How to choose a conditioner for dogs and cats

Why is it important to use conditioner?

Often, novice dog breeders and cat owners are distrustful of the use of conditioners and balms while washing their pets. Someone thinks that a smooth-haired pet, for example, a dachshund, will do without an air conditioner. There are fears that dog hair conditioner will weigh down the coat and make it greasy. Such experiences are groundless: the main thing is to choose the right tool and use it according to the instructions.

The choice of conditioner is based on breed characteristics, coat type, skin and coat needs of a particular dog or cat.

During the use of shampoo, we wash off the protective layer from the skin and coat of our wards – the secret of the sebaceous glands. This water-repellent layer protects the surface of the skin from UV and dryness. The shampoo also opens the scales of the hair to deeply clean it. After washing, the hair loses silkiness and smoothness. To restore the protective layer of the skin and the smooth structure of the hair, just a conditioner or mask is required.

The use of conditioner and masks protects the pet’s skin from overdrying. Overdrying is fraught with dandruff and an unpleasant odor from the pet: the body may begin to overproduce the secretion of the sebaceous glands to protect the skin. Such problems will not arise if you use the right air conditioner.

It is important to clarify that pets need specialized cosmetics for pets. Cosmetics made for humans may not be suitable for furry friends due to differences in pH levels.

Choose shampoo, conditioner and masks from the same brand. Products from the same manufacturer are well combined with each other and enhance the effect.

How to avoid mistakes

• The groomer can advise you on a specific dog conditioner or cat conditioner only if he sees the pet in front of him, he can feel and evaluate the quality of the coat, the condition of the skin. Even high-quality products may not be right for your pet. Therefore, before buying a large tube of balm, make sure that its use gives the desired effect and does not cause discomfort to the pet.
• Purchase product samples from the cosmetics manufacturer and test the products. Test washing, of course, should not be carried out on the eve of the exhibition.
• The effect of using a mask or balm on the representatives of the same breed may differ in different regions depending on the hardness or softness of the water.
• Trust trusted manufacturers of pet care cosmetics. See what cosmetics professional groomers use in their work. Such cosmetics can be quite expensive, but keep in mind that almost all of these products are concentrated, they need to be diluted with hot water, so one bottle will last a long time. Read the instructions carefully to understand in what proportion you need to dilute the product. Study the ingredients of pet bath products to make sure that they do not contain substances that your pet is allergic to.
• Do not overdo it with the water temperature, +45 degrees is already very hot for a pet. If the conditioner is concentrated, you can mix it with water with a wide flat brush and apply the product to your ward’s coat with it. A mask with a rich texture is not enough to fill with hot water, additionally you need to beat with a whisk. You can dilute the balm with water in a bottle with a small hole, so that later it is more convenient to apply the product to the coat and skin of a fluffy bather. If it is better for the dog to hold the conditioner for several minutes, then the cat can be rinsed immediately after applying the balm.

We hope that we have been able to answer the most common questions related to the use of conditioner for dogs and cats. We wish your pets a pleasant and healthy wash!