Homemade antibacterial dog shampoo

[Fenelon]

My black pot-licker (Lab) stinks BAD. He has a very heavy double coat that always stays moist after a swim. You can't keep him out of the water (we live in a swamp), so he's pretty much wet all the time. I groom him daily to try to remove as much under fur as possible. As soon as this humidity started, he started to get the "wet dog" staph bacteria stink. Worse than a pair of socks that have been in work boots all day. A waste of time using any expensive dog shampoos at the pet stores, as they merely have fragrance added to take the edge off the stench. There are lots of references on the web for home made shampoo - 1 part antibacterial hand soap, and 1 part white vinegar. The active antibacterial component in the hand soap is triclosan, and aloe Dial is recommended. Anyone with a stinky retriever tried this? Has anyone used a Furminator brush on a dual-coat Lab to thin the undercoat prior to summer shed?
Can't wait till he swims in the first algae bloom water. He's going to stink nasty when that rots in the underfur!

[Longgun]

I use a furminator brush on my goldens and it works great. I use horse shampoo and in between shampoos I use a spritz of 1/2 water/cider vinegar and brush out. The cider helps with the PH balance and having a damp coat while brushing helps keep the hair from flying around.
deb

[marysburg]

I have tried Bacti-Stat which is a triclosan based handwashing soap used in many nursing homes and hospitals. I get it from the local vet. It is non-drying to the skin and is effective against bacteria and yeast. I used it on our YLF who had a stinky, itchy skin infection. The vet prescribed antibiotics which conflicted with the other meds the dog was on, and resulted in vomiting. Bacti-Stat worked really well. I used it daily for 30 days and then twice weekly and just barely rinsed the suds out of the dog's coat. I also washed all dog bedding and put it through the dryer. The itching and stink were non-existent right away, and until I send her on another duck retrieve in slough water, she will be fine. Hope you are getting good results with the Dial soap routine, Fenelon. Let us know how it ends up.

[Fenelon]

http://www.absorbine.com/products/gr...-shampoo-spray
I might have found what I'm looking for, to treat bacti rot in wet dogs. Made by the Absorbine company, who make a lot of equine health care products. You can buy it at any horse tack shop. The product comes in a twin pack - shampoo and spray. It even lists that it's good for dogs. Active ingredient is chlorohexlenol - same stuff used in surgical hand scrubs. Added bonus is it also has tea tree oil to soothe the itches. I looked up tricolsan and didn't like what I read (bioaccumulation potential, unknown health effects, can cause resistance, etc. ). Our black pig-dog just got his walnuts removed two days ago. When his ball-sac heals, I'll try this Absorbine shampoo out, and I'll let everyone know how it works. He's been smelling better now, since the humidity is gone, and we've had to keep him leashed so his dink stiches heal. He's thoroughly disgusted right now, as he can't go for his daily wallows in the backyard bog.

[marysburg]

Sounds like a great product, Fenelon, and thanks for the link. I will look around and see if I can find some. It looks like a great product to have on hand, and is made by a trusted company.

[LaurenDesouza]

We should always know about few antiseptic cream names for emergency purpose that helps anyone in critical situation.

Lauren,

[js4fn]

Vinegar and water rinse