Choosing the Right Shampoo for Your Pet

Not sure whether your dog needs PAW MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo or PAW NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo Shampoo? Choosing the right shampoo can make an important difference to your pet’s skin, coat and overall comfort.

Just like us, pets can experience changes in their skin. Dryness, itching, greasiness, odour and recurring skin problems can all be signs that your pet needs some extra support. A regular, gentle skincare routine can help maintain the skin barrier and keep the coat clean, comfortable and healthy.

But not every shampoo is designed for the same purpose.

So, which one is right for your pet; PAW NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo or PAW MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo?

The simple answer is:

• NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo à dry, itchy or normal skin
• MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo à bacterial and yeast-associated skin infections.

Healthy skin starts with a healthy skin barrier

Your pet’s skin is more than just a covering, it helps protect them from the outside environment. Keeping the skin clean while avoiding unnecessary drying or irritation is an important part of maintaining skin and coat health.

This is particularly important for pets prone to itching, allergies or recurring skin problems. A compromised skin barrier can leave skin more vulnerable to environmental irritants, while harsh cleansing can contribute to dryness and discomfort.

That’s why choosing a shampoo that matches your pet’s individual needs matters. Both PAW NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo and PAW MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo are vet developed and backed by science, with carefully selected ingredients to support different skin needs.

PAW NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo® 

For dry, itchy, sensitive or normal skin

If your pet’s skin is dry, itchy, irritated or sensitive, or you’re simply looking for a gentle shampoo to help maintain healthy skin, PAW NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo may be the right choice.

NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo is a hypoallergenic, sulphate-free and soap-free shampoo designed to gently clean the skin and coat without stripping natural oils.

Why choose NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo?

NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo combines naturally derived skin-supporting ingredients, including:

• Colloidal oatmeal to help soothe itchy, dry skin
• Rosehip oil as a source of essential fatty acids to support skin hydration
• Vitamin B5 to help maintain skin hydration and the skin barrier

Colloidal oatmeal helps attract and retain moisture in the skin while forming a soothing protective layer, making it particularly useful for dry and itchy skin.

NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo is a great choice for:

• Dry skin
• Itchy or irritated skin
• Sensitive skin
• Normal skin
• Pets needing support for their skin barrier
• Regular bathing and skin maintenance

How to use NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo

For routine skin and coat care, NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo can be used every 1–2 weeks.

1. Wet your pet thoroughly with clean water.
2. Apply shampoo at several points across the coat.
3. Gently massage through the coat and onto the skin to create an even lather.
4. Leave on for 5 minutes.
5. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

For best results, NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo should be used alongside PAW NutriDerm® Replenishing Conditioner.

PAW MediDerm® Gentle Medicated  Shampoo

For bacterial or yeast-associated skin problems

If your pet has recurrent skin infections, greasy skin, scaling or an unpleasant odour, they may need more than a moisturising shampoo.

PAW MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo is a low-irritant antibacterial and antifungal shampoo designed to help treat canine skin infections. It contains piroctone olamine, an active ingredient that helps control bacteria and yeast associated with skin infections.

MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo is clinically proven to help treat superficial dermatitis, pyoderma and seborrhoea, as well as the itching associated with these conditions. It controls Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Malassezia pachydermatis.

Importantly, MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo has been formulated to be low irritant, helping minimise its impact on the skin barrier while removing scale and grease.

Why choose MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo?

MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo contains piroctone olamine and is designed to provide effective antimicrobial support without unnecessarily compromising the skin and coat.

It is particularly suited to dogs experiencing:

• Bacterial skin infections
• Yeast-associated skin problems
• Superficial dermatitis
• Pyoderma or hot spots
• Seborrhoea and greasy skin
• Recurrent skin infections
• Skin conditions that make dogs prone to secondary infections

MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo can also be used as an adjunctive treatment where underlying conditions such as allergies, parasites or certain metabolic conditions contribute to recurrent skin infections.

The 5-minute difference

One of the practical benefits of MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo is its short 5-minute contact time. Once you've worked the shampoo through your pet’s coat and onto the skin, simply leave it on for 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

For acute infections, the fact sheet recommends twice-weekly use for 3 weeks. For infection-prone skin, regular treatment is recommended once weekly for 6 weeks.

So, which shampoo should you choose?

What if your pet needs both?

Some pets have infection-prone skin as well as ongoing skin barrier needs. In these cases, your veterinarian can help determine the most appropriate skincare routine.

The goal isn't simply to wash your pet, it's to support healthy skin and coat while addressing the reason their skin needs extra care.

Healthy skin, from the outside in

Looking after your pet’s skin, coat and ears should be part of their overall wellbeing routine. Regular grooming can help you notice changes such as redness, dryness, scaling, grease, odour or increased scratching early.

And remember, persistent itching, recurrent infections or changes in your pet’s skin or coat can sometimes be a sign of an underlying problem. Conditions such as allergies, parasites and other health issues can contribute to recurring skin disease, so shampoo alone may not address the underlying cause.

PAW NutriDerm® Replenishing Shampoo and PAW MediDerm® Gentle Medicated Shampoo are vet developed and backed by science, giving you targeted options for different skin needs.

Whether your pet needs gentle nourishment and moisture for their skin barrier or medicated support for bacterial and yeast-associated skin problems, choosing the right shampoo is an important step towards keeping their skin and coat healthy.

Not sure which is right for your pet? Speak with your veterinarian for personalised advice.