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Shampoo, Conditioners

Best Shampoos and Coat Products for Maltese Dogs

Overview

Careful thought should go into the products that you use on your Maltese's coat. This will include shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in coat spray. 

These will have a huge effect both aesthetically including the intensity of the white, the presence or absence of discolored hairs, the volume of the coat (limp vs full), the texture of the coat (silky vs dry), and hair health (absence or presence of brittle hair, split ends, etc.). 

And, the shampoo and other products that you use on your Maltese will also have a direct effect on skin health. Inferior shampoos can cause dry skin problems often manifesting as itching and/or rashes. If these worsen, it can lead to cracked skin, hot spots, and even thinning hair. 

This section will cover: 
  • The 3 main coat products and what each one is meant to do
  • Recommended shampoos and coat products including specialty shampoos and topical sprays

The 3 Coat Products

The 3 products that you will want to have for your Maltese and use on a regular basis are:

Shampoo - To cleanse the body of accumulated body oils, remove dirt and debris from the coat, and prepare hair strands to receive a conditioner. You may additionally wish to use a shampoo that removes yellow staining and naturally enhances white coats. 

Conditioner - To help close hair cuticles that open during the shampooing process and to moisturize, restore, and protect the coat.

Leave-in conditioner coat spray - To keep the coat healthy and protect it from an array of elements in between baths including sun exposure and contact friction. 

Choosing the Best Shampoo for a Maltese

Due to the Maltese's single coat of silky hair, it is important to use a gentle shampoo. At the same time, it must be effective in doing its job to clean away excess body oil and any debris that the coat has picked up. And, since this breed has an amazing white coat that can turn yellow, an added plus is to choose a product that helps remove discoloration and bring out the natural whiteness. Do note, however, that it is not recommended to use any dyes or bleach whiteners since those can be exceptionally drying to both skin and coat. 
The qualities that you will want the shampoo to have are:

1. Correct pH balance.

Pet coat products, similar to human shampoos, have a certain pH balance. pH is the measurement of how alkaline or acidic a substance is, on a scale of 0 to 14. 

The problem with many pet shampoos is that they are based on human shampoos (as a cost-saving method) which typically have a low pH of about 5. But, dogs in general need a slightly higher pH and this is especially relevant for breeds like the Maltese that have hair, not fur, and sensitive skin. The wrong pH can be terribly damaging causing raw, irritated skin and damaged hair cuticles (the outer protective layer) that are stripped, which leaves the coat vulnerable to contact friction, arid air, humidity, static, and more.  

So, the goal is to use a shampoo that is in the 6.5 to 7.5 pH range. 
2. No soaping agents. 

When you think of shampoo for your Maltese, you may think of soap and it may seem as if these two words are interchangeable. However, true soaping agents can be terribly harsh on a dog's skin and coat, akin to tiny micro-abrasions that irritate and over-cleanse. Two common ones to steer clear of are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Instead, a quality shampoo will use natural plant-based cleansers, like coconut oil. 
3. No chemical additives. 
There are several ingredients that can be added to dog shampoo that are outright harmful. Some are foaming agents like Ammonium Laureth Sulfate which is notorious for causing bad skin reactions. Other ingredients like artificial fragrances can cause an array of issues including irritation and rashes. Additionally, paraben preservatives are linked to hormone disruptions and should be avoided. 
4. Natural white enhancing ingredients. 

Be careful here. You do not want a shampoo that bleaches the coat or uses chemical whiteners. Doing so can cause quite a bit of damage; both very dry skin and damaged hairs. Rather, the best shampoos for solid white dogs like the Maltese are those that contain natural minerals that work as optical brighteners. These minerals bind to hairs to control how light is absorbed and reflected, which gives the coat wonderful clarity and shine and makes white look whiter. 
Recommended Shampoos for Maltese:
This is a top choice because Earthbath, a company founded in San Francisco, puts lots of love and care into their products. The pH is spot on, there are never any chemical additives, and this is 100% all natural and organic. This shampoo has mineral optical brighteners that reflect light in the blue spectrum which gives the coat wonderful clarity and shine. This also has aloe vera and lavender. 
This is a fantastic shampoo to clear away yellow stains and really bring out the white coat. So, if your Maltese has lots of discoloration, this is a top pick. The longer you leave it on (start at 3 minutes and use up to 10 minutes maximum), the whiter the coat will get. 

Note that this shampoo is purple, which works as a color correcting toner for light coats since violet pigments neutralize yellow. 
This is a good choice if you're on a budget but still looking for a shampoo made for white-coated dogs. This works via a natural green tea extract as well as optical brighteners. An added plus is that this has a very lovely fragrance that lasts quite a while. 
Please note: For specialized or medicated shampoos to treat itching and other skin issues, see 'Specialized Shampoos' below. 

Wash-out Coat Conditioners

Shampoo and conditioner go hand-in-hand. Even if you use a great shampoo, if you do not follow with an equally great conditioner, you will never see optimal results. In fact, hair texture may be poor and split ends can develop. This is because during the shampooing process (no matter which product you use), hair cuticles (which are the protective outer layers of the hairs) open up. A conditioner is needed to then smooth those back down, a vital step in coat health. 

Additionally, a good conditioner will wrap each hair with penetrating ingredients that hydrate and protect going forward, making hairs stronger and healthier.  
Recommend Conditioner: 
Since the shampoo you use on your Maltese will focus on removing stains and keeping the coat white, opt for a conditioner that is luxurious, nourishing, and hydrating. We really love Earthbath All-Natural Oatmeal and Aloe Conditioner since Maltese tend to be prone to dry skin and other skin irritations and this helps to protect against these issues. It's perfect year round, both in the winter when air is cold and dry and in the summer when UV rays bombard the coat. 

Once you have rinsed the shampoo out, massage this in very well from roots to tips and then leave this on for 3 to 5 minutes. 

Leave-in Conditioner Coat Sprays

The last product that you will want is a great leave-in coat spray. These have a plethora of benefits. 

A quality spritz will:
  • Protect the coat and skin from sun exposure year-round and especially in the summer
  • Provide a layer of protection from cold, arid air in the winter
  • Prevent issues such as frizz and split ends that can happen due to contact friction
  • Keep tangles at bay
  • Help repel dirt and debris to keep the coat clean
  • Add a nice texture that makes the coat look shiny and healthy
  • And as an added bonus, some are formulated to keep a dog smelling nice and fresh
Spritzing tips: You'll want to use a light mist of this product each time that you brush the coat. This will be every 3 days for close puppy cuts, every 2 days for medium-length coats, and every day for long coats.

Hold the bottle 4 to 5 inches from the coat, and spritz 1/2 to 1 inch from the roots. Work in sections, spritzing and brushing as you go. 
Recommended Leave-in's:
For treating skin and/or coat issues: Warren London Hydrating Butter and Leave-in Conditioner. 
If your Maltese has a damaged coat (split ends, very dry hair) or is dealing with skin issues (excessively dry skin, itching, hot spots, irritations) this restorative leave-in can work to repair the hairs by infusing strands with moisture and soothing the skin with healing ingredients. And, this provides round-the-clock treatment with a patented formula that releases moisturizing emollients every 2 hours for a 24 hour period. 

There are two different formulas, Guava and Mangosteen (recommended) and Pomegranate and Acai (which is good, but not as hydrating). Use your hands to massage this into your Maltese's coat (you can get the belly too). Afterward, you can brush the coat as you normally do. This can be used every day and it will not cause the coat to appear oily (just don't go overboard with the application). 
Everyday leave-in's: 

If your two main goals are to prevent tangles and help the coat repel dirt and debris, The Stuff is the stuff that you want to use. This is amazing in both regards and has a light apple scent. 
If your main goal is to protect your Maltese from UV rays in the summer, and this is certainly a top concern for this breed, this is a fantastic choice. It also works excellent as a detangler, helps fortify hairs to keep them strong and healthy, and works rather well as a dirt repellent. This does not have a noticeable scent. 
If your main goal is to keep your Maltese smelling delightful, nothing beats Nootie. This line of leave-in products has amazing fragrances including warm vanilla cookie, cucumber melon, Japanese cherry blossom, and coconut lime verbena. It is also very gentle on the skin and works moderately well as tangle-prevention spray.  

Specialized Shampoos & Topical Treatments

You may want to use specialized shampoos and/or topical sprays if your Maltese is suffering from certain skin issues. It's always best to seek the advice of the veterinarian if you are not sure of the diagnosis since some conditions may require prescription shampoos or topical creams or gels. 

This said, there are some over-the-counter products that can treat common problems like rashes or hot spots due to allergies or unknown irritants and offer relief from moderate to intense itching. 
Anti-itch shampoo; all-natural: 

This is generally used for dogs suffering from allergies. And, while this is just one step in the treatment process (it's important to work on reducing or eliminating the triggers), soaking a dog's entire body in a soothing shampoo can be a great way to reach all of the crevices that are tender and offer full-body relief. 

There are quite a few natural ingredients that work to reduce itching and inflammation including shea butter, honeysuckle, aloe vera, colloidal oatmeal, nutmeg, neem oil, and argan oil. 

While baths should be given once every 3 weeks under normal circumstances, allergy shampoo can be used more often, usually once a week, until issues are resolved. 
This is a pretty incredible shampoo that contains a wonderful blend of restorative, moisturizing, anti-itch and healing ingredients. The #1 ingredient is bentonite clay which works exceptionally well in pulling toxins out of the skin, so it will treat fungal infections, allergic reactions, and a wide range of skin irritations. There is also organic shea butter, aloe vera, neem and argan oil, nutmeg, and rosemary. This is 100% all-natural with zero sulfates, preservatives, or chemicals. 
Anti-itch spray; all-natural: 
A spray is a good idea if your Maltese has chronic issues; it allows you to target certain areas and offer round-the-clock relief. This is also a good choice if skin is very sensitive to touch since it won't cause any discomfort as it does not need to be massaged in. Popular topical non-medicated spray ingredients include oatmeal, aloe vera, vitamin E, and baking soda. 
Recommendation: Bodhi Dog Anti-Itch Spray.
This is a great spray to help with itching and works with a blend of two of the most effective all-natural anti-itch ingredients: oatmeal and baking soda for very fast relief. And, since this is non-medicated, it can be applied quite often, as much as every couple of hours. Note that while you won't want your Maltese lapping this up, it is non-toxic. 
Anti-itch spray; medicated: 
In some instances, itching is so severe and skin is so tender and painful that a medicated treatment is needed. Thankfully, there are some over-the-counter medicated sprays that work exceptionally well. One ingredient to look for is hydrocortisone which can bring immediate itch relief and works very well for localized inflammation. And, another helpful ingredient is lidocaine which is a topical numbing agent. 

Do note that with this sort of product, a dog must be prevented from licking it off since these medications should not be ingested, so you'll need to place a protection cone collar on your Maltese or otherwise restrict licking (like placing socks over paws, etc.). 
This has both the aforementioned hydrocortisone and lidocaine, as well as allantonin which is a plant-based moisturizer. This is usually used for severe cases of allergies that affect the skin but can also be used for insect bites and other acute irritations. Note that this is approved for use on dogs 12 weeks and older, so should not be used on puppies 3 months and younger. 
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