry shampoo for your dog, it’s important to remember that you will still need to bathe them properly.

The safety of dry shampoos will vary by individual brand and model in terms of triggering irritation.

However, the only safety issue that could arise from the use of dry shampoos is an unhealthy amount of buildup of product and dirt. This means regular bath is essential even when you are using waterless shampoos.

This is a possibility if you only use dry shampoos and could cause your dog’s skin to become irritated or break out in sores.

Does Waterless Shampoo Replace Showering Dogs?

The main thing to keep in mind when using a waterless shampoo is that [wpsm_highlight color=”green”]they do not serve the same purpose as standard shampoos.[/wpsm_highlight]

This is why they are not meant to act as a total replacement for showering or bathing your dog.

Rather than using water to help remove dirt, oils, and debris from your dog’s coat, a dry shampoo is a formula that is meant to absorb the grime.

This is functional for keeping your dog’s appearance and smell maintained but is not sufficient as a complete replacement of classic grooming.

A waterless shampoo will absorb the excess dirt in your dog’s coat, but at some point, you will need to use a standard shampoo to completely wash it out.

Dog Deodorant vs. Waterless Shampoo

When searching for a waterless shampoo, make sure that you don’t mistakenly invest in a dog deodorant.

While both products will help rid your dog of unpleasant smells, a dog deodorant will not provide any type of cleansing to your dog.

Dog deodorants are meant to freshen your dog up for a short period of time.

They work to break down or neutralize the bad odors sticking around your dog’s skin or coat, leaving them smelling fresher than they were before. This is a short-term solution.

If you’re looking to get rid of odors while also keeping your dog’s coat clean in between showers or grooming sessions, you should opt for a waterless shampoo.

Is It Okay for Dog to Lick Waterless Shampoo?

One of the hardest parts of grooming your dog is making sure that they leave the products to set and dry once you’re done.

Dogs are curious and accustomed to licking their coats regularly.

Generally, you probably don’t want your dog licking and ingesting their grooming products.

When it comes to waterless shampoo, the reality is that it will sit on your dog’s coat enough for a while, which means that your dog is very likely to lick it at least a little bit.

It all comes down to the ingredients included in the waterless shampoo you use.

If you make sure to invest in a dry shampoo that is formulated with safe ingredients which are as natural as possible, then you will not need to spend much time about what will happen when your dog inevitably takes a lick.

 

Precautions to be taken with dog shampoos

Some specific / general precautions before buying a shampoo for your beloved dog”

• Shampoos should generally be bought after consultation with a vet. They know what is best for dogs. In case you want to purchase a shampoo without consultation you should be aware of the effects of most chemicals in the shampoos. Some may have minor effects like dryness and itchiness while others may cause cancer. Therefore it is essential that you take some precaution.
• Never use human shampoos on dogs since they are too harsh on them
• Consult your vet before choosing shampoos and conditioners for your dog
• Shampoos methylisothiazolinone may react adversely with your pet, so see the label before you purchase a product
• Spray formulations may have alcohol which causes allergies in dogs
• Hydrocortisone and Lidocaine may also cause allergies in some cases
• Some spray on shampoos might leave a greasy and heavy fur. Avoid these shampoos.

FAQs

Summary

When it comes to waterless shampoos, we recommend that you consult a specialist (vet). Spray conditioners come in handy to clean up the dog between its baths, especially to remove merely.

A product that is used so often requires some research. Always look at the label so that you are aware of the chemicals in the shampoo and their effects.

Also be aware of the chemicals that your dog is allergic too so that you buy the right shampoo.

Here is the list of top waterless dog shampoos for you again, do check them out  –

• Wahl Natural Pet – Best Overall
• Burt’s Bees
• Furminator deShedding – Best for De-shedding
• SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula Clinical Care – Best Medicated
• Bodhi Dog
• Paw Choice
• BioSilk
• Miracle Coat Dog
• Pet Head Dry Clean

Last update on 2023-01-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API