Picture the following scenario. You have just washed, dried, and brushed the long-coated poodle mix on your table. You have thirty minutes to finish up the groom when suddenly the dog releases its anal sacs. A few moments ago, the pet on the table smelled like a rose, but now it smells very different. In an ideal world, you’d pop that pup back in the tub for a wash, but there is certainly no time for that. What can you do?
Grab some dry or waterless shampoo and save the day!
According to Dave Campanella from Best Shot Pet Products, “Waterless or Dry Shampoo are not replacements for washing hair but are ingenious options for freshening up. They offer many practical applications for pet owners, groomers, kennels, and dog handlers.”
In the above scene, freshening up is indeed desired. Campanella continues, “The secret behind these products is how they soak up excess oil and residue from the hair follicles and skin surface, leaving behind a more clean and refreshed state, all thanks to science. They are often attributed to adding volume and/or bounce to lackluster coats. Best of all, they require no rinsing, especially if you’re pressed for time.”
While dry or waterless shampoos are not a replacement for a good bath and rinse, they can be great to spot clean specific areas or used in a pinch if a pet is old, ill, or recovering from surgery and cannot get wet. They are also a lifesaver in the grooming environment for cleaning up any kind of after-bath “oops,” from expressed anal sacs to dribbles of urine or stepped-in poo.
How do they work? Campanella explains, “Dry shampoo sprays are commonly made with a base of alcohol or starch, along with aerosol propellants. However, waterless shampoos are ironically water-based, featuring sophisticated blends of conditioners offsetting a very low dosage of detergency. Often, they include silicone copolymers for the even deposition of ingredients along with an anti-stat ingredient such as cetrimonium chloride.”
To use dry or waterless shampoo, simply apply it to the area of concern, work it through the coat with your fingers or a brush, and then towel dry the area. A little touch up with the dryer is often an excellent addition to blow any residual product out of the coat and fluff the fur. Then brush, comb, and style as usual.
If a post-bath accident happens and there is no time to re-bathe, you will be so happy that you planned ahead and have some dry or waterless shampoo tucked away for just such an emergency.
