Pet Shampoo Malaysia: How to Choose the Right Shampoo for Your Dog or Cat
Short answer: choose a pet shampoo by the problem you can see, not by the brand or the scent. Sensitive or itchy skin, dry and flaky skin, heavy shedding, a dog that smells again two days after a bath, or an active ingredient your vet named: each needs a different formula. Davis makes one shampoo per problem, as a professional concentrate you mix with water, so one bottle covers far more baths than a ready-to-use shampoo.
Start with what you see
Sensitive or itchy skin
Gentle wash + leave-on conditioner
Sensitive skin guide: Melaleuca Shampoo with Oatmeal Leave-On, or the oatmeal routine for cats.
Dry, flaky skin or dandruff
Oatmeal wash + leave-on conditioner
Dry skin guide: Baking Soda & Oatmeal Shampoo, then Oatmeal Leave-On.
Heavy shedding
De-shed wash, rinse, blow-dry
Shedding guide: De-Shed Shampoo (dogs) or De-Shed Plus (cats), with De-Shed Rinse.
Smells again a few days after a bath
Deodorizing wash + full dry
Anti-smell guide: Best Luxury Shampoo with Pure Planet Complete Conditioner.
Your vet named an active ingredient
Medicated Series
Medicated shampoo guide: chlorhexidine 4%, miconazole 2%, sulfur, pramoxine 1%.
Just dirty, oily or a normal coat
Deep clean + matched conditioner
Choose your combo: Grubby Dog Deep Clean first, then the shampoo and conditioner for your coat type.
Why a concentrate
Davis shampoos are made for professional groomers and sold as concentrates, made since 1982. You mix them with water before the bath. One 355ml bottle at 10:1 makes about 3.6 litres of bath mix. Grubby Dog Deep Clean, at 50:1, makes about 17.8 litres from the same size bottle. A ready-to-use shampoo is used as it comes out of the bottle, so the same 355ml goes much less far.
The ratio changes from bottle to bottle, from 50:1 down to 5:1, because some formulas carry more per millilitre than others. The ratio for each one is on its product page.
Mix it right
The most common mistake with a concentrate is mixing it too strong. More shampoo does not clean more; it leaves residue in the coat, and residue is what makes skin itchy and coats smell again quickly. Use the Davis 500ml dilution bottle: for a 10:1 shampoo, put in about 45ml of shampoo and top up with water.
Dog or cat?
Most Davis shampoos are labelled for dogs and cats, but not all. De-Shed Shampoo is for dogs and De-Shed Plus is for cats only. Always check the label. For more detail, see the dog shampoo guide and the cat shampoo guide.
Buying for your groomer?
Many owners buy Davis because their groomer asked them to bring a bottle to the salon. Check the bottle name against what your groomer asked for. You can use the same bottle at home between salon visits, and our guides above show how.
Pet shampoo FAQ
What is the best pet shampoo in Malaysia?
The one that matches the problem. For sensitive skin, a gentle wash with an oatmeal leave-on conditioner. For dry skin, an oatmeal shampoo. For shedding, a de-shedding shampoo and rinse. For smell, a deodorizing shampoo and a full blow-dry. If your vet named an active such as chlorhexidine or miconazole, a shampoo with that active at the strength they gave you.
Can I use human shampoo on my dog or cat?
It is not recommended. Pet skin and coat needs are different from ours. Use a shampoo made for dogs and cats and follow the label.
Why does professional pet shampoo cost more per bottle?
Because it is a concentrate. You mix it with water, so one bottle makes several litres of bath mix. Grubby Dog Deep Clean, at 50:1, makes about 17.8 litres from a 355ml bottle.
How often should I bathe my dog in Malaysia?
Most dogs do well with a bath every 1 to 2 weeks using a properly diluted shampoo. See our bathing frequency guide.
Where can I buy Davis pet shampoo in Malaysia?
Here on davismalaysia.com, and at selected partner salons and pet shops.
中文简介
宠物沐浴露怎么选？看问题选，不是看牌子或香味。皮肤敏感、一直抓，用温和洗毛精加燕麦免洗护毛素；皮肤干、有皮屑，用燕麦洗毛精；掉毛严重，用 De-Shed 去浮毛系列；洗完两三天又臭，用 Best Luxury 去异味；兽医指定成分（洗必泰、咪康唑），看药浴系列。Davis 是美国专业美容师用的浓缩洗毛精，1982 年至今，要加水稀释，一瓶可以洗很多次。最常见的错误是稀释不够、太浓。
